Originally Posted by sewbizgirl
I quilted off and on during my life, mostly off these last 10 years or so, and have recently come back to it. What I'm wondering is, how many people actually purchase and follow a pattern for a quilt? I have never used a pattern. Some times I look through books or mags for some design ideas, but most quilts are simple enough to do without patterns (squares, rectangles, triangles, etc...) so except for the most intricate ones, are patterns even really necessary? How often do you use them?
I have posted a quilt or two here and the first question that always pops up is: Where did you get that pattern? Do most people piece from patterns?
I never use a pattern, takes me to look figuring out what goes where etc. I do like you, get ideas from patterns books or quilts I have seen somewhere and then create my own in my head. If I goof up I can usually figure a way to make it come out OK.
A friend of ours makes things from wood. He does it the same way. Sees something he likes some where and then goes home and makes one. Him and his wife have made some really neat doll houses.