How to Design Your Own Quilt Pattern

3 Feb

How to Design Your Own Quilt Pattern

A handmade quilt represents relaxation, warmth, tradition and sentiment in one pretty package. When it’s a covering to your own bed, then an artistic wall hanging or a thoughtful gift for someone near, create the quilt much more unique by designing your own design. Quilting software and online quilt design applications designed for creating patchwork quilt blocks will allow you to turn your artistic vision into a workable plan. Creating quilt patterns may develop into a profitable venture once your layouts have been shown to work through the actual construction of many quilts and you get a good working understanding of the design procedure.

Finding Inspiration

Turn your smartphone into a helpful tool for pattern inspiration. Create a picture gallery of inspiring designs and motifs by taking snapshots of textile patterns, upholstery, tile layouts, an intriguing wallpaper design, artwork or whatever you come across in your daily travels that may inspire an idea for a quilt block. Go on the internet and examine quilt patterns that quilters have published. Study the photos of finished quilts to familiarize yourself with block patterns. Summarize your ideas in a notebook or diary. Notice how your photos and drawings translate into layout notions about 1/4-inch graph paper to begin dialing in a workable pattern.

Standard Designs

Conventional quilt patterns comprise of individual blocks that contain geometric shapes. Triangles, squares, rectangles and trapezoids are the simplest to work with, especially if designing on graph paper. As you become more familiar with designing quilt blocks, you can move on to more advanced patterns and working with curves. A little, cut-out item of cloth makes up each shape in a cube. As soon as you’ve got individual quilt blocks designed, you then have to determine the general size of this quilt, how large the blocks are going to be in relation to the quilt, how many rows will go both vertically and horizontally, and how you need to arrange your cube pattern.

Block Setting Options

The way every block is put to the quilt face determines the total pattern for the quilt. A straight set goes block to block, with no spacing in between and every one facing the same direction. A straight set with version still has the blocks right next to each other but every one faces another direction — and a new pattern emerges. Setting squares are strong or plain blocks of textile set in between every single patterned block, forming a checkerboard design. A straight set with alternate blocks includes two distinct block patterns alternating every other cube. Sashing strips of textile separate individual blocks both horizontally and vertically.

Appliques and Embroidery

Applique quilts have cut-out layouts in other fabrics that are either hand stitched or machine stitched onto the quilt top. Applique designs are less geometric and more free-flowing, with curves and natural lines. Embroidered designs are stitched to the quilt fabric using thread. Embroidered layouts may be words, pictures, motifs or abstract designs. Decorative stitches taken for embroidery include backstitch, string, running, French knot, lazy daisy, whip, stem, fly and blanket. Appliques and embroidery may get additional embellishments on patchwork style quilts.