A rare occurrence

[Lowena]

Today I have decided upon a very rare action.
I'm putting aside a project as it is just too frustrating!!
I always finish what I start but Elizabeth Hartmans Under the Sea quilt has defeated me
I measure, remeasure, cut carefully and stitch accurately...so...why do the flipping blocks turn out different sizes and why do some components not fit??!!
I'm now off to wrestle with 3 finished quilt tops which need sandwiching 
I May never return!!!

[Ploshkin]

I think we trust commercially printed patterns but sometimes they contain mistakes which are not corrected.  I have certainly found errors in sewing and knitting patterns.  I think you are right to sideline it if it is causing you so much grief.  You have enough experience to be able to piece a quilt so I'm sure that it isn't you.

[Lowena]

Thank you @Ploshkin very kind of you. I've got to the point where I don't trust her measurements. I know others have found mistakes too.
The patterns are fiddly enough as it is.
Life's short and I'm old  :thinking:

[Stitches]

@Lowena let me have it and I will finish it for you

[Iminei]

Have a look here @Lowena

These are the corrections to her patterns ...

Its hard to be 100% on the button when you write a pattern/tut (Please remember that when you BOMers open Septembers blocks, I got myself in a right tiz trying to convert one at a time cut measurements to two at a time HST's)
I always read and re read through my tuts over a few days (If I have them) to try and get them right ...

but you'd expect someone who publishes and gets paid for her patterns to try extra hard

[wrenkins]

The only way to proof a pattern is to give it to somebody clueless. Anyone with any experience will tend to use that experience. Clueless people can't. 
That's how I did my SOPs in work. Hand a passing randomer an A4 sheet and say 'Here. Make that go'.   

[Iminei]

SOPs ????

Do you want to proof read the BOM?

[wrenkins]

Simpleton's Standard operating procedure.
Nope! It'll be fine. It always is. 



Here! You sayin' I'm clueless!?!?!?!

[rubywishes]

Whack it all in the cupboard Lowena until you don't wince every time you think about it...then it's time to get it back out and "reassess the situation"........if you start to wince afresh....turf it in the bin or pass on to someone else, if you look at it and go "hmmmmmmm, let me have a looksie at this" ...then you're ready to give it another bash. :thumbsup:

[Lowena]

Thank you oh wise one

[RJR_38]

Whack it all in the cupboard Lowena until you don't wince every time you think about it...then it's time to get it back out and "reassess the situation"........if you start to wince afresh....turf it in the bin or pass on to someone else, if you look at it and go "hmmmmmmm, let me have a looksie at this" ...then you're ready to give it another bash. :thumbsup:

This is exactly what I do! Most things come out of ‘quarantine’ to be completed. So far I have only got rid of one (and that is because it was an early quilt and I hated the pattern and combination of fabrics!)

[rubywishes]

I've "binned" two WIP...one was even basted and ready to quilt! It felt sooooo good shutting the bin lid and watching the garbage truck trundling down the road towards my house! 

[Gernella]

I've only read this because I'm killing time. I honestly didn't realise you had patterns for quilting, you learn something every day.  I just thought you saw something that caught your eye and went on from there.

I've led a sheltered life I think.

[Lowena]

@Gernella you can make up your own quilt from geometric shapes but the majority of quilters use commercial patterns at least some of the time.
You can buy individual patterns or books of patterns, or books of blocks.
If you start from scratch you have to be good at maths
The pattern I'm having difficulty with is Under the Sea by Elizabeth Hartman and it wasn't cheap 

[Gernella]

How much do the patterns cost @Lowena in relation to garment patterns?

Well that's me out of the darkside for good, never been good at maths without a calculator, which was hilariously funny when I went into financial services at a time when you worked out your own quotes, I soon learned how to use a Brunsviga and nobody ever noticed.