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. :)

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.

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

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).

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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