Bev Crouse and Patricia Paul created their pattern called “Twist and Twirl” last year. The pattern was created using a program called Electric Quilt, with the pair played around with the pattern until it looked right. Paul says once the first block was put together, the results were better than expected.
However when it was turned into the full quilt, they felt there was a little something missing. So Paul took the quilt home, and created the smaller twirls to go in the corners and throughout the quilt. Crouse says that gave it just the Wow factor it needed.
Both were so pleased with the design, they wanted to see if there was a publication that would be interested in sharing the pattern with a larger audience. Crouse found The Quilt Pattern Magazine, an online publication that was just in the beginning stages of creating their issues. She sent a picture off to the magazine, and to their surprise the response was quickly a yes.
“When we got the response, we were so excited. Then we thought, ‘oh golly, now we have to write the instructions’,” says Crouse.
Writing out instructions turned out to take longer than creating the actual design.
“When you’re used to doing something, like when you get in a car, you just do it. When you’ve been quilting for a long time you do the same thing. When you have to write it down the instructions, then you have to do a complete paradigm shift for it to make sense.”
Paul says it’s not easy to put together the instructions, and they have to think like someone approaching it for the first time. It took them about a month to get the instructions down, and then it was sent to the magazine for them to test.
A few changes were made, however the magazine accepted it and the pattern made it to the front page of the April issue. The magazine has even asked for them to create another pattern, and the pair are busily working on one now.
Crouse started quilting in mid 1980’s, but adds she’s been sewing for “as long as she can remember.
“I’m addicted to fabric, the feel of it and the challenge of creating something new.”
She enjoys teaching it to others as well, and is a member of the Queens Quilters.
Like Crouse, Paul says she’s been sewing all her life, but took up quilting about 12 years ago. She says it keeps her occupied, and it seems each time she creates a quilt it leads to another.
It’s hard for Paul to describe what she loves about quilting, but describes it as a type of nourishment.
“For a lot of women, it fills a spot,” she says.
She is also part of the Queens Quilters, and says they are a wonderful group of people to share quilting with.
The magazine with the pattern can be found at www.quiltpatternmagazine.com
