Is That Really a Pattern?

I rarely purchase quilt patterns. I have only purchased a few and believe I have only followed through with one so far. I have so much respect for pattern developers. It cannot be easy to ensure that all the details are correct, the explanations make sense, and the pattern is desirable. But I’ve noticed a growing trend—that of the very simple pattern.

Sometimes, it is just one repeating classic quilt block. My (frugal) instinct has been to think, “I could do that. It’s only one block.” But I do not write and sell the pattern. Someone else does and (presumably) profits from the pattern. The purchasers do not have to do the math nor figure out how much fabric they need or how to assemble it. Even better, they might purchase a kit with exactly the fabric necessary. They can follow the instructions and, in the end, have a quilt.

If someone like me were to make this seemingly simple quilt without the pattern, I would need to figure out the block measurements, calculate the full size of the quilt, and then figure out if I have enough fabric on hand. If I do not have enough fabric on hand, I need to determine if I should start with all-new fabric or try to mix the fabric I have with new purchases. Again, it is a math and design quandary. Once in the process this deep, I would have the existential question of what should come first- the fabric or the pattern.

Inevitably, this would send me down a rabbit hole of thinking about my overall quilting philosophy. I prefer thrifted or upcycled fabric, but to have enough that works together, one needs to collect a lot of fabric. However, the reality is that I have space constraints that prevent me from accumulating too much fabric. I need to purge for my sanity periodically. And yes, I often must stop thinking about the fabric I purged too soon.

The person who follows the pattern has a beautiful and cohesive composition and, even more importantly, the satisfaction of a finished project. On the other hand, I have not yet started my quilt because I am still overthinking the whole process. Admittedly, I enjoy the constraints of this sort of challenge. The puzzle of it all inspires me. The constraints make the entire process enjoyable despite slowing it down.

This speaks to the broad spectrum of quilters out there. Some take the “easy path” with a pattern and fabric kit. Others take the crazy path of designing the pattern and making a puzzle out of fabric options. Ultimately, different strokes for different folks. We all quilt for different reasons. The person who selects the kit and pattern wants to be creative but has limited time to devote to the process and needs the satisfaction of completing a project. The person who operates in the constraints needs the challenge and puzzle.