Even without buying any quilting magazines, I have more patterns than I could ever make in a lifetime of full-time quilting. I have downloaded freebies from the internet and designed my own. I'd rather use the money for fabric or gadgets than one magazines. Now books are another story. I'm trying not to get any more books unless it has techniques rather than patterns.
For those who want to design their own patterns but can't afford to buy a program, try this free one. I use it to draft the blocks for my Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt. It is very easy and basic. I may upgrade someday to a purchased program but for now this one works.
Quilt Assistant.
http://www.cosman.nl/software_en.html