I like to look at designs and think about the quilt - who it is for etc. to come up with a design. Like a baby quilt I did last year - I quilted clouds all over it. I printed out a design and laid it on the quilt and kept my eye on the design as I quilted. It came out pretty well. Last quilt I did double circles - mostly I do easy patterns. Not able to do feathers yet but want to learn them. Best advice I've received is to practice, practice, practice!