Unfortunately, the area that I live in doesn't have many fabric shops. For example, in Amanzimtoti where I live we have one fabric shop and the next closest shop is 30 minutes drive away and that's about it. Having said that, the shop that is closes to me has good quality fabric at cheap prices in comparison to some places. A meter of fabric goes for R79 ($5.40) to R89 (R6.13) by todays exchange rates (which are very bad at the moment due to political unrest). The specialised quilting shops sell the same quality fabrics but have a much larger range. Their prices are R135 ($9.30) to R160 ($11.00) per meter. I sometimes make a trip to the specialised quilting shop if I can't find the fabrics I need locally.

As for the quilting community, it is very, very small compared to the US. There are no regular retreats to go to and I really envy the US and UK in this regard. I would LOVE to go on a quilting retreat! The only quilting group in my area meets on a weekday morning once a month and I work so am not able to attend. That's why I love this board so much :o It's a virtual quilt group where I can get advice, learn and just chat if I feel like it. At least I don't feel totally isolated and I get to communicate with awesome people who love quilting just as much as I do. Love this group!!:thumbup:

My EQ5 has a section that tells you how much fabric you will need. You just have to remember to tell it what size the blocks are.

I'm so glad you are able to think up a pattern. Way beyond my abilities. But, I do have a comment for anyone designing a pattern. Please have someone else try making the pattern before you send it out for use. I just spent 4 days at a quilt retreat with some very savy experienced quilters and teachers. The pattern I was using was the worst I or they had ever seen; in fact almost impossible to use. One piece of the pattern was called by two different names. Some of the very important points were in smaller print and easy to miss. The picture on the pattern had 2 photos of the item. You didn't know if you had a pattern for 2 designs or a front and back to the same design. The process to make the item was far more difficult than it needed to be, but you didn't know that until afterwards. What a nightmare. So have someone who isn't working on it with you, try to make the item so they can tell you where there are mistakes or where instructions/drawings aren't clear. Now, off the soapbox and good luck to you.

Very good advice VernaL. I also find that if you have been going over and over your pattern to try and perfect it, you tend to loose focus and overlook simple errors that someone else, with a "fresh" brain would pick up easily.:D

I'm in the same boat! I've had EQ7 for some time but don't use it every day so it's a new learning curve every time I need a quilt to design.

Congratulations!

I found an app for my Android phone from Robert Kaufman that comes in pretty handy for figuring yardage and other quilting calculations. The Quilter's Little Helper. Free download.

I've designed a few, one in particular I'm very please about. I have no idea how to do anything with it. how to publish or sell it. They are applique, so I know it's not a block reused again. where do I go with them?

There are Yahoo groups for quilt designers. Google "yahoo group quilt designers"