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Quilt Magazines and the Quilt Design Wizard Software

© Jeanne Walsh

The hurry and scurry of the holiday season is over and you can look back with satisfaction on all the gifts you chose for others. But wait - - didn't you leave someone out? How about YOU? Isn't it time you did something just for you alone? Here is something that will bring pleasure all through the year.

I heard about this little treasure in October when it first became available. I have looked with longing at Equilter's computer software that has been available for several years and priced at nearly $100. "Quilt Design Wizard" is about half that, so I started looking for it in quilt shops. At that time I was told that it was available only at Jo-Ann Fabrics Super Stores (This may or may not be accurate.) I was finally able to find it on a trip to Baltimore at Thanksgiving. I have not yet had time to design a quilt with it but I have gone through the program and the manual and I wanted to tell you about it before you spent your Christmas money!

The designing begins with a blank grid, you choose the size, the layout, and the block or blocks to use. Choose from 200 blocks that can be placed in the grid. You can add sashing, plain or pieced borders, or no borders. Try out different color schemes from 3000 fabric samples. There is a tutorial to guide the beginner through the process. The accompanying manual is very good, simple to follow, and you don't need to be a pro on the computer. When you are satisfied with your design, you can print it out with estimated yardage and rotary cutting directions or foundation piecing.

I look for traditional designs and this "Design Wizard" is just the thing for me. The only additional feature I would like would be to be able to scan in my own fabrics, but actually there are so many fabrics and so many colors within the program that I think a designer can get fairly close to her own fabric colors.

Another gift for your own self that brings enjoyment all year long is a subscription to a quilting magazine. I usually have two subscriptions going each year. I often change the subscription to another magazine when one runs out.

Right now I receive "McCall's Quilting" which tends to the traditional and "Quilter's World" which is a little more artsy. Over the past year, McCall's has had some very nice applique projects, some of them running in a series of several months.

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