Kari Schell On Point Quilter Blog

Hearts

1/25/2025

I recently resurrected an old project that was created in Electric Quilt 4. In an attempt to find the inspiration for that project, I ended up opening a number of my old projects. Although I never found the quilt I was looking for, I did discover the quilt I am sharing with you today.

The quilt has blocks on Layer 1 and Layer 2. And two different heart blocks. I was actually pretty impressed that I was able to do it in EQ4.

However the EQ4 fabric options weren't very pretty (i.e. they were ugly in those days). And I did see a few flaws in my design. So I decided to redo the project in EQ8.

This ended up being a quilt that I made from my EQ4 design-- because I thought that was what I was suppose to do with my EQ designs.

Fabrics

Hollyhocks and Roses by Bunny Hill Designs for Moda

In my search for a collection of fabrics with pinks and reds, I found Hollyhocks and Roses by Bunny Hill Designs for Moda. It was part of the EQ Stash Collection - 2024 Download 2 - from Electric Quilt.

If you don't want to purchase the Stash collection, the fabric can also be downloaded from the Moda website.

In the video, I share how I added the fabrics from the Stash Collection to my Hearts project.

(I did end up including an additional red (solid) for my cornerstones.

Heart Blocks

While EQ does have a heart under Shapes in the Applique toolkit, I don't actually love the shape of the heart.

Rather that editing that heart, I decided to pick a heart block from the EQ library that better reflected the style of heart I wanted in my quilt.

In the video, I cover finding and editing the block from the library and creating two different heart blocks that were used in the quilt.

Heart Flower Block under Contemporary Applique - Hearts in the EQ8 Library

Heart Block for Quilt Center

Heart Block for Remaining blocks in the Quilt

The blocks will be set in an on point quilt, so don't worry about adjusting the fabric rotation on the block worktable.

Hearts Quilt

Set up a new quilt with the style On Point.

In the Layout tab, set the number of blocks at 3 horizontal and 4 vertical.

Set the size of the blocks at 4 inches.

Set the sashing at 1 inch.

On Point Layout for Hearts Quilt

The quilt has three borders:

Border #1 - 1" Long Horizontal

Border #2 - 3" Mitered (I went with Mitered as I used a directional print in the border.)

Border #3 - .25" Mitered (for binding)

Hearts Quilt Layout with Borders

The 2nd heart block was placed on Layer 1 with a single click in each of the block spaces.

The remainder of the quilt was colored (with the exception of the four squares and sashing in the center).

Not coloring the blocks under another block, will improve the fabric yardage calculations.

The 1st heart block will need to be dragged onto Layer 2 and the size set with the adjust tool. There are no predefined spaces on Layer 2 -- so we get to decide both size and placement of any blocks.

Hearts Quilt - Layer 1

Heart Quilt - Layer 2

Check out the full tutorial in the video.

Create your own heart quilt in Electric Quilt. If you would like to challenge yourself, consider using a different applique element in the blocks.

I would love to see your design.

I've set up a separate post in the Learning EQ Group where you can share your designs. (Or even your favorite heart quilt).

Learning EQ Facebook Group Post for Hearts Quilt

Hearts Quilt Construction

Rather than use applique hearts, I used a collection of doilies for my Hearts quilt.

I did a straight stitch over the edge of the doily (using a matching thread). Super simple (and fast).

Some of the doilies were quartered.

For the smaller doilies, I just centered them in the block.

Heart Quilt with Doilies Created by Kari Schell

Happy quilting.

Kari

Join the On Point Quilter weekly newsletter and receive regular tips and inspiration on using Electric Quilt 8 along with the Free 12 Top
Tips for EQ8 video guide.

Sashiko is Possible in Electric Quilt

1/18/2025

What is Sashiko?

Sashiko is a Japanese hand sewing technique that involves stitching patterns of running stitches to reinforce or decorate cloth and clothing.

The word "sashiko" literally translates to "little stabs". Four or six thin strands of 100% cotton thread are twisted together tightly to create a single strand of Sashiko thread. Sashiko thread is non-divisible, meaning that it is meant to be used as a single strand and not divided down or pulled apart like embroidery floss.

Sashiko and Electric Quilt

Because of the geometric nature of these designs, they are very conducive to drawing inEasyDraw and PolyDraw.

However if the plan is to use the designs for traditional Sashiko, the EasyDraw/PolyDraw tools really don’t work well due to the double stitch lines created with adjoining patches.

So I found that the best way to create Sashiko designs is as an applique motif.

I will be sharing how in this tutorial.

Sierpinski Triangle

Sierpinski Triangle from Wikipedia

Mary Groesbeck of Womancave Design shared with me an idea that involved using Sashiko in a Sierpinski triangle. The blocks and quilt I am sharing today was inspired by her design. The Sierpinski triangle essentially is a block with equilateral triangles inside other equilateral triangles.

Per Wikipedia, "the Sierpiński triangle, also called the Sierpiński gasket or Sierpiński sieve, is a fractal with the overall shape of an equilateral triangle, subdivided recursively into smaller equilateral triangles."

So what is an equilateral triangle?

An equilateral triangle is a triangle in which all three sides have the same length, and all three angles are equal.

Equilateral Triangle Diagram

Rather than remembering my High School Geometry, I typically use an online Equilateral Triangle calculator to figure out my measurements for my blocks and quilt.

Here is a link to my favorite.

Rechneronline Equilateral Triangle Calculator

Here were the measurements I used in my blocks and quilts. The only thing you need from the calculator is edge length (width) and height (height).

Just ignore the rest!

Equilateral Triangle Calculations

Drafting the Sierpinski Triangle Quilting Motif

Set up a new block that is a combination EasyDraw&Applique.

Using the equilateral triangle calculator measurements, set the Block Width at 16 and Block Height at 13.86.

On the EasyDraw tab, draw the outside edges for the triangle. Find the center of each edge (Partition>Half) and and draw a line from the center node to the opposing corners.

Partitioned Equilateral Triangle on the EasyDraw tab

Sashiko Stitching triangles on the applique tab

Go to the Applique Tab.

Trace one of the EasyDraw triangles.

Select the 3 lines, clone, resize and position in the larger triangle.

Continue to clone, resize and position for two additional triangles.

Clone, rotate 120 degrees and reposition two additional sets of three triangles. Use the EasyDraw lines as reference lines for placement.

Add one line from the center of the equilateral triangle to the lower right corner.

Delete the outside line from first triangle.

Sashiko Stitching in EasyDraw&Applique Block

Sashiko Stitching as an Applique Motif

Using the Edit tool in the main toolbar, copy all the lines on the applique tab.

Paste them in a new Applique Motif block.

Select Thread tools and color the lines.

Drafting an Equilateral Triangle in EasyDraw

Draw a basic Equilateral Triangle in EasyDraw and color. Of course if you didn't want the two outside triangles, you could draft this this same triangle in PolyDraw instead.

EasyDraw Equilateral Triangle

Equilateral Triangle Block

Drafting Stitching for the Outside Triangles

Start a new Applique Motif block.

Block size is actually not important, but set the snaps horizontal at 20 and vertical at 10.

Snapping options should be just Snap to Grid.

Draft slanted lines on both the left and right sides of the blocks connecting nodes on the left and right edges with nodes on the bottom.

Sashiko Stitching for Outside Triangles

Drafting the Sierpinski Quilt

Set up a new Custom Set quilt.

On the layout tab change the size to a width of 64 and a height of 55.5. (The 55.5 is a rounding of the calculated number of 55.426.)

On the border tab, change the size to 1/2 inch and the style to mitered.

Custom Set Layout

Sierpinski Triangle Layer 1

Place the EasyDraw Equilateral triangle block on Layer 1.

With the Adjust tool change the size to 64 x 55.5 and center horizontally and vertically.

Color the border.

On Layer 2 place the Triangle Applique motif blocks.

Use Snap to Grid (set at 2") for placement of the first row.

For the second, third and four rows, you will be able to snap to grid for the X-Axis.

However you will need to manually input the numbers for the Y-Axis. Refer to the Equilateral Triangle calculator number for the numbers to use for the Y-Axis.

Sierpinski Triangle Layer 2

Sierpinski Triangle Layer 3

On Layer 3, place the stitching (stencil) for the outside triangles.

Size the motif at 64 x 55.5 (consistent with the block size).

Center horizontally and vertically.

Watch the full video tutorial.

Here is the final quilt.

Sierpinski Triangle Quilt Designed in Electric Quilt

If you would like to get creative, consider creating a different stencil for the Sierpinski triangles. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Hint: In exporting your image, make sure to have on Outline patches and Outline blocks. Otherwise you will not see the stitching on Layer 2.

Learning EQ Facebook Group Post for Sierpinski Triangle Quilt

Happy quilting.

Kari

Join the On Point Quilter weekly newsletter and receive regular tips and inspiration on using Electric Quilt 8 along with the Free 12 Top
Tips for EQ8 video guide.

Family Crest (Kamon) Quilts

1/11/2025

Tech Know Quilter Masters members recently completed a class on Sashiko Quilts.

Their challenge for the month was to design a Family Crest (Kamon) quilt. I am pretty pumped to share their designs with you.

For my EQ tutorial, I decided to walk you through my design process as I created a personal Family Crest quilt.

There is no video as I wasn't sure how many of you would want to draft a "Schell Kamon Quilt", but there are plenty of ideas and I do share the EQ tools I used in creating my design.

Scroll down for the complete tutorial.

Tech Know Quilters Masters Challenge - Japanese Crest (Kamon) Challenge

This particular challenge was definitely advanced. Not only did they need to locate or draw their own Japanese Crest, they had to figure out how to incorporate their design in a quilt.

Some got as far as identifying a crest. Others designed an entire quilt.

I am super excited to share their creativity with you.

Renae Frank Butler My design was inspired by my knowledge to learn, explore and teach.

Fran Heisey My name appears to have neither a crest nor any particular meaning, so I decided to use a crane as my inspiration. We have sandhill cranes on the farm and once even a whooping crane, that now spends his summers in the neighborhood. This image was found on Pinterest.

The crest became stitching on my quilt.

Elly da Silva My son-in-law has a family crest from his mother. It is a French lily. I want to use it.

Elly da Silva I want to make a pattern with 4 French lilies

Loronda Schuler Obviously Schuler is German and not Japanese. This is what I found. Looking through Japanese crests I thought the image in the circle looked like a book which reminded me of a scholar. The other pic is the Japanese symbol for scholar.

Lee Wiencki - Unity Kamon

Dianna Carter

Julie Pedersen As a "crazy cat lady", I chose Tiger for my crest. Warrior also fits as we are a retired Army family. (My husband was a helicopter pilot.)

Julie Pedersen Here is our family Koman. I used the embroidery feature to add what I see as an oriental style cat's faces on each rhombus. Each cat is different as each of ours are different.

Julie Pedersen I added applique and stencils to complete this quilt....Perfect for our cat-crazy family.

Mary Groesbeck My maiden name goes nowhere (Hungarian). My married/divorced name (Groesbeck) is not a name I like or identify with...but...when I moved "home" to Louisiana, people who saw it written started calling me the word they knew. There is a bird here (the Grosbeak), which locally is pronounced with a long "o" and a silent "s". So I now also answer to Grosbeak. Anyway...I decided this was as good as any for this challenge.

Patricia Hansen My last name is Hansen (son of Hans) and I found out that Hans is a shortened version of Johann. However, I chose to do a wave pattern because in every generation from my great grandfather to my son, there has been a seaman. I only found one ship pattern in the huge list of Kamens, so the wave became my choice. Perhaps there a reason I live at the shore. The wave pattern looked more quilty than the ship. Here it is.

Edith Craig My surname is Craig. It is Scottish for crag meaning rock. When I first went into the AI generator and put in Scottish and rock, I got a guy in a kilt with a guitar. So not the right rock. Putting in crag got me closer to what I had in mind. Here is the inspiration picture.

Edith Craig Here is my quilt that this picture inspired. I used an initial in the center of each "rock" and then used a similar shape to form the borders.

Tech Know Quilters Masters Program

Tech Know Quilters Masters Program is open to an current (or former) Tech Know Quilter member that has completed at least 12 months of Tech Know Quilter classes.

Send me a note if you would like to learn more.

Designing a Kamon (Japanese Crest) Quilt

Kamon, or family crests, are thought to have come into use around the tenth century among the Japanese aristocracy. Several thousand different crests are known to exist. These stylized motifs are characterized by a strength of design that makes each a striking piece of graphic art.

Kamon Symbols and the Five Major Crests

The main categories for the symbols used in kamon are animals, plants, nature, buildings and vehicles, and receptacles and patterns.

Animals: Among animals, turtles and cranes are common; they both symbolize longevity and so carry the meaning of bestowing the wish of a long and prosperous life on the family.
Plants: Botanical crests, using symbols like wisteria and peonies, represent fortune and fame (wealth and high status), as well as portraying a sense of elegance. The Tokugawa hollyhock is an example of this type of crest.
Nature: Crests that feature natural motifs like the moon, mountains, and thunder are used to convey a faith that is respectful of nature or offer prayers for a good harvest.
Buildings and Vehicles: Among the kamon for buildings and vehicles is the kurumamon, a “carriage crest” depicted by the symbol of a wheel. This use of the ox-carriage as a motif would have indicated the prosperity of the nobility. An example of a building-type crest is the toriimon, where the symbol of a torii shrine gate shows that the person is from a family of Shintō priests.
Receptacles and Patterns: One of the receptacle and pattern crests is kuginukimon (“nail puller crest”); this representation of a tool is used by people involved in construction

Designing the "Schell" Crest

Japanese Crest Tsukiwa Ni Nozok Kiku drawn in EQ

I found my last name means “Dweller at the sign of the stallion; one with the qualities of a steed or stallion.” So I probably could have found a horse. However, I decided to play on the "Schell" name and go with something with shells in it.

I fortunately found a crest that contained a seashell.

After importing the image into EQ, I traced it as an applique motif.

This was pretty simple to trace. I was able to work exclusively with three Shapes in the Applique toolkit. No "real" drawing required.

I scoured the internet and found some fun taupe Japanese fabrics to use in coloring the motif. (I still have a pretty large personal collection of taupe fabrics -- but didn't want the hassle of importing and sizing them.)

Using Wreathmaker I combined three of my crest motifs. Hint: Play with the slider bars under cluster spacing and resize cluster until you have a design you like.

Wreathmaker Settings for Crest Motif

Crest Motif after applying Wreathmaker

I drew three circles and sent to back.

Additional Changes to Crest Design

Then added four sets of rings to tie the seashell motifs together.

Addition of Rings to the Crest Design

Final Schell Crest Design Created in EQ

Complementary Designs

I then began thinking about what else I could include in my quilt. I decided to see what else I could find with the "shell" concept.

Seashell Wreath

A search of "shell" in the EQ library, yield some quilting stencils that contained seashells. They were part of a Quiltmaker Design Add-On Collection that I had purchased a long time ago.

Stencils are typically put on layer 3 and are used for quilting designs.

Quiltmaker Designs Volume 3 - Sky and Water

Seashell Border 2 from Quiltmaker Designs Volume 3

Since stencils are not "closed" shapes, I needed to redraft the Seashell Border block with closed shapes (that can be filled with color).

I converted the Seashell Border 2 to guidelines (that could be traced).

Make sure to have both snap to node and auto-join segments when drawing turned on before drawing the patches.

Seashell Border 2 redrawn as applique motif

Using Wreathmaker, I turned my applique motif into a wreath with 15 sets of seashells.

Seashell Border Motif Wreath

Seashell Border Block

Another search for "shell", resulted in discovering a fan block. This was part of BlockBase+ - another add-on collection.

This block was originally published in the Kansas City Star in 1948.

Sea Shell Quilt Notecard in EQ

Clamshell Background

BlockBase also had a clamshell block that was published by Finley in 1929 which fit with the theme in my design.

Since the clamshell design is a popular Sashiko design, it felt very appropriate to include in my quilt.

Clamshell Notecard in EQ

Clamshell Shrink and Flip

Using Serendipity (in the Block options), I was able to combine four clamshell blocks using Shrink and Flip.

Japanese Script

I found a site that allowed me to enter a name and it gave me the Japanese name along with the name written in Japanese script. You can convert your name to Japanese here.

Schell translated to Sukeru. Sukeru means to be transparent, to show through.

Schell Japanese Conversion

I did a screen shot of the symbols and traced them in EQ as an applique motif.

Using the Bezier curve, I traced the center of each symbol. And then applied the brush stroke to finish the patches.

Drawing Sukeru as an Applique Motif in EQ

Sukeru

Schell Koman Quilt Design

On the Quilt Worktable, I set up a new Custom Set quilt.

On the Layout tab I changed the size to 48" x 48".

On the Borders tab I set up 4 Borders:

Border #1 - 1" Long Horizontal
Border #2 - 5" Blocks (Number of blocks set at 10 Horizontal and 10 Vertical)
Border #3 - 1" Long Horizontal
Border #4 - 1/2" Mitered (binding)

Schell Koman Quilt Layout

Schell Koman Quilt Layer 1

On Layer 1, I placed the clamshell Shrink and Flip Block. Resized it to 48" x 48" and centered horizontal and vertical.

Using Control (PC) or Command (Mac), set the Sea Shell Quilt block in Border number 2.

Use Alt (PC) or Option (MAC) to rotate the blocks in each border.

Schell Koman Quilt Layer 2

On Layer 2, place the Schell Koman block and the seashell wreath.

The Schell Koman block was sized at 34" x 34".

The Wreath Seashell block was sized at 40" x 40".

The Sukeru motif was added and sized at 10" x 4". The text was added to all four corners.

Here is my final Schell Koman quilt.

Final Schell Koman (Japanese Crest) Quilt

I hope you enjoyed hearing about the design process and this will encourage you to venture into your own original quilt design.

I would love to see what you come up with.

Please feel free to share pictures in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Learning EQ Koman Quilt Facebook Post

When Diana Carter saw the picture of my block, she decided to draft it herself and created her own quilt.

Dianna Carter

Happy quilting.

Kari

Join the On Point Quilter weekly newsletter and receive regular tips and inspiration on using Electric Quilt 8 along with the Free 12 Top
Tips for EQ8 video guide.

2025 New Year Welcome - Balloon Celebration

1/4/2025

Ready for a new year? Learn to draft a balloon using applique tools within Electric Quilt 8. If you have not yet used the brush stroke, you will find that it is perfect for so many parts of the balloon motif.

After completing your basic balloon, have fun decorating it. I decided to give my balloon a party hat.

Balloon #1

Balloon #2

Check out the full video and learn some of my favorite tricks in working in the applique worktable for EQ8.

For extra playtime, I drafted a couple of quilts using my balloons.

Here are my quilts -- one to welcome in 2025 and the other to welcome new members to Tech Know Quilters.

Happy New Year Colored with Decades Jazz Age (October 2024 Free Fabric of the Month)

Tech Know Quilters New Member Welcome Colored with Blooming Color (July 2024 Free Fabric of the Month)

I opened enrollment to new members this week -- in fact they all received their first formal lesson and their first step to mastery of Electric Quilt 8.

Drop my a note if you are interested in joining.

How will you celebrate the start of 2025? Feel free to post an EQ block or quilt in the Learning EQ Facebook Group.

Learning EQ Facebook Group Post - Celebrate 2025

Happy quilting.

Kari

Join the On Point Quilter weekly newsletter and receive regular tips and inspiration on using Electric Quilt 8 along with the Free 12 Top
Tips for EQ8 video guide.

Hearts

Fabrics

Heart Blocks

Hearts Quilt

Hearts Quilt Construction

Sashiko is Possible in Electric Quilt

What is Sashiko?

Sashiko and Electric Quilt

Sierpinski Triangle

Drafting the Sierpinski Triangle Quilting Motif

Drafting an Equilateral Triangle in EasyDraw

Drafting Stitching for the Outside Triangles

Drafting the Sierpinski Quilt

Family Crest (Kamon) Quilts

Tech Know Quilters Masters Challenge - Japanese Crest (Kamon) Challenge

Designing a Kamon (Japanese Crest) Quilt

Designing the "Schell" Crest

Complementary Designs

Seashell Wreath

Seashell Border Block

Clamshell Background

Japanese Script

Schell Koman Quilt Design

2025 New Year Welcome - Balloon Celebration

Kari Schell

Categories

Archives

Hearts

Fabrics

Heart Blocks

Hearts Quilt

Hearts Quilt Construction

Sashiko is Possible in Electric Quilt

What is Sashiko?

Sashiko and Electric Quilt

Sierpinski Triangle

Drafting the Sierpinski Triangle Quilting Motif

Drafting an Equilateral Triangle in EasyDraw

Drafting Stitching for the Outside Triangles

Drafting the Sierpinski Quilt

Family Crest (Kamon) Quilts

​Tech Know Quilters Masters Challenge - Japanese Crest (Kamon) Challenge

Designing a Kamon (Japanese Crest) Quilt

Designing the "Schell" Crest

Complementary Designs

Seashell Wreath

Seashell Border Block

Clamshell Background

Japanese Script

Schell Koman Quilt Design

2025 New Year Welcome - Balloon Celebration

Kari Schell

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Tech Know Quilters Masters Challenge - Japanese Crest (Kamon) Challenge

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