Hi all, Does anyone have experience with any software for designing your own quilt tops? I have read about some that let you create your own blocks and then calculates the amount of fabric needed. One of the TV shows used to show a woman using some kind of software that did that but the show is no longer on and I can’t remember what it was called. But I want honest feedback anyway, not just the opinion of the software company’s employee.
Thanks,
Blingy
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I bought a product that does that, I'm at work now, but as soon as I get home I will send you the information. It's a CD and I installed in on my computer and its does blocks, borders and the sashings. It gives you fabrics, colors and sizes of quilts. I'll be sure to share it with you when I get home.
Thanks! Sounds like what I am looking for.
I am still learning to use my quilt program, called e-quilt. You can also scan in you own fabric and use it for your designs.
Hi, I'm home, I have the Quilt Design Wizard software. You can create your quilt on the computer screen: layout style, mattress size, and block size. Then add borders. Select from 200 quilt block patterns printable in any size. It says 3,000 scanned fabrics (I haven't seen that), lots of color and fabric designs to create your blocks with.
You can build pieced or plain borders, add sashing, flip, rotate and recolor the blocks as you wish. (If you have lots of piecing in the blocks, it can be slow, you have to click on every piece in the block to change them all).
You can print the patterns and yardage estimate. It also has all the quilt sewing basics, shows you how to put a quilt together from start to finish. It was made by The Electric Quilt Company in 2003. http://www.quiltdesignwizard.com.
There is a big difference in price between the two programs yet they seem to do much of the same stuff. I wonder just what the differences really are. I hate the thought of buying software and not being able to use it, like Pattern Master. What a disaster! Thanks for the input...
Blingy
Yes there is. I looked on the Electric Quilt website that I gave you, this website was on my packaging. I saw the E5 and E6 pricing. It allows you to scan in your own fabric. But for my purposes, I don't need to pay almost $200.00 for the software. Actually, I only paid $14.99 because it was on clearance at JoAnn's at the time I purchased it. I turned around and got my good friend one, Sandra, she's in the quilt guild with me. She was happy too. So, I'm also happy with what I have.
The other software does have applique designs, paper piecing designs, and quilting designs. It definitely depends on your actual needs. Or, wants!!!!! Sometimes you just want everything ..... just in case you need it. At least you'll have it. Your final decision. giggle .... good luck...I'm glad I was able to help you.
blingy, off the subject here, but, why couldn't you use Pattern Master? And, are you talking about Wild Ginger, Pattern Master Boutique?
What is Pattern Master and is it for making quilt blocks and quilts?
Pattern Master Boutique is a Wild Ginger (company name) software program for making clothing. I was curious about why she was having a problem with it. I have had it for about a year, but only made the fitting garments when I first got it. I decided to shed some weight before I went through all the trouble of getting a sloper to fit. I am now ready to do that and wondered what kind of problems to look for.
She's looking for quilting software on how to make quilts my sweetie. Not clothes. love and hugs.
Edited 9/10/2009 4:31 pm ET by rodezzy
I know she is looking for quilting software. That is why I gave the link to Electric Quilt. In one of her messages, she mentioned that she had a problem with Pattern Master. I am just wondereding what the problem is. Sorry if I confused you by going off topic.
Oh, sorry....giggle. I stand corrected.
Sorry for going off topic but I was referring to the Wild Ginger software program for clothes. I could not get it to do anything and the patterns I did manage to print fit worse than any purchased pattern. The lines never lined up so I didn't know which line to follow, I hated all the taping of the many, many sheets and after all that...an extremely poor fit. I can print out 6 copies of a document, stack them and hold them up to the light and they would be in perfect alingment but the pattern pieces NEVER lined up no matter what I tried. And the software was clutzy and ackward and I couldn't figure out most of it and I simply got tired or contacting customer support every time I wanted to do something. I would like to get some software for quilts but I would like to avoid the awful mess I went through with Pattern Master.
blingy, Electric Quilt seems to me to be more intuitive than Pattern Master Boutique. I understand your frustration. EQ does have a learning curve, but I didn't find it that difficult. If you have some experience with graphic programs, you are way ahead. I don't have to go back and relearn everything when I come back to it after doing other sewing for a couple months.
Thank you for telling me about your problems with PMB. I have gone to the forums every day since I bought the program last year and notice that those participating in the forum always seem to be the same people. Every once in a while someone new asks a question and then disappears. I was wondering if all those new people have mastered the program and don't need to ask more questions or if they just give up.
blingy, Electric Quilt is a very powerful program. I went from EQ4 to EQ6 and there was quite an improvement. If you are really into designing your own quilts, then you will be really happy with EQ6. I have not been sorry that I bought this program. Support is great. Go to: http://electricquilt.com/ and look around the website. I am not affiliated with them in any way other than a very satisfied customer.
Tonight I went back to my Quilt Design Wizard and found that I can design whole blocks at a time. You can paint a patch, a block or make the block a solid. There are many different fabrics by pattern, then by color and so on. I designed a quilt tonight by accident (filling a whole block design) that I would have never thought of. So, I'm pretty happy tonight with the software. It's fun.
There's still more experimenting for me to do. I haven't played with it much, but I will. Thanks for your question because it caused me to explore the software and now I can be a little more serious about designing a quilt of my own. Being able to play with the blocks on the computer is a lot easier then making sample blocks and trying to come up with a design. Wow, I feel very enlightened. Thank you again.
I'm happy that your software seems to be what you hoped for so far. It sounds like something I would like too. Mary
ooooooweeee MaryinColorado....I also found out last night that you can go online and download free new fabrics and blocks. They give you a block of the month design, so you can update collection on your software.
It explains how to do this, but I brought the phone number today for support to ask a few questions, just to make sure I'm understanding how to do it. Wow, I got a lot for my money and didn't even know it.
This is wonderful news! To be very pleased with the software and find out it is even better than you expected is like a gift! And it was a bargain to boot! Even better! Can't wait to see the first Rodezzy and computer designed quilt. Mary
Me neither....giggle.
I haven't read all the replies so don't know if it was mentioned, but Jenny Haskins has a quilt program also but I can't remember what it is called but I think it takes allowance for machine embroidery also.
Me, I can start a quilt thinking it is going to go one direction and then it tells me it wants to go elsewhere so preplanning a quilt with software would be a huge waste of money for me. I'm constantly changing my ideas about what I am making all the way down to the binding. I hope you find what you are looking for and enjoy it!
There's a pleasure in the mystery of "not knowing" until you arrive at the journeys' end, whichever road you take.
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