|
I haven’t done a showcase of Tech Know Quilter designs in quite a while, and it’s long overdue. One of my favorite parts of teaching Electric Quilt 8 is seeing how students take a concept, tool, or challenge and truly make it their own.
In this post, I’m sharing a collection of student designs created during the “Apply What They Learned” monthly challenges from the latter part of 2025—followed by a look at a brand-new EQ8 add-on that opens up even more creative possibilities when paired with AccuQuilt dies. I continue to be amazed by the creativity, skill, and confidence of the Tech Know Quilter community. Tech Know Quilter Student Design Showcase
The designs below were submitted by Tech Know Quilter members as part of our monthly challenges. Each challenge encourages students to apply newly learned EQ8 skills—whether that’s working with custom blocks, layouts, color variations, or design tools—to create something uniquely their own.
Julie Pedersen This is my quilt that we designed for the TKQ Masters Scrapbook Challenge class. We chose a state/place for our theme. Each lesson we were given a category such as food, flora, fauna. We then chose the items for our quilt. We created a layout and filled it with blocks from each category. I chose Hawaii and filled it with Diamond Head, pineapples, hibiscus, banyan trees and more. I used a variety of techniques to create the blocks. It was a challenge to decide what to use and how to create the blocks. Thanks, Kari, for another great class.
Terry McCaskey I enjoyed and learned something in every "Double Dipping" class this month: editing quilt layouts from the library, working more with Serendipity, simplifying blocks for actual piecing, etc. Here are my 4 favorites. . The last two pictured nly have one variation from Kari's class: I separated my curved lines by two inches rather than only one. That did make chubby/puffy curves but gave my eye/mind a place to rest and offset the complexities elsewhere in the designs. This must be my "traditional" brain trying to bring order into Double Dipping chaos fun.
These projects are a wonderful reminder that there’s no single “right” way to use EQ8—just endless opportunities to explore, experiment, and grow.
AccuQuilt Go! BOB (Blocks on Board) 2025 Collection
Electric Quilt is releasing a new AccuQuilt Go! BOB (Blocks on Board) 2025 Collection this week as an add-on product for Electric Quilt 8. This add-on includes AccuQuilt Go! BOB blocks released by AccuQuilt during 2025 and makes it easy to design quilts that are fully compatible with AccuQuilt dies.
In the free video tutorial included in this post, I demonstrate one approach to creating new variations of a block from this collection—while still ensuring the designs work beautifully with the related AccuQuilt dies.
A Key Tip When Working with Go! BOB Blocks
When working with blocks in the Go! BOB collection, it’s essential to maintain the original block size. If you change the block size, you can still design and sew the quilt—but the pieces will no longer be compatible with the AccuQuilt dies. Keeping the block size consistent ensures you can confidently cut all pieces using your dies. Creating Variations with Shadowed Dizzy Geese
Five Block Variations
In the video, I demonstrate how to use Shrink and Flip to create five unique variations of the Shadowed Dizzy Geese block. All of these designs can be easily cut using the 55926 Go! BOB Pinwheel Shape Set by AccuQuilt.
Quilt Layouts Using Variation Five
To take the design one step further, I also created quilt layouts using Variation Five of the block. Seeing a block in a full quilt layout often sparks new ideas and helps you visualize how the design might work in your own projects.
Watch the Free Video Tutorial
In the video tutorial below, you’ll see how to:
Check out the free video tutorial to see the entire process step by step. Final Thoughts
The blocks in the AccuQuilt Go! BOB add-on are truly fun to work with, and one of the most rewarding aspects is creating variations that result in a quilt that feels personal and uniquely yours—all while staying compatible with AccuQuilt dies.
The AccuQuilt Go! BOB 2025 Collection Add-On can be purchased directly from Electric Quilt for $15.95.
Whether you’re inspired by the student showcases, the block variations, or the quilt layouts, I hope this post encourages you to explore new possibilities in Electric Quilt 8 and confidently make each design your own.
I have an exciting new adventure to share with you this week—one that invites you to stitch together your personal history.
Quilt Journeys is all about celebrating where you’ve been and where you come from: the places you’ve lived and loved, the land your ancestors worked, or the states and provinces you’ve visited along the way. Using Electric Quilt 8, you can turn those memories into a quilt that tells your story. Quilt Journeys: An EQ8 Add-On
Electric Quilt recently released Quilt Journeys, a brand-new Add-On product for EQ8. Add-Ons work exclusively with Electric Quilt 8 and integrate directly into the software once installed.
This collection celebrates two important milestones:
In the original book, Barbara Brackman gathered pieced blocks and appliqué motifs representing the United States and Canada, paired with fascinating historical facts. It was a unique blend of quilt design, geography, and storytelling—and Quilt Journeys brings that concept fully into EQ8. A Little History (and a Blast from the Past)
I purchased Create Your Family Quilt when it was released back in 2001. It included a CD with Magic Book software, designed by the Electric Quilt Company, that contained a large collection of blocks representing U.S. states and Canadian territories. The software allowed you to design a simple quilt using those blocks.
While that CD can no longer be installed on modern computers, I still have many of those blocks saved in my EQ Library. If you happen to have them as well, you may recognize these not-so-descriptive file names:
If these files are linked to EQ8, you’ll find them under the Magic Book category. Interestingly, none of my blocks in this category are colored. I’m not sure whether they originally downloaded that way or if the coloring was lost as I migrated through newer versions of Electric Quilt. Many of the pieced blocks themselves were part of the original BlockBase collection. Quilt Journeys refreshes and expands on this idea—beautifully organized, fully documented, and ready to use inside EQ8.
Using Quilt Journeys in EQ8
Once the add-on is installed, it is seamlessly integrated into Electric Quilt 8—no separate program to manage.
In today’s tutorial, I’ll show you:
Quilt Journeys Block Libraries for EQ8
You can find blocks for individual states and provinces directly within the EQ8 block library. In the short video below, I’ll walk you through how to locate these blocks in EQ8 and how to add them to your current project.
Quilt Journeys Preloaded Project Files
In addition to the block libraries, the Quilt Journeys Add-On includes eight preloaded EQ8 project files containing a total of 44 quilts, all organized by quilt size.
These project files are installed directly on your computer in: My EQ8 > Projects Just like your own EQ8 projects, they all end with the .pj8 file extension. You are free to modify these projects just as you would any project you create yourself. However, I strongly recommend setting up a separate folder under My EQ8 Projects specifically for these special Quilt Journeys projects. If you decide to use one or more of the included quilts, immediately save the project into the My EQ8>Projects folder with a new name. This way:
In the video below, I’ll show you where these project files are stored and how to open and save them safely. Quilt Journeys Resources
The Quilt Journeys Add-On also includes three incredibly helpful PDF guides that expand on the historical, creative, and technical aspects of the collection.
You’ll find these PDFs on your computer in: My EQ8 > Documentation > Quilt Journeys Resources
Let's take a closer look at each one.
PDF 1: Add-on Guide
PDF 2: Quilt Gallery
PDF 3: State Blocks & Symbols
|
|
This PDF is a wonderful excerpt from Barbara Brackman’s Create Your Family Quilt book and adds rich historical context to the collection.
For each U.S. state and Canadian province or territory, you’ll find:
It’s a fantastic reference when you want your quilt to reflect a specific place with intention and meaning. |
Creating Your Own Quilt Journeys Quilt
During this process, you’ll see how to:
- Add a collection of blocks from the Quilt Journeys Add-On
- Add a fabric collection
- Replace blocks in the existing quilt
- Color the quilt using your chosen fabrics
- Resize the quilt to make the blocks more piecing-friendly
Be sure to watch the video for step-by-step instructions.
The quilt on the left is the original design from the Quilt Journeys Add-On.
The quilt on the right is my reworked version, using blocks from North Dakota.
Playtime
Honestly, this part is a little addictive.
Once I started playing with the concept, I couldn’t stop. I ended up reworking several Full/Queen quilts from the Quilt Journeys Add-On using blocks from North Dakota.
In the images below:
- The quilts on the left are copyrighted designs from the Electric Quilt Company
- The quilts on the right are my reinterpretations
I created my own version of the blocks and designed a layout inspired by a Block Turned Quilt Layout from the EQ8 Library. A variation of this design may even find its way into one of my Masters Lessons next month. I’m seriously considering this one as a wall quilt for my own home.
Ready to Start Your Own Quilt Journey?
While I don’t receive a commission on this product, I can honestly say I’ve had a ton of fun using it—and it has sparked more new quilt ideas than I expected.
The product is immediately downloadable, so you can start exploring and designing today.
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:
- A smaller version that works beautifully as a wall hanging or table runner
- A larger version that makes a cozy lap quilt
Blizzard Quilt Design using Electric Quilt 8
“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:
- Design X-style blocks, or
- Arrange blocks in an X-shaped layout
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:
- Cross and Crown (Nancy Page)
- Cross Roads to Texas (Ladies Art Company)
Drafting the Blizzard Blocks
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:
- Block size: 12" x 12"
- Snaps: Horizontal and Vertical set to 12
- Snapping options: Snap to Grid only
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
I wanted to see whether I could use my favorite rulers for:
- The nine-patch center squares, and
- The half-square triangle units, which finish at the same size
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.
Blizzard Quilt Design
|
To create the quilt:
Borders
|
Lap Quilt Version
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.
Blizzard Design Video
Share Your Work
Please feel free to share photos of your Blizzard quilt on the Learning EQ Facebook page.
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
|
I’m excited to invite you to join Quilter’s Quest, the Minnesota Quilters 2026 Mystery Quilt. I designed this mystery specifically for Minnesota Quilters and look forward to watching the quilts come together—and answering questions—inside the private Facebook group.
Clues will be released throughout September 2026, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the process.
|
On Point Log Cabin EQ8 Tutorial
Inspiration
Fabric Selection
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
|
To draft the block, use EasyDraw.
I created two different colorings of the block. |
Sizing the Block for the Quilt
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
- 3 blocks across
- 4 blocks down
- 16" x 16" blocks
For the borders:
- A 6" horizontal border
- A ½" mitered border added for the binding
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
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 math isn’t your thing, no worries—an online calculator works just fine.
|
Top and Bottom Borders
To determine the number of snap divisions for a 60" border:
I found it helpful to set both the snaps and the graph paper to 43. The graph paper makes it easier to see snap locations that aren’t immediately visible on the quilt worktable. When copying and pasting diagonal lines, be sure they snap precisely to the bottom of the block. |
Finishing the Quilt
At this stage, it’s helpful to:
- Print the rotary cutting charts to confirm strip sizes
- Review fabric yardage to be sure you have enough of each fabric
- Preview the quilt to double-check contrast and value
Video Tutorial
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
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.
What if we could recreate that same playful process—without scissors—inside Electric Quilt 8?
From Paper to EQ8
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
Turning Snowflakes into a Quilt
Share Your Snowflakes
I’d love to welcome you—and I’d really love to see your snowflakes!
Kari Schell
Electric Quilt Expert and Educator and Pattern Designer.
Categories
All
Art And Stitch
Cricut Maker
Dear Jane
Electric Quilt 7
Electric Quilt 8
Goose Goose Duck Challenge
Inkscape
Patterns
Silhouette Cameo
Stampin Up
Tips And Techniques
Tools And Rulers
Archives
April 2026
March 2026
February 2026
January 2026
December 2025
November 2025
October 2025
September 2025
August 2025
July 2025
June 2025
May 2025
April 2025
March 2025
February 2025
January 2025
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013





















































































RSS Feed