Recreating design patterns?

[Thayer Abaigael]

I was looking at a couple of the requests for pattern names, and I started thinking.

I have always enjoyed mathematical analysis, and the challenge of recreating quilt patterns is incredibly enjoyable to me. I'm kind of an oddball, in many ways, so I understand if I'm alone in this mental exercise.

But I'll ask, does anyone else here look at a photo of a quilt and try to figure it out how they would piece it the pattern?

[Monique]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

No you are not alone for sure. I myself see patterns that can easily be recreated.

[Caroline T.]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

You are definitely not alone. Shortly after I first started quilting and watching Jenny's videos I found myself pausing the videos before she started her demonstration, just so I could look at and analyzed the quilt to see if I could figure out how to create the block.

Now I not only look at images of quilts that way, but also so many other things, just last month I had on a pair of pajama pants that I thought, ooh I could recreate the print (very geometrical) of these pj's to make a really cool quilt!

[SuzanneOrleansOntario]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

You are in good company. I think for some of us, we enjoy every aspect of the design.

[Claire Hallman]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

I have made quilts that I saw in pictures and enjoyed the challenge. I am designing one on the fly right now, making blocks and will figure out arrangements when I have many blocks made.

[dwil23]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

Actually, I think that is my favorite part of quilting - the design and planning. I have never followed a pattern - usually get inspiration from quilts I see, and then make it my own. I love old fashioned graph paper and colored pencils. Some day I may venture into the work of EQ or a similar program, but for now, the graph paper is my friend!

[jjkaiser]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

I have complete math phobia. I just do not trust myself to figure out anything mathematical and get the right answer. I have even cut up and taped newspapers together to equal measurements of my yardage and then I make cardboard templates the shape and size I need and trace them multiple times onto the newspaper to see if I can get enough pieces out. I admire everyone who can figure it out with just a pencil and paper, for me I just can't even decide if I should add or multiply or divide or what. It's a good thing I did not home school my kids!!!

[nativetexan]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

always!! can't help it. doesn't mean I'm going to make it though. just have to figure out how it was done.

[Jean Sewing Machine]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

I do that all the time! For me that is part of the excitement of quilting, to see how patterns go together.

[Patty J]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

I belong to a quilt group and one of the experienced quilters absolutely Loves to look then figure out how to make it. She uses graph paper and math. It is just amazing to watch her work a pattern out. I couldn't do it with a calculator, paper, and sometimes even with a pattern. I'm hopeless.

[GuitarGramma]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

I don't think I'm capable of looking at a quilt without thinking about how it was constructed. It's part of the fun of this hobby!

[wildernessquilter]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

Always. I am not sure if I see the beauty of the quilt before I piece the blocks in my head. For me it is not about Math that scares so many people it is just arithmetic. I do have EQ but not currently on my computer, sometime I use a design wall, sometime I draw them out and sometimes just think about it and put it together.

Patterns are like recipes, a starting point.

[sewmuch2learn]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

Because I try to never repeat quilts and hate buying 1-use patterns., I often struggle through figuring them out. The sense of accomplishment is amplified when one of those is finished.

[AMG]

Re: Recreating design patterns?

I taped 4 pieces of graph paper together just this week to plot out a pattern fr9m a picture I'd seen on Pinterest that didn't go anywhere, lol. It was a version of attic windows with d8fferent sizes/shapes of panes. Then I did it again because I left the sashing off & didn't notice till I was done, lol. I mostly use graph paper & I usually do 1 square=2" but the sashing was skinny & finished at 1" and I was making myself nuts trying to do the thing at 2" per graph square, lol

[Jean Sewing Machine]

I love doing this. I just did Jenny’s Irish Change and redid the technique to make the chain block. It made more sense to me to make it as a 9 patch. It went together quickly.