While we are addressing issues, I overlooked adding yardage for the large 9-patch blocks for the quilt Four Patch Chain on page 70 of Volume 2. The yardage should be 2 2/3 yard of white. Carrie and I are really hoping that everyone using these books are truly doing what we are teaching and figuring each quilt on your own to develop the pattern and yardage for yourself and to really understand the process before you start. We apologize for any thing we have overlooked, such as this, but also hope that if you are truly studying this as a college course, not using the book as a typical pattern book, you will discover these issues and know that there is an error and also know the correct answer. This is the whole reason we are doing this. We are not trying to get off the hook for our mistakes - believe me, it is humiliating to find the errors after the book is in print. We read the books a minimum of 7 times and think we have found the problems, only to find that an obvious problem crops up - like Townsquare in Volume 1. However, as Lesley stated in the very beginning, she knew she was right and the book was wrong because she did her own math and her numbers were right. That is truly what we want for everyone. By doing this, you are getting closer and closer to being able to take a photo and dividing it down to a block, a grid, a recipe, and a yardage chart - all on your own. The step after that is to design your own original quilts and be able to write your own instructions.
I will share with you that one of the hardest parts of writing instructions is that you have no idea what your readers do and don't know, and what they do and don't do as far as following instructions. This being said, there will always be problems with the written word and having everything perfectly understandable for everyone. We really want to teach our readers to contemplate and analyze the quilts and the patterns, not just follow the pattern.
We would like some feedback on this if anyone has any thoughts.
Harriet
Quilter's Academy Vol. 4
It's here!!! And we hope you enjoy it!
Quilter's Academy Vol. 3
Quilter's Academy- Graph Paper
Quilter's Academy Vol. 2
Quilter's Academy Vol. 1
Heirloom Machine Quilting
Your very best text for learning to machine quilt on a home sewing machine
Mastering Machine Appliqué
Want to learn to do beautiful appliqué on a sewing machine... this book will teach you 6+ techniques
From Fiber to Fabric
Harriet's textile text book for quilters- learn all about how fabric, thread and batting is manufactured and how to care for your fabric and quilts
My wish is that everyone learns to work things out for themselves .... I have spent many hours at sewing days trying to work out what is wrong in patterns for other people ...... then have to sort out my own!
ReplyDeleteJudy B
It's a very tricky situation you're in Harriet. If you 'dumb down' your books too much, there's a danger of boring the pants off a large portion of readers. Then again if you assume too much about what readers already know, you may scare off raw beginners.
ReplyDeleteFor me personally, I manage most of the instructions pretty well. There are the odd times when I get confused, but for the most part it's not too hard to figure it out for myself.
Of course there are situations, where the same set of instructions may be really clear for some people but are a bit muddy for others. In other words, it's just not possible to get it 100% right for 100% of people.
In the recent situation regarding the long sashings, what I learned was not intentional on your and Carrie's part, but it turned out to be an extremely valuable lesson i.e. that the 'correct' way is not always the only way.
Due to the way the books are teaching me, I used what I'd previously learned from the books to find a way to make it work. And that, Harriet is what brilliant teaching is all about!
In Vol 1, Class 170, Double Irish Chain quilt, page 82 goes through the steps on how to calculate yardage. This all makes sense and the last step comes up with the amount of yardage needed for each fabric.
ReplyDeleteThen on page 87, "Making Block A", it lists the number of strips needed of each fabric color for each of the rows. When you add those numbers up, you need more strips then were calculated on pg 82. Any thoughts? Think I understand why this happens; wondering how to catch it up front when doing the calculation, so enough fabric is purchased and so that I have all my strips cut when I'm ready to sew.