Sometimes I want to know "How many blocks can I make from a fat quarter of fabric?"  There are a lot of ways to figure this out with math -- but let me provide an easy way to do with Electric Quilt that requires no (or at least minimal) math -- I promise!!

Let's assume I want to do a quilt with a traditional Bear's Paw block.

Step 1 - Find the Bear's Paw block in your Block library.  Or you can draft one with a 7 x 7 grid using Easy Draw.

Step #2 - Print out a rotary cutting block for your block at the size you wish the block to be in your quilt.  Let's assume this one will be 10-1/2" x 10-1/2".

Step #3 - Create a new Patchdraw Block in EQ.  The setup should be as follows:

• Block width: 20 (width of a fat quarter)
• Block Height: 18 (length of a fat quarter)
• Grid: Rectangle
• Snap:  40 horizontal and 36 vertical (every half inch)
• Graph paper cells:  20 horizontal and 18 vertical

Step #4 - Refer to your cutting chart and draft one of each of the dark patches.  For those patches with fractions, round up to the next 1/2" mark.  (Or if you wish to have oversized pieces for your half square triangles, now is the time to make those adjustments.) 

So I will draft the following patches using the Polydraw tool:

• 3-1/2" x 3-1/2"
• 2" x 2"
• 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" (for the
  2-3/8" triangles)

I find it easiest to draft in the upper left corner as I can see my ruler lines to easily know how far I need to go to create the patch.  Remember that in Polydraw you must draw the whole patch. 

After selecting the Polydraw tool left click on the 0,0 point on the page.  Go to the  3-1/2,0 mark and left click again.  Then to the 3-1/2, 3-1/2 and left click.  And finally back to 0,0.  Now left click twice to close the block.

Once you have completed the first patch, move it out of the way and create the next two patches.

Step #5 - Now make enough copies of the patches for one block by using the clone button (see my red circle around the cone button.  I made 4 3-1/2" squares, 8 2-1/2" squares (there are 2 patches for each square per the cutting chart, so I only needed 8 squares for the 16 triangle patches), and 1 2" square.   

Step # 6 - Place the patches in rows to get the best use of the fabric.  Also try to consider how best to do the layout for rotary cutting efficiencies (i.e. all the 3-1/2" patches in one row).  As you can see I can squeeze all the pieces in a 6" x 20" piece of fabric.

Step # 7  Left click with your mouse and drag a box around all of your patches.  Then copy, paste (you now have a complete set for a second block).  Fit those pieces below your first section.  Do a third paste and fit those below your second section.  You can see that everything fits into the 18 x 20 inch block. 

So you can make three Bear's Paw block with one fat quarter.

Step #8  Color your block.  Make each size a different color.  Add to sketchbook.  At this point I would also print out and make add reference marks with sizes for each of the color coded squares.  You now have a very efficient cutting chart for the dark fat quarters.

Step #9 - I would also suggest going to the project sketchbook and including notes on the size of the block in case you need to refer back to your work.  

Now let's do the same for the background pieces.  I won't go through all the steps, but will show you the final layout.  First one block, then three blocks.  

I needed to move a few of the 2" patches (see those circled in blue) to make best use of my fat quarter.

Also note that you can rotate the pieces as well to optimize your layout.  In this case it was most efficient to do the 2" x 5" pieces with the long side horizontally.

I learned that I could cut backgrounds for three blocks out of one fat quarter.

I hope you find this useful.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Happy Quilting.

Kari

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Do you ever finish your quilt top and then agonize over "How should I quilt this?"

In my most recent quilt pattern, Smiling Irish Eyes, I played it "safe" with quilting one of the samples.  I quilted in the ditch around the shamrocks and stitched a few lines through the Irish Chain. 

For the other quilt in the pattern, I decided to spruce it up a bit.  Click on the photo to see the quilting close up.

I created a swirl in/out design for the shamrock blocks.

I also drafted a couple of shamrocks to use in the background spaces.

I also wanted to incorporate shamrocks in the border.

I even came up with a Shamrock wreath to use in the Celtic block.

If you would like to use these designs for quilting your St. Patrick's Day projects, I have included pdfs of each of the designs in the "Free Stuff" page or you can click on any of the photos above.  You will want to check the size before using and resize as necessary.

Some of you may have "Art and Stitch", a program used to draw digitized designs.  If so, you will be interested in my video "How to draw a shamrock in Art and Stitch".  The video covers drafting a basic shamrock.

Happy quilting.

Kari

Sign up for my newsletter to stay current on what's happening in my studio and learn more quilting tips.  As a thank you, I'll send you a FREE pattern for this small maple leaf quilt.

Go for the Gold -- the final reveal.

Here is the free layout for those quilt blocks that have been presented over the past two weeks.

Refer to earlier blog posts for cutting charts for each of the blocks in this quilt.

The quilt finishes 80" x 92".  As you can see I used the Olympic Patchwork flags as color inspiration for this quilt.  This layout would also work very well with blocks from a BOM (Block of the Month) program.

I hope you have enjoyed this short series.  I would love to see photos of any finished quilts.

I am announcing the release of a new pattern - Smiling Irish Eyes.  This pattern incorporate three Irish themes -- a shamrock block, an Irish chain block, plus a Celtic block,  The blocks are small (6" finished) -- however they are easy to piece with techniques for over-sized construction with trim downs of various units.

Release special -- The pattern normally sells for $8.  However, if you purchase before St. Patrick's Day (March 17th), the pattern will be on sale for $6 (a 25% discount).

Happy quilting.

Kari

Sign up for my newsletter to stay current on what's happening in my studio and learn more quilting tips.  As a thank you, I'll send you a FREE pattern for this small maple leaf quilt.