Patrice is right about the EQ Software. I have EQ5, but everything she has told you is true... as always! :lol: The one, tiny detail she failed to mention is... it is so addictive!! :twisted: You'll get into it and will not want to stop creating!! :D
It is a small investment, but well worth it! In the mean time, some of the simple graphics programs can be used to save your colored pencils from immediate demise. My #2 Daughter plays with Microsoft Paint all of the time and comes up with some really creative blocks. (I call them blocks, she calls them art. She refuses to admit she is a future quilter, because it isn't cool, so therefor refuses to even look at my EQ program.) These types of programs will do fine to start with; they just don't have templates and fabric scans built into them. They're certainly better than graph paper, pencils, & rulers, BUT printer ink is WAY more expensive than any of these items. :-)