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Quilting Software

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Quilting Software Overview

Quilters no longer have to lay out yards of fabric on their living room floor or spend hours assembling a quilt only to decide the design doesn’t work. Software has come to the rescue.

Now you can design your quilt to the size that you want using images of actual fabric that you can later buy. Or if you have a selection of swatches on hand, you can scan in your own fabrics. Once your quilt design is complete, these programs let you know how much material you need and where to get it. You then can print out your design in actual size for cutting and piecing.

Electric Quilt- Quilt Design Wizard

Electric Quilt- Quilt Design Wizard is a program for beginners. It is quite easy to set up and use. You have access to over 200 quilt block patterns and over 3000 fabric images.

Your final work is printable to any size. While crafters new to computers and quilt design like the program a lot, more experienced users complain of that they are too limited in the designs they can make. Like a lot of programs for beginners, you trade off functionality for simplicity.

This program is inexpensive and if you’re just starting out, it’s one you should consider.

Electric Quilt 5: Complete Quilt Design

Electric Quilt 5: Complete Quilt Design is a much more sophisticated piece of software. You have available over 3100 blocks that can be sized and arranged at will on a free-form background. Also you receive 500 quilt layouts and access to 11,700 fabric images. The program contains built in templates for everything from a place mat to a king size bedspread.

The program contains 24 help videos to get you up to speed quickly. Users love its flexibility and the ease with which you can create unique colorful designs in a very short time. This program also gives you the ability to create and print you own fabric designs.

Everything is arranged logically and is easy to find. Suggested color palettes as well as complete designs are provided so you can do as much customization as you wish.

From the simple to the complex, this program gets high marks from all those who try it, whether they are beginners or experienced quilters. Some like it so much they become hooked on playing with the program, making hundreds of different quilt designs.

Dear Jane

The last program I will cover is actually a specialized version of Electric Quilt 5. ''Dear Jane'' Quilt Design Software is devoted to the famous Jane Stickle quilt of 1863.

This program contains a limited set of the tools provided by Electric Quilt 5, but is a free standing program and not compatible with it. The purpose to the program is to use the original Jane Stickle blocks, plus some variations, to make your own Stickle type quilt.

The program deliberately blocks attempts to import other fabrics, so you must be a true “Janiac” to want this program. But you can change colors and scan your own fabrics in.

Most of the same functions found in Electric Quilt 5 are here, so you can resize your project, rearrange your design and print to any size you want. You can print out block patterns for either rotary or numbered paper piecing.

As a bonus, the CD contains patterns for the Stickle blocks, insights into the meaning of the quilt, historical tidbits about it, a section on quilt sewing techniques and a series of lessons that will lead you through the construction of your first quilt. All and all, this is a very worthwhile package.

If you are interested in printing your own designs on fabric, be sure to visit, Bubble Jet Tips – How to Print on Fabric and Lazertran Silk Decals.

Here are more articles about quilting and quilting design.

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