Jamiestitcher62

I agree with all of you, however when you work full-time and only have a limited amount of quilting time, just finishing a quilt feels like a challenge to me. I am a relatively new quilter and I suck at picking out fabrics. To me, since I'm a visual "oooh, look at the shiny objects" kind of gal and my interest in a quilt in a magazine starts with liking the colors they've chosen and then I try to get as close as I can to that, I haven't outgrown the magazines yet, but I can see when the day will come.

bearisgray

Maybe this is no longer true, because I discontinued Quilters Newsletter several years ago -

There would be this picture of a fantastic quilt on the cover - and a paragraph or two on the inside about who made it - and that was it! No pattern, no how-to, nothing more.

At that time, the info was "oh, I already know that" or so far beyond what I could then do - with NO info on how to do it!

bearisgray

. (double post)

Fox

I'm done with subscribing to magazines as well. Too much consumerism: buy this fabric it looks so well in this pattern...and I buy it! I have been down loading free patterns from the internet and now become obsessed with finding them. Three inch and four inch three ring binders fill my shelves. It has gotten out of control. Needlework patterns as well! I have used reams of paper over the years, and many ink cartridges too! Since I need paper in my work, I now repurpose the paper on the other side for more quilt patterns! And I've probably copied the same things over and over because I like the look. I'm drowning over here!

natalieg

Just a quick note of the quilt program. I don't use EQ (been thinking about it, but haven't made that leap yet).I use 123quilt, it is put out by quiltpro. It is their basic version. I love it! The only downfall is that you cannot design your own blocks in it. However, it used to only be $39.95 (very appealing price)! If you want the disc, you pay a little more.
The other program they sell is quiltpro. In it, you can design your own blocks and more. It is a bit pricier, usually around $100, but I have heard, well worth the money. I received an email from them a few days ago that they currently have a special going. You can buy quiltpro version 5 for only $79.95, and when version 6 appears in October, you get the upgrade for free!
A little note about their customer service: my DH re-does my comouter every year to keep it running well. When I reached my max on the amount of installations, I just called (like it said to) and another activation code was issued immediately (on the phone). Then, a few years later, when I upgraded computers to a vista, my program would no longer work, they sent me the new files to upgrade to their vista version for no extra cost! And, even better, when some of my files stopped working, I got daily emails and phone calls from them and all sorts of test files to run to see if we could fix the problem-they are a great team!
Oops! Sorry, it didn't end up being a "little note"!

annettewink

I so agree with this. I think I bought & tried every technique or pattern out there. I had boxes of magazines. Eventually I found them too constricting.

I'm all over the place in my interests, so I tend to pick up a variety of Mags including, Quilting Arts, Quilters Home, Stitch, Threads & Sewing World. I find the internet the best place for inspiration thru Blogs & Google images. My style is in the "out there" category :D

Annette

sandpat

I'm getting so tired of All of my mags that I'm letting all of the subscriptions expire. Then I guess I will decide if I miss any of them. They seem to be geared to the beginning quilter which is fine as we were all there once. Sometimes I even still feel that way! I like it though when they have more articles about techniques more than just patterns. Its more interesting to me.

Suzanne57

Even without buying any quilting magazines, I have more patterns than I could ever make in a lifetime of full-time quilting. I have downloaded freebies from the internet and designed my own. I'd rather use the money for fabric or gadgets than one magazines. Now books are another story. I'm trying not to get any more books unless it has techniques rather than patterns.

For those who want to design their own patterns but can't afford to buy a program, try this free one. I use it to draft the blocks for my Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt. It is very easy and basic. I may upgrade someday to a purchased program but for now this one works.
Quilt Assistant.

http://www.cosman.nl/software_en.html

bjnicholson

Lacelady, I love your kitty!

amma

I no longer subscribe to magazines... I get more inspiration from here and other online sites than what I was from the magazines.
I can pick and choose which patterns to purchase online too.
I love my EQ program, it is very enjoyable to me to design my own blocks and quilts. It paid for itself when I dropped the magazine subscriptions :D:D:D