I have EQ7, but I always seem to revert to graph paper. There are so many ideas on the internet for blocks and arrangements. But sometimes I'll just start with the middle blocks then decide what to do after that.

PaperPrincess explained my method better than I could - figure out the block using graph paper, and break it down into simpler units for piecing.

I also sometimes use Excel to make a printable version of the top that I can colour in, if there's an overall design beyond the individual block that I want to work out. I think EQ would make that process much faster, but right now pencil crayons are more in my budget.

The Quilt in a Day web site usually has the best price on EQ7. You don't see the price unless you put the item in your shopping basket, but it's usually a substantial discount.

You really don't need the latest and the greatest software. I have been on EQ5 and it is the software of quite a few of us on the board. Last time around Thanksgiving, EQ7 was half off at JAF online. I see post occasionally when EB has EQ on sale. What makes the software so great, you draw your block and put it into your quilt and instantly, you have a quilt design. You can rotate or flip them at a click of a mouse. You can paper piece the block or get rotary cutting dimensions. EQ has a lower price item called Design Wizard.

Graph paper is what I use also.

1/4" square graph paper. If I see a quilt I like online, I print it off and try to figure out the individual blocks. I then use my trusty graph paper, a sharp pencil and good eraser (I make lots of mistakes!) and draft out the blocks.

I agree with that graph paper - and a set of colored pencils - are my best quilt design friends. Paperprincess gave great suggestions on figuring out patterns from photos. I've never bought an actual quilt pattern...but have lots of block books and magazines. I do the same with my applique. It's really pretty simple once you get used to it.

I sketch out what I want for my pattern, then take it to graph paper or sometimes just decide what size an piece should be. I'm assuming you are doing squares, triangles and rectangles.

Yes, colored pencils are a great help

In general I use graph paper for quickie designing or playing with random ideas.

I do have EQ7 and use it more for determining fabric amounts, playing with squares that might work together, and things like that.

At the moment I'm designing a quilt more or less on the fly. Playing with rounds of squares and seeing if I like the result or not. So far I've discarded more ideas than I've used. Lol! Most of them will end up being used later, just not in the spot I originally considered.