A special welcome to the visitors from Seams Like a Dream.  I hope you enjoy my Electric Quilt tutorial along with the wonderful braid quilts you may create.  

I have a passion for sharing my love of quilt design with you and offer both online and in person classes along with private coaching to assist you in designing your dream quilts.

My friend Kate Colleran of Seams Like a Dream recently shared a tutorial on her website on using this really cool braid-making tool.  I wouldn't be surprised to find Kate's best selling book, Smash your Precut Stash book in your library. 

After watching the video and looking at her tutorials, I decided that I wanted to be able to play with a braid block in Electric Quilt.  For this block I wanted to be able to use either 1-1/2" strips (sometimes called Honey Buns) or 2-1/2" strips (sometimes called Jelly Rolls).

I also wanted the design to be tessellating.  What is a tessellation?  It is a shape that is repeated over and over again without any gaps.  This would allow be to set my blocks together in a row that looks like it was designed as a single block.

See how I designed my pre-cut friendly braid blocks in this week's Electric Quilt video tutorial.

Then hop over to Kate's blog and see how her ruler works.  She also has a special sale for the next week on her ruler.  So take advantage of it, while you are there.

I just couldn't stop playing with this block.  Here are a few of the braids I designed, plus the proposed setting.

For those that own either EQ7 or EQ Stitch, I would like to offer a download of all my braid projects.  For the next two weeks the download is free.  Just click here.  (At the end of two weeks the cost is $9.99.)

Braid designed with 5 x 5 braid.  Block (sized at 7" x 7") made with 1-1/2 inch strips.

Braid designed with 5 x 5 braid.  Block (sized at 14" x 14") made with 2-1/2 inch strips.

Braid designed with 4 x 20 braid.  Block (sized at 11.2" x 56") made with 2-1/2 inch strips.

Braid designed with 6 x 6 braid.  Block (sized at 8.4" x 8.4") made with 1-1/2 inch strips.

Braid designed with 4 x 4 braid.  Blocks were sized at either 5.6" (made with 1-1/2 inch strips) or 11.2" (made with 2-1/2 inch strips).  For this layout I played with the Serendipity option to find different block rotations.

Three day in person, instructor-led workshop allowing participants to deep dive into the Electric Quilt subject of their choice.  I will be teaching the drawing tools and participants will become proficient in:

• Easy Draw blocks
• Paper Piecing blocks
• Applique
• Pieced PatchDraw tools (including hexagons, pentagons, LeMoyne stars plus variations, Dresdan plates)

I will also include layouts to complement each of the blocks! 

You will be amazed at how much you can learn in this concentrated setting away from life's distractions.

Cost:  $300  

​Learn more here.

Learn the basics of Electric Quilt in the comfort of your own home.

This online class will cover basic navigation of the software, creating a new project, using the libraries, using Quick Quilts for fast projects, adding borders, coloring tools/fabrics, creating quilt labels and printing quilts, blocks, fabric yardage estimates, rotary cutting and foundation patterns.  By the end of class you will be comfortable working with the program and be able to explore additional features on your own.    Users of all levels are welcome, with special emphasis on beginners.

Dates:  May 4, 11, 18, 25 (four weeks) from 7-8:30

Class size will be limited to 8 participants.  Seats are available on a first come first serve basis.  This class will be exactly like taking at "in person" class at a show or shop.   We will use screen sharing technology -- so you will be able to see my screen and if you have specific questions, I will also be able to view yours as well.

Early Sign-Up Bonus:  As a special bonus, if you sign up April 27, 2017 you will be entitled to  a private 20 minute coaching call with Kari that may be used any time during the course of the class.  Use it for extra help on a topic or to pick Kari's brain on something you wish to do in Electric Quilt.  (Value:  $60)

Cost:  $100

Register now!

I am very excited to be teaching at the MN Quilt Show in Duluth. Duluth in June is absolutely gorgeous and a great place with lots of things to do (for the non-quilter in the family).  And MN Quilters always has a fabulous show.  

To learn more about any of my classes (detailed below) or the show in general, check out the Minnesota Quilt Show website.

Art and Stitch - Thread Art  Wednesday, June 7

Never be limited to purchased designs again. Art and Stitch will allow you to finally translate your creativity to beautiful designs. Learn how to use this powerful digitizing software by creating a series of string art designs that are suitable for both computerized long arm and embroidery machines. Not sure if digitizing is for you? You can download a trial version of Art and Stitch that can be used in class. You will be able to do all the exercises with the trial version (but will be unable to save them). Level: Beginner

Mystery Quilt - Thursday , June 8

Have you always wanted to solve a good mystery?  Or maybe you enjoy  the suspense of a book or movie where you don't know the outcome until the end. 

This mystery event will have you working through clues throughout the day as you guess the pattern that I have designed just for MN Quilters.  There will be lots of clues throughout the event -- that will hopefully keep you guessing unti the end.

Introduction to Easy Draw (an Electric Quilt Class) - Thursday Evening, June 8

​Have you ever found the “perfect” block online.  But then realized you wanted to piece it a different way.  Maybe you want rotary cutting instructions or a foundation pattern.  Or maybe you want a different size to incorporate into a different quilt. 

With Electric Quilt you can redraft these blocks.  This class will focus on how to “read a block” and then come up with the most efficient way to draft it with Electric Quilt. 

​The blocks in this class are those that can be done in a “grid” format – basically just like drawing with a pencil and graph paper.  Within Electric Quilt these blocks are drafted within Easy Draw. 

​Level:  Advanced Beginner.

Electric Quilt T Shirt Quilts - Friday morning, June 9

Are you afraid to cut into a bundle of T Shirts? Take away that fear by designing your quilt before you make your first cut.

Three different layouts will be covered along with tips on auditioning your T Shirts in Electric Quilt. One of those layouts will incorporate using pieces and different size T Shirts (think Custom Set).  
​Level:  Intermediate

Working Through Quilting Design Paralysis – How I Choose to Quilt My Tops Lecture - Friday 2:00, June 9

Introduction to Electric Quilt 7 - Saturday, June 10

This class will cover basic navigation of the software, creating a new project, using the libraries, using Quick Quilts for fast projects, adding borders, coloring tools/fabrics, creating quilt labels and printing quilts, blocks, fabric yardage estimates, rotary cutting and foundation patterns.  By the end of class you will be comfortable working with the program and be able to explore additional features on your own.    Users of all levels are welcome, with special emphasis on beginners.  ​

I just finished my String Applique quilt.  I reloaded it on my longarm and quilted the circles using a new cog design.  I think it has a modern look -- do you agree?  In my video tutorial this week (which you can find later in this post), I will share how easy this design was to create using Art and Stitch.  

I will also share free pdfs of the designs created in the video tutorial -- which you will definitely want to add to your quilting collection.

I still have a few openings in my brand new Electric Quilt online classes.  What is included in these classes:

• Hands on Instructor Training that will guide you through the blocks and quilts in the class.  This will be exactly like taking an in person class at a shop or show -- but from the comfort of your home.
• Small Class Sizes (limited to 8)
• Detailed Handouts that will assist when recreating the quilts
• Downloadable Video of the session that allows you to replay the class over and over again -- until you get it.  :)

Are you ready to take your quilt design skills to the next level? Select the class that interests you.  (Watch the videos below to see the quilts and designs included in each class and click on the link to register.)

For you over achievers (you know who you are) who wish to sign up for both classes-- there is a $20 discount that may be applied when checking out.  The code is MarchMadness.

Dates:  March 20, 27 and  April 3, 10   7 - 8:30 pm (Central time) (four sessions)

Cost:  $100

​Register here.

Dates:  March 21, 28 and April 4, 11    7 - 8:30 pm (Central time) (four sessions)

Cost:  $100

​Register here.

Have you tried Art and Stitch?  It is a program for digitizing designs for a longarm or an embroidery machine.  I used it to create the cog designs in my string quilt.  

These designs were inspired by a template created by Circle Lord. Circle Lord creates templates/boards for use with longarm systems.  I purchased and used many of these before purchasing my Intelliquilter and Art and Stitch.

See how easy it was to create my own cog-like design using Art and Stitch in this weeks video tutorial.

No computerized system -- no problem.  These designs could also be easily executed with a domestic machine or non-computerized longarm.  If you mark the circles, the cogs would be easy to freehand (and would be very forgiving.)

Here are free pdfs of the three designs included in the video. Permission is granted for personal use by quilters.

• 6 inch cog
• 7 inch cog
• 10-1/2 inch cog

Here is my final quilt.

Cog quilting close-ups:

For those that are new to Art and Stitch (or just wanting to expand your skills), I will be teaching a full day class on Art and Stitch at MN Quilt Show in Duluth.  The class will be on Wednesday, June 7th from 8:30-4:30. 

​You don't even need to purchase the software to take the class.  

There is a trial version that may be downloaded for the class -- so you can see if the program is for you before purchasing.

Read more and register here.

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.

I have some new great tips to share with you on the String Applique Circle quilt.  Did you know that you can create applique shapes with "holes" in them in Electric Quilt?  Read more below.

Also check out the next steps in constructing the String Applique quilt -- along with free templates for both the circles and the rings.

But first.......

Time is running out to get your early registration bonus for two brand new Electric Quilt classes.

What are the bonuses?

Early Sign-Up Bonus:  As a special bonus, if you sign up by March 13, 2017 you will be entitled to  a private 20 minute coaching call (value of $60) with Kari that may be used any time during the course of the class.  Use it for extra help on a topic or to pick Kari's brain on something you wish to do in Electric Quilt.
​
Double Up:  Register for both classes Settings and Border 1 and Pieced Patch Draw and take an extra $20 off your total. Enter coupon code MarchMadness when checking out.

Class starts March 20, 2017.  Price $100.   Register here.

Class starts March 21, 2017. Price $100.   Register here.

For those attending EQ Academy, the Pieced Patch Draw material will be included in my blocks class.  Click here to register for EQ Academy.

I've been pondering construction of my Circle Applique String quilt.  The problem (after having designed all those string pieced circles) was figuring out how best to attach them to the quilt.

After some contemplation, I decided I would create a 1 inch wide ring to surround each string pieced circle.  If I fused the surrounding circle (connecting the string pieced circle with the background), I would have something that would be very doable to machine applique.

However, before adding the fusible fabric to my quilt, I wanted to add the same to my Electric Quilt project as well.

The challenge was creating an applique shape with a hole in the center.  Check out my latest Electric Quilt video to see how I tackled this.

If you missed any of the previous posts on the construction process, check them out:

• Piecing the string piece segments.
• Constructing and quilting the base.

Cut out the String Applique circle blocks. 

​For this I created templates in Electric Quilt which I printed out on freezer paper.  The size of the circles were 1/2 inch smaller than the original design -- so I could allow for the overlap of the fused rings. 

Now I am thinking I would like to add a quilting design on each of the string pieced circles.  But I will save that for next week.

I am making progress on my string pieced applique quilt.  

While playing with the design in Electric Quilt, I learned a few new items on working with quilting designs that totally blew me away.


In this weeks Electric Quilt tutorial, I will share them with you.

I will also share my piecing and quilting progress (along with instructions for creating your own string pieced applique quilt).

I have been busy finalizing the material for the next two classes. There are so many projects in these classes, I have been struggling with how best to share them with you.  These short videos will hopefully provide a snapshot to aid in your review. 

Are you ready to learn how to do all of these blocks and quilts?

Registration links are at the bottom of each video.  But make sure you also check out the early enrollment bonuses later in this post.

Class Starts March 20, 2017.  Price $100.   Register here.  

Class Starts March 21, 2017. Price $100.   Register here.

For those attending EQ Academy, the Pieced Patch Draw material will be included in my blocks class.  Click here to register for EQ Academy.

Early Sign-Up Bonus:  As a special bonus, if you sign up by March 11, 2017 you will be entitled to  a private 20 minute coaching call (value of $60) with Kari that may be used any time during the course of the class.  Use it for extra help on a topic or to pick Kari's brain on something you wish to do in Electric Quilt.
​

Double Up:  Register for both classes Settings and Border 1 and Pieced Patch Draw and take an extra $20 off your total. Enter coupon code MarchMadness when checking out.

If you missed any of the prior sessions, you may catch up here.

• String Pieced Applique
• Settings and Borders​

Cut Background 30-1/2" x 30-1/2".

Add 30-1/2" borders to 2 sides.  
Add 38-1/2" borders to the other 2 sides.

Quilt a background filler.  On a domestic machine, cross-hatching works well.  On a longarm machine, I like to do zigzags.

Go ahead and quilt the borders as well. I used a design that came with my Intelliquilter called Ying Yang Border.  It was designed by Helen Baczynski. 

I have some ideas on attaching the string pieced circles -- but that will need to wait until next week.