I always feel better about the free-style designs rather than trying to follow a pattern, but I always doodle, make notes, say a little prayer before I start on someone's quilt. I like to let it speak to me. Sometimes the quilt sits there on the frame for a day before I start sewing just so I'm in the right frame of mind and ready to start. And I always, always, always practice stitching on a bit of extra fabric or along the edges, off to the side of the quilt top, to make sure my tension is right and the thread is right and there are no loops on the back. And take lots of breaks!