ckcowl

you certainly do not need algebra or a special computer program to create a quilt with out a pattern-
i'm always guilty of not doing the math ---and very seldom use a pattern-
sometimes i do sit down with some graph paper & try to sketch out what i want to do---but in the end i've never actually used that graph paper sketch and made anything.
piano key borders are one of the easiest---for not knowing what size you want/need- you just start sewing strips together(mine are always different widths like 1", 1 1/2", 2", 2 1/2") since its a border the center- to be bordered is done- just lay it out- then sew strips together until they are as long as you need them & stop adding strips---you can cut them what ever width you want your border to be as you go along- or after you have it the width you want-
sometimes people just (over-complicate) things- it is possible to make a whole quilt with very little math involved- i do it everyday.
i usually put them together in rows- so will lay out pieces i want to use in the row- if they are not the same size i measure the largest one then figure out what i need to add to others to get them (up to that size) figure out what to add around them to make the row the length i want---
don't make it harder than it is- make up some blocks- lay them out---and start adding as you go until you have a quilt top put together- if you want to frame it decide what size border you need to add to make it the size you want (such as you have 54" top---and you want it to be 72"----which is 18"---so you would need 9" of border per side---which you could make any number of ways---if you wanted piano keys-but not that wide- you could add a 2 1/2" strip of plain-then your piano keys (5 1/2") then another 2 1/2" outside border---then you have your 9" (finished size) border to add---
once you jump in and make your first one you will have so much of it figured out- you will find it is not difficult-you just had yourself convinced it was hard.

annthreecats

I love the idea of using graph paper. You could also experiment with some scraps. When I made my first quilt I knew I wanted to make it with all HSTs and I just picked 5" for the size of the squares I would cut and then I figured out how many I would need to have a decent sized lap quilt with simple addition. I hope you have fun designing your next quilt.

MadQuilter

It's geometry you need, not algebra, and graph paper will do most of the work for you. There are some great books out there that talk about starting with a center panel and adding borders until you reach the size you like. If you want to use patchwork in the border (for example flying geese) and the pattern doesn't quilt fit, then you can add a piece of coordinating fabric in the middle of the border panel and make it fit. Nobody is going to measure if your piece is 1/2" bigger on one side or the other (and if they do, then smack them). Yes, adding piano keys is a good way to create a border and those keys can be adjusted to make the border fit too.

quiltsRfun

The quilters of old didn't have computer programs and maybe not even graph paper. Some may not have know much about geometry. But they turned out quilts that are amazing. Don't be intimidated. You can do it! Start easy and go from there.

GrannieAnnie

Get some graph paper and draw out some squares about the size you like. Make some squares triangles and some triangles into more triangles. Or borrow a book from the library and take it to the copy machine and blow up a pattern you like about 500%

jcrow

Do I have your permission to "smack them"? lol

Lori S

I have made my own quilt patterns , and I have purchased patterns that I could have made myself easily. Sometimes I just want it easy! I have EQ, but still use the tried and true graph paper when I am not in the mood to spend one more minute looking at a computer screen.
Some of the quilts I liked to best were ones that had elements of several patterns.
Its a hobby.. right?! Do what you like, and leave the other stuff to people who like that part of quilting.

quilter1943

There are so many neat ideas on uTube - take your time and experiment, I'm sure you can make one of those. I've been teaching a bit and started a class with the "tube" quilt. It was easy enough for them to learn the basics. Don't give up!!!

momto5

And besides that, 57 is NOT old...I'd love to be that age again! I turn the big 70 in June...and I'm going sky-diving to celebrate it! And yes, my kids are already shrieking...but I'm still gonna do it!!! So...don't let your "age" bother you!!!

alisonquilts

I love this board.

This has been the most wonderfully supportive, but helpful and thoughtful, thread. I feel all warm and fuzzy just from reading these suggestions to jcrow.

My quilts usually start with an idea that I have seen elsewhere, but then I draw it out on graph paper to incorporate whatever tweaks I am adding (yup, I am computer illiterate too). When I finally make the quilt (usually months or years after drawing it) I always end up changing my "pattern" as I go along (usually because I didn't have quite enough of that one fabric, so I need to add a thin border of this other fabric, so that the squares in the corners of the wide border can be the fabric that matches the ......you get the idea). What I am trying to demonstrate is that designing your own patterns can lead to its own frustrations (like possibly not having a very accurate idea of how much fabric you need, etc, and having to improvise every step of the way) which may ruin the pleasure you otherwise feel in your hobby. I would suggest that if you do decide to design your own pattern that you might want to start with a smallish project - if the process isn't fun, and you decide to set it aside, you won't have too much invested.

That said, you go girl!

Alison