Blog readers are spoiled folks!    Almost every quilt I show, someone will ask “Will you please post that pattern?”  Know why I don’t post patterns for every quilt I make?

When I’m coming up with a quilt design, it doesn’t matter to me if I mix 5 patch blocks with 9 patch blocks with 4 patch blocks.   For most 9 patch blocks, they work best with 6″, 9″ or 12″ blocks.  For most 5 patch type blocks, they work best with 5″, 7-1/2″, or 10″ blocks.  What happens when you mix a 5 patch type block with a 9″ type block?  You may end up with weird size pieces.

For the current project, the little nine patches are 4-1/8″ unfinished which makes for some weird cutting sizes.  In order to get the finished quilt at the size I want it to be, I make the blocks whatever size it takes to get to the finished size.  Sometimes that results in weird sizes for cutting the pieces.  It isn’t an issue for me because I know that all my rulers are marked in 1/8″ increments.  In between — right in the middle — of those 1/8th measures is where a 1/16th cut would be so if I need a piece that’s a little less than 1/8″ or a little more than 1/8th”, I know exactly where to place the ruler.  It’s not hard but some folks panic (and let me know) when they see the weird sizes.

That’s why there’s not a pattern for every quilt I make.

Thank you all for your thoughts and comments.  I believe we pretty much agree.  In the scenarios I listed, all could be perceived as copyright violations by some designers.  Remember than anyone can sue you for anything.  Whether they win or not is another story but who wants to get sued, have to hire an attorney and have this hanging over your head.  There was a time when you could expect to be sued if you had no car insurance, ran a red light and injured someone but now, you look at someone wrong and you can be sued.  Don’t get me started on attorneys!  I worked for them for years and there are good ones but I guarantee you that if you went to a lawyer with any issue you have, without having to look very hard, you’re going to find one that is willing to file a lawsuit instead of recommending ways to work things out.  Thank goodness for some of the states that have passed laws regarding frivolous lawsuits.  It’s the day in which we live.

As quilters, we all need to take a stand!

Please do not do anything that will hurt your local quilt shops.  Many of them struggle to make ends meet and we need them.  I would suggest that you mention  your concerns to them . . concerns about what you can and cannot do with the fabrics they’re selling, or about limitations written on the selvage, and then when they go to market, they can make their concerns know to the manufacturers.

As for what I’m going to do . . I’ve already talked to Gail Kessler at Andover who makes the Dimples that I love and I’ll just stick with them.  I will use the fabric on my shelves but from henceforth, when I see a fabric I cannot live without, I will not buy it til I’ve made sure I know exactly how the designer thinks I should or should not use the fabric and you know what will happen by the time I’ve sent emails and waited for responses . . I’ll be out of the mood for the fabric.  I don’t need any more anyway!