This is what I was waiting for... Amy Butler softwares.
Now despite a great deal of temptation, I do manage not to have a personal copy of everything that appears in the shop. But I do like to have tried out a selection of the patterns. It helps me have an informed opinion to share if I'm asked for advice or help. This can be good or bad but as least for the most part my answers are based on first-hand experience.
This was too much to resist though: Amy Butler softwares contains 22 sewing projects on a CD - that's 8 quilts, 3 table runners, 7 pillows/cushions, 1 floor cushion and 3 bags.
...Carry all Carry anything bag - big, roomy and beautiful
...Something to get my teeth into. They're all new sewing projects and they're all designed by Amy Butler.
There are also nine bonus projects in case that's not enough sewing but these are actually the 'free patterns' on Amy's website, which are PDF's to download and use. You'll find those here (Link) They're at the bottom of the menu.
I've often said in the past that frequently the most time consuming part of any new sewing adventure for me is the selection of fabrics, which colours, which designs. You change one element and the whole look changes, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's inspired and sometimes ... well ... you start again.
It's also true that often that's part of the fun, but equally it can just get frustrating. Something that 'softwares' allows you to do, which isn't as easy when armed only with a paper pattern, your imagination and maybe a few fabric swatches, is to try out your ideas. It's possible to design using the software tools and 'virtual swatches' of Amy's fabrics to experiment with different colourways and different prints, giving you a good indication of what your completed project would look like - before you start spending on more fabric! (Please click on the images to make them larger.)
... I like the graphic impact of this solids quilt...
The sewing projects on the CD are self-contained and can be printed off as PDF's to use just as any paper sewing pattern or instructions you might purchase. There's also an inspiration gallery on the CD so you can see the projects in different colourways and in use in different settings. Loads of gorgeous photographs just like you'd find on Amy's website. All to help get the 'sewing' tastebuds drooling!
Softwares isn't just a new way of presenting a pattern/instructions for you to print out however, it comes with a set of software 'tools' which allows you to customise the original projects and add a little of your own creativity into the mix. Some projects are more 'customisable' than others. For instance, there is a great deal more that you can do with the quilts, pillow/cushions, and table runners than with the bag designs. But there's still a great deal of fun to be had!
...a gorgeous table runner... each set of instructions also tells you what fabrics (with fabric codes) were used in the example so that you can replicate it exactly if you wish...
Not everyone will want to alter the projects, but if you get tempted the CD contains some quite detailed instructions as to how to go about modifying and adding your own creative twist. You can add borders; plain or patterned, alter the sizes of the finished project, print out a pattern and get the fabric requirements for your version. You can choose to 'fussy cut' your fabric and the program will work out the fabric requirements. You can even try out different threads to get an idea of what the quilting would look like.
...the same table runner but I've added a border, one of the pre-designed border styles, using the tools available in Amy Butler 'softwares'
If you're a quilter who's ever used EQ6 software you'll already be familiar with this method of designing and because 'softwares' has been developed with the 'Electric Quilts software company', Amy Butler 'softwares' is compatible with EQ6. What this means is that the sewing projects on the Amy Butler 'softwares' can be imported into EQ6 ( you will need to save the projects in Amy Butler softwares first ) and modified using the full design functionality that EQ6 offers.
.. look what I did to that gorgeous quilt design - I swapped one of the blocks for a four patch block which gives this quilt a slightly different look.... I could also experiment with patterned fabrics if I wished
In terms of system requirements, It runs on a PC using windows XP or Vista but will run on a Macintosh running Windows plus virtualization software (such as Parallels) (Umm! better persuade the children to let me at the PC then! Never easy....) More detailed system requirements are given on the shop. You will also need to be able to use Adobe Reader 7.0 (free) or higher for the PDF patterns.
But enough chatter, I hope to have something to show you that I've made using the designs soon, so I'd best get started......
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