Friday, March 4, 2011

It's Great to Have Talented Friends

Shea is just that. She's the VP of the KC Modern Quilt guild and my partner in running the guild. She's my right and left hand gal. Not only is she a good friend, but she's one of those people who doesn't simply talk about doing things, she does them. I remember when she first talked with me about writing patterns and starting her own business, and now she's gone and done it. Shea's new business is Empty Bobbin Sewing. Check her out. She's offering free domestic shipping and reduced international shipping until March 17th!

I'm so happy to share her first two patterns with you. They're so cute and they're quality. This girl knows how to write clear instructions with pictures for us visual learner. The first is this happy quilt, Seeing Squares! Eeek! Totally cute!
I love that she shows her patterns in multiple colorways and that the pattern contains directions for multiple sizes of quilts. Much more versatile pattern that way!
And, get ready for a blast from the past. Remember these Card Table Playhouses from back in the 70's? I would totally make one of these now, but back when my boys were this age I threw a blanket over the table and called it good. I have a feeling my grandkids might have it better (I'm not in any hurry, by the way!)
Who could resist sewing a little to get a happy face like this!
I'm so proud of Shea and she's offered 2 of each of these patterns to my readers. Just leave a comment and I'll draw winners on Monday. Here's what you need to tell me to enter.
1. Which pattern would you like? playhouse, quilt, or either one
2. What's your biggest pet peeve about patterns? (especially quilt patterns)

If you want a pattern and aren't feeling lucky, go to Shea's store and make a purchase!
Have a wonderful weekend!


216 comments:

1 – 200 of 216   Newer›   Newest»
QuiltedSimple said...

Oh I love them both! My biggest pet peeve? Not including all the sizing options and directions not in order (seriously) of how you should do the quilt.
Kris

Lindsey F. said...

Both patterns look like fun! Thanks for sponsoring the giveaway.

SeƱora H-B said...

Oh, I love the quilt pattern!

I used a Martha Stewart pattern for pillows once and it was a nightmare. It didn't leave any include seam allowances and I was too new at sewing to put them in. Ugh.

Michele said...

What great patterns! My pet peeve about quilt patterns is not having enough time to do them all.

kimland said...

dang...I like them both so would be tickled to have either one! fun patterns!

Anonymous said...

I would love the quilt pattern. Although, I love them both!!

Belinda said...

Either pattern would be great! Pet peeve - errors which often indicate inadequate testing.

Christie said...

I would love either pattern. I have never made a quilt so I am not sure what my Pet peeve about them is, but I am ready to try.

Dru said...

The Card Table Playhouse would be the book I would choose although Seeing Squares would be wonderful, too. My pet peeve is I'm not a square quilt person, so directions for making a square quilt into a rectangle one as an option would be nice.

Vickie said...

Both of these fabrics look terrific!! Thanks for sharing!

sarah said...

You're right, those ARE gorgeous patterns! I love both of them. I think I would like the playhouse pattern, but either would be great. I usually don't use patterns for my quilts, so I guess I don't really have a pet peeve about them.

The Halyburtons said...

I love the quilt pattern, but my daughter would really love a playhouse! Biggest pet peeve... Directions that don't include using a shortcut when there most obviously is one!

Kathleen said...

I LOVE the quilt pattern! I drive me nuts when they just don't make sense because the wording is confusing.
AlwaysSewLove

Lisa said...

I love that quilt! Perfect for scraps/stash? What I don't like about patterns is when there are lots of words but not many pictures. Guess I'm one of those visual people too.
I can't believe your tree quilt, by the way, that is so clever! We must moved from Alaska and that looks so familiar.

Anna said...

I would love to win the quilt pattern. My pet peeves are writers that skip steps and don't have clear illustrations.Thanks for a chance to win

Sara said...

Oh wow! I love them both! I don't think I can choose :) My biggest pet peeve is not having enough hours in the day to quilt! Thanks for the give away!

Becky (My Fabric Obsession) said...

Oh, I would love both, but I think my daughter would just idolize me if I made her that house. So cute!!
Biggest pet peeve - no illustrations or pictures for a complicated step.

Lisa said...

I would love the quilt pattern. My pet peeve is when the picture is on one page and the instruction related to that picture is on the other side of the page. Flipping the page backwards and forwards is annoying!

FlourishingPalms said...

What a nice giveaway! I'd definitely make the Card Table Playhouse. I have three grandsons between the ages of 10 months and 17 months. They'd all fit inside at once!

My peeve about patterns is simply poor step-by-step explanations. I'm a pattern-writer myself, and believe that every person who writes instructions should have the pattern objectively tested before making copies... especially to sell them. If they're giving them away, that's totally different. I've paid too much for patterns that should have been free!

Becky said...

I would love the quilt pattern - it's beautiful! My biggest peeve are poorly written directions.

carrie said...

Lovely! My little girl would adore the card table house--so clever. I second (or third) the comment that it drives me up the wall when patterns include only one size and/or offer no suggestions on how to size up or down. Why does the designer seem to think that a random small wall-hanging size is the only thing I want to make?

Anne said...

I would choose that adorable playhouse pattern. How fun!
My pet peeve is patterns without illustrations or detailed photos depicting difficult steps.

Kristy said...

I love them both but would probably pick the square pattern for now. It drives me crazy when there aren't different sizing options.

verykerryberry said...

The square quilt pattern is wonderful. My peeve is a lack of detail in instructions especially when there aren't enough pictures!

Unknown said...

What a great give away! The quilt looks like it would be fun to make. I have never seen a play house like that! My four year old would be in heaven.
The biggest annoyance with quilt patterns for me is usually just what you mentioned. The size. I am no math whiz, and hate figuring it out when I want to make something smaller or larger. I am so guilty of being lazy and estimating.I end up with too many cuts, or not enough. Then I have to go back and cut more.
Going to check out her site now!

Carol said...

I'd love to have that playhouse pattern, but I wouldn't be at all disappointed with the quilt pattern. Love when a quilt pattern offers several size options. My biggest peeve is an error in cutting instructions.

Ruth said...

I LOVE the quilt pattern...all those squares are fantastic! That's the pattern I would most like to win.
My biggest pet peeve about quilting patterns? Right now it would have to be when they do not provide instructions for multiple sizes.
Thanks!

Tiffany said...

That playhouse is genius! But as I do not have children and will not for a while, I would like the quilt pattern if I was lucky enough to win.

My pet peeve about patterns is that sometimes I get them and they are so bad, I could have spared myself the money and just figured it out myself. Other times, the instructions are great, but then I have to spend a lot of time figuring out how to make a pattern bigger or smaller. That is why Im excited that you said she gives that information in her patterns!

grendelskin said...

They're both wonderful, but I'm absolutely drooling over Seeing Squares.

My biggest peeve with commercial patterns is poor presentation/cheap materials. I hate paying $10 for a pattern only to receive pages that were clearly printed on copy paper using a home printer. I'd much rather pay a bit less for a PDF file: I can use the paper of my choice if I want to print it and I don't feel like I got rooked.

Valerie said...

Wow those are both spectacular, I'd love either!

My pet peeve is patterns that don't contain enough pictures, I am SUCH a visual learner that I really need to see things to do them. Not a lot of traditional patterns are written for people like me...

jovaliquilts said...

How great of your friend -- I'd be happy with either pattern. I love the cover photo of the squares quilt, it's very nicely displayed and the photo itself is a work of art.

My pet peeve about quilt patterns? The directions are terrible!! I have not found this to be true of the large companies that sell patterns, but the vast majority (I am not exaggerating) of patterns I have purchased by small companies have been very poorly written. They need to have novice quilters (or whoever the product was designed for) use the directions to make the quilt before they sell the pattern.

patty a. said...

The quilt pattern would be my choice. My biggest peeve is when the cutting measurements are not clear - has the seam allowance been added or not?

Stine said...

I would love to win the quilt pattern! I think the sample made out of solids on the cover is amazing. What a perfect "boy" quilt. My biggest pet peeve about patterns is when the fabric yardages are "off". I hate it when you buy WAY too much or barely have enough for a project. I'm not typically a "lucky" person when it comes to raffles, giveaways, etc...so I'll probably be heading to buy one soon.

Pat at Bell Creek Quilts said...

I like the quilt pattern! My biggest peeve is when the size I want to make is not included in the instructions so I have to * do the math* to get to the size I want! Thanks for the give away. :)

Rebecca Merry said...

My goodness!! What great patterns! I'd LOVE either one! My biggest pet peeve is not enough pictures. If it's too wordy I just end up skimming and doing it "how I think it should be done" this usually ends bad for everyone involved ;)

Quilting Corner said...

I would really enjoy the pattern for the card table house.
Many patterns are not correct. More time should be spent on being correct before they are published.
Thanks,
Etty

Angie said...

I love the playhouse!

Um, I've never used a pattern for quilting. My only experience with patterns is for a simple dress I made for my daughter last summer. It was pretty good!

Alice R. said...

Okay, I"ll be selfish and say first choice would be the quilt pattern 'cuz it would be for me, but if those are gone and I still win, I have two little nephews who would love, love that playhouse!

Melinda said...

Your friend is a very talented designer. I love both patterns.

My pet peeve would have to be errors. There's just no excuse for them - the designer should triple check her writing and the publisher should triple check their work. I just made a purse that had 4 errors in the writing. Three of them were spelling errors, but still. It's so unprofessional.

Unknown said...

Love the squares quilt pattern!

Including quilt size and shape options, with yardage requirements, is important for me.

Thanks for hosting this giveaway.

Erin M. said...

The featured quilt on the the square quilt is fantastic. I think I'd enjoy using that pattern. Thanks for the offer to win and go KC!

two hippos said...

I love that quilt pattern and would love to make it! In terms of patterns, my pet peeve is lack of clarity -- and by this I mean assuming what makes sense to 1 person makes sense to someone else. In this regard, a good test will use multiple testers who think differently, someone who needs pictures, someone who needs words, etc.

Jacque. said...

Ohmygosh...how dang cute are they? I love both of these patterns, though my grandchildren are a bit too old for the card table playhouse. Darn it! So, my fave is the Seeing Squares...and how fun it looks! My pet peeve...other than the obvious one(s)of poor instructions or lack of photos, is grammatical and spelling errors...the general lack of professionalism.

Rustic Barnyard said...

I love the quilt pattern the best. The biggest pet peeve about patterns is they don't always give measurements for different sizes (ex changing from a king size to twin). Sometimes I just don't want to do the math.

Heidi

Debbie said...

Darling! I'd especially love the quilt pattern - but could see the card table house in my future, with a new little granddaughter! Wishing Shea a successful venture! (Love the name of her business, and her logo!)

Rachael Adele said...

I'd love the quilt pattern! I hate it when patterns over or under estimate the fabric requirements needed for the project.

Anonymous said...

I would take either pattern. I love both!

I wish there was an economical way to publish single patterns without having to put them in those dumb plastic bags. I always lose either the bag or part of the pattern when I'm using it.

Anonymous said...

I love the playhouse (I love the quilt too, but I'm not big on making quilts with patterns).

My biggest pet peeve with patterns (I do own a few quilt patterns after all) not including detailed enough instructions. I bought a pattern once specifically to learn about sewing circles. What did it say? "Sew the circle using your method of choice." Not. Good.

knottygnome said...

I love the square quilt pattern! my biggest pet peeve is when patterns don't include a diagram. i'm a visual learner and the pictures are very helpful.

knottygnome@gmail.com

Kelly O. said...

I love both patterns!!!
in patterns I love photos or at least diagrams

Gill said...

I love the quilt pattern!
My only peeve would be not enough pics in some patterns!!

Kelly said...

either pattern would be awesome.

my biggest pet peeve about patterns is that i am, like you said, a very visual learner, and a lot of times patterns don't show pictures of how to do something. that's why i love online picture tutorials so much!

SewLindaAnn said...

I would like the quilt pattern. My pet peeve is a complicated instruction not clearly explained or without a picture to show what it should look like.

carol said...

OMG..the little card table playhouse is the BEST!! I would make it in a minute for my granddaughter...and I guess I'd have to then buy the card table to go with it.

Margaret said...

LOVE the quilt pattern! Thanks for the chance to win :)

mamadevlin said...

Wish I had the play house pattern when my kids were younger. The quilt pattern looks like it would be lots of fun to make. My biggest pet peeve with a pattern is when the instructions are not very clear and there are not any illustrations to help you out. Many times the patterns just aren't tested well enough before they are released and often times there are much easier ways to do things than the pattern describes.

Erin Marsh said...

I would love this quilt pattern! My biggest pet peeve is when a pattern tells you to buy way more fabric than you actually need to make the quilt!

Helmus said...

I love the quilt pattern! My biggest pattern pet peeve is when you have to buy all kinds of specialty supplies (like a new foot for your machine) that you'll hardly ever use again! I am a budget sewer so this is a big deal for me. Thanks for the giveaway!

Mary P said...

I love them both! My biggest pet peeve about patterns is when they don't give you clear charts about how many pieces or blocks you are supposed to end up with. For example, I had a book that just said, cut 4 of this size from each fabric. But then there was no chart for me to double check my work as to how many TOTAL I was supposed to have. I did the math and figured it out but it was annoying.

marie said...

I like both of the patterns, so if I won either would be fine, you choose. My peeve is not enough photos and squaring up size.

lindaroo said...

I really love Shea's "Seeing Squares" pattern for it's puzzle-like quality!
Actually, I've never used a quilt pattern! I started quilting 18 months ago, and I'm ready to try something new!
I would love instructions that include strip piecing.

Jess said...

Beautiful! I love the burst of color on a dreary, rainy Indiana day. I don't have a card table, so I would prefer the quilt pattern. I've actually never used a pattern for anything, as I'm inherently afraid of the pattern being somehow more difficult than my winging it. Actually, I think I fear that a pattern won't leave any room for error, and I'll be disappointed with my imperfect results. However, I love to see how quilters put their works together. That's the math geek in me.

Bry said...

Oooo I would love the squares pattern! That quilt is stunning! When it comes to patterns I always lament a lack of pictures (not necessarily of the construction) but just of the quilt itself, but I can tell just from the few you included here that won't be an issue with these patterns!

Artfulife said...

Oh I'd pick the card table pattern for my little ones! My biggest pet peeve about patterns is most of them are hard to read. That's why I usually don't use them.

Lynn said...

I love both patterns and could see making each of them. If I had to pick one, it would be the playhouse. I'd love to make it for my grandson!! My pet peeve about patterns is that they need to have pictures as well as words and that someone needs to proofread them who has not made the project so that they are clear!

Thank you for introducing me to these patterns and for hosting this giveaway.

DianeY said...

I wouldn't have much use for the playhouse-cute as it is, but I love the quilt. I usually get lost in the cutting instructions of patterns. Too often it seems like it's for a particular line of fabric & if you're not using that one, you don't know where the pieces are going to end up!

Jody said...

I absolutely love the quilt pattern! I'm so happy for Shea...love her sense of color! I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be lucky enough to win a copy!

I'd have to say my pet peeve is in that some patterns, there are not enough photos and they don't include other color combinations...that's always a nice addition in my opinion:)

jodym7@yahoo.com

Wendy P said...

They are both so cute! I could use both, but I think the quilt pattern wins out!

My biggest pet peeve is quilt patterns that turn out incorrect. Not everyone checks the designer's website for corrections, but I'm glad I learned to do that. You'd be surprised how many big name quilt designers have corrections listed!

Kirsty @ Bonjour Quilts said...

Gorgeous, the two of them, but I lost my heart to that first Seeing Squares quilt. The colours, the shapes, just fabulous!

carrie said...

I LOVE the quilt pattern! I've been wanting to make a quilt like that for a while and just couldn't find / design a pattern I liked. My biggest pet peeve with patterns is not having a large range of sizes (lap blanket thru king size).

Four dogs and one quilter said...

I would love to win Seeing Squares, looks like a fun quilt to make. My pet peeve about patterns? Where do I start! Incorrect measurements, no pictures, templates the wrong size, no charts for different sizes, using a special ruler that isn't worth the money and one that I will never use again, not giving the dimensions of the elements of a block so I can make them an easier way. Don't know why I bother buying them at all. Could save myself the money by spending half an hour with a calculator and doing it myself. Sorry, I guess you hit a sore spot.

Ann said...

Great Quilt. Love the aqua and orange combo. Thanks for sharing!

Sharon said...

I love the Seeing Squares quilts! I wish patterns would have "suggestions" for the quilting, or at least how the sample was done.

Kate said...

The playhouse pattern is AMAZING! Talented friends indeed. I have a one-year-old and and four-year-old who would love to put a playhouse to good use.

Nichole said...

I love both patterns, but would likely choose the playhouse one just because it would be nice to have all the dimensions pre-figured.

My pet peeve with patterns are lack of sizes so I end up spending a lot of time scaling them up or down, and errors from inadequate testing.

Thanks for sharing and the chance to win!

Linda said...

Seeing Squares looks like a real winner to me! I have no general pet peeves about patterns. thanks for hosting this giveaway!

~Michelle~ said...

I've already pre-ordered the squares pattern!

Sequana said...

(I'm not reading other peeves)

I have just had this happen again with a pattern. First of all, it had me buy a lot of extra fabric; then it had me cut lots of extra strips that would have made way more pieces than I needed.

Also, the proofing was sloppy. Even at the first read-thru, I could see that I needed only 4 corner blocks not EIGHT as it stated.

I would love to win this quilt pattern. It's really jazzy.

Carol said...

Love that quilt pattern. My pet peeve is poorly written instructions. I sometimes wonder if the designer even read back over what she had written much less had the pattern tested by SEVERAL others. I sometimes pick patterns by designers that I know will be well written with great illustrations.

Quilt+Bitch said...

Oooo I love the Seeing Squares pattern. I hate patterns which are wrong and not actually tested. I've seen patterns where I have to reread the one sentence over and over again and still not understand what it is trying to tell me to do.

Saska said...

My grandaughters would love playing in these houses!

I like the quilt pattern too. What a choice!

Unknown said...

I love that playhouse! I've been thinking of making one for my son to go over our dining table... I've actually never used a quilt pattern, just some traditional block patterns, and I tend to just create my own design. But if I were to think of issues I would have with a pattern, it most likely would be the inability to change the size, trying to figure out what it would look like with different colors or fabrics. And BTW... We're looking forward to your visit out here in LA!

Sonia B said...

I love them both! Those squares are stunning. My pet peeve about patterns is trying to sell me a pattern for something that is really simple and straightforward . . . no complexity.

Gail said...

The playhouse would be the PERFECT next thing to make for our grandson M, who is the sweetest, mellowest little guy in the world (and a redhead!). Please, please, pick me, M's GG!

Gail said...

OOOhh, I forgot to post my pet peeve. It's not having all the cutting requirements up front, especially when you need x number of WOF strips.

Rae Arnold said...

You ladies make me wish I never moved away from KC.

I’d love the Seeing Squares pattern.

My biggest peeve about the patterns I've had is incomprehensible instructions. Sometimes it just reads like the author didn't re-read what they wrote, and confuses me greatly. And that they’re often specific to one size.

Nanbon44 said...

love the house and my grandkids would love it to.. Pet peeve is sizing, wish they would include multi sizes...

Shayla Sharp said...

The quilt pattern definitely--I love it! My pet peeve is patterns that skip steps, I'd rather have extra instructions than not enough!

Linnea said...

I love the look of that quilt! One of my pet peeved about patterns on general is when they neglect to state the "obvious"...for some of us, it might not be so obvious.

'Manda said...

I love them both but since I have a new baby I would probably make the playhouse first. My pet peeve is more with myself that the pattern itself. I buy wonderful patterns but don't make them because I have so many patterns that I can't decide which one to do first!

Michelle said...

I would love to win the quilt pattern! My pet peeve would be black & white instructions. I like the diagrams and pictures in color.

Kimberly said...

I feel guilty but I would have to choose the quilt pattern, its gorgeous. I say guilty because my 3 year old would LOVE that playhouse! Beautiful patterns. As for a pet peeve I don't really have any really. I guess being in Canada its sometimes difficult because we buy all our fabric in metric lengths but the patterns are all in yardage but I look at it as a positive...we end up with a little extra left over to make scrappy projects with!
Thanks for the giveaway!
major.kimberly(at)gmail(dot)com

Judy said...

Both patterns are wonderful and I would like either one. My pet peeve is patterns that don't give other size options.

Anonymous said...

I'd take either one, though I think I love the quilt pattern a little bit more!

What do I dislike about patterns? When they use too many templates or are too complicated, and especially when they don't give us the 'big picture' on how it all goes together very clearly.
steeplechaser29 (at) yahoo (dot) com

LT said...

I love the Seeing Squares pattern. I wish patterns would include all the sizes for a quilt, and I wish they would make quilting recommendations. It's such an integral part of a quilt and yet often all you get is "quilt as desired".

Thanks for letting us know about Shea's patterns and her new venture!

Butterfly said...

pet peeve as to pay $10 for a bag pattern last week and when I took it out of the little plastic cover all it was 2 pages photocopied and the drawings were not clear at all - way to small.


Love to win the quilt pattern.

Leona

Corinnea said...

Very cute patterns! Since I'm a new grandma the card table tent draws me... Pet peeve.. can I say what I appreciate instead? Plain, concise instructions. Size options. The math being done for me.

Sallie said...

I would like the quilt pattern. My biggest pet peave is when there's an error in the pattern.

Angela said...

oh I'd love the card table playhouse pattern. I have a little one who would love that!

Biggest pet peeve for patterns...hmm...sad to say that I have many. But I think what gets me is needlessly complicated cutting instructions. I'd rather waste a little fabric and have easier cutting instructions than force a pattern onto a predetermined size of fabric.

Audrey said...

Oh, I'm lovin' both of those patterns!

KateKwiltz said...

As much as I would love the tent, I'm a little big to be playing under the card table, so I guess the quilt pattern would be more appropriate.
My biggest peeve? When it says "Fat Quarter Friendly" on the front, and then all the directions are for WOF cuts. Arghhhh!

P.S. Love her graphics! Very eye catching!

Amy said...

Love both - seeing the squares in shades of red!

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

The quilt pattern would be my choice....grandbabies are all grownup.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

I love it when the size of the sections or blocks are listed after each step.

Barb said...

ooh looks like a great pattern would love to win.

Also love the card table house, but coco would pull it down :)

What Comes Next? said...

I love the quilt pattern, although the hideaway house is very cute, too, I just wouldn't have a use for it!
My biggest pet peeve is incomplete instructions - assume I know nothing! If you include something I already know, I can skip over it, but if it's missing something, I just might get frustrated and throw the pattern away!

Laura said...

the quilt is so cute and would make a great quilt for my daughter but the house is so awesome. It's a hard choice but I think I would prefer the house pattern. I have never heard of these before and now I'm dying to try it. My biggest frustration is when I want to make a quilt size not listed in the pattern and I have to figure out myself how to adjust it.

laura said...

Oh YES! I've already planned on purchasing that table playhouse pattern, so here's to winning it!
It's really hard to follow patterns when there are steps missing.....
Thanks!

Lisa England said...

I love the quilt pattern and the colors are so cheerful! I have written a couple patterns myself and know that it is an involved process. I really appreciate it when the author makes the extra effort to include options, tips, etc. I try not to criticize unless I can be helpful.

Zibu said...

The house! It is adorable!

Pattern Pet Peeves:
-verbose without enough diagrams/sketches/photos - a picture is worth a thousand words!
-incorrect/incomplete instructions - very annoying, especially if it's not a free pattern.

nkadenver@yahoo.com said...

Oh, I'd love to win the Seeing Squares pattern. My pet peeve regarding patterns is when they don't include multiple sizes and layouts. I love that Shea shows multiple colorways too--wish more pattern designers would do that. Thanks for introducing us to Shea's patterns and for sponsoring the giveaway.
nkadenver@yahoo.com

Lynn said...

The quilt pattern! My biggest pet peeve - patterns that too confusing without an illustration or photo

JaneRH said...

Love the quilt pattern...and you're right Jacquie, having photos of 2 quilts really 'sells' it for me. I dislike patterns that either seem to jump a step (and assume you get the connection) or have yardage measurements that don't include specifics...'2 yards of various fabrics for blocks'...I mean come on...would it kill them to say I used 10 FQs or 20- 10 inch squares?! Thanks for the giveaway.

Unknown said...

that play house is the cutest! I dont think i have ever used a pattern "as is" i always feel the need to make some sort of change...

Valerie said...

I would love that quilt pattern! So pretty! My pet peeve would be not including various sizes/fabric requirements. I like to have options!

HRH Gigi said...

I am in love with that Cardtable Playhouse! Why have I never seen these before? How could I have missed that? So dang cute! Oh please, please, please pick me.

anne said...

Oooh I love the quilt pattern and like how you can make different sizes and it has other colour palettes. Pet peeve is patterns only coming in one size....Thank you for sharing.

bioyarn said...

I would LOVE the quilt pattern, she has a great sense of coloring combinations! I have not followed many quilt patterns, I like to make up my own. I am interested in following a few patterns to help improve my efficiency.
Thank-you for the opportunity to win a pattern!

epban said...

I would love the quilt pattern! My pet peeve with patterns is not enough pictures/illustration for this visual learner!

Susan said...

I love the Seeing Squares pattern! Quilt patterns need good diagrams-I'm a visual learner!

Live a Colorful Life said...

I LOVE that card table pattern. My grandkids would also love it. I'm definitely purchasing both.

Malealyn said...

1. The card table playhouse. That is a great idea!

2. I really get annoyed when I decide to make something and then have to take the templates to the copy place to enlarge the templates by 200% or so. I get that it is a paper savings on their part- but I spend so much more time and energy getting them all to print!

Thank you for showing us these patterns!

**nicke... said...

i would LOVE the quilt pattern.
my biggest pet peeve... unclear directions. drives me crazy!

Tamie said...

Both of these patterns are great but since I am way past the Playhouse stage and not quite to the grandchildren phase the quilt pattern would be my choice. My pet peeve- too many patterns to choose from and not enough time to give them all a try. Good luck to your friend Shea.

Jacqui said...

I'd choose the quilt pattern, but if my daughter wasn't almost past the playhouse age (and if we had a card table) then the decision wouldn't be so easy! My mum made us a very similar one back in the early 70s, complete with plastic windows and I still remember it with great fondness.

My pet peeve with quilt patterns is when they are clearly designed around a particular line of fabric that its hard to know how to use other fabrics or if you have yardage instead of the FQ they specify. They're just so inflexible!

Tanya said...

That square quilt is beautiful! I would love to win that. I have't yet used a quilting pattern. I like to use online tutorials or just sketch it out myself, but that square one is too good to pass up.

JanetK said...

I would love the quilt pattern - that card table playhouse is so cute though! We're sort of done with playhouse around here (and I was the through a sheet over it and be done too!), and grandkids are not pending any time soon.

I don't have enough experience with too many patterns to have a specific pet peeve - but I hate when there's an error in the fabric requirement and I didn't have enough of something. And I don't like sometimes how much extra fabric a pattern might specify - but this has been more of a problem translating FQ to yardage for me.

Alaina Beth said...

I absolutely LOVE the squares pattern. So beautiful in both the colorways shown.

My biggest pet peeve about quilting patterns is #1 - when they don't give you any info for making bigger sizes in the pattern or the fabric buying instructions and #2 - when the fabric buying guide has you buy way too much fabric, especially when you purchased specific fabrics that you might not want again.

Cammie said...

Stop! That quilt is so much fun! And really? That playhouse looks like it walked out of Pottery Barn.
May I win both? :) If i have to choose, the quilt would be used faster.

Thanks!

theredkiwi (at) yahoo (dot) com

SEW RED HOT said...

I love the quilt pattern - so colourful and happy!

Pet peeve: mistakes!! I don't usually follow patterns but I helped a friend cut out pieces to make one up and the instructions were incorrect and the piecing didnt work out. I think they should be checked over properly before they're released.

lore
x

The Rx quilter said...

Oh, I love the playhouse..my twins are teens now and wouldn't think one is too cool..but I have a new nephew and his big sis' that would totally adore this! Biggest pet peeve is no pictures or diagrams..I am such a visual learner and really need to see where to put piece A to make make piece C fit! Lisa in Texas

Unknown said...

My biggest pet peeve is when the pattern materials list fails to mention what yardage is for (IE: #yrds for inner border, #yrds for binding is better than #yrds random print).. so when picking colors you have to guess which fabric goes where!

Thank you for the chance to win! I'd love the quilt pattern :)

Faith Jones said...

Those are both AWESOME patterns! That playhouse is totally creative, I haven't seen anything like it. LOVE them!

Faith
freshlemonsquilts (at) gmail.com

Judi said...

Both patterns are awesome. I would love to win either of them, I can see my grandson playing in the playhouse and I do love the quilt.

sarah said...

hello.

i love both patterns. i have just started quilting and have two under my belt and working on my third. and i have a 4 year old boy and a 10 month old girl who would both love a play house. :)

i have no pet peeves yet about quilt patterns, yet. i've only used a pattern once and i had no problems with it. we'll see how long that holds true... :)

thanks!

kay morrison said...

i would get the playhouse...because i already bought seeing squares!

Margaret said...

The playhouse would be prefect for my two little misters. My pet peeve is not enough specific photos for a detailed direction.

Kati said...

I love that Seeing Squares pattern. That is a wonderful looking quilt. I'd love to make it.

Kati said...

I generally dislike using patterns because then I have a quilt that looks like everyone else's quilt. I also dislike it when instructions aren't clear and I have to reread the pattern 4-5 times to figure out what they mean.

Paige said...

Oooh, I'd love to try the quilt pattern. I've never made a quilt from an actual pattern so I have no complaints yet! ;)

Nicci P said...

Both oh so cute, but the quilt would be my choice. Pet peeve? All the lap-sized quilts. My family is tall, so I am always adjusting the pattern if I can. I really appreciate the sizing options. Thanks!

Beth said...

Not only are the projects super cool, but her patterns are so cute! Love the design!

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Oh those are great patterns - I guess I'd have to choose the quilt pattern. My pet peeve about quilt patterns is the lack of enough drawings or photos to accompany the instructions.

Living in the Bay said...

I'm a visual quilter, too and I would appreciate either pattern. My biggest pet peeve is using a pattern that wastes fabric by having you cut down pieces resulting in leftovers when an initial smaller cut would have been more efficient.

Wieke said...

I love the playhouse!
Pet peeve is that so many quilts are lap quilts. I'd like to have the fabric requirements for bigger (queen) sized quilts.

Lissa said...

oh my oh my! I love both of these patterns sooo o much, it is hard to say which one I like better. Probably the quilt one. I must be honest I have never seen the card table house before, but it is brillant! I guess it doesn't matter, I will probably buy them both (or hopefully just one if I win one here!).

Biggest pet peeves not sure, probably when the directions use words that aren't familiar to beginners.

Lee said...

I would love the playhouse pattern. ppeeve - not giving sizing options.
thanks!
butler83ataoldotcom

Stephany said...

I love them both but I know my kids would love that card table house! :)

Stephany said...

not having at least a diagram that shows steps. I am a visual and hands on learner so the diagram or pictures HELP!

Sherrill said...

Ooo, ooo, the quilt pattern please! I think I really dislike most when there's an error in the instructions and you've already cut your fabric! YIKES!

Nicole H. said...

Ooo, the playhouse! Even my husband LOVES that one and he's picky about which craft projects he likes.

My nearly 4 year old and the one on the way would be able to make considerable use of the playhouse.

Pattern pet peeve: one which requires uncommon specialty equipment to make.

Tiffany said...

I would definitely pick the quilt pattern. I LOVE it! I have always wanted to make something like that but have never quite figured out an easy way to do it!
My pet peeve about patterns is that sewing garments always seems to be so stinkin hard and the clothes never seem to fit right!

Jenny J said...

I would like the playhouse please. I assume the card table is NOT included in the pattern ;)
Pet peeve I have with quilting patterns.....haven't used one before. I do have lots of pet peeves though. My husband putting his dirty clothes on the floor, instead of the hamper a foot away, for instance is a pet peeve. Does that count? :)

Lauren said...

I can't believe how many comments there are! Well, I can actually, seeing as how that Playhouse pattern is so freaking adorable!

Arita said...

I would love to win Seeing Squares Quilt pattern. Thanks for sponsoring the giveaway.

Anonymous said...

I'd love the quilt pattern. My boy is about the top of the age range for the playhouse and I just bought him a cute teepee.

I like patterns to give yardage in yards and also FQ's as I buy most of my fabric in FQ's.

Pat V. said...

Seeing squares is awesome! The playhouse is cute (I remember those) but my kids are in their 20's and I don't think they'd really use one if I made it. My pet pattern peeve isn't with patterns per se. I'd really like online retailers to list the fabric requirements along with the pattern. Many times I'm looking to use stash fabric and don't want to buy the pattern if my fabric won't work - OR - I'd like to purchase the fabric along with the pattern, rather than pay shipping twice!

Joy said...

I love the square quilts I would love to win!

Unknown said...

They're both great patterns... but as my kids are teenagers my first choice would be the quilt pattern. It looks so complicated! My pet peeve? Low picture to word ratio. Thanks

Suzanne said...

I like patterns that include a really great head on shot of the quilt, a few close ups of the blocks and a description or schematic of the quilting. Sometimes I need that inspiration.

Thanks for the giveaway and good luck to Empty Bobbin. If I won, I'd prefer the quilt pattern.

Ramona said...

I would love the quilt pattern though both patterns are great. I hate patterns that don't have enough pictures as I am very visual or poorly written directions.

Lisa said...

I love them both but the quilt looks like so much work! I think I'd go for the table.

I don't work with a lot of patters, so I don't really have a solid pet peeve.

Pattij said...

I've been looking at quilt patterns like this. Love the colors! I hate the fit in most patterns! They are always so big for little kids!
Evin5 at aol dot com

Adele said...

My choice would be the card table play house....if I have to choose !!!

My big pet peeves are not enough pictures or illustrations.

Also different size options, I think shows a talented pattern writer who has thought things through.

Stacy said...

I would choose the quilt pattern, though they are both adorable. My pet peeve with all patterns is when the fabric amounts they call for are too much, and there is excess waste. Every penny counts these days!

Elsa said...

love both of the projects but I chose the quilt pattern as I don't have any little kids in my life right now. thanks for the giveaway!

Unknown said...

I love the quilt and don't have any little people in my life right now.. Thanks for the giveaway.

Erin said...

Ooo, I love that quilt. It's gorgeous! My biggest pet peeve is definitely patterns designed without the flexibility to change the size, whether they are quilt or clothing patterns. But it seems like this would be such an easy thing to do with quilt patterns, I'm surprised at how often they are excluded. Then again, I've never written a quilt pattern, so maybe it's more difficult than I think...

mtnhomequilter said...

I love the quilt pattern and the playhouse, but my kids are just too big for it! My biggest pet peeve is not having pattern pieces at full size. Some of us don't have the capabilities to easily enlarge to 400%!

Mommyput said...

I LOVE both patterns but would really like to have the playhouse one. I have nine children, but my last two are really little and I don't have a playhouse for them anymore.

What I really don't like about quilt patterns is when what they say doesn't match the diagrams or when the wording isn't easy to visualize and the diagrams don't assist in that visualization. I usually end up having to look online for more help or just winging it, taking it out, or having to go drive the quilting store to ask for help. I am a visual learner and I think a lot of pattern designers don't take that into consideration, maybe.

greetingarts said...

Both are great, I'd love either one. My pet peeve with quilt patterns is when they're too limiting and specific, and don't give you the tools to convert the pattern to, say a different size.

Mego said...

I like them both but would love to win the quilt pattern. At 16 and 19 I REALLY don't want grandkids yet (or even encourage it!) and my kids are a little old for the card table. Altho if I had an old refrigerator box............

natalie christensen said...

Oh my son is always asking me to build a fort this is awesome! My pet pieve with patterns is when there is not enough pictures to help me understand them. I am such a visual person.

Angela Nash said...

Fabulous quilt!!!! I would love that pattern.

The thing I don't like about patterns is unclear fabric requirements on the package. I want to know exactly what each fabric is for - and how much - so I can easily buy the fabric at the same time as the pattern.

Carla G said...

I would love the quilt pattern - it's even in my colors... The card table fort is really cute, but my kids are already past that.

My issue with quilt patterns is that they expect everyone to already be an experienced quilter & be able to read between the lines to know how to cut & put it together - that doesn't work when I'm just a beginner. The other problem is to actually put the finished size and the amount of each fabric needed clearly on the pattern.

maeve315@msn.com said...

I would so love to win this pattern. It is gorgeous! I like patterns to be thorough in every way - step by step instructions (don't assume we know what to do), with photos when necessary, a truly complete list of supplies needed, some possible variations on the size of the quilt for various needs.

Cheryl said...

I like both patterns but the playhouse pattern would be for my grandson. Patterns that are not specific in the directions are aggravating. Pictorial directions can be very helpful.

Meg said...

I love that quilt--it's gorgeous, and the pattern has so many possibilities. Seeing it in green and white, I think...

My major pet peeve when it comes to patterns is that they often are word-heavy and picture/diagram light. I'm a visual person, it's why I quilt. Just telling me how it should look instead of showing me? Frustrating!!

. said...

I would choose the quilt pattern, I really love it. I hate patterns that don't have everything you need listed on the back. Thanks for the giveaway.

Nathalie said...

I really like the seeing squares pattern. thank you for the chance to win it.
pet peeve: patterns that have you do a step that is totally unnecessary.

Mindy said...

Both patterns are great! I think I'd like the play house pattern. My pet peeve with patterns would be when the instructions are unclear.

MoeWest said...

I would love to win the quilt pattern. The playhouse is very cute, but I don't have any little people to make one for. I've been lucky with the quilt patterns I've used so far, no complaints.

Marcia W. said...

1) quilt 2) directions that have errors - one of the worst is cutting sizes and amounts of fabrics. Also like to see for each step the direction to press each seam during assembly.
Congratulations to Shea on your new venture. Thanks for the giveaway.

Joy said...

I love the Seeing Squares pattern. So beautiful! Thanks for the chance...

My biggest complaint is spending money on patterns (or worse, books) only to find that the patterns haven't been tested enough to work out the errors.

Greenstylemom said...

I don't know how I would choose, so I am going to have to say either. I love them both. And I really would like patterns to have more illustrations. Often pics make more sense to me than words.

Ellen said...

I love both, but I'm especially drawn to the playhouse! My biggest pet peeve is when pattern doesn't include pictures of steps, especially intricate steps. Thanks for the giveaway!

Sue said...

I'd love the quilt pattern. I'm irritated by patterns that are so confusingly written you don't know what to do, and have to make it up yourself.

Little Creatable said...

I would love that play house seriously I want it for me...^_^

Ok so my biggest pet peeve is opening the patten and figuring it all out. Once I've got it all sorted it's great it's just that first bit LOL

Karen said...

I'd love the playhouse pattern as I have 2 small grandchildren who would love to play in it. My peeve about patterns is when the measurements are off.

Peach Rainbow said...

Both of them are lovely - Thanks for the chance!
My Pet peeve of patterns - not having photos to illustrate certain things (I mean it would be better and more clear if there were some step by step photos) :D

Unknown said...

I LOVE Seeing Squares! it looks like such fun to make. My biggest pet peeve is buying a pattern that hasn't been thoroughly proofed and contains errors. This seems to happen surprisingly often.

Ellen said...

I would love the quilt patter (no kids). My biggest annoyance about quilt patters is poorly written directions - more often than not they just leave out important steps.

Sarah ACP said...

I would like the Seeing Squares quilt pattern. My pet peeve - not enough directions. I recently put together a quilt and the directions did not state what side of the rectangles to sew together. It called for 4"x4 3/8" rectangles but did not state which side to sew together to make a chain of rectangles. I hope I sewed the correct side together and all works well. Thanks for the giveaway.

Anonymous said...

I love the quilt. My biggest peave with patterns are no pictures. If I Am new to sewing and too many times patterns are written for more experienced sewers. Pictures make it easier to follow

Thanks
Dianne

VickiT said...

How adorable is that little playhouse. I think even as cute as it is that I'd prefer the quilt pattern.

My biggest pet peeve about patterns is not having the info on the back of the package that would help me to pick that up in a store and not have to open it to find out all necessary fabrics and other things needing to be purchased.

Thanks for the chance to win and I hope Shea has great luck in her new venture.

Carrie H. said...

I would like to have the playhouse pattern. My kids would go crazy over that. My biggest complaint about patterns is that they aren't always clear and sometimes assume that the person using them as experienced as the person writing them... if that makes any sense... hmmm... And thanks for the opportunity to win this!

Kirsten said...

They are both great patterns but I really love the squares quilt!. My biggest peeve about patterns is that you are often not given options for making diferent sizes.

Holly said...

Either looks like great fun! I hate when I have to keep reading pattern instructions over and over again before the final click of 'ohhhhh that's what they mean!' =/

Paula Lemos said...

I would love to win the playhouse pattern, it's so cute! I've never followed a quilt pattern; I'm a newbie and I'm currently making my first quilt and it's taking me ages. So my pet peeve is lack of time, I guess. I wish I could spend more time sewing.
Thanks for the chance!
ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

Staci said...

I love the quilt!
Pet peeves: #1 when the instructions are just plain wrong!
#2 Not enough diagrams and photos. I'm very visual, and need to SEE what I'm supposed to do.

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