Are you planning to give your mother flowers for Mother’s Day? This year, why not create a quilted flower that can be enjoyed long after fresh flowers fade? In this week’s EQ8 tutorial, I’ll walk you through designing two floral-inspired wall quilts that are perfect for spring decorating or heartfelt handmade gifts.

As an added bonus, I’m also sharing free downloadable files for the featured blocks at the end of this post.

In the video tutorial, I demonstrate:

• Setting up the custom flower block in EasyDraw
• Adjusting snaps and graph settings for accurate drafting
• Creating the tulip flower head
• Modifying the block for alternate flower styles
• Designing a Dresden flower in PolyDraw
• Setting the quilt layout and borders
• Coloring the quilt using the Color Club fabrics

​You’ll also see how easy it is to experiment with different flower heads and fabric combinations.

Here are the finished quilt layouts from the tutorial. One of the things I love most about this project is how easily the fabrics can be changed. Try pulling favorite prints from your stash or choose colors that reflect your mother’s personal style.

​Soft pastels, bold brights, or even scrappy florals would all work beautifully in these designs.

Ready to start sewing your own flower quilt? Download the files below to get started:

• 4" x 15" Tulip Foundation Pattern
• 4" x 15" Flower Block Foundation Without Head Foundation
• Dresden Flower Head Templates

​I’d love to hear which flower version you prefer — the tulip or the Dresden flower. Or perhaps you created your own custom flower head design. Be sure to share your projects and ideas in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

My local guild, Maple Grove Quilters, is hosting their quilt show this weekend—and it’s always one of my favorite events of the year. This group is filled with incredibly talented quilters, and I love spending the day catching up with friends while admiring their beautiful work.

As this year’s show approached, I realized something: I really hadn’t been quilting much over the past couple of years. Between moving—and sorting through, organizing, and gifting a large portion of my 35 years of quilting supplies—my creative time had taken a back seat.

So I made a decision.

If I wanted quilts to enter in the show, it was time to pull out those unfinished quilt tops and get them completed.

My original plan was to keep things simple with pantographs. But along the way, I decided to stretch myself and incorporate some custom quilting as well. Was it perfect? No. Was it fun? Absolutely.

To speed up the finishing process, I also tried something new—attaching my bindings by machine after watching a few YouTube tutorials. That alone made a huge difference in how quickly I could complete each quilt.

And finally, on Sunday, I wrapped everything up by designing labels for each quilt—all created in Electric Quilt 8.

In this post, I’ll share my finished quilts, their coordinating labels, and walk you through my label-making process so you can create your own.

For each of my labels, I chose to feature a block from the quilt itself. It’s a simple way to create a cohesive, professional look that ties everything together.

Some of my quilts were made from patterns, while others were designs I created in Electric Quilt—sometimes in earlier versions of the software. Rather than hunting down old project files, I found it faster to simply draft (or redraft) the blocks in a new project file.

My Label Design Process

Here are a few tips to guide you:

• When coloring your label, choose fabrics that coordinate with the quilt rather than trying to match them exactly.
• Set up the block in a horizontal quilt layout using a single block sized at 20" x 20".
• Add a 1" border around the block.
• On Layer 2, include text such as the quilt name, your name, and the completion year.
• Add the design to your Sketchbook to save it.
• Under Print & Export, export the image at:
  • Size: 8" x 8"
  • Resolution: 300 DPI
  • Turn off both “Outline Patches” and “Outline Blocks”
• Save the image to your computer.

Be sure to watch the video for a full step-by-step walkthrough.

Now, a word of caution.

Electric Quilt recommends using an InkJet printer for a reason. When using a laser printer:

• Print one sheet at a time
• Allow the printer to cool between pages
• Avoid overheating (you don’t want to melt the backing sheet!)

I also noticed that the toner sits on top of the fabric, making the labels feel a bit stiff. There may also be issues with colorfastness, as some rubbing occurred during handling.

​Because of this, I would not recommend this method for quilts that will be frequently washed.

Here are the quilts I completed for the show, along with their coordinating labels—all designed in Electric Quilt 8.
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For each label, I drafted a block that either appears in the quilt or was inspired by its design. My goal was to keep each label simple while still creating a clear connection to the quilt.

Rise n/ Shine (49" x 49")

This pattern is by Julia Papa of Sunflower Hill Designs. The quilt top was pieced many years ago, and it felt especially satisfying to finally return to it and complete the quilting this year.

Irish Eyes (46" x 46") 

This quilt was inspired by a design created by Irma Gail Hatcher, which I first saw when it was featured as one of the finalists in Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine’s “Discovery: A New World in Quilting” contest.

After drafting my own version in Electric Quilt, I later developed custom quilting designs for a “How Do I Quilt This?” tutorial for Art & Stitch.

In 2026, I finally brought all the elements together and finished the quilt.

Hearts Galore (74" x 90") 

After winning a collection of heart blocks at a quilt retreat, I designed this quilt in EQ8 to showcase them. I paired the heart blocks with large triangle units to create a layout that appears to be set on point—but is actually constructed in a horizontal setting, making it much more approachable to piece.

Jo’s Little Women Signature Block Exchange  (32" x 41")

For many years, I participated in a Jo’s Little Women group at a local quilt shop. One year, we exchanged signature blocks, and this quilt became the perfect way to preserve those memories.

​I designed the layout in EQ8 to highlight each block while maintaining a cohesive overall design.

Whim Wham Stars (28" x 28") 

This small quilt features a block from my published Whim Wham Stars pattern. It’s a great example of how a single block can shine in a smaller project.

Have you ever fallen in love with a fabric panel—only to realize you’d rather cut it apart and use those smaller sections in a quilt? Then the questions start rolling in:

How large should each cut be?

And what will the finished quilt actually look like?

Ideally, we’d answer those questions before making that first cut into our fabric. The good news? With a little help from Electric Quilt 8, you can do exactly that.

​In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through the process step-by-step—so you can confidently plan your panel quilt before picking up your rotary cutter.

The quilt featured in this tutorial was designed by Mary Groesbeck, a talented designer and owner of Womancave Design. Her creative use of a panel makes this project both playful and practical.​

Mary selected the Dragon Friends panel from In the Beginning Fabrics—and it’s still available if you’d like to create your own version.

When working with panels, it’s helpful to begin by auditioning fabrics directly in Electric Quilt:

• Start with a background fabric that complements the panel.
• Try searching for “Watercolor” fabrics within EQ to find soft, coordinating prints that enhance the design without overpowering it.

​This digital auditioning step can save time—and prevent second-guessing later.

One of the most important steps is determining how to cut your panel.

In the video, I demonstrate how to:

• Accurately size the panel in EQ
• Create a quilt layout that matches those dimensions
• Plan your cuts before touching the fabric

For this quilt, I chose blocks that finish at 10" x 10", which means:

• Cut size: 10-1/2" x 10-1/2"
• Finished size: 10" x 10"

​Placing these blocks on Layer 3 in EQ gives you a clear visual plan and even provides a helpful cutting guide for your panel.

This quilt uses two simple 12" x 12" blocks:

Block 1: Framed Panel Block

• Use EasyDraw
• Add a 1" frame around the edges

Block 2: Appliqué Accent Block

• Use EasyDraw Plus Appliqué
• On the appliqué tab, draw two overlapping circles with the Ellipse tool
• On the EasyDraw tab, add an on-point square

​These blocks add variety while keeping the focus on the panel imagery.

• Use 8 framed panel blocks and 7 appliqué blocks
• Rotate some of the appliqué blocks for visual movement
• Use the Fussy Cut feature to highlight different dragons within each framed block

​This is where the design really comes to life—each block can showcase a unique part of the panel.

To make the quilt even more special:

• Switch to Layer 2
• Use the Text Tool to add wording to the half-drop blocks in Strip 2
• Choose any font installed on your computer (I used Comicy in the video)
• Use the Adjust tool to refine size and placement

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This is a great opportunity to personalize the quilt with a name, phrase, or message.

​Be sure to watch the full video for a complete walkthrough of each step—from panel setup to final design.

The final quilt is bright, fun, and full of personality—perfect for a baby quilt or a special gift for a child.

What would you do with this panel?
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I’d love to see your ideas and designs. Feel free to share your creations in the Learning EQ Facebook group and get inspired by others in the community.

Over the years, I’ve collected more charm packs than I care to admit—and even went through a phase of cutting my own 5" squares from leftover fabric. There’s just something irresistible about those little bundles that showcase an entire fabric collection in perfectly coordinated pieces.
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In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to draft a charm-friendly quilt design using Electric Quilt 8. It’s the perfect opportunity to dive into your stash—or give yourself a great excuse to pick up a new charm pack or two.

Each charm square starts at 5" x 5". From there, you have a couple of options:

• Cut in half:
  Two pieces at 2-1/2" x 5"
  (unfinished size: 2" x 4-1/2")
• Cut into quarters:
  Four pieces at 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"
  (unfinished size: 2" x 2")

​For this design, I challenged myself to use both sizes in the same block.

Tip:  You could also cut these patches from Jelly Roll strips.

Follow these steps to draft the block:

1. On the Block Worktable, select New Block > Pieced > EasyDraw.
2. Set the following: 
   • Block size to 4" x 9"
     
   • Snaps: 8 x 18 (every 1/2")
     
   • Enable Snap to Grid only.
3. Use the Grid Tool to create a 2 x 2 grid.
4. Add diagonal lines in each corner.
5. Color the block—try a consistent background fabric in the corners for a clean look.

Rotate the blocks in each strip to create a fresh design.
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Tip:
This version works best if you cut using templates from EQ, and you’ll need mirrored pieces—so consider cutting charms in pairs with right sides together.

• Set up a Horizontal Quilt
• 9 blocks across, 1 block down
• Block size: 4" x 9"
• Add borders:
  • 1" inner
  • 3" middle
  • 1/2" mitered outer

Rotate every other block to add movement and visual interest.

Be sure to watch the full video tutorial for step-by-step guidance on drafting the block and creating all four layouts.

I had so much fun testing this design with different fabric lines. Here are a few variations using Layout 1:

• Coral Reef by Deborah Edwards & Melanie Smara for Northcott
• Cheeto’s World by Kimberly Einmo for Benartex
• Winnie the Pooh by Echo Park for Riley Blake

​Each one creates a completely different look with the exact same block!

Step 2​
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Add 2-1/2" background squares to two opposite corners.
Sew diagonally and press toward the corners.

Step 3​
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Repeat for the remaining two corners.

Now it’s your turn—which charm pack will you use?
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I’d love to see what you create! Share your quilt in the Learning EQ Facebook group. I’ve created a dedicated post just for your projects.

Be sure to watch the video tutorial for a step-by-step walkthrough of drafting the block and building the quilt layout in EQ8.​

Which version do you prefer—the full quilt or the smaller wall hanging? Or are you putting your own spin on the Lincoln block?
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I’d love to see what you create! Share your projects in the Learning EQ Facebook Group.