Question about pattern making
 

How do you all go about taking some material and coming up with your own pattern?
Graph paper? Wing it? Or do you use a pattern you have done before?

And if you see just a picture of a quilt you like without a pattern, how do you go about doing it yourself?

I see some very creative (way beyond any of my imagination) quilts up here and can't for the life of me figure out how they were conceived. :-)

I use EQ7 for design. Inspiration comes from quilts online, in quilt shows, in books and magazines, just about anywhere.

I know a lot of quilt pattern designers and they all use the Electric Quilt software. I like EQ7 I can import a picture of a quilt, isolate a block and use the trace tool to trace the bock pieces and convert it to a block pattern with rotary cutting instructions. There is no how to put the quilt block together for a quilt top instructions on EQ though. I use the quilt layout to rotate and flip block and block pieces to get the lay out I like.

Ouch! Pricey. Good to know if I ever get good enough to invest that kind of money. :-) Thanks.

I can answer your second question. If I see a quilt I like, I can usually make it without a pattern. If you can print off a copy of the quilt, that's very helpful. I start by drawing lines on the picture, trying to figure out where the repeating blocks are. Keep in mind that many complicated looking patterns are really 2 different blocks that are alternated. Another thing that can make a complex pattern is a pieced sashing. Another thing to try is to turn the picture 45 degrees as some quilts are set on point.
After you locate the blocks, you can get some graph paper and lay it out. Blocks are usually grids of patches: 3X3, 4X4, 5X5 and 7X7 being common. Look for the simplest patches that you recognize, like squares, and HSTs. When the block is sketched out in the grid, you can then look at it and see if you can simplify. Are there 2 HST's that you could combine into a flying geese unit? A couple or 3 squares that can be a rectangle? (Just remember that you have to piece it, so some of these may need to stay simple!)
Once you have the block laid out, you can decide on the size. Let the grid layout help! Don't try and make a 9" block if the block is in a 5X5 grid!
..

The more quilts that you analyze & sketch out, the easier it will be.

Inspiration comes from lots of places, not just quilts. I saw a sun wall hanging that I might be able to adapt into a quilt. Many times floor tiles or patterns on carpets may inspire you, or just elements of anything including quilts. For one quilt I knew I wanted an applique in the center, surrounded by a block. I used something like the outside of a carpenter's wheel block as the frame, then a HST border around that for the quilt. Sometimes just looking at color combinations in quilts or clothes will give you ideas.

graph paper is my friend :)

aileen

For me - EQ (like Dunster) is my "go to" for quilt design. I can play with colors and textures and create / modify blocks and block arrangement with a click of a mouse.

I often start with graph paper- just to create a *frame* size for my quilt- then pull fabrics & start laying out, cutting, piecing, playing- until it all comes together. a block here, a block there- a picture, panel, print here & there- what ever- most of my quilts just evolve from an idea, theme or color scheme I want to use.

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.

I might do some sketches, and use some graph paper. But use Microsoft Publisher 2007 to actually make the pattern ready for publishing.

I read this with great interest. I do a lot of wallhangings, and everything starts on parchment paper. I see something I like, grab the parchment, and start drawing. Then I usually copy, and start cutting. Guess I better look for some graph paper!

Yes, graph paper or I sketch it out and start doing the math.

I use a graph paper note book.. do black and white drawing..add color with pencils.. graphing lets me figure out sizes and then how much fabric to use.. really easy to modify and place to see how it will all go together.. drawing animals, flowers, and making applique is simple on graph paper also.. I think actually the programs are based on graph modals so if you have the money that is a nice way to go.. but I have found graph paper works for just about every thing:)

I recieved an email this week on just this topic.
http://christaquiltsblog.com/2014/04...ning-patterns/

I have only developed one pattern on my own. and I ended up sketching parts of it out on paper, then sewing a test block. I made several failed blocks before I got it exactly right. I am not very good at math or drawing, so it was quite a challenge.

I use Excel. I have done several quilt layouts using spreadsheets. I am happy to share that information with you.

You're the very first person that I've ever seen mention using Publisher...besides me. :)

It's also very simple to turn Excel into interactive graph paper. I've used Publisher and Excel for designing quilts for years and years with excellent results.

that's interesting, thanks 4 sharing!

I love graph paper! I print my own from the internet. Here's a great site where you can print in various shapes (triangles, hexagons, etc.); print in the colors you choose; adjust the thickness of lines; number of lines per inch; etc.

http://incompetech.com/graphpaper/

Whenever JoAnn's has their quilting supplies half price I buy 2 or 3 of the large graph paper pads. They are about 15" square, so I like the bigger pages. If I see something I like, I will start to draw out a block or two. I also have a package of twist up colored pencils so that I can also get a feel for what the finished block should look like. There's nothing worse than sketching out a nice block and not knowing how it should be finished. Two fabrics, three fabrics? I leave all of the pages in the pad and refer to them when I need inspiration for a new project.

I can buy a lot of graph paper for the price of EQ. I know a lot of people have EQ and love it but for me I'd rather spend that money of fabric. I also am a slower quilter so would have to make a lot more quilts than I do to justify (to me) the expense of the software. Isolating the repeating pattern and dissecting it is mostly what it takes and that does get easier with practice. The challenge for me is in which way to press the seams and constructing the quilt that a pattern will give you.

Jennifer! Forgive my stupidity but how do you design on Excel? I would love to be able to do this. Thank you. Yolanda

I am digitally challenged so I do the old way. I look at a picture and try to find "the block" or blocks that make up the quilt. Then I take a piece of 1/2 inch graph paper and sketch out the block piece by piece. I like to use the strip piecing method (don't know if that's the name, but...) and so I figure out how I can cut my strips to make pieces for the blocks.

I can send you more information (and happily) if you please send me a private message. I am unable to upload pictures :-(