Robin Pickens
  • Blog
  • SHOP
  • Errata
  • About/Info
  • Pub./Press
  • UPCOMING EVENTS
  • COLOR STUDIES
  • PATTERN PLAY

Inside the Making of a Quilt Pattern

3/17/2018

3 Comments

 
I'm deep in designing some new quilt patterns to go with my new line I'll be showing at the spring Quilt Market, but those have to stay secret for now! However, I thought it could be fun to share a little of what goes into the process of making a quilt pattern! I'm really not showing the part of making the actual quilts because you all know what it's like to make a quilt. This is the other part. I work on the computer first for my designing. Yup, nothing gets cut till I've thought it out. I use Electric Quilt 8 and Adobe Illustrator. I have used Illustrator for many years so I have the most comfort with that software. 
Picture
I love creating colorful florals and patterns. Each collection has a personality based on the florals and colors and I try to design quilts that go along with that in some way, either with larger panels to showcase large scale prints, or shapes of blocks that speak to some thing about the main flower.  The image above shows part of the process I went through with Town Square Garden for the Blushing Peonies collection. In this case I knew I wanted to do a medallion quilt with a large center panel and started with images on the upper left. Peonies having such a beautiful rounded shape so I ended up using arcs of triangles to the outside to reference the curved softness and blooms (the images on the right). After I have the structure I like, I break it down into what blocks are the most logical to make and describe in instructions.
Picture
I use Moda Bella Solids with my prints and love the range of colors that coordinate perfectly. I get a lot of use out of my Bella Solids Match Maker and color swatches. The computer allows me to try new color combinations very quickly and easily. In figuring out blocks I also do a lot of drawing and scribbling in my notebooks. Sometimes nothing beats paper to jot stuff down on!
Picture
An important part of figuring out a quilt is the size, the scale, and the math of the yardage needed. I try to design some of my patterns to utilize precuts because they are such a handy way to get a whole coordinating collection with a lot of variety without having to buy tons of yardage for that much variety. If I'm using precuts, there are some parameters I stay within for piece sizes for my blocks. To figure out my yardage, I take all the little pieces I made in Illustrator and lay them out the way I would cut them on yards of fabric, as is shown on the image above. I'm sure there are faster ways to figure this out but I'm very visual in my thinking so this way works for me.

Then there are the steps of making the actual quilts and finding out what doesn't happen the way I thought it would on the computer. I make revisions on instructions, finish quilts and photograph them (and that could be a whole different blog post).
Picture
I've got a graphic design background so I handle all the diagrams and layouts myself. The writing of the instructions is often the most challenging part for me and I try to assume people have limited knowledge of piecing. Because I am newer to this, that's the way my brain thinks- simple steps please! I use a technical editor who goes over my patterns before printing and checks my instructions, terminology, yardage and math and any mistakes in my layouts. I get the layouts revised and it's off to press!
Picture
When the patterns come back from the printer my handy helper (my dear sweet husband) and I have marathon sessions bagging patterns. The dining room table, the kitchen counters, everything gets used fill the initial larger orders. And then woosh! off they go to shops and sewing rooms!
Picture
Picture
You may have noticed coffee cups in some of the shots...yes, lots of coffee when I'm deep in pattern-land! Hope you have enjoyed this little view into my process! If you'd like to check out some of these patterns they are carried in local quilt shops and on my shop. Happy sewing!!
Picture
3 Comments
Michelle Schneider
3/18/2018 07:18:47 am

Hi Robin, is there a need to get permission from the fabric company if you are using their fabric for the example product or images for the pattern?

Reply
jessica
3/24/2018 11:05:15 am

I really enjoyed reading your blog post on how you design your quilts. I have always wanted to get into designing patterns and have done a few things with designing. But would like to do it more professionally.

I am currently a teacher, teaching several sewing classes, and would like to go back to school and further my education. I didn’t know if there are classes that you would suggest in taking to help me get into design. Or if you had any advice for me I would appreciate any help.

Reply
Denise Clason
1/4/2022 09:41:03 am

I sure want to learn how to use the EQ8, I also have all of the software from EQ5 EQ6, EQ7....why can't I learn how to use it? Sure need help...I have all the books...It will take me a while, do you have any learning videos on how to use it?

I get confused on the steps it says to use...then I get confused on where the items are in software... Thanks, I love how you use it! someday....

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    About ROBIN

    Designer of colorful florals for Moda fabrics. Modern to transitional quilt designer. Illustrator, sewist, crafter.

    RSS Feed

    I am proud to be a designer for Moda Fabrics!
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Picture
    Picture

    Shop Robin's Designs

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Follow
    American Patchwork Quilting Pat Sloan interview Robin Pickens
    Check the March 6, 2017 Episode!

    Categories

    All
    100 Blocks
    31 Day Blogging Challenge
    Abby Rose
    Art Licensing
    Art Products
    Backslash
    Blockstep Quilt
    Blushing Peonies Fabric
    Bountiful Sew Along
    Business Tips
    Calendars
    Calendar Tea Towel
    Carolina Lilies
    Charm Pack Quilts
    Christmas
    Coloring Books
    Color Play Quilts
    Color Studies
    Composition Book Cover
    Cottage Bleu
    Cottage Blue
    Creative Grids Rulers
    Criss Cross Kisses
    Curated Quilts Mini
    Curved Block Quilts
    Dandi Annie
    Dandi-Annie
    Dear Mum Fabrics
    Deco Garden
    Definite Plus
    Emilia Quilt
    English Paper Piecing
    Etsy
    Etsy Color And Quilt Shop
    Fabric
    Fair And Square Quilt
    Fat Eighth Patterns
    Fat Quarter Quilts
    FREE Quilt Block Patterns
    Fringe Quilt
    Fruit Veggie Art
    Full Bloom Quilt Block
    Giftware & Home Decor
    Giveaway
    Halloween
    Holidays
    Hopscotch Happy
    Joy And Delight Quilt
    Kinship Fusion Sampler
    Kyoto Steps
    Layer Cake Quilts
    Martingale Publishing
    Mini Quilts
    Moda Blockheads 2
    Moda Blockheads 3
    Moda Blockheads 4
    Moda Designers
    Moda Fabric
    #ModaStitchPink
    Mod Flower Box
    Nutcracker
    Organization
    Painted Meadow
    Pansy's Posies
    Pattern Play
    Poppy Mae Fabric
    Positively Bohemian
    Press
    Project Jelly Roll
    Quilt Books
    Quilt Borders
    Quilting
    Quilt Magazines
    Quilt Market
    Quilt Patterns
    Quilt Patterns Other Fabrics
    Quilt Samplers
    Quilt Settings
    Quilt Shows And Festivals
    Redbubble
    Ring Around The Posies
    Robin Pickens Inc Etsy
    Robin Pickens Shop For Quilt Patterns
    Rulers/templates
    Sampler Spree
    Seize The Day
    Seize The Day Calendars
    Sew Alongs
    Sewcialites
    Sewing Rooms
    SFWeeklyDesigns
    Shipshewana
    SHOPIFY
    #ShowMeTheModa
    Simple Solstice Quilt
    Sliding Shoji Screens
    Solana Sunflower Fabric
    Splendid Fabric
    Spoonflower
    Stickers
    Stitch Pink
    Sugar Skulls
    Sweet Pea & Lily
    Table Runner
    Table Topper
    Tea Towels
    Thatched
    Thatched Basics
    Tokyo Terrace
    Totes
    Towards The Sun
    Town Square Garden
    Trade Shows
    T Shirts And Giftware
    T-shirts And Giftware
    Tulip Tango
    Tutorials
    Village Quilt
    Watercolor Painting
    Wild Blossoms Fabric
    Workshops And Lectures

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    October 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    May 2012
    December 2011

    © Robin Pickens Inc. All rights reserved. No images may be reproduced without permission.
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Blog
  • SHOP
  • Errata
  • About/Info
  • Pub./Press
  • UPCOMING EVENTS
  • COLOR STUDIES
  • PATTERN PLAY