Hi
I would like your opinons on how to design a block, of any kind, without electric quilt, because I am on Linux and also, I don't want to pay 150$ for a computer program.
Any suggestion?
Thanks

I like to get out my colored pencils and some graph paper and just start doodling! It's very relaxing, and once in a great while I actually come up with something do-able! :D

I also used my graph paper and colored pencils. You can also use paper and cut out blocks and lay them out on the table then turn them and move them til you get a look you like. You can sew and iron paper just like fabric so you can experiment with paper to get an idea of what your design would look like in a 3D version.

If you have seen my Boston Blocks you can color a block like that and then cut them out and move them around to see differant ideas.
Or color your squares to look like half square triangles and play with them to see what you can do.

I remember seeing on Simply Quilts where someone took a sheet of paper and drew a large square 10" maybe and then drew a lines inside to dissect the square to get designs. Say draw from one corner to another and then from where lines meet to another corner etc. to get divisions within the quilt block.

I usually doodle even before I try to do anything on the computer. I'm more of a pencil in hand type of person anyway...so I get out the paper and use my rulers to make sure I'm doodling something that is "doable".

I like using Power point. I seem to get really good results that way.

I just bought Quilt Design Wizard and am having fun with it. I've seen it in Joann's for about $30, but got mine for $15 on ebay. Here's a similar listing to what I got.



http://cgi.ebay.com/Quilt-Design-Wiz...3286.m20.l1116

I just bought Quilt Wizard, too. I've had it for only a couple of weeks and have had a blast with it and have designed and printed out two quilt patterns. I paid around $30.00. Granted, it doesn't do what the other software programs do, but I can arrange, re-arrange, choose color, etc. But I have to tell you, there is something about that good ol' pad of graph paper and colored pencils that is fulfilling and relaxing. Sometimes I can "get lost" in my doodling and actually come up with some great ideas.

i also work with graph paper to lay out the general idea. then i do all the detailed scale work in electric quilt so i can print out the pattern pieces.

Graph paper was my choice before I got quilt wizard. It worked great for me.