Inkscape

[Chantal]

I downloaded a free program called Inkscape, that I've been using to manufacture a whole bunch of new patterns.  The program does have a lot of idiosyncracies, but I've been able to get a lot of mileage out of its polygon/star making functions.  Inkscape is a good trial run to help me decide whether I should spend some real money buying Illustrator.

[Bleedy Pokes]

Hey Chantal, I've seen your Inkscape patterns, and they're wonderful!
If you want to try out Illustrator, you can download a free trial version on Adobe's website. I believe the trial lasts 30 days. Since you've put in some time with Inkscape, you'll probably pick up on Illustrator pretty quickly! I just bring this up because my husband uses Illustrator all the time and loves it. He tried to show me how to use it, I just don't have the patience for trying to draw on the computer.

Plain old paper and pencils for me...

[Chantal]

Paper and pencil are IRREPLACEABLE!  If I make, say, a portrait, I'll be back to these ancient and reliable instruments.  The program has been useful for making mathematical curves and perfect symmetries around any number of radial axes.  I've been using 3 to 24 radial axes.  Another fun part is that one can apply distortions resulting in some pretty nifty swings.  I have about 50 patterns in the pipeline with varying complexity.   I've been putting glass globs because some of these patterns would have too many converging lines and a glass glob sure beats a solder gob.  Another trick is to superimpose a couple of patterns of the same number of radial axes.