Go for it.
I know you can do it.
J J

My quilting is for my own personal use or to give as gifts to my family. If I can find the pattern, I'll buy the pattern. If I can't find the pattern, I'll draft my own quilt program.

I use regular paper, on my swivel rotary cutting mat and use the lines on it to measure and draw my graph as big as I want it - And like the Fons show ref. above, I decide how big I want my block and draft accordingly. I do like her suggestion of doing only half the block if it is a big block or whatever (duhhh-never thought of that.) From your draft you can pretty much figure out the sizes - I also draw the crazy quilt blocks based on the same idea.

Someone asked about a free program - there is a fabulous little Free program - QuiltAssistant - http://www.cosman.nl/software_en.html (not affiliated, just a happy user) It takes a little learning curve (not bad) but if you follow the manual that comes with it, it is fabulous. And that program will give you templates, sizes or whatever when you are through drafting, approx yardages, and you can color in it. I have fun playing with it when I see a picture and want to play around with figuring it out.

Marysewfun

That's my feeling too. So many times you see something and it would be very easy to either duplicate or make something similar. And sometime, i do duplicate it. But if its going to take me hours and hours to draft a pattern just to prove I can do it, I just go ahead and get the pattern. I'm generally happy to buy a pattern because I know someone has worked out the details, and especially of its a small pattern company, I feel like I'm helping someone earn a living.

I have done both -bought patterns and on-line patterns. The books that I but now are Quilt History either one person's story or General quilt history. Also have found about 25 Quilt Documentation books from different states and Ireland and England.
If any one has "State Quilt Documentation" books please email me. I would like to have one from each state.

Yes, it is ok.

Ditto for sure

Last year I designed a truly original table runner. I posted it here. People were interested and wanted the pattern. I wrote it up, did lots of drawings, took pictures of the steps, spent days on it. After receiving those requests, I mentioned that I did have the pattern for sale if others were interested in it. (Having already sold a number of copies.) I was stunned to my toes when someone responded and told me that the main element of it was a Mexican star block ( who knew? I had never seen it before, was quite tickled actually to come up with something "new", just my graph paper and I). It was not original and, basically, I should be ashamed of myself for passing it off as a new pattern when it wasn't. You know what? For a couple of days I did have my tail between my legs on this. But I knew!!! it was my design. And I will stand by it as my own forever. I liked writing the pattern and have done more since then. I use traditional blocks in my own way and have been fortunate to make some "egg" money selling them to board members who admire them. If you look at any quilt magazine you can find many examples using the same tried and true block patterns. Different sizes, different fabrics, different settings and borders. And they sell them day after day after day.

God created the original humans and we have continued to work on our versions for centuries. Are we all unique? I'll bet my bottom dollar we are. My quilts (and patterns!) are unique and original as well. Yours are too! I appreciate the opportunity to sell copies of my patterns to those who are interested. Retirement is approaching and life has not been generous so far. A few sales now and then for my imagination and hard work seems fair to me.

For those who might like to see - this is the table runner I mentioned in my last post. Have any of you seen this before?

I haven't seen it before and it's beautiful! You did a great job and regardless of whether the block existed or not, you put it together in your own unique way, which happens to be gorgeous.

I love the quilt in your avatar as well! Do you have a larger photo of it on the board?