Question about pattern making
#31
Whenever JoAnn's has their quilting supplies half price I buy 2 or 3 of the large graph paper pads. They are about 15" square, so I like the bigger pages. If I see something I like, I will start to draw out a block or two. I also have a package of twist up colored pencils so that I can also get a feel for what the finished block should look like. There's nothing worse than sketching out a nice block and not knowing how it should be finished. Two fabrics, three fabrics? I leave all of the pages in the pad and refer to them when I need inspiration for a new project.
#32
I can buy a lot of graph paper for the price of EQ. I know a lot of people have EQ and love it but for me I'd rather spend that money of fabric. I also am a slower quilter so would have to make a lot more quilts than I do to justify (to me) the expense of the software. Isolating the repeating pattern and dissecting it is mostly what it takes and that does get easier with practice. The challenge for me is in which way to press the seams and constructing the quilt that a pattern will give you.
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Illinois/Wisconsin
Posts: 878
PaperPrincess explained my method better than I could - figure out the block using graph paper, and break it down into simpler units for piecing.
I also sometimes use Excel to make a printable version of the top that I can colour in, if there's an overall design beyond the individual block that I want to work out. I think EQ would make that process much faster, but right now pencil crayons are more in my budget.
I also sometimes use Excel to make a printable version of the top that I can colour in, if there's an overall design beyond the individual block that I want to work out. I think EQ would make that process much faster, but right now pencil crayons are more in my budget.
#34
I am digitally challenged so I do the old way. I look at a picture and try to find "the block" or blocks that make up the quilt. Then I take a piece of 1/2 inch graph paper and sketch out the block piece by piece. I like to use the strip piecing method (don't know if that's the name, but...) and so I figure out how I can cut my strips to make pieces for the blocks.
#35
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 81
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