I usually START with a pattern, then I get bored and take a few left and right turns and wind up with something that may not look like the pattern I started with. Some small projects I actually complete using a pattern, others, well they are different. I will look at some of these amazing quilts I see here and try them, but mine are never the same because I deviate from the pattern. I usually draft my patterns (either with EQ7 or graph papeer) and I can't always follow those. I am doomed to do things on the fly.

Now TEDDYSMOM!! I would say the same thing, ONLY THE OTHER WAY AROUND. I can NOT use a pattern for love or money. Quilting, pants, dresses, etc...... The only thing I can use a pattern for is spending my money on. I never open them - I only use the picture on the front. When I learned to sew, it was from watching and the person I watched didn't know how to use a pattern. So what I learned was to look something over and use a brown paper bag and sort of make a guide to look at. So you see it works both ways.

You can always combine piecing and applique in unique ways. That is designing too!

I alo use patterns be it a wole quilt or just blocks. Right now I,m working on a sampler quilt of pioneer blocks.

I start with a pattern but by the time I've cut and unsewn, I usually end up with something else, but hey I'm learning! I see lots of quilting designs in stuff, I've been know to draft the wall tiles in a rest area bath room! I just won't tell where the design comes from when I give it as a gift.

I love the traditional patterns don"t stress the quilt police are on vacation

Personally I like knowing how something is going to turn out before I start. Fabric is way too expensive for me to experiment with and there are a gozillion wonderful and exciting quilt patterns out there that people have put a lot of time and effort into figuring out so that I don't have to.

I use patterns, I am too new at this to take off on my own and design something. Someday maybe...

I use patterns 99 percent of the time so yoou are not alone.

Just do what you like to do!