New Quilt Patterns Coming Soon

Hi friends!

Best laid plans…

So in today’s blog post I was planning to introduce a new quilt pattern. But I’m not. The pattern is almost finished being written, is waiting on edits to be completed and needs photos of the quilts to be taken. 

Writing patterns

Some days pattern writing is just seamsless. (haha!) The process flows, the words just fly onto the page and I think to myself, pattern writing is easy!

And if I am outside writing on the deck on a lovely summer day…. score!

Other days not so much. When that happens, it’s usually not because the pattern is hard to make therefore hard to write; my patterns are generally straight forward and geared towards the advanced beginner/intermediate quilter. 

Though let’s not pretend the process really is quick; it takes time to write and be coherent, takes times to create images and format. It’s just that some days it is easier than others!

And it is usually not because I don’t like the pattern. I mean, after all, I designed it! And while there are some that I do for other companies that are not my personal style, I like them all.

Some days I just get it in my head that the pattern will be hard to write and therefore I procrastinate. I am very good at procrastination as there is always something else I can do- a quilt to make, another pattern to write, a blog post to finish, pictures to take, quilts to design, social media to scroll thru on the pretext I am working and gathering information…..

Taking Quilt Pictures

Quilt images on the cover of the quilt can make or break the pattern. A good image can sell a pattern and a bad image- even if the quilt is spectacular- can mean the pattern sits on the shelf. A poor Cinderella pattern!

Lately, hubby and I have been taking quilt images for my pattern covers on the living room floor. It’s a process.

We move the furniture, roll up the carpet, sweep the floor to remove all the cat and dog fur (even if we swept the day before- these guys molt!), bring lights up from the basement and arrange the quilt.

We even have to move the dining room rug to make way for the lights!

 

Sometimes we get help.

And then hubby leans over the wall from the loft, AKA my sewing studio, and uses his spiffy camera for the shot. And then we hope it worked!

We used to take some of our quilt pattern cover photos outside as our townhouse backs up to a green space and a cemetery but there some issues with that approach. One is that we cannot control the wind! Even a slight wind can wreak havoc on a photo shoot.

So now we take them inside. I wish we had a property with a barn or something; that would make for some great shots! 

Question for you: do you like quilt patterns where the cover quilt just shows a flat image of the whole quilt or do you like “style” shots?

Here is a pattern cover with a flat shot. 

Here is one with a style shot.

Please leave me your thoughts in the comments! Curious minds….

Quilt patterns in the works

So, I hope to release a few new patterns soon. Two are using my new fabric line called Tiki Punch designed for me by Kathy Engle of Island Batik. 

This one will be the next release and the pattern has a lap quilt, a wall hanging, table runner and placemats. It is called Tropical Breeze.

The other new quilt pattern using the Tiki Punch line is called Tropical Moon.

Another new quilt pattern coming soon(ish) is a remake of a magazine quilt that will include multiple sizes. I am calling it PeakView.

So many new quilt patterns, so little time!

I’ll let you know when they are ready!

happy quilting,

Kate

I am speaking tomorrow night, Thursday August 13th at the Arapahoe County Quilters Guid meeting. What’s fun is that it is a Zoom meeting- so even if you aren’t local, you can sign up to attend! Click here to check out their website for more details!