grannypat7925

I sometimes use them but I raid my stash for the fabrics I want to use.

Highmtn

I put out two "quilters newsletters" locally. I have a file that I save those freebie patterns to and I often attach them to the newsletters. It's a fun thing to do, and I get a lot of positive feedback from people.

I'd rather find my own fabrics by hitting my stash first.

softpatches

I do often and use the fabric as a guide for theme & colors--

grammy17

Me too. Every time I see a new one, it is my favorite and my next quilt. I have so many 'Next Quilts' lined up I'll have to outlive Methuselah.

Lindsey

I also have used some of them..

Evie

I have used a few and downloaded many. I bought the fabric for only one pattern because I loved the particular line from Hoffman.

madamekelly

I never use the suggested fabric. I want my quilt to reflect my talent, not some designers. I can't follow a recipe exactly either. :lol:

SueSew

I like the looks of them, but ...

they often (Clothworks, Windham) end up using 12 or more different fabrics from the same line, which becomes expensive, especially for a relatively new quilter who might make a mistake on the layout/cutting.

sometimes they are less about a real pattern than a way to show off the fabrics. (Clothworks)

The Kaufman patterns seem really substantial but I haven't tried them yet as I am not good enough to execute them!!

But yes, I think they have value as creative inspiration and I have downloaded the ones I like or hope to do one day. Stars before I die LOL

Favorite Fabrics

I agree with you on this point! It's kind of unappealing for us, as a shop, to have to buy a whole bunch of similar, not-so-exciting coordinates from a line, just to have the all the fabrics to do up the pattern. What happens is that we sell through the "feature" prints (the interesting fabrics) and get stuck with the coordinates. And if we go back to buy more of the feature prints... they are usually unavailable by that time.

So I usually just order the feature prints for our shop, and maybe just one or two of my favorite coordinates. It's encouraging to read that so many folks shop their stash to fill in... because now I don't feel so bad about not ordering the full lines!

grandme26

I have used the patterns but not the fabric.