Applique From EQ8 to Cricut Silhouette or Brother Scan N Cut

Scroll down for information on creating cut images from EQ8 applique.  But first -- check out a new live webinar happening right after Christmas.

Register for Free EQ8 Webinar after Christmas

Turn Your Next Panel into a One of a Kind Quilt

How many times have you purchased (on contemplated purchasing) a panel and then struggled what to do with it?  Obviously you  can slap on a couple of straight borders, add a bit of basic quilting and the binding and it is ready to give away. 

But what if you want to do more?

• Maybe you wish to personalize your panel with unique borders.
• Or maybe you wish to cut up your panel and make it a series of blocks in your quilt.
• Or maybe you just want a go to method for working with any panel you currently own (or plan to purchase in the future).

Let me show you how to quickly get past the overwhelm and uncertainty of working with panels. 

Join my free Electric Quilt 8 webinar where I will take you step by step through the entire process to create your own panel quilt.  In this live webinar, you will learn how to:  

• ​import a panel image into EQ and figure out the sizes of sections of the panel.
• subdivide the panel image to experiment with different options for using the panel in a quilt.
• learn how to personalize your quilt by designing coordinating blocks.
• learn my tricks for working with those awkward sizes that always seem to happen when designing around panels.
• learn how to create borders with multiple blocks that create flow and visual appeal.

What are you waiting for? Join us today.

Plus you will also receive a guidebook that you will be able to use as a reference both during and after the video.  This will assist you when you're working on your project.
 
I can't wait to see your panel quilt design.

​Join us now. ​

Free Webinar Registration Information

Choose the time that works the best below and register for this amazing fun webinar.  You won't be disappointed.

​For all those that attend live, I will be offering a special bonus offer as well.  Make sure to join me.  I can't wait to see you there.

A replay will be available for 24 hours if you cannot attend live.​  But you must register in advance to access the replay.

Date and Time

Tuesday, December 27
10 am Central Time

Tuesday, December 27
3 pm Central Time

Tuesday, December 27
8 pm Central Time

Registration Link

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APPLIQUE FROM EQ8 TO CRICUT SILHOUETTE OR BROTHER SCAN N CUT

Last week I shared how to draft your own Ice Skating Motif using Electric Quilt 8.   If you want to see the power of EQ8 up close and personal (and learn more about the applique tools) you will definitely want to check out this post. 

Ice Skate Applique Motif Blog Post

In this video, I will share how to convert your EQ Applique drawing into an SVG file.  An SVG file allows you to use the images (exactly as drawn) in the electronic cutting system of your choice -- Cricut, Silhouette, or Brother Scan N Cut.

While many of the cutting systems will suggest using their tracing features, I have had mixed success with traces.  Often they can muddy aspects of the images and they are really not successful in pictures with layered images.  So I knew I wanted a technique that preserved the integrity of the initial drawing in Electric Quilt.

I found that the key to success is an extra piece of software called Inkscape.  

What is Inkscape?

The extra piece of software I used for creating the SVGs is Inkscape.  Inkscape is a professional vector graphics editor for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It's free and open source. 

Inkscape can seem overwhelming to use when you open it for the first time. However you only need to use a couple of tools within Inkscape -- so this really is a piece of cake. You can download Inkscape here.

Inkscape will allow you to create an SVG file which may be used in any electronic cutting system (Cricut Design Space, Silhouette Studio, or Brother Canvas Workspace).

So what is an SVG file?  An SVG file is a graphics file that uses a two-dimensional vector graphic format.  Unlike raster formats such as JPG, GIF, and PNG, an SVG image remains crisp and clear at any resolution or size.  My Translation -- Much cleaner of an image than any trace in a cutting system.

Best Tips from the Video

Electric Quilt Tips

• Color your block with colors (not fabric).
• Print to a pdf writer.  If you need a pdf writer check out these free options:
  • Cute PDF Writer for Windows  (www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp)
  • RWTS PDFwriter for MAC  (https://github.com/rodyager/RWTS-PDFwriter)
• If you have stitch (thread) lines, turn on print block and patch outlines.  Otherwise turn them off.

Inkscape Tips

• Ungroup everything.
• Patches will have both outlines and fill.  Delete the outlines and keep the fill.
• Thread will only have fill.
• Group everything and note the size.
• Save as an svg file.

Cricut Design Space Tips

• Once importing the svg file, resize the group to match the size noted in Inkscape.  (Depending on the latest update, the size may be correct or may not be correct.  So always check.)
• Use Deboss if you wish to create an impression (for thread) rather than a cut.
• Select Attach to keep the thread with the related patch.

Card Ideas Using the Cut Ice Skates

The following cards were make from my stash of card making supplies using the Ice Skating motif design in Electric Quilt 8 and cut with my Cricut Maker. 

I am a huge Stampin Up fan and a part-time distributor (i.e. I want the purchasing discount) -- but I also accumulate supplies from a variety of other sources.  I think of card making like making scrap quilts -- use what you have on hand!

Ice Skate Card #1 - Supplies and Measurements

• Card Base:  5-1/2" x 8-1/2", folded at 4-1/4"
• Background:  4" x 5-1/4"
• Layered Plaid Paper:  2-3/4" x 4-1/2"
• Stamped Images:  Ringed With Nature Stamp Set from Stamping Up.  (Hand trimmed the poinsettias)
• Pine Needles cut with Winter Welcome Sled dies by Spellbinders
• Red Ribbon cut 6-1/2"
• EQ skates cut from glimmer white (boot), grey cardstock (heal), foil cardstock (blade)
• Not sure about the tag die cut source (size approximately 2-3/4" x 1/2".

Ice Skate Card #2 - Supplies and Measurements

• Card Base:  5-1/2" x 8-1/2", folded at 4-1/4"
• White cardstock:  4" x 5-1/4".  Split Card Texture dies from Stampin Up used for cut-away.
• Christmas paper cut 3" x 5" attached to back of die-cut white cardstock.
• Stamped Images:  Ringed With Nature Stamp Set from Stamping Up.  (Hand trimmed the poinsettias)
• Foil Snowflakes from  Barn Dies by Stampin Up
• Green Leaf from retired Poinsettia Petals dies.  Embossed with  Wintery 3D Embossing folders (pine bough pattern) from Stampin Up.
• Red Ribbon cut 4-1/2" and 3".  (Ribbon as 1/4" wide).
• EQ skates cut from glimmer white (boot), grey cardstock (heal), foil cardstock (blade)
• Not sure about the tag die cut source (size approximately 2-3/4" x 1/2").

Ice Skate Card #3 - Supplies and Measurements

• Card Base:  5-1/2" x 8-1/2", folded at 4-1/4"
• Plaid paper:  4" x 5-1/4".  
• Stamped Sentiment:  Ringed With Nature Stamp Set from Stamping Up.  
• Poinsettia and Green Leaf from retired Poinsettia Petals dies.  Embossed with  Wintery 3D Embossing folders (pine bough pattern) from Stampin Up.
• EQ skates cut from glimmer white (boot), grey cardstock (heal), foil cardstock (blade)
• Not sure about the tag die cut source (size approximately 2-3/4" x 1/2").

---

Happy quilting.

​Kari

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