I plan out a main design and let it happen as I go along. Have a general idea of what I definitely want in the quilt, and work around that. All too often I change a fabric or color, and have even changed the size. I do graph a complete quilt before I start. Sometimes what looks good on the graph paper, or even from EQ7, does not always pan out and gets changed. I never cut a complete quilt out before I start. It makes me ill (literally) to have smaller cuts of fabric stored away because I ended up not using it. I may need those larger pieces down the road. Just can't cut it until I am sure I will use it. So, quilt blocks can be up on the design wall for days before a border or binding is decided on.