If I were to enter my quilt in a competition I would work on my design first. It can take time depending how accustomed you are on working without a pattern. Once I have the design which I like, many, many scratch pads later, I would figure out a technique how to execute my design. While working on the design I would think about the ways to quilt it. Many may think that I am crazy, but there is something to be said about a quilter who does everything from the scratch. Please don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with using a pattern, but I would want my quilt to be really unique if I were to enter it in a show.