MQResource

One of the best things about being a machine quilter is getting to choose designs for quilts.

It's also one of the worst things.

We've all been there:  quilter's block.  A quilt is staring at us and we and have no idea how to quilt it.

Thankfully, there is help out there -- and I've compiled a list of my favorite online sources for quilting design help.  All of you will get an opportunity to share your favorite resource, too.

Naturally, I have to start with the most obvious:

MQResource

Here at MQResource we have a small, but growing Gallery of member's quilt photos.  I would like to encourage members to (a) search the gallery for inspiration and (b) upload photos to the gallery for the inspiration of others.  And don't forget when you upload photos, to include useful descriptions that include things like the name of the quilt pattern, or references to the techniques you used.

MQResource Gallery

In addition to the growing gallery, we also have two very active forums:

Design Help Needed

If you are well and truly stumped, you are invited to post pictures of your quilt in this forum, and members will do their best to help you out.  Please read the guidelines posted in a sticky topic at the top of the forum before you post!

The Final Product

Members have uploaded numerous pictures of their quilts, and have taken the time to tell us about the choices they have made.

Search Engines

In my house, Google has become a verb -- if my children (or any of us, really...) have a question, we turn to Google.   Searching can be frustrating sometimes -- make sure you try different combinations of words if you don't find anything right away.  And you might want to make sure you include the word "quilt" in your query, otherwise, you never know what you'll find.

Google Image Search

The link above takes you directly to the option to search for images only through Google.  Results are displayed as thumbnails.

Snap

Snap has a very cool image search feature (be sure to click on Image Search above the input box before you type in your query).

Photo Sharing Sites

Last, but most certainly not least:  this is not a complete list by any means, but here are a few photo sharing sites I know about.  The ability to search for the kinds of quilt you are looking for does depend on how diligent the quilter was when uploading and providing a description, but hopefully you'll find lots of photos for inspiration!

Flickr

Webshots

Smugmug

Picturetrail

Photobucket

 Your Turn

What did I miss?  Where do YOU go for visual inspiration?  I'll add them to the article for future reference.  One caveat:  if the site requires you to register to view photos, I won't add them to the list.  Post your suggestions in the comment post in the forum.  I'll add categories as needed, too, if you give me suggestions that don't fit into the categories I've listed above.

photo is a detail shot of a log cabin variation that I made last spring.  I used a feather variation that I call "Party Feathers" in the light logs, and a swirly ribbon design (that you can't see...) in the dark logs.  -- Suzanne