Quilt-Pro 5 Software -- Quilt & Block Design on the Computer!
Written: Oct 11 '07 (Updated Oct 12 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: extensive block and fabric choices, print templates or foundation blocks, calculates fabric yardage
Cons: sometimes the program unexpectedly closes
The Bottom Line: Quilt-Pro 5 is a definite improvement over previous versions of the program. For me it is a necessary sewing tool.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Quilt-Pro 5 |
I started with Quilt-Pro 3 and upgraded to Quilt-Pro 4. I was happy. I didn’t think anything would make me want to change to Quilt-Pro 5. Then a friend told me she had bought Quilt-Pro 5 and loved it. It didn’t take much convincing to make me take the plunge. I've been using this version for over two years now.
What is Quilt-Pro?
Quilt-Pro is a software program that allows the user to create quilt blocks or entire quilts on the computer. The program includes a large library of quilt blocks and fabric swatches. Choose a quilt block (or design your own), and combine the blocks to create custom quilts. It’s simple. Select a quilt block, click an area in the quilt block, and then click a fabric swatch … ta da! The quilt block now has fabric-color in it. The program also includes sashing and borders to complete a quilt top. If you don’t want to control the quilt creation process, wizards are available with step-by-step instructions. Once the block or quilt is designed, the software makes it easy to print the quilt patterns. The program will also calculate how much fabric is needed. Quilt Pro is an excellent, fun environment to experiment with design and color before cutting fabric.
Why I Choose Quilt-Pro 5
The main reason for my switching from Quilt-Pro 4 to Quilt-Pro 5 is the new way the fabric library is presented. The fabric palettes in Quilt-Pro 4 are a thing of the past. I like to custom-build my own fabric collections, and Quilt-Pro 4 taunted me by sometimes incorrectly displaying my fabric swatches or not allowing me to easily import new swatches. Quilt-Pro 5 allows me to search for fabric by color, pattern, theme, or manufacturer. I can also create my own fabric selections by easily importing fabric images into the program. I don’t have a problem with my custom-fabric collections disappearing either.
They also updated the way one selects the quilt blocks to use. Instead of using the Block Browser, there is now a one-click button to access over 1,500 blocks.
While the new method of scanning fabrics was not a big sell for me, I liked the idea of the Scanning Wizard. I never had much luck scanning fabrics using Quilt-Pro 4. In Quilt-Pro 5, the wizard guides me through the scanning process.
Just How Easy is Quilt-Pro to Use?
The program comes on a single CD and is simple to install. Just follow the installation prompts. The program came with a 144-page User Guide. I definitely recommend exploring the guide if you are new to Quilt-Pro. The guide explains the various tool bars and gives examples of how to use the program. There is also a Help file built into the program. Like the previous version, Quilt-Pro 5 has “Quilt-Pro Assistant” to make using the program even easier.
When I first learned to use Quilt-Pro (version 3), even though I am an experienced computer user, I needed the book to understand the basics of constructing a quilt on the computer. After a few tries (and mistakes), I found the program easy to use.
The Quilt Wizard
When the program is opened, the Quilt Wizard appears to help begin a new quilt project. There are seven tabs along the top of the wizard layout board: Layout, Size, Medallion, Borders, Sashing, Binding, Layers.
Layout offers the choice of how the quilt will appear. For instance, the quilt can contain only straight blocks, or blocks set on a diagonal, or set the blocks "on point". There are also choices for working with hexagonal blocks, the Baby block pattern, or a freedom design. Using the Medallion feature allows one to create a medallion quilt, inserting rings and repeat designs.
The Size option allows one to choose the size of the blocks and how many blocks that will appear "across and down" the quilt. There are also preset measurements for a king, queen, full, twin and crib size quilt … or create a custom size.
Add borders and sashing to the quilt. Options include adding corner stones, mitered corners, or choose plain horizontal or vertical borders. Add up to ten borders, choosing their widths. It is not possible to add sashing to hexagonal, baby block or freedom quilts. Choose no binding for the quilt or select from straight binding, bias binding or French binding.
There is also a Layer feature. This is particularly useful if designing a quilt that uses applique, stencils or layered blocks.
Once the quilt layout is complete, it is simple to add blocks to the quilt Mix and match blocks … change colors. The design is all up to you.
Another great feature is the Rotary Cutter calculator. Finish designing the quilt, then choose "Rotary Charts" from the File menu. For example: I created a quilt using a star block. Selecting this feature opened a window that showed the star block, the finished size of the block, and how many of the blocks are in the quilt. An illustration of the star block shows each patch in the block labeled with a letter from the alphabet. Below this is a list of the different alphabet letters (each letter corresponding to one shape). Then it breaks down the recommended way to rotary cut the pieces.
There is also a Calc Yardage feature that displays a color chart of the fabric, how many patches are cut from each fabric with the required yardage.
Block Selection and Design
The Block Wizard has four tabs along the top of the wizard layout board: Grid, Guidelines, Tracing, Layers.
The Grid choices are many and offer such selections as Solid, Circular, Grandmother's Flower Garden, Eight Point, Isometric (just to name a few choices). The grid size goes up to ten inches.
The Guideline section allows customization of the block. Choose the block size and how large each patch in the block will be. Also set how many patches "across and down" in the block.
You can also choose a bitmap image to trace over. The Layers option is a help when working with applique and stencils.
There is a built-in library of 1,500 quilt blocks. It is easy to browse through the block library. To make it easier, the library is divided into categories such as: Album Blocks, Alphabet, Applique and Pieced, Circle Blocks, Classic Stars, Crosses, Eight Patch, Eight Point Star, Five Patch, Four Patch, Log Cabin, Sunbonnet Sue & Friends, T Blocks. There are more categories that include even more stars, curved blocks, foundation piecing and blocks that defy categorization.
Most of the blocks in the library are pre-colored. However, it is simple to change the colors in the blocks using the fabric swatch selection in the fabric library. Click a patch in the block, and then click a fabric swatch in the library. The patch in the block will change to the new color-fabric selection. There is also the option of changing like-colored patches with a single click on a new fabric choice … a great time saver.
If you see a block in the library you like but want to alter it, that is also easy to do. The tool palette offers a variety of "tools" to help create and manipulate the patches in blocks. One tool is like a rotary cutter. You can slice patches into smaller pieces. Slice squares into rectangles or triangles. Rotate patches or draw a perfect circle or arc. There is also a "color picker" tool. See a fabric in the block you like and want to use that fabric in other patches? Just click the color and then click the patch you want to be that color.
The Search Feature
A great asset to Quilt-Pro 5 is a search feature that actually works! I was not impressed with the search feature in the earlier versions of Quilt-Pro. You can search for blocks, borders, sashes, quilts, fabrics. You can search within the Quilt-Pro program or in other files on your computer.
Here is an example: I typed "diamond" into the search box. The results displayed 17 different block designs. Typing in the word "cat" brought 17 fabric bitmap images as well as 7 blocks (including a CAThedral Window block).
The only suggestion I have for this feature is to show that it is searching. Once you press the search button, there is no indication that the program is doing what you asked. There is no hourglass, no prompt that says "searching" … nothing. You know the program has finished the search when the results suddenly display.
What I Create with Quilt-Pro
One of my favorite quilting techniques is foundation piecing (also called "paper piecing"). To do foundation piecing, a quilt block pattern is printed on an 8 1/2” x 11” piece of paper. Each section in the block is sequentially numbered. The block is sewn in the order of the numbers. (For instance, a Sailboat block has 10 sections. These sections are numbered 1 through 10.) The block is started by laying the first fabric to the area numbered “one”, the next piece of fabric is sewn to section "two" (sewing through both the fabric and the paper). Continue adding fabric to the block in numerical order. Once the block is finished, remove the paper from the back of it. Since the sewing needle perforates the paper, it is simple to pull the paper free, and tweezers help with any hard-to-reach areas. I enjoy foundation piecing since it allows me to sew small pieces of fabric with incredible accuracy.
The foundation printing option lets me print multiple copies of the block on one piece of paper, which saves paper. I can also size the blocks, making them small or larger. Quilt-Pro also allows me to flip the blocks horizontally or vertically for mirror images.
This program is also excellent for designing a quilt … playing with color choices, blocks and setting designs … before cutting real fabric. I have found this very useful for quilt and block design. The Quilt-Pro website offers free downloads of fabrics from well-known manufacturers such as Benartex, Debbie Mumm, Kona Bay, Moda, P & B Textiles and RJR Fabrics (just to name a few).
Purchasing
Quilt-Pro sells the full version of this program for both Windows and Macintosh for $99.95. If you own an older version of Quilt-Pro, you can buy this upgrade for $35.95 (serial number from the previous version is required).
You can read about Quilt-Pro Version 4 by clicking on this link.
Additional Optional “Accessories”
Quilt-Pro 5 is compatible with Foundation Factory and Block Factory. Available are a variety of CDs filled with quilt block patterns that can be imported into Quilt-Pro. Each CD costs about $30.
Foundation Factory (Standard Edition) – Volume 1 and Volume 2, each includes over 500 quilt blocks.
Foundation Factory: Carol Doak Designer Edition – includes over 300 blocks from Carol Doak’s books. (Many people consider Carol Doak the “mother” of foundation piecing.)
Foundation Factory: 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars – this is a Carol Doak special edition CD featuring designs from her book 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars.
Foundation Factory: 40 Bright and Bold Paper-Pieced Blocks -- includes all 40 blocks from Carol Doak's book 40 Bright and Bold Paper-Pieced Blocks.
Block Factory: Mariner’s Compass – Volume 1 and Volume 2, each includes over 100 different Mariner's Compass blocks.
Block Factory: Kansas City Star – Volume 1. This CD includes approximately 300 patterns originally published from 1928 through 1935 in the Kansas City Star newspaper.
Summary
I use Quilt-Pro 5 a lot. Since I do so much foundation piecing, this program is a great asset. It makes designing and printing patterns easy. It has also come in handy for testing color and fabric choices before slicing into real fabric. I can't imagine not owning this program. If you are looking for quilt software, consider Quilt-Pro 5. The Quilt-Pro website also offers a free download demo of the program if you want to learn more about it.
I hope you found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
System Requirements:
Windows 95/98/ME* and NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista
Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher
800x600 video display, 256 color (16 bit or higher recommended)
Mouse or other pointing device
Disk Space:
…….50MB for basic installation (no scanned fabrics or embroidery)
…….Additional 200MB if you install all the scanned fabrics
…….Additional 200MB if you install all the scanned embroidery
* NOTE: On Windows 95, 98 and ME not all program features are available. Only bitmap graphic files can be used. Fabric rotation and nudging are not available. Plus embroidery patterns can only be placed on white backgrounds.
Macintosh version (Quilt-Pro version 3) also available:
Quilt-Pro for Macintosh:
Mac OS version 10.1.5 or higher
800x600 video display, 256 color (16 bit or higher recommended)
Mouse or other pointing device
Disk Space:
…….50MB for basic installation (no scanned fabrics or embroidery)
…….Additional 200MB if you install all the scanned fabrics
…….Additional 200MB if you install all the scanned embroidery
Please read my other reviews:
Olfa Self-Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Olfa 12" Self-Healing *Rotating* Cutting Mat
Olfa 18mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa 28mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa 45mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa Rotary Cutter Replacement Wheels B all sizes
Olfa 4-pack Mini Weights with Organizer
Olfa Weights
Quilter=s Dream Sewing Table
Horn of America Deluxe Sewing Chair
Ott Lite Flex-Arm Plus True Color Lamp
Keepsake Quilting Online Store
Joann .com Fabric & Craft Store
Janome Jem Sewing Machine
Copyright 2007 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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