The first step to solving this question was to download a demo (a short sample program) from Quilt-Pro (or try PCQuilt for Windows or Mac. This gave me a good impression of what a quilting program will do: provide you with a library of blocks, opportunity to design your own blocks, to see your design as a full-quilt design, add borders, change colours. If you don't like downloading things, there're some on-line design site to try, like Vquilt's block design (a Java applet) or tiled pattern
And it made me realise it would do things I'd never thought it would, like printing out the templates for a block complete with seam allowances, to a size I determine. Here was I thinking I'd have to print out the block as a whole, cut it up and then add seam allowances myself.
The fun of changing the style of just the width of a border and seeing the results instantly is immense. While it does require some mental gymnastics to transfer a screen-size image to a full-size bed quilt, it's considerably easier than unpicking a block because you've decided it really doesn't work.
You can change the colours you're using in your quilt endlessly or, if you've got a scanner, scan in a bit of your fabric to use as a colour. One danger I can foresee is that I'll get so distracted by all the possibilities that I won't actually make time to quilt. And I'm not the only one who's thought of this: you quit PCQuilt by clicking on "Go Quilt"!
How to chose a program? Firstly, inevitably, price. Secondly, find someone who actually uses a program and talk to them. Thirdly, read as many different reviews as you can. I've just started using PCQuilt for Windows, so look out for my review of this soon!
Here're some of the quilting programs around:
Electric Quilt
Quilt-Pro for Windows
Quilter's Design Studio for Windows
Vquilt
PCQuilt for Windows.
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