Many people are confused about quilt design software packages.  I would like to give you some pointers for purchasing quilting software.  There are many quilt software programs available.  These fall into 3 main categories: 

1. quilt design programs that allow you to design your own quilts

2. quilt software packages that allow you to print foundation (paper) piecing patterns

3. quilt software packages that allow you to download facets of the program to add to YOUR already existing quilt design program

Following is a brief discussion of each type of quilt software package.

If you are interested in designing your own quilts, 2 packages come immediately to mind--Electric Quilt EQ5 and Quilt Pro 5.  Each program is designed to run on PC products.  EQ5 can be run with MacIntosh products using Windows emulation software such as Virtual PC.  Quilt Pro 5 comes in a MAC version.  Be sure you are purchasing the correct version for your computer.

EQ5 and Quilt Pro 5 are very powerful design programs.  There is quite a learning curve to be faced with either package.  These packages will allow you to design your own quilt from scratch or from the hundreds of block designs already contained in either program.  You can then find fabric from the fabric libraries contained in either program (or scan your own fabric) to see what your quilt design will look like in your fabrics!  Both programs will also allow you to print out various information, such as templates.

Both programs have fantastic Help tools.  Both companies offer excellent customer support.  Both programs come with user's guides.  For a brief comparison of features:

• Block Patterns:  EQ5 contains over 3100 patterns including pieced, applique, paper piecing, and quilt stencil designs; QP5 contains over 1500 patterns

• Quilt Layout Templates:  EQ5 contains 8 automatic layout templates and any number of freestyle layouts; QP5 also contains automatic and freestyle layouts

• Fabric Libraries:  EQ5 contains over 11,700 fabrics in the fabric library.  Updates are available for purchase each Spring and Fall.  QP5 contains a vast fabric library as well.  Updates for QP5 can be downloaded from the Quilt Pro website for free.

• Drawing Tools:  Both programs contain very powerful drawing tools to allow you to draw your own quilt block designs.

• Printing:  Both programs allow you to print your block layouts and quilt patterns.  EQ5 will allow you to print templates (with or without seam allowances), foundation patterns, rotary cutting charts, and fabric yardage estimates.

• User's Guides: QP5 features a new, expanded User's Manual as well as online help and forums.  EQ5 features 2 user's guides--EQ5 Getting Started, which contains 6 lessons, and EQ5 Design Cookbook, which gives you "recipes for cooking up great quilts."  EQ5 also features online help videos and several guides/tutorials that are available separately (EQ5 Simplified, EQ5 Block Book, EQ5 Drawing Book, EQ5 Quilt Design, and EQ5 Color).

If you plan to design your own quilts, either of the above programs will fit the bill.

Another quilt design program is EQ's Judy Martin's Stars and Sets.  The program contains automatic quilt layouts (50 bed-sized quilts, 77 special sets and sashed quilts, or 26 ready-made quilts).  You can fill your layout with star blocks, or add any of the additional 200 alternate blocks Judy suggests to create stunning combinations of stars and chains, LeMoyne grids, crossing designs and more.  Then recolor your blocks with fabrics from Judy’s special palettes. Find fabrics by color, or in ready-made color combinations arranged in special "Judy Martin palettes."  Print perfect patterns for your quilt. Print rotary cutting charts and templates, yardage estimates and more. You can also print colored pictures of each block, and of the whole quilt. The Quilt Info sheet will give you the information you need on quilt, block, border and sash sizes, plus any notes you keep in the program.  This is a stand-alone program and does NOT require the use of EQ5.

Yet another quilt design program is EQ's Town and Country Patchwork.  This easy-to-use software is perfect for fans of paper piecing, new quilters and new computer users. Learn from popular authors, Myra Harder and Cori Derksen, as they share their charming designs plus step-by-step instructions for paper piecing. Use the designs as Cori and Myra suggest, or add your own personal touches.  Included in the program are help videos, paper-piecing instructions for all 30 projects, a printable user manual with fun lessons, and so much more. Follow the steps below and you will create the most beautiful Town & Country Patchwork quilts in no time!  Change any quilt to make it your own. Choose from 105 blocks and a large array of fabrics (sky, roof, sunset, grass, etc.) to create your own designs, while still using Cori and Myra's layouts. You'll have fun building your own villages.  Your computer and printer do all the work! The foundation patterns print in the correct size for all projects. Patterns are numbered and ready to go. You can also print each block, the quilt, and the template patterns. And the Quilt Info Sheet gives you all the information you need on quilt, block, border, and sash sizes. It also prints notecard information.  This is also a stand-alone program and does NOT require EQ5.

The last quilt design program is EQ's Dear Jane Quilt Software.  Inspired by Brenda Papadakis's book Dear Jane: The Two Hundred Twenty-Five Patterns from the 1863 Jane A. Stickle Quilt, this software will help you see how other quilters have made their own beautiful Dear Jane quilts and even design your own on your computer screen. From there you can print patterns for your quilts or the blocks, read sewing instructions, print quilt labels, surf Dear Jane web sites and so much more. Design and learn with Dear Jane.

This program includes all the block patterns to make the original sampler quilt, plus over 300 more! That's a total of over 550 patterns that can be printed in any size. These blocks include:

• 169 center blocks
• 194 center block variations
• 125 blocks not included in the original quilt 
• 4 corner kites
• 52 triangles
• blocks to create a simple scalloped border or the complex scalloped border from the classic quilt
• and more

Software packages that allow you to print already design foundation (paper) piecing patterns include:

• EQ's Sew Precise 1 & 2 (contains over 1100 paper pieced patterns--see item description for details)
• EQ's Sew Precise 3 (contains over 600 paper pieced patterns by Shirley Liby--see item description for details)
• EQ's Sew Precise 4 (contains over 800 paper pieced patterns--see item description for details)
• EQ's BlockBase (BlockBase has virtually every pieced block published from 1836-1970 - over 4000 patterns, ready to print as patterns)

Each of these software packages are stand-alone programs and do NOT require the use of EQ5.

Add-ons for existing software packages include:

• Classic Applique Blocks for EQ5 - Baltimore Album Blocks (over 140 blocks)
• Classic Applique Blocks for EQ5 - 1920's - 1930's Blocks (over 140 blocks)
• Classic Applique Blocks for EQ5 - Folk Art Blocks (over 140 blocks)
• EQ5 AnglePlay Blocks - all 84 blocks from the AnglePlay Blocks book,  225 additional AnglePlay blocks, 18 new custom AnglePlay quilt layouts, over 600 fabrics in a new library, A bonus palette of fabrics
• Karen K. Stone Quilts Projects & Palettes CD for EQ5 - includes EQ5 projects for 10 quilts, including 8 of Karen's most popular quilts and her 2 newest New York Beauty designs

• Dear Hannah CD for EQ5 or Dear Jane software - contains patterns for all 144 quilt blocks, 48 border triangles and 4 corners for the Dear Hannah Quilt

I hope this helps clear the confusion about quilt design software.  I have the entire Electric Quilt (EQ5) and Quilt Pro (QP5) software lines available in my ebay store.  For a better description of each products, check out these exciting products at my eBay store--Quilt Blessings.