How do you design a quilt...or create an idea for your quilt?

someone asked somewhere how we all design our quilts. I am a visual person...I have to have pictures...forget the words..give me pictures! But although I intend to buy a tablet of graph paper, in the meantime..I just use a spril notebook, (keeps it all together anyway, might just stay with this way!) and literally draw the quilt. I lay the fabric out on the table, overlaping and such and once I get the colors the way I want, then I sketch it with markers. This time I was designing the borders of my quilt...so I just drew the squares on the page. Now, today, and I didn't take pic...I was sketching out the mddle part of the quilt with is mostly strips....and I just made colored lines. It has worked well so far...I have sketched 3 like this so far..no, that'd be 5 as I did skecth the t-shirt quilts I just finished also.

It is also nice this way as I have the paper right there to start keeping track of my measurements and make my own instruction page...so if I want to use that pattern again, I have the measurements already. I just have to change color/fabric. Right now, I am making the Strawberry Shortvcake quilt one step at a time...I cut the middle and then added the first round of strips. Then I go measure and cut the next round of strips and so on. This way, as opposed to cutting all strips at the same time.

But...how do you design your quilt if you don't have a pattern? How do you "make them up"?

I have done it the same way as you show above. I've designed them in Photoshop. I've scribbled a block I liked on an old envelope and gone from there. I even have EQ7 and really haven't done a whole lot with it as of yet. I guess it all depends on how I feel and how difficult a design it is.

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Originally Posted by K. McEuen

I have done it the same way as you show above. I've designed them in Photoshop. I've scribbled a block I liked on an old envelope and gone from there. I even have EQ7 and really haven't done a whole lot with it as of yet. I guess it all depends on how I feel and how difficult a design it is.

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I"ve heard people say they've done it in Photo SHop, but that is beyond me as to how that can be done! I am still stuck back in the 20th century with things like this. I also prefer to have it in my hands and not have to "log on" everything . Pic up my book and go sit in a comfortable chair and start designing!

I usually draw it on paper and add/change as I go along. I have been thinking of getting an EQ system. I heard alot of good things about it.

I am with you - good old paper and markers or colored pencils. I like the one you are working on so please post a pic when finished!

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Originally Posted by tamsterg7

I am with you - good old paper and markers or colored pencils. I like the one you are working on so please post a pic when finished!

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It is for my GD theme is Strawberry Shortcake...I will post. If all goes "as planned" it will be done (the front anyway) by end of the week!

I use a computer program called Design Quilt wizard. It is made by the same people who make EQ7, but only cost about 20 bucks with shipping on Ebay/Amazon. It is a very basic program, which is what I wanted to start with. It has instructions on how to make each block but you might be limited on the many blocks.

Before I got my first sewing machine, I used to spend a lot of time designing quilt blocks. Over the years those have gotten lost. About 5 yrs ago I started a quilt for my Mom in honor of her Mother, my Grandma. It's now going to be in memory of Grandma. I've started on the main blocks and have had some ideas for the alternating blocks but don't have anything sketched. In fact, I just finished a quilt top that I had pictured in my mind. As I worked on the quilt I started adjusting the design in my mind. It's looks awesome now!!! Just need to quilt and bind it!! I have a lot of other ideas and if I could do them on a computer it would be easier. I just don't seem to have the time to sketch anymore.

Pam in Vegas

I don't think I could sketch my designs on a sheet of paper. So far, they have all been squares so I have used Microsoft Excel and scanned in my fabric so I could design it that way. I really want to purchase a design program. Any suggestions on the best one for the money?

If anyone knows a design program for a Mac, let me know.

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Originally Posted by Illine Smith

I don't think I could sketch my designs on a sheet of paper. So far, they have all been squares so I have used Microsoft Excel and scanned in my fabric so I could design it that way. I really want to purchase a design program. Any suggestions on the best one for the money?

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I am opposite! I can't imagen designing on the PC! Granted I have never tried and don't have a program that does that nor much knowledge of Power Point or those kinds of programs that do this kind of thing, but to me...it just seems easier to sit in the comfort of my sofa or even while I am at the table eating, to just start drawing...kind of like..anywhere any time. But on a PC...gotta be in that chair and uncomfortable and all that...I'll just stay back in the 20th century are use paper and markers!