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About
PreQuilt is an online software application purpose-built for quilters and quilt pattern designers. Accessible from any device — PC, Mac, tablet, or mobile — quilts are saved to the cloud for easy access anywhere. The platform offers two subscription tiers: Basic, ideal for everyday quilters, and Market, tailored for pattern designers who need to create and share digital coloring pages with customers. With PreQuilt's Block Maker, users can build custom quilt blocks from geometric shapes or by importing SVG files, then link shapes to fabric swatches for realistic previews. The Quick Iteration feature turns the app into a digital sketchbook, letting users rapidly explore colorways, block variations, and layout ideas. Solid color card libraries for all major fabric manufacturers — including Robert Kaufman Kona Cottons, Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Elements, and Riley Blake Confetti Cottons — come preloaded, making color planning accurate and convenient. Printed fabric swatches (from internet downloads or personal stash photos) bring designs to life at true scale. The Fabric Calculator goes beyond yardage estimates — it provides individual block blowouts, cut diagrams, backing yardage, and binding yardage. The Randomization tool helps quilters explore ideas spontaneously by shuffling colors, blocks, and orientations. A free demo is available so new users can try the platform before subscribing.
Key Features
- Block Maker: Create custom quilt blocks using geometric shapes or imported SVG files, then link shapes to fabric swatches for a true-to-life preview.
- Fabric Calculator: Automatically calculate how much fabric yardage you need, with individual block blowouts, cutting diagrams, backing, and binding recommendations.
- Solid Color Cards & Printed Fabric Swatches: Browse preloaded digital color cards from major manufacturers and mockup quilts with printed swatches at accurate scale.
- Randomization: Instantly shuffle colors, blocks, and block orientations to explore design variations and spark new quilt ideas.
- Digital Coloring Pages (Market Plan): Pattern designers can generate shareable digital coloring pages so customers can mockup quilt designs with their own fabric choices.
Use Cases
- A hobbyist quilter uses PreQuilt to experiment with colorways and block arrangements before purchasing any fabric, saving money by visualizing the finished quilt first.
- A quilt pattern designer creates a digital coloring page of their pattern using the Market plan and shares it with customers so buyers can mockup the design with their own fabric choices.
- A quilter with leftover orphan blocks imports them as fabric swatches and uses the Randomization feature to discover new layout possibilities for a scrap quilt.
- A quilter planning a large project uses the Fabric Calculator to get precise yardage requirements and cutting diagrams, reducing fabric waste.
- A beginner quilter uses the preloaded Kona Cotton and Pure Elements color card libraries to plan a color palette without needing to visit a fabric store.
Pros
- Works on Any Device: Being fully web-based means PreQuilt runs on PCs, Macs, tablets, and phones with cloud-saved projects accessible anywhere.
- Comprehensive Fabric Libraries: Preloaded solid color cards from all major fabric manufacturers eliminate guesswork and make color planning fast and accurate.
- Practical Fabric Calculator: Goes beyond simple yardage estimates by providing cut diagrams and block-level breakdowns, saving time and reducing fabric waste.
- Free Demo Available: Users can try the platform before committing to a subscription, lowering the barrier to entry.
Cons
- Subscription Required for Full Features: Printed fabric swatches and digital coloring pages require a paid Basic or Market plan; the free demo has limited functionality.
- Niche Use Case: PreQuilt is highly specialized for quilting, making it irrelevant for general fabric crafters or other sewing disciplines.
- Market Plan Needed for Designer Features: Pattern designers who want to create and share coloring pages must upgrade to the higher-cost Market plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What devices can I use PreQuilt on?
PreQuilt is a web-based application that works on PCs, Macs, tablets, and mobile phones — any device with a modern web browser.
What is the difference between the Basic and Market plans?
The Basic plan covers quilt design and visualization for everyday quilters. The Market plan adds the ability to create digital coloring pages of quilt patterns to share with customers, making it ideal for pattern designers.
Can I try PreQuilt before subscribing?
Yes. PreQuilt offers a free demo that lets you explore the core features before committing to a monthly or annual subscription.
How does the Fabric Calculator work?
Once you've designed your quilt, the Fabric Calculator analyzes your blocks and layout to recommend total yardage, individual block fabric needs, cutting diagrams, and backing and binding yardage.
Can I use my own fabric swatches in PreQuilt?
Yes. With a Basic or Market plan you can upload printed fabric swatches — either downloaded from the internet or photographed from your own stash — and set swatch measurements to ensure your mockup is visualized at the correct scale.
