 Limited-Time Enrollment: I'm excited to announce the opening of enrollment for Tech Know Quilters, but act fast – this opportunity is available only from Friday through Monday. Since I open enrollment just a few times a year, I wanted to ensure you don't miss this chance. Your Electric Quilt Mastery Journey Begins: Your journey towards Electric Quilt mastery kicks off on May 1st. I can't wait to work with you, helping you unravel the potential of that fabric stash and explore your creativity through designing one-of-a-kind quilts. Ready to Join? If you're eager to master Electric Quilt and take your quilting to new heights, I invite you to join me. Let's embark on this exciting journey together. Tech Know Quilters March 2024 Month End ChallengePrepare to be amazed by the incredible creativity on display in our latest showcase featuring student projects from the Tech Know Quilter community. A recurring sentiment we've encountered is the delightful surprise expressed by many: "I didn't know you could do that with Electric Quilt 8!" Breaking free from any limitations, our talented members have harnessed the full potential of this versatile software.Get ready to be blown away by the astonishing creativity showcased in our newest collection, highlighting student projects from the vibrant Tech Know Quilter community. One sentiment echoed throughout is sheer amazement: "I had no idea Electric Quilt 8 could do all that!" Unleashing boundless creativity, our skilled members have unlocked the endless possibilities of this dynamic software
Registration now open for Signs of Spring Free EQ8 Live Webinar on April 24 or 25
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I've been sharing a fun EQ project - April Showers Brings May flowers. This week we will finish up the quilt.
Over the last two weeks, I shared drafting umbrella blocks along with raindrop blocks (for the April Showers) part of the design. In this tutorial, I have a bonus project focused just on the May Flowers block option. |
April Showers Brings May Flowers Quilt from Week 2
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May Flowers EQ8 Tutorial
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In the April Showers brings May flowers quilt, we will add a May Flowers block to the quilt. You will notice that there is some similarity to the raindrop block.
In the tutorial, I talk about a second option for creating the "tilt" option for the flower. During the last video I shared how to create the block using the Tilt option in Serendipity. In this tutorial, I share how to use the Merge Block option in Serendipity. I am curious which you prefer. |
May Flower Block 1
May Flower On Point Square
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May Flower Merged Block
Add three additional borders to the quilt from week 2.
Add the remaining blocks to the quilt and borders and color the quilt.
Add the remaining blocks to the quilt and borders and color the quilt.
Added Borders for April Showers Brings May Flowers Quilt
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April Showers Brings May Flowers Final Quilt Design in EQ8
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Tina Dillard's April Showers Quilt
May Flowers Alternate Quilt
In the video, I also shared a quilt with just the May Flower blocks.
This used the quilt style - Horizontal Strip. With the Horizontal Strip style, you can pick a different style for each strip.
And then add borders of your choosing.
This used the quilt style - Horizontal Strip. With the Horizontal Strip style, you can pick a different style for each strip.
And then add borders of your choosing.
Horizontal Strip Set Layout
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May Flowers Final Quilt
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Learn how to create both quilts in the EQ8 Video tutorial.
I look forward to seeing what you chose to do with the May Flowers quilts. Feel free to share your designs in the Learning EQ Facebook group.
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Happy quilting.
Kari Join the On Point Quilter weekly newsletter and receive regular tips and inspiration on using Electric Quilt 8 along with the Free 12 Top Tips for EQ8 video guide. 
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Registration now open for Signs of Spring Free EQ8 Live Webinar on April 24 or 25
Register here.
Raindrops EQ8 Tutorial
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It is that time of year -- the rain is washing away of remains of winter and we are beginning to see some new growth.
Last week I shared a tutorial on drafting an umbrella block which is the beginning of the April Showers brings May Flowers project. The tutorial also included an extra bonus project. |
Part 1 of the April Showers Brings May Flowers Quilt
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This week we will add to the April Showers Brings May Flowers quilt, with a raindrop block.
For those of you who (like me) are Deb Tucker, Studio 180 Designs fans, this unit will look familiar. Deb calls it a Corner Beam unit and it can be easily constructed using her Corner Beam ruler.
After drafting the Corner Beam block, I share how to easily turn it into an on point block.
For those of you who (like me) are Deb Tucker, Studio 180 Designs fans, this unit will look familiar. Deb calls it a Corner Beam unit and it can be easily constructed using her Corner Beam ruler.
After drafting the Corner Beam block, I share how to easily turn it into an on point block.
Raindrop Corner Beam Block
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Tilted Corner Beam Block
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Select the Umbrella quilt layout from last weeks block post. Add two borders -- just to the top of the quilt.
Border 1: Style - Spaced Squares. Sized at 4". This will give you 3 squares along with a alternate blocks between the squares to fill in the remainder of the spaces so the border measures 16" across. This is the width of the quilt center. Border 2: Style - Blocks, Sized at 4". If you set the number of blocks at 4, each block will measure 4" x 4". The border measures 16". This allows the raindrops to be slightly offset between border 1 and border 2. |
Adding Borders to the April Showers Brings May Flowers Quilt
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Add the tilted raindrop blocks in the border -- along with replacing the first and last block in the first row of the quilt center.
Add to Sketchbook (to save the quilt). Next week, I will provide information on finishing up the April Showers Brings May Flowers quilt. |
April Showers Brings May Flowers - Part 2
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Fractured Raindrop Variation
In the video tutorial, I also share an alternate quilt -- that just uses the raindrop block. For this quilt, I colored four different copies of the raindrop blocks, using a variety of blue fabrics from the EQ8 Fabric Library.
Note: To keep track of the different colored blocks and placement on the quilt worktable, I chose to color the blocks in the quilt worktable.
Note: To keep track of the different colored blocks and placement on the quilt worktable, I chose to color the blocks in the quilt worktable.
Fractured Raindrop 1
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Fractured Raindrop 2
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Fractured Raindrop 3
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Fractured Raindrop 4
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The blocks were set in an On Point Layout.
Number of blocks set at 6 horizontal and 6 vertical. The finished size of the block was 3 inches. The finished size of sashing was 1 inch. Border 1 is 1" Long Horizontal. Border 2 is 2" Long Horizontal. Border 3 is .5" Mitered (binding). |
Layout for Fractured Raindrops Quilt
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Place the blocks in the quilt.
Use Symmetry to provide a more "scrambled" rotation of the blocks. Finish coloring the quilt. Add to Sketchbook. |
Fractured Raindrop Quilt
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Watch the full video!
I look forward to seeing what you chose to do with the Corner Beam unit along with the tilted option. Feel free to share your designs in the Learning EQ Facebook group.
Construction Tips
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To construct the raindrops (either for the fractured raindrop quilt or the April Showers Brings May Flowers project), I suggest using Deb Tuckers Studio 180 Design Corner Beam ruler. Create units with a 3" finished size (3-1/2" with seam allowances).
If you don't have the ruler, consider foundation piecing the units with the foundations option from Electric Quilt 8. For the April Showers Brings May Flowers, you will find the unit needs to measure, 2.82 -- slightly under 3". If using the Corner Beam ruler -- after piecing and sizing the corner beam units, slice 1/8" off two of the edges as shown in the picture. You can then add the four corner pieces for the tilted variation of the block. |
Corner Bean with 1/8" sliced off two edges.
Raindrop Blocks by Tina Dillard
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Happy quilting.
Kari Join the On Point Quilter weekly newsletter and receive regular tips and inspiration on using Electric Quilt 8 along with the Free 12 Top Tips for EQ8 video guide. 
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ANNOUNCEMENT: Registration now open for Signs of Spring Free EQ8 Live Webinar
Register here.
April Showers EQ8 Tutorial
Growing up, I remember Mom singing a song called April Showers. It included these lyrics:
"When April Showers come your way.
They bring the flowers that bloom in May.
So if it is raining, have no regret.
It isn't raining rain you know.
It's raining violets."
She must have sung it a lot -- as I was able to recall and write out the words without a Google search.
In Minnesota we started the month with some snow. After an entire winter with very little precipitation.
Today was our first day that felt like spring.
In anticipation of spring and with memories of the song my mother loved, I've designed a quilt that will be presented over the next few weeks.
"When April Showers come your way.
They bring the flowers that bloom in May.
So if it is raining, have no regret.
It isn't raining rain you know.
It's raining violets."
She must have sung it a lot -- as I was able to recall and write out the words without a Google search.
In Minnesota we started the month with some snow. After an entire winter with very little precipitation.
Today was our first day that felt like spring.
In anticipation of spring and with memories of the song my mother loved, I've designed a quilt that will be presented over the next few weeks.
We will start the quilt by creating some umbrella blocks.
April Showers Umbrella Block 1
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April Showers Umbrella Block 2
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April Showers Umbrella Block 3
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To color the blocks and quilt, I used the Market Street fabric collection.
This collection was created by Heather Peterson for Riley Blake.
It was the free fabric collection from Do You EQ in October 2023.
You can download the EQ fabric collection here.
This collection was created by Heather Peterson for Riley Blake.
It was the free fabric collection from Do You EQ in October 2023.
You can download the EQ fabric collection here.
In the video, I share a fourth block -- which is really a combination of the previous blocks. This block won't be in the final April Showers project. But I wanted to provide an alternate quilt that focuses just on the umbrella block.
Umbrella 8" Block
In the video, check out how to draft each of the blocks along with two quilt options.
Here is the first quilt presented in the video.
In future blog posts, I will be added to this quilt with additional blocks and borders.
In future blog posts, I will be added to this quilt with additional blocks and borders.
Start of April Showers Quilt (Week 1)
Here are umbrella blocks that were made by Tina Dillard of Quilting Affection Designs. Note that there are a few "holes". These will be filled with added blocks in the next couple of weeks.
Umbrella Blocks Pieced by Tina Dillard
During the video, I also created an alternate quilt design that featured two of the umbrella blocks.
Umbrella Quilt Designed using EQ8
I look forward to seeing what you do with the umbrella blocks. Please feel free to share your designs on the Learning EQ Facebook group.
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Happy quilting.
Kari Join the On Point Quilter weekly newsletter and receive regular tips and inspiration on using Electric Quilt 8 along with the Free 12 Top Tips for EQ8 video guide. 
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Kari Schell
Electric Quilt Expert and Educator and Pattern Designer.
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