someone else taught me this, so I don't take credit. Get a piece of clear plastic big enough to cover at least a quarter of the quilt. (Joanne's sells it off a roll where the drapery and upholstery fabric is). Lay it over the quilt top and draw quilting designs on it with a dry erase marker. You can erase the marker with a piece of batting. This allows you to audition quilting designs without harm to the quilt.