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While I was designing the project I’m sharing with you today, the wind was blowing at near-blizzard levels, creating wind chill temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. It instantly brought back memories of being caught in actual blizzards over the years.
That experience directly influenced my fabric choices for this quilt. I reached for icy blues, a teal accent, grey, and black—colors that felt cold, dramatic, and full of movement. The finished design truly captures the feeling of a winter storm, so Blizzard felt like the perfect name. Today’s lesson gives you two options for your Blizzard quilt:
Blizzard Quilt Design using Electric Quilt 8
During a recent help session, one of my students (who lives outside the U.S.) asked for clarification on my latest challenge, “X Marks the Spot.”
“X marks the spot” is an idiom meaning a specific—often hidden—location where something valuable can be found. While that meaning works perfectly, my intent for the challenge was broader. I wanted students to:
To explore traditional X-style blocks, I opened Block Base Plus, which includes a Nine X category with numerous subcategories. As I browsed through those blocks, one immediately stood out as the perfect foundation for this quilt. The block I chose is Kentucky Cross Roads, originally published by Prairie Farmer. It’s also known by two other names:
Block Base Plus Nine X Category Search
Drafting the Blizzard Blocks
Rather than using the Kentucky Cross Roads block directly from Block Base Plus, I decided to walk you through the process of drafting it from scratch in EQ8. Since not everyone owns Block Base Plus, this ensures that everyone can follow along.
If you do have Block Base Plus, you can absolutely skip several steps and simply add the block directly to your EQ8 project. I started by recreating Kentucky Cross Roads in EasyDraw, experimenting with two different colorations. Then I created a second variation of the block by simplifying the lower left and lower right legs of the X. Block settings:
Once one leg of the X is drafted, you can easily copy, paste, and rotate it to create the remaining three legs.
Sizing the Block for the Quilt
After completing the block, I recommend going to Print & Export and previewing the Rotary Cutting Instructions. Because many of the units in this block are on point, it can be tricky to determine cutting sizes by eye.
I wanted to see whether I could use my favorite rulers for:
Print and Export for 12 Inch Blizzard Block
At a 12" finished block size, the cutting sizes weren’t ideal for those tools. In the video, I show you how to calculate a block size that would allow the finished squares (and finished HSTs) to be exactly 1".
That adjustment meant resizing the block to 8½" x 8½". To confirm the math, I reran the Rotary Cutting Instructions at the new size—and success! The updated chart shows cutting the on-point squares at 1½" x 1½", which produces a perfect 1" finished square. 
Updated Rotary Cutting Chart Block Size of 8-1/2"
Blizzard Quilt Design
Here is the finished wall-hanging/table-topper version of the quilt.
Blizzard Quilt 31-3/4" x 31-3/4"
Lap Quilt Version
In the video, I also show how to quickly turn this design into a lap quilt simply by adjusting the block and border sizes. It’s a fast process, and the overall design remains the same.
The lap quilt finishes at 62½" x 62½". The only visual difference is the scale of the fabric, which gives the larger quilt a slightly different feel while maintaining the Blizzard look. 
66-1/2" Lap Quilt
Blizzard Design Video
Be sure to watch the complete video for step-by-step instructions on drafting the blocks, resizing for rotary cutting, and creating both quilt layouts.
Share Your Work
I would love to see what you do with this design!
Please feel free to share photos of your Blizzard quilt on the Learning EQ Facebook page.
Enjoy creating your Blizzard quilt -- and make sure to stay warm during this cold weather spell.
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Do you have a box—or maybe two—of leftover fabric strips from old quilt projects? I feel like I’ve been collecting them for a decade… or two.
I’ll admit that most of mine were donated during the great declutter before my move earlier this year. Now I’m wishing I could track down the lucky recipient and hand her the instructions for this quilt. Or maybe it’s time to cut up a few more strips of my own. Quilter's Quest - Minnesota Quilters 2026 Mystery Quilt
On Point Log Cabin EQ8 TutorialInspiration
The inspiration for this project came from a Facebook post by Julie Silber Quilts. Julie collects and sells antique quilts and regularly shares stunning photographs of those quilts on her Facebook page.
Quilt from Julie Silber's Facebook Page
As soon as I studied the photo, I realized the design was a variation of a log cabin block. Naturally, that meant I had to draft something similar in Electric Quilt.
Fabric Selection
For my version, I chose the Chambray collection from Tilda Fabrics. A collection of Civil War reproduction fabrics would also work beautifully for this design.
The Chambray fabric images are included in Electric Quilt’s 2025 Stash Download 3. While they read as muted solids, the subtle texture adds depth and interest—perfect for a design that relies on contrast and rotation. On Point Log Cabin Block
Sizing the Block for the Quilt
If you print the rotary cutting chart for the 12" block, you’ll notice that the strip size is 1¼". Since I prefer working with 1½" strips, I experimented with resizing the block.
By increasing the block size to 16" x 16" (finished), the rotary cutting chart updates so the strip size becomes 1½"—perfect for using standard pre-cut or leftover strips. Quilt Layout
For the quilt layout, I selected a Horizontal Layout with:
For the borders:
When placing the blocks, I alternated between Coloration 1 and Coloration 2. You could easily add additional colorations if you want a more scrappy look. Don’t forget to use the Symmetry feature in EQ8—it’s a great way to explore different block rotations before committing. Horizontal Borders
Set the horizontal border block size to 60" x 6", with snaps at 60 x 6. This makes it easy to place the initial diagonal line starting in the lower-left corner.
The trickiest part was spacing the diagonal strips so they could also be cut from 1½" strips. This is where a little math comes in handy. A Little Help from the Pythagorean Theorem
If the finished strip width is 1", the diagonal measurement along the edge needs to be approximately 1.41".
If math isn’t your thing, no worries—an online calculator works just fine.
60 x 6 Pieced Border Block
64 x 6 Pieced Border Block
Finishing the Quilt
Once all of the blocks and borders are drafted and placed, take time to review your quilt as a whole. Check that the diagonal border strips are going the correct direction and that the block rotations create the movement you intended across the quilt.
At this stage, it’s helpful to:
On Point Log Cabin Quilt
Video Tutorial
Prefer to follow along step by step?
Watch the On Point Log Cabin EQ8 video tutorial, where I walk through the drafting, sizing, layout, and border construction in detail. The video is a great companion to this post, especially if you want to see how the snaps, symmetry, and calculations come together in real time. Share Your On Point Log Cabin Quilt
I can’t wait to see your version of this quilt!
Please share your finished quilts—or works in progress—in the Learning EQ Facebook group. I love seeing how each quilter interprets the design, fabric choices, and color variations.
This project is a wonderful way to turn leftover strips into a cohesive, visually striking quilt—while stretching your EQ8 skills just a bit along the way.
As a child, I loved cutting out paper snowflakes—although if I’m being honest, most of mine ended up looking more like octagons than delicate flakes. Recently, I stumbled across a fun online tutorial for hexagon paper snowflakes, and it immediately sparked an idea.
What if we could recreate that same playful process—without scissors—inside Electric Quilt 8? From Paper to EQ8
After working through the paper snowflake tutorial, I started thinking about the easiest and most flexible way to design snowflakes digitally. The answer? EQ8 applique tools. They make it simple to experiment, adjust symmetry, and refine shapes—no scraps of paper required.
In the free video tutorial below, I walk you step-by-step through my process for drafting paper snowflake–inspired designs in EQ8. Snowflakes Are Addictive
Fair warning: once you start designing snowflakes, it’s hard to stop. I began with one…and quickly ended up with four different designs. Each one uses the same basic approach but results in a completely different look.
And honestly? I don’t think I’m done yet. There may be more snowflakes in my future.
Turning Snowflakes into a Quilt
Of course, designing blocks is only half the fun. Here’s a quilt I drafted using those snowflake blocks—proof that playful, paper-inspired designs can translate beautifully into a finished quilt layout.
Share Your Snowflakes
If you decide to draft your own paper snowflakes in EQ8, I’d love to see what you create. Please feel free to share your designs in the Learning EQ Facebook group. If you’re not already a member, just request to join and answer a few quick questions.
I’d love to welcome you—and I’d really love to see your snowflakes!
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Kari SchellElectric Quilt Expert and Educator and Pattern Designer. Categories
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