Do you ever play with designing your own quilts? Perhaps you don’t like following patterns, preferring to make your own unique creations instead. I used to dream about how cool it would be to see my quilts in publications. Guess what – it is very cool. Not “make you famous” cool, but it is very validating to have industry professionals put your work in print, and to pay you for the privilege. I recently responded to a call for submissions from Quiltmaker magazine. The prompt is fantastic and fun, and perfect for someone who is considering taking that first step into becoming a PUBLISHED DESIGNER.
Here are a few pros and cons of being published in magazines, based on my experiences. For me, the pros outweighed the cons every time, but you need to think about them for yourself.
Pros
Self esteem boost
Paycheck
Exposure
Industry credential
Cons
Easy to be disappointed
Pattern rights tied up for 6 months – 2 years, depending on contract
Paycheck isn’t huge
Pattern can have errors or be written in a way that doesn’t reflect your style
Timelines can be short
Your pattern may be used in re-prints or be available for sale as a pdf forever.
Quiltmaker is part of Golden Peak Media. They also publish McCall’s Quilting, Love of Quilting, and Quick + Easy Quilts. I’ve published with them a bunch of times, and it has been a very easy experience. They write the patterns and generate the diagrams, which is the hardest part for me. This is why I always recommend them to folks who are just getting started. Anything to maximize fun, minimize stress.
Here is the call for submission that landed in my inbox last week. (I have permission from Quiltmaker to share with you.)
Reimagining Classic Quilt Blocks
We’re all familiar with Log Cabins, Churn Dashes, Ohio Stars, Dresden Plates, Drunkard’s Path, and many other classic quilt blocks. Let’s think outside the blocks by changing them up a bit! For our Fall 2024 issue, we’re seeking fresh interpretations, innovative twists on traditional blocks, and reimagined classic designs to reflect a more contemporary flair. Consider off-center or asymmetrical designs, curved instead of straight edges, and unique block layouts. We will also accept designs celebrating fall holidays—like Halloween and Thanksgiving. Share your inspired designs with us and be part of this exciting journey as we explore the intersection of tradition and innovation in quilting.
Submission Guidelines
We are so excited to share this news with you and we hope that you will submit a design. Please send a diagram, drawing, or photo of your unpublished idea to quiltsubmissions@goldenpeakmedia.comby March 10, 2024 along with the completed Submissions Form. Once accepted, we will work with you directly to choose fabrics that you love and get you in touch with the fabric manufacturers to supply fabrics. The finished quilts are due May 15, 2024. This issue will be on sale in September 2024.
About Quiltmaker:
Quiltmaker speaks to the passionate quilter, sharing with them the latest techniques from around the globe with a focus on the people behind the quilts.
I loved this prompt, and immediately went to EQ8 to play. Electric Quilt is one tool I use to design quilts. It is quick and easy, and is an efficient way to generate a bunch of design ideas. I’ll show you a couple of version I played with, but not the one I submitted. Not that it is a huge secret, but part of the deal is that a design can’t have been published before submission.
I started playing with shoo-fly. I think the shoo-fly block is due for some time in the sun. This is also a game I’ve played successfully before – in response to a similar call I added curves to birds in the air, and it was published. Now you know I’m a one-trick pony. When it comes to modernizing a traditional block, I like to add curves. The other things I like to do are just change colors, play with scale, or subtract elements from the block. I’ve also been on a black and white with red design kick lately. So all of these are quite stark.
Fun, but not very exciting. Way too much. This feels like the floor of a diner. This is better – back to the original, but mostly black and white. After this one, I hit on the version I actually submitted. Hopefully you will be seeing it this fall, in the pages of Quiltmaker. If not, you’ll be seeing it sooner.
I did do one more version, and I’ll be writing a pattern for this one soon-ish. I removed the grid and just placed the blocks somewhat randomly. It needs a little bit more work, but it hasn’t told me exactly what it wants. It may be in the quilting. I really like the secondary shapes caused by the misaligned blocks. I’ll probably subtract a few more elements here and there, because I know this quilt’s name. It may sound silly, but sometimes they tell me their names.
Anyway. For the submissions, I take a screenshot of the design, then prepare a little one-page document. It has the sketch, my name, quilt name, quilt size, block dimensions and an estimate of fabric requirements. I fill out the submission form, then send that, along with the pdf document to the email for the magazine. Then I wait.
Usually I will hear back within a week or two of the submission deadline if they want my quilt. If they don’t want it, I don’t hear anything. I’ve been told that you can be contacted for a design years after submitting, but that has not been my experience. Either I get in for what I submit for, or I don’t, and that’s fine.
If getting your very own quilt design into a magazine is on your bucket list, I definitely encourage you to try. It is so much fun. Do your research, though. Make sure you understand what is going to be asked of you before you sign a contract.
A few tips
Design quilts you are capable of making
Don’t design a king-sized quilt with a 1 week timeline
Pay attention to scale – don’t add 1″ pieced blocks unless you want to sew 1″ pieced blocks
Keep fabric availability in mind and talk to your editor about it.
Contracts can be negotiated, but be reasonable in your requests.
Be willing to walk away from a deal that you don’t like.
Holy h*ck! I just submitted a design. I’m a little sweaty right now. You might have created a monster!!
I love the clarity and depth of your analysis—very well done!
Thank you!