SIMPLY SOPHISTICATED DESIGN WITH A TASTE OF THE UNEXPECTED.

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

A Pattern Giveaway for Your Thoughts

Marny here...  Today is the first Tuesday of 2016. The new year feels fresh and full of potential. I've got an inspiring new planner in hand and a variety of goals bouncing around in my mind. 

The Get To Work Book from Elise Blaha Cripe seems a perfect fit for me. I love graph paper, vertical columns for to do lists, room to color and doodle, and planning sheets. Its size and shape dictates it will stay at home on my desk or work table ready to be used. Elise offers down to earth, realistic videos covering uses for the planner.  Her single sheet 2016 Goal Tracker intrigued me too. It could be used for any goal you hope to work on daily.


So on the subject of planning, Jill and I met yesterday to map out the months ahead. We are working on lectures and workshops/classes. We'd like to pose a couple of simple questions.

1. When you take a workshop or class (3-6 hours) do you prefer to learn more about a concept (ex. contrast and value) or actually follow a pattern and work on a quilt?

2. What concepts or skills interest you?

Leave your comments answering the two questions by midnight Monday, January 11, 2016. The winner will be chosen using a random number generator and will get to choose any two of our patterns. We apologize, but due to international postal costs, giveaway open to US readers only. 

Till Tuesday...

22 comments:

  1. Well, I prefer concepts but a little of both is nice. I like to design my own quilts or at least make my own twist to an existing pattern, so, concepts fit into that preference. Design concepts, including color, value, and impact are at the top of my list; techniques such as Y seams or efficiency tips are helpful skills to learn. Great questions. sjvonfumetti at yahoo dot com

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  2. Since I am mostly self taught I would really be interested in the concepts needed to design a pattern.

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  3. I prefer to learn more about the concept and if there are any hints on making the quilt easier, such as when you are working with a 45 degree strip of pieces sewn in a row and the other row is angled the other way...joining the two strips together to make a "V" pattern; color and value is always helpful. Skills that interest me are tips that will help me be successful with a challenging pattern such as the "V" pattern. I am working on a quilt where you have to use a template to cut the shapes. I've always just rotary cut the shapes. This is challenging for me! Especially since the pieces make a bias.

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  4. Follow a pattern and work on a quilt, but with a little of the concept thrown in also.

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  5. I like concept classes since I am usually the slowest member of a class that requires following a pattern and working on a quilt. Since color is always a difficult choice I like classes that teach color concepts.

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  6. 1)I prefer to follow a pattern/work on a quilt in a workshop or class but if the concept angle is added to the session, that is a welcome addition. 2)Any speed or shortcut skills are appreciated as are any easily utilized tips to personalize or customize a pattern without impacting the integrity of the designers intent.

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  7. I prefer concepts. I have even gotten to the point where I just take fabric I don't really care about, learn the technique and then decide if I will do it again using fabrics I love. This takes the fear of "wasting" fabric I love on something I don't end up even liking.

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  8. i totally prefer concepts. I can follow a pattern and make a quilt, but give me something I can use to create, make and build quilts.

    I would enroll in any course that helps me organize my room, or maybe have someone come to my house and organize my space. I would pay big bucks for that! LOL

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  9. I prefer concepts and techniques. Curved piecing, FMQing, and modern quilt design are a few topics that would interest me.

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  10. I enjoy working on a quilt in a class. I am interested in applique and would like to learn how to it.
    Patty
    paweis at yahoo dot com

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  11. I would prefer a concept and I am interested in improv piecing.
    Crazeematz@gmail.com

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  12. Concepts with a skill building exercise, ie a small project made in class using the newly acquired skill. I despise teachers who are "pitching their wares "the entire time without any time for hands on learning. I Always learn something new from each teacher so I'm open to everything.

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  13. Concept classes are the ones I've found I get the most out of - learning how to use a specific tool, how to get the best possible piecing, tips and tricks that the instructor has learned based on their experiences. The best classes I've taken and gotten the most out of has combined that type of information with a bit of sewing to reinforce the concept. I find that I feel the most capable of going home and working on a project after that type of class/workshop!

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  14. My ideal class teaches a concept while working on a project, so I learn something new and have something concrete to take home as well. ZippyQuilts(at)gmail

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  15. I prefer working on making a quilt when I take a class and hope to get a little concept thrown in. I'm a logical thinker so my brain works best learning skills. stucker1261@gmail.com

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  16. Workshop/class mixed together, but enjoy 6 hours as I tend to think of additional questions later in day after learning a technique. I really enjoy learning techniques, no fun to just show up and follow a pattern. I love learning/relearning all techniques. Thanks! jbscraps at yahoo dot com

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  17. When taking a workshop, I would much rather learn about a concept than to just follow a pattern with guidance from an instructor. While I do think having an instructor handy to help while performing a new technique, I would rather it be in small amounts, not the focus of the class...I can follow a pattern at home and complete a project on my own time once I know the concept. As for content, I am interested in lots of different types of concepts..color theory, piecing techniques, design process. Also, sorry for the anonymous tittle but I am having trouble with Blogger playing nice with my yahoo account....email~ja21ke@yahoo.com~~~SonJa

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  18. I like a little of both. However, I prefer the project to be unique and small enough so that I can go home with a finished item or at least something that I can continue. Having something in hand at the end of the workshop helps me continue my inspiration. Also, supplies should be relevant to the class or workshop. I recently took a class that had a long supply list for the class--it was a significant expense in addition to the class but almost none of the supplies we purchased were used in the class. I just wonder if the instructor got off track in that class or if it was just poor planning.

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  19. Small projects. I like things to finish and learn better hands on.

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  20. I prefer to learn a concept or technique so I can go home and work on the project without as much time pressure.

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  21. I like learning a technique or a concept, as I have plenty of quilts already started and don't want to leave a class with another quilt to finish. I also like small projects that I can complete in class.

    Concepts or skills I'm interested in:
    -collage quilting
    -how to decide the actual quilting pattern for a completed quilt
    -embellishing wall hangings (small quilts)
    -curved piecing.

    Thanks! Judy

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