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Designing a quilt

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Old 01-05-2014, 03:26 AM
  #21  
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I do use graph paper- generally just to keep a quilt within the size parameters I want *otherwise they turn out 15 feet long!* but I have found that the finished quilt seldom turns out anything like what I may have sketched/used for blocks- so the graph paper is just so I make what i'm doing fit inside the borders. beyond that sometimes I start with an idea, may sketch some layout ideas * again- the finished quilt never looks anything like what I sketched, but the layout may somewhat*~~ I (wasted) oodles of money on design software I never use- got nowhere with ~~ I generally after playing with graph paper & sketches- just start with my fabrics- decide what fabrics I want to make a quilt out of - lay them out & start 'playing' around- often on the floor- lay out some focus/main fabrics, decide what blocks I might want to add around or with them- pull coordinates- and just start sewing, measuring, figuring out what to do next to make things fit. sometimes starting with a panel or some sort of 'picture' blocks as a starting point will help you get the idea of just moving stuff around, playing with it till you like what you have- and when I have the dimensions figured out with the graph paper the 'planned baby quilt' doesn't turn out to be king sized- or the queen sized quilt doesn't wind up being a table topper.
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Old 01-06-2014, 04:36 AM
  #22  
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Sometimes I'll do a rough sketch then use graph paper Other times I'll rough sketch then work out my measurements and go from there. I'm lucky in that maths present no problems for me.

I have EQ 7 but it's still in the box, just haven't had time to learn it but do have Rhonda's tutorial on it. One day.
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Old 01-06-2014, 04:56 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by sewmom View Post
I am not very good at designing my own quilts. I've done a few with ok results. I have a very basic design program called Quilt Wizard- it's like the embryo version of EQ. Joanns used to carry it- it's under $30, but it has a library of blocks, fabrics, layouts etc. that you can twist, turn, combine. It will also give directions, yardage etc for the quilts and then you can print it out in color or outline. I've done the outline and then colored in with colored pencils. If Joanns still carries it and you can use a coupon, it would be an inexpensive fun thing to have.
I have the same one and for my level I like it.....especially helps me with the math for the block never thought of coloring the out nice tip thanks I cannot even begin to think about designing my own quilts I'm so lost at that

Last edited by mandyrose; 01-06-2014 at 04:58 AM.
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Old 01-06-2014, 05:00 AM
  #24  
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I always start with paper and pencil, then move to EQ (unless there is applique, which I still haven't figured out how to manipulate and draw it).
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Old 01-06-2014, 05:17 AM
  #25  
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I love EQ7. I frequently will do a rough sketch on graph paper and then put it into EQ7. I then load fabrics into EQ and test them out. I have designed many more quilts than I would actually ever make! Helps keep down my UFOs!
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Old 01-06-2014, 05:41 AM
  #26  
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I have a quilt designing in my head for the last two weeks and I lay awake in the middle of the night imagining it and trying to figure out how to do it, then I get up and put my pieces up on my flannel board and it doesn't turn out like my head pic. I ask my hubby for opinion and he says "oh, that's terrible". So, I guess I won't ask his opinion again and just keep following my head pictures.
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Old 01-06-2014, 06:05 AM
  #27  
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There are way too many already Designed quilts in books, mags and on net that I want to do so I don't need to use brain power....what little I have...to design one
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Old 01-06-2014, 06:50 AM
  #28  
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Is there a good on line tutorial etc on designing quilts? I have the bargello I want in my head, how do I transfer to papery.
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Old 01-06-2014, 06:54 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Geri B View Post
There are way too many already Designed quilts in books, mags and on net that I want to do so I don't need to use brain power....what little I have...to design one
But there is a world of people like me who want their own take on items they make. I don't need to copy someone else.
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Old 01-06-2014, 06:56 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by DOTTYMO View Post
Is there a good on line tutorial etc on designing quilts? I have the bargello I want in my head, how do I transfer to papery.
Draw the peaks and valleys on scrap paper, then draw a strip that has your colors in the order you want. Use that original sketch as your pattern. Use lots of graph paper to get to the end
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