My favorite quilt shop is turning 10 this month! It’s hard to believe Andrea and Ivete have been at it for so long. It took us a little while to figure out how to celebrate virtually. If the shop was still open, we would have had a party, with food and freebies. So, to wish Gotham Quilts Happy Birthday, and to give customers the presents, we are giving away 7 quilt patterns. All YOU need to do is click here and sign up for the email list.
I contributed two of my original patterns to the bundle – they will be released today and Saturday. I’m excited to see how everyone responds to them.
This is the one that is up today! It’s super simple, fun, and a great way to use up some leftover 2 1/2″ strips. Plus, we have a kit for a very similar fabric collection. The fabrics in this version are from 2021, so no longer available, but it is Alison Glass, and her collections always have similar colors. If you’ve been following me for a while, you may recognize that this one was published!
Ok. Head over, sign up, and get your free patterns. Obviously mine are the best, but Andrea and Ivete did some fun ones, too.
Over on the quilt pattern designer group on Facebook we often thrash out the topic of whether or not designers should give away free patterns. I’m personally not a huge fan of freebies, mostly because they are so much work. I don’t mind the design, or even explaining, but generating diagrams and laying out patterns for publication has been a pretty big learning curve for me. I’m much better than I used to be, but it is still a significant amount of work. To be honest, I like to get paid when I work. If I’m working for free, it’s going to be for a non-profit organization.
How do you feel about free patterns? Do you mind if they are a tool to gather your email address? Do you gather them all, print them out, and hoard them for someday when you need inspiration?
I’m just curious. I probably won’t do a lot of freebies – too much work for me, but I do like to know what happens to them. I can tell you that mine used to get printed out and filed in a 3-ring binder. Then they gather dust until I recycle them. So, I don’t bother gathering them anymore.
I owned a hand dyed yarn business for 15 years so I understand wanting to be paid for your work. I designed and maintained a 100 page website so yes, indeed, I understand. My newsletters were free and loaded with weaving tips and drafts. It’s healthy for the community to give certain things but that also are a draw to your site. Yes, I print free patterns but chances are, I buy something from the site that has good information. Example, I took part (purchase) in MakingZen and created a small kawandi quilt and then purchased your bag pattern. Then, I purchased fabrics and threads locally and online to make kawandi quilt. It’s healthy to give but don’t bleed your lifeblood. Kindly, Margaret Pittman
I forgot to add that when I cl9sed my business in 2010, I moved all of the useful information for Weavers to my blog so that Weavers and knitters may continue to benefit from what I spent so many years building rather than the information being lost. I don’t maintain it now but it’s still available at http://heritageyarns.blogspot.com
Thanks so much for your support! I’m so glad you enjoyed Making Zen – it introduced me to so many new people!
I save freebies in my Google drive and I have used them in the past, but probably at a rate of 2 in 50. I agree with the above comment; if I like the free pattern I’m more likely to go back and purchase something from the same designer and shop.
This article is both engaging and thought-provoking—great job!