what is inklingo? does anyone have it? like it? how restricting is it?
it looks like it only has very basic shapes. i'm not sure i understand the draw.
how does it work? how do you stiffen the fabric?

here's the thing: if you stiffen fabric, and you draw a page full of the shapes you want (or scan them) then you can print them out yourself. there are free sites that give away those shapes online. or, as i said, you can draw them and scan.

it seems that the important factor is just the stiffening the fabric. am i missing an important something? i think patrice did something like this in her hex tute.

LOL. Inklingo is a series of downloadable software that let you print cutting and stitching lines on the back side of your fabric. It makes for very accurate sewing, either by hand or machine. And is wonderful!!!!!!! Especially for a lot of the shapes that have traditionally been done as English Paper Piecing. <VBG>
Using Inklingo is very easy. And there is a free collection that you can "purchase" on the Inklingo website. (Yes it is free, but you go through the whole "purchase" routine which sort of gives you a practice in ordering and downloading the software. And a chance to try Inklingo before you buy it. )

Easy step by step instructions are included in the first chapter of the Inklingo Handbook which is included with the free collection.
I have been using Inklingo since it first came out (with CDs only useable on a Windows system). Linda is constantly coming out with new collections, the latest set being several different sizes of the shapes needed for Storm at Sea blocks.

Basically you press your washed/dried fabric to freezer paper.
Download the software, open it and choose the layout and color to print. (Deciding may be one of the most difficult things)
Run your freezer paper backed fabric through any inkjet printer.
Separate the paper and fabric, cut and stitch. Easy, accurate and faster than you can believe. <G>
Try it, you will probably like it a lot.

Have fun, and I will gladly answer any questions I can about Inklingo. (I'm not affiliated in any way except as a happy customer and dedicated fan of Inklingo. <G>)

Pati, in Phx

:-D Of course I have it. I bought it when I watched her very detailed quilt show on QNN. It eliminates getting the perfect 1/4 seam when piecing small pieces. You sew on the printed line. I have used it on WOW fabric and the lines were barely there, just enough to see but not enough to show through. :-D :-D :-D

so, happy customers. that answers that question.

i have mac, so i can't play the cd's. BUT if i could (you never know when i might get a used 'puter for my quilting space) could i do anything from, say, a 1" hst (like that would happen) all the way up to a 4" hst, for example? teeny-weeny to HUGE? on all the shapes? do they have, say, dresden plates and other non-square shapes? or odd angles?

Oh yeah. And one reason Linda went to the downloads is that they are easily usable on Macs. <G> The CDs are ancient history and no longer being made. The collections originally available on CD are gradually becoming available as downloads.
Dresden plate designs are a couple of the newer downloads available. Lots of options in them. Check out the site... check the education/resources sections, the free sections. and more.
One of the difficulties with naming the collections is that so often a lot more can be made than the name suggests. The Free collection is the 4 1/2" Lemoyne star. It has diamonds, triangles and squares to make the block that finishes as a 4 1/2" Lemoyne Star. But you can use those shapes any way you want to.

It is a wonderful tool to use.
And Linda will work with you to make sure you can handle it. <G> The Inklingo group is great too, and can get you answers almost immediatly because members are spread out all over the world.

Pati, in Phx

if i download the freebie, will i be ready to try it?

And the website is??????

i don't use this program so don't have an opinion. i make my own shapes using a draw program.

you'll want to test the ink in your printer first. print the templates from any pattern off the internet onto the back of your fabric and then wash it to make sure the ink will either wash out completely or not bleed.

thanks, patrice. that was actually the question i was hoping to have answered.
it had seemed to me that although this is faster, the same result could be had by
printing from a website or from the scanner. all you need is that one first sheet, right? from there you would scan any number of times, and then file the sheet away. is that what you did with the hexes?