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Before we get started with the two free video tutorials in this blog post, I want to make sure you are aware of a new class starting on Tuesday.
Design your Own Nine Patch using EQ8 is a month-long stand alone class that will not only increase your EQ8 skills, but your skills in drafting new and original nine patch blocks. The goal is to not only recreate my designs, but to create new and original designs. 
Here is a video of the lessons (including the blocks and quilts you will be drafting).
Design Your Own Nine Patch EQ8 Class starts April 1, 2025 and is now available for enrollment. The introductory price is 50%. You can purchase the class here.
Quantum Leap Nine Patch Block Challenge EQ8 Tutorial
Do you give yourself design challenges? This week I challenged myself to draft three new 9 patch quilt blocks.
Here were my Electric Quilt challenge rules:
Quantum Fabrics
Quantum Leap Blocks
Check out how to draft all three of these blocks in this EQ8 tutorial.
How would you piece each of these blocks?
Please feel free to use my challenge rules to design new 9 patch blocks. I would love to see your blocks. Please feel free to post pictures in the post in the Learning EQ Facebook Group. And if you are ready to learn addition ways to draft new 9 patch blocks, check out a new class starting April 1, 2025 -- Design Your Own 9 Patch Using EQ8.
Drafting the Quantum Leap On Point Quilt
In this tutorial, I design a quilt using the three nine patch spin blocks. Check out my technique for incorporating three different blocks in an on point layout.
Would you use the on point layout? Or would you try a different layout?
I look forward to seeing your quilt. I've set up a post in the Learning EQ Facebook group for you to share your blocks and quilt.
Are you interested in designing additional 9 patch friendly blocks and quilts? Check out my latest class starting April 1, 2025.
Class is currently on sale for 50% off. 
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Check out this new class offering. Design your Own Nine Patch using EQ8 Class starts April 1, 2025 and is now available for enrollment. The introductory price is 50% off. You can purchase the class here.
This past week, I learned that a quilt designer and friend passed away. My EQ tutorial this week is a tribute to one of her designs that was based on a 9 patch. Scroll down to learn more. Design Your Own 9 Patch Class Reveal
For those of you who own BlockBase+, you may have noticed that there are multiple categories of nine patch blocks. Barbara Brackman's method of categorizing nine patch blocks provides a great structure for understanding how to draft your own nine patch blocks.
As you go through the lessons, I will walk you through the categories and show you ways to modify the basic block in the various categories to create new and original designs. Here is an overview of the lessons in the upcoming class. 
Lesson 1 Nine Patch Styles
Start by identifying the three different types of 9 patch blocks as shown in BlockBase+.
Each of those types have a number of sub-categories.
In Lesson 1 we will focus on the sub-categories that have squares and rectangles in some of the patches for each major category of Nine Patch blocks. Other than the basic blocks, we will not be redrafting blocks from BlockBase+. Instead the focus will be on drafting new blocks for each of these subcategories. The Lesson 1 video and pdf will give instructions on drafting five new nine patch blocks. Two of these blocks are considered Equal 9 Patch blocks, one is considered an unequal 9 patch with small center and two are considered unequal 9 patch with large center blocks. Once you understand the principals of drafting each type of block and the steps to include squares and rectangles in each section, you will be ready to draft your own 9 patch blocks with squares and rectangles. 
Lesson 2: Standard Layouts for Auditioning Blocks
One feature of BlockBase+ that many of us enjoy is the ability to audition any of the blocks in a standard layout.
This lesson will teach you how to create a set of your own standard layouts. We will cover how to create seven layouts and even create a personal library to house them. Then the layouts will be available for any of your projects (not just the Nine Patch Designs).
Of course you don't need to stop at just seven. Consider creating additional layouts or modifying the layouts I will share with you to give yourself even more options when auditioning blocks.
One of the beauties of creating these layouts in EQ is the ability to audition blocks in fabrics of your choice. You are not constrained to the BlockBase+ coloring of a particular block. Lesson 3 Equal 9 Patch Specialty Patch Redesign
I also talk about how to use two (or more) blocks from the same category in the same quilt.
Lesson 4: Equal 9 Patch More Specialty Patch Redesign
Lesson 5: Equal 9 Patch Asymmetry and Curves Redesign
Lesson 6: Unequal 9 Patch Small Center Redesign
Using the concepts from the equal nine patch, you will play with two different options when creating nine patch blocks with a small center. The center patches between the corners essentially work as sashing for your pieced designs.
The first block is 8" (3" for the corners and 2" x 3" for the patches between the corner). The second block is 7" (3" for the corners and 1" x 3" for the patches between the corner). In this lesson, I will also share how to design a half-block using the same grid that gives the illusion of a border built into the block.
Lesson 7: Unequal 9 Patch Large Center Redesign
In this lesson we will focus on the sub-category Like Sawtooth/Lone Star.
I will take you through the process of taking the basic sawtooth star block and adding piecing in the flying geese sections, the corners and in the center. We will also play with the merge option to take advantage of that large space in the center of the sawtooth star. BlockBase+ includes feathered stars in the unequal 9 patch with large center category. After spending a day playing with this category, I discovered that not all the blocks included in this category were actually based on a nine patch grid. Since this class is about designing 9 patch blocks, we will cover creating your own feathered star block starting with a 9 patch block.
Check out the video where I share the lessons and projects for the stand-alone "Design Your Own 9 Patch with EQ8" class.
As you work through the lessons, your goal is to not only to draft the blocks I designed, but to use the lessons to express your own creativity and design you own modifications using the various 9 patch categories.
Or get super creative and come up with a new category for your 9 patch blocks. I look forward to working with you in your design process.
Tribute to Celine Perkins - Tranquility 9 Patch Variation
Here is the first quilt (fairly close to Celine's design).
Tranquility Quilt #1
My first variation, replaced her corners with diagonal lines. Here is the block and the quilt.
For two additional variations, I decided to use the corner from Celine's block and apply to to another Equal 9 Patch category -- Like Double Hour Glass. Here are the blocks I came up with.
Here are the quilts.
See the full video tutorial here.
Do you have a favorite Perkins Dry Goods quilt? Let me know in the comments.
If you decide to draft this quilt or your own variation, I would love to see pictures. I've set up a dedicated post in the Learning EQ Facebook Group.
The theme for today is Nine Patches.
First, I want to alert you to a new stand-alone class I have created. Design your Own Nine Patch using EQ8 Class starts April 1, 2025 and is now available for enrollment. The introductory price is 50% off. Also, scroll down for a new video tutorial that covers a nine-patch star that has an optional shamrock -- just in time for St. Patricks Day. Design Your Own Nine Patch using EQ8 Class Starts April 1, 2025
In the Design Your Own Nine Patch with EQ8 Class you will learn how to draft over 40 new nine patch blocks using EasyDraw. Most of the blocks will be either rotary cutting or paper piecing friendly.
Imagine the confidence you will gain after understanding not only the anatomy of a 9-patch, but how to create your own new segments and incorporate them in original designs. This class is designed for Electric Quilt 8 users who would like to expand their block drawing skills to a whole new level. Through seven emails with instructional videos along with a written tutorial, you will be encouraged you to spend small amounts of time using Electric Quilt 8 throughout the month. This will allow you to increase both your confidence and your skills in working with Electric Quilt 8. 
Current Tech Know Quilter members, please make sure to read your email (with extra class discount).
Luck Nine Patch Star Tutorial
In my upcoming Design Your Own Nine Patch using EQ8 class, I talk through the different types of nine patch blocks.
In this blog post, I will share will you how to create a new equal nine patch. In an equal nine patch all 9 sections of the nine patch block are the same size. I will also share how to incorporate a shamrock in one of the spaces of the nine patch.
Here are the blocks.
Here are the quilts. Can you guess the layout I used?
Watch the video to see how to create both the blocks and quilts.
What do you think -- shamrock or no shamrock?
Let me see what you decide to do with the Luck Star Nine Patch block. Share your ideas in the Learning EQ Facebook group.
Have you explored the one patch quilt option in Electric Quilt?
It is an incredibly fast way to design your own flower garden quilt for English Paper Piecing. In the tutorial you will learn about a couple of the lesser used coloring tools that can improve your coloring speed on a one patch quilt. I will also share my trick for creating a sheet of English Paper Piecing templates.
There is no "drafted block" in the quilt -- just the colored quilt.
If you would like to use the fabrics, I used in the video, they are available for download on the EQ website. The collection is By Hand created by Amy Friend for Benartex. 
Grandmothers Flower Garden One Block Quilt
I would love to see your one patch quilt. Feel free to share in the Learning EQ Facebook group. I've set up a post for pictures of your quilt.
Favorite Tech Know Quilter Projects
Here are some recently completed projects from Tech Know Quilter members.
There are some pieced bocks and quilts (in addition to designed ones. Proof that occasionally we do get some actual quilting completed. :) Tech Know Quilters is a membership of Electric Quilt 8 owners who are mastering Electric Quilt through online training. At the end of each month, they were encouraged to apply what they learned and to share a favorite quilt or picture. If you are interested in joining Tech Know Quilters, please send me a note.
Last week I shared how to draft two different quilts using the Checkers and Rails block in the sashing. It is the only block in these quilts. And I made it super simple by using only two fabrics.
If you missed the tutorial, you can locate it here. I suggest watching the video and create the block before creating the variations I will be sharing with you this week.
This week, I decided to play the "what if" game. It is one of my favorite things to do with EQ8. The biggest challenge is deciding what option to actually make.
Checkers and Rails Variations EQ8 Tutorial
In the quilts designed during the last blog post, the blocks were 6" x 6" and the sashing was 3.75" x 3.75".
I started by considering a simple pieced block to replace those 6" x 6" plain pieces of fabric. Create the Double Log Block
Create the Merge Block
Quilt Variations
View the Project Sketchbook and select the On Point quilt previously designed.
No worries if you didn't design one. Alternatively select New Quilt>On Point.
Variation 1
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Which variation do you prefer?
Check out the full video tutorial. Other Ideas
In the Learning EQ Facebook Group, a number of people shared how they personalized the Checkers and Rails quilt from last week. Just to give you a few additional ideas.
I would love to see your favorite Checkers and Rails quilt. Feel free to post in the Learning EQ Facebook group.
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Kari SchellElectric Quilt Expert and Educator and Pattern Designer. Categories
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