Mostly I don't use a pattern. If I do, it is for something complicated, like the king size Storm at Sea I made last fall. Sometimes I print out a block pattern I found on-line and design my own overall quilt layout from those blocks. What I love best though is getting out the graph paper and colored pencils and CREATING!!! my own thing. Sticking with a pattern is usually too boring, however I do like Thimbleberries for more detailed designs...