kapatt

I have been quilting and looking at quilts for a long time. I do enjoy looking at quilt patterns but I decided that I can be obsessive about things and so I slimmed down my book collection to fit in a small bookcase. (I haven't counted them but I probably have around 75 books in the bookcase.) I'm trying to not buy any more books unless it is for a special reason. I try to keep only the books that I will definitely use in quilt making.

I use to collect quilt magazines and found that the stacks of magazines were starting to irritate me so I tore out the patterns that I liked (along with the directions) and put them into a plastic sleeve with the picture of the pattern as the top page. I put those plastic sleeves in 3 plastic magazine holders. I get a lot of enjoyment and ideas looking at those patterns. I'm now trying to not buy any more magazines because I have more than enough to look at.

I do buy patterns at the store but I'm trying not to buy to many. I try to not buy anything unless I really think I will make it.

I also use EQ5 to design my quilts. I even use it for the quilt patterns that I have bought from the store. That way I can plug in the color that I want to use on that quilt block and decide how big I want to make the quilt. I print the picture of the quilt top out and pin it up in my sewing room with the demensions and notes written on the paper.

All of this is done for the enjoyment of looking at quilts and for me, goes along with the enjoyment of making quilts.

BellaBoo

I use to buy lots of quilt patterns but now I'm very picky. I have to see the whole pattern before I buy. I won't buy black and white pictures only patterns or lousy printing of text. I have two big binders full of patterns in plastic sleeves and one big tote bag full. It's easy to look though the binders to refresh my memory of what patterns I do have.

HilaryK8

I have 4 purchased patterns , several books and a giant binder full of my favorite patterns ripped from magazines. I probably have around 50 patterns from magazines, nicely organized in a binder. I have to REALLY love a pattern to buy it because I think of the binder I have and all the free patterns online. But I'm sure my pattern library will continue to grow out of control.

I'm currently working on two projects. One free tute from a blog and one purchased pattern.

Tartan

I don't buy quilt patterns because then I would actually have to read them and follow the instructions. I find all the great quilts I want to do from the net now. What a money and timesaver! As for magazines, I do have a pile of those, okay several piles. I am currently getting rid of my older ones because they call for GASP templates!

lfstamper

I am glad to have such good company with my obsession! I want it ALL....lol.

Quilt-Till-U-Wilt

I rarely buy a pattern and I don't get quilt magazines anymore. I get most of my patterns from books or the internet.
The books are a much better value for the money since you get lots of patterns.

clsurz

None!

I don't use patterns when creating my one of a kind quilts.

I hate using patterns. It drives me nuts and also is very boring to me.

I like to just start cutting, sewing, and slashing and sometimes cutting again, sewing some more. Folks around here seem to like my art. Its not something they would do and I guess are not wired like I am nor am I wired like they are regarding such. :-)

Dolphyngyrl

Probably about what you have, but I cant help it

mike'sgirl

I'm with you, I don't care for templates!

sweetana3

I did an excel spreadsheet and I had 952 quilt books and leaflets. Most were obtained at garage sales, for free, at library sales, at a discount bookstore, etc. There are very few that I paid retail for at a bricks and mortar store.

The patterns fill three large plastic totes. One is for Cinci Edgerton patterns, one is foundation patterns, and one is
for the others.

It is an obsession. Lets not talk about the two lateral file drawers with clipped patterns or the huge file online of saved patterns.