Do you sometimes find that you are over thinking your quilt design?  Quilt designing does not need to be difficult -- particularly if you own Electric Quilt 8.

The quilt you will be learning to draft this week is super versatile.  I started with 3 simple to piece asymmetrical blocks from the Electric Quilt block library.  For those of you that purchased Block Base Plus, you could also pick your blocks from there. 

​The blocks I chose to work with were a log cabin, simple basket and flower basket.   These blocks would be super easy to either rotary cut or to foundation piece and don't have a lot of pieces.

The magic comes in the layout.  The layout I chose to work with is the first hexagonal option in the EQ Layout Library (under Layouts by Style).  

Within Electric Quilt you can put any square block in a diamond space and your block is now a diamond block.  Or if you place it in one of the equilateral triangles, it will cut off half the block and it is now an equilateral triangle block.  
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You can even kept things simple when coloring the quilt -- choosing to work with colors rather than fabrics (giving the quilt a very modern vibe).

This is a super quick video and one that you will find very easy to replicate.  However if you are up for flexing your designing muscles, consider swapping out the blocks and the layout.  

Here is the hexagon quilt from the video.

I would love to see what you do with this concept.   Feel free to share in the Learning EQ Facebook group.  I've set up a post for you to include your designs.

I then placed them in a 3 x 3 layout -- rotating units until I found something I liked.  I then sewed the units together into five different 9 patch blocks.

I then decided I would try using the disappearing 9-patch technique - slicing each block into quarters, rotating the blocks and sewing them back together -- for new blocks.  You can see the slices on my image of the last 9 patch block above (I forgot to take a picture before the slicing)..

I rotated the units (either 90 clockwise or counter-clockwise or 180 degrees) 

​The slicing reduced the block size to 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" (finished size) or 9" x 9" (unfinished size).

Here are the slice and spin blocks.  (The last is before sewing -- can you see where we will loose part of the block in seam allowances?

Just for fun match each of the slice and spin blocks to the original 9 patch blocks. 

In this weeks video, I will take you through the EQ process to create the blocks.  The process will  replicate my construction process.  It will start with a 9 patch block and end with the slice and spin block.

​The plans are to create a layout featuring my new blocks.  But I will save that for another week.

​Here are the high level steps from the video:

Step 1:  Draft, color and save  the 9 patch block with half square triangles.
Step 2:  Add lines for the "slicing"
Step 3:  Rotate the lines in each quadrant (90, 180, or 270 degrees)
Step 4: Color the block, staying true to the patches before rotation in the original block. (This was the hardest part of the process.)
Step 5:  Draw 1/4 inch lines for the interior cuts that will become seam allowances.
Step 6:  Delete the lines in the seam allowances.
Step 7:  Resize the existing image to fill the worktable (or quadrant) and convert to guides.  (This is necessary as EQ rounds resize calculations to the nearest percent.)
Step 8:  Change the block size to reduce for the lost seam allowances.  (This involves reducing the size by 1/2". 
Step 9:  Trace the guidelines and color the block. 
​Step 10:  Save your slice and spin block.

If you would like to challenge yourself create your own 9 patch block with half square triangles and take it through the slice and spin process.  I would love to see your designs.

Last week I presented a webinar where I shared a new technique on creating your own blocks using the "Magic Half Square Triangle Technique".  During the webinar I shared three different ways of creating Magic Half Square triangle blocks -- along with a number of ways to turn them into new blocks and quilts.

​The following blocks were created during the webinar based on Magic Half Square Triangle designs.

In the webinar, I then shared how to to use the blocks to create this quilt. 

Although the information on drafting the individual blocks is not included in this blog post, you are welcome to download and trace the blocks in Electric Quilt.

Effective May 1st, the webinar including the instructions for these blocks and quilt became an exclusive bonus for Tech Know Quilter members in May 2025.   This bonus included the three techniques to create your own Magic Half Square triangle blocks and quilts.

If you are interested in obtaining this bonus, I have reopened TKQ for 36 hours.  Click on this link to learn more and sign up.  

The bonus will be sent to TKQ members on Monday, May 5, 2025.  You must sign up for Tech Know Quilters before then to receive the bonuses.

I also had another quilt idea -- but ran out of time to include it in the webinar.

Even if you don't have the blocks from the webinar, you could select other blocks to use with the layout.

This quilt uses the Vertical Strip Layout.

If you wish to make your design rotary cutting friendly (with 90 and 45 degree angles), it will involve a bit of math.  Here is how I approached the sizes for the borders:

Step 1:  The original sashing block was drawn at 12" x 4".  A ratio of 3 to 1.  If you stay at that ratio, all of the pieces have 90 and 45 degree angles -- making them very rotary cutting and piecing friendly.

Step 2:  After experimenting with different widths, I decided on a block with of 4-1/2".  Which makes the ideal length 13-1/2" (4.5 x 3 = 13.5).  The 13-1/2" x 4-1/2" supports the 3 to 1 ration from Step 1.

Step 3:  Size of quilt needed before adding Border #3 (the pieced block border).  Multiply the length of the planned border block with the desired number of blocks in that border.  

• 13.5 x 5 blocks = 67.5" width
• 13.5 x 6 blocks = 81" length 

Step 4:  On the layout tab, locate the quilt center size before adding any borders is:

• 57" width
• 68" length

Step 5:  Subtract the size of the center layout (step 4) from the required size of the pieced border (step 3).  Divide those number by 2 and split between any previous borders.   We need a total of 10.5" (67.5-57) for left and right borders (5.25 for each side).  I set the borders as follows:

• Border 1: 3"
• Border 2: 2-1/4"

Step 6:  We need a total of 13" (81-68) for top and bottom borders (6.5 for each side).  I set the borders as follows:

• Border 1: 4"
• Border 2: 2-1/2"

Step 7:  Before typing in the size for these borders, make sure to turn off Lock size adjustment All and turn on L&R (left and right) and T&B (top and bottom).

Step 8:  Double check the size of your blocks under Print & Export.  They should be 13.5 x 4.5.

Here is the final quilt.

The video will provide additional information on the steps within EQ8 for creating the quilt.

I would love to see how you use the Vertical Strip Layout.  Consider trying a favorite block and sashing block for your quilt.  Please consider posting to the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Here are some recently completed projects from Tech Know Quilter members. ​

Tech Know Quilters is a membership of Electric Quilt 8 owners who are mastering Electric Quilt through online training.  At the end of each month, they were encouraged to apply what they learned and to share a favorite quilt or picture.

If you are interested in joining Tech Know Quilters, you can learn more here.

Since Easter is this weekend, I decided to keep things simple.  My Easter Basket quilt has only three blocks plus an auto-border.  It was a perfect opportunity to play with a new fabric collection.

Before checking out the lesson, make sure to register for the free live EQ8 webinar happening next Saturday.  I am looking forward to sharing a new project (along with the insights in using Electric Quilt 8) in a live setting.  If you can't make the live on Saturday, I will be doing another live presentation on Monday.

There are three simple to draft blocks for this quilt.  I am guessing the first two are in the EQ8 Library -- but I find it much faster to draft the block than figure out where it is in the library.

The quilt was set in a horizontal layout.  

Set the three blocks in the quilt.

Rotate the basket blocks so the base faces in.

Here is the video tutorial.

Here is my final quilt.  It finishes at 30" x 30". 

​You could use it as a small wall hanging.  Or it could adorn your table.

Here is my completed quilt -- done in Polka Dot fabrics.  I liked the "cheery" colors for spring.

I look forward to seeing your Easter Baskets quilt.  What will you do to personalize the design?

Please feel free to post in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

In my classes and Tech Know Quilter's program, I love to encourage students through challenges.

In this blog post, I will share:

• A month end challenge for Tech Know Quilters members to apply what they learned during the previous month.
• Some recently completed blocks and quilts in the "Design Your Own 9 Patch" stand-alone class.
• A video tutorial on a quilt I designed in response to a challenge I gave to my Tech Know Quilter members

Here are some recently completed projects from Tech Know Quilter members. ​

Tech Know Quilters is a membership of Electric Quilt 8 owners who are mastering Electric Quilt through online training.  At the end of each month, they were encouraged to apply what they learned and to share a favorite quilt or picture.

If you are interested in joining Tech Know Quilters, please send me a note.

My new Design Your Own 9 Patch with EQ8 Class continues.  There have been some great designs posted in our private group this week -- including the following:

Would you like to join us?  

In February, Tech Know Quilter Master's members were encouraged to share a favorite quilt they actually constructed.  For a twist, I asked them to select someone else's quilt and draft blocks and a quilt inspired by the constructed quilt.

The class for February Masters was a pretty intense one, so not as many participated in the challenge.  But those who did, came up with awesome interpretations of their inspiration quilts.

As I was putting together this blog post, I decided to take the Master's challenge.  My inspiration quilt was one submitted by Pat Harkins, Tech Know Quilter Masters member.

For my variation of her quilt, I decided to miniaturize the quilt (and created only 1/4 of the design.)

In the Block Worktable, there is an option to merge two blocks together.  So I was able to put the 16 patch block in the frame.  Here are my two final colorations of blocks in the frame.

In analyzing Pat's border, I decided to draft as a row of flying geese units.  I drafted at 24" x 4".  Here are the two colorations.

Before adding the flying geese block to the quilt, I realized I needed to resize the quilt to 28"".  This will give me the perfect space for two 24" x 4" blocks (one horizontal and one vertical).  

I overlayed this unit on Layer 2 -- which puts it on top of what was designed on Layer 1.

Piecing Tip:  To piece the design, I would piece the background as drafted and then chop off 3-1/2" of background fabric on the top and left edges.  Then add the flying geese blocks.  Everything should fit together beautifully.   

Here is my drafted quilt.

Watch the video tutorial for more information on how to draft this quilt using EQ8.

There is so much you could do with this layout  --  replacing the 16 patch with another simple block.  Or add a fourth pieced block to each star point.  (You would need to move the borders if you select the second option.)

I would love to see what you decide to create.

If you would like to share your creation, I've set up a post in the Learning EQ Facebook group.