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This week found me playing in Easy Draw. Enjoy the Electric Quilt tutorial below on Nine Patch Merged Blocks. If you wish to expand your Easy Draw skill set, I have two classes starting in June.
Drafting Easy Draw Blocks using EQ7
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 instructor led online class will focus on how to “read a block” and then come up with the most efficient way to draft it with Electric Quilt. Class starts Thursday, June 15th.
Cost: $80
I will also be teaching this class at the MN Quilt Show in Duluth -- June 9th. This class still has openings.
Foundation Drawing Using EQ7
Be the first to learn the ins and outs of creating foundation patterns for paper piecing. This brand new instructor led online class starts Monday, June 5, 2017.
Cost: $100 
Bonus: Enroll by May 31 and receive a 20 minute private consultation with Kari to draft a foundation pattern from your own favorite photograph.
Merged 9 Patch Blocks Plus Quilts
One thing that is fun to do when creating new blocks is to combine two blocks together (or maybe even three).
This week I played with taking a couple of blocks and setting them into a 9 patch block.
Providence Chain designed by Kari Schell
I could have set up a 15 x 15 grid and redrafted everything. But I was looking for an easier way. Two challenges I needed to overcome were:
When meeting with a private client yesterday, the light bulb came on and I realized how I could make the merge block feature work on a nine-patch. I will share how in this weeks Electric Quilt video tutorial.
Here are the two quilts shared in the video.
Here is another combination that I successfully tested with the technique.
Monkey Wrench with a Square within a Square block designed by Kari Schell
Layout for this was On Point.
Settings: Block Size: 15 x 15 Border #1: 1.75" Long Horizontal Border #2: Border Blocks 5", 6 blocks horizontal and vertical 
Sashing Block
Fabrics used in these quilts were all from Andover's Floral Spendor collection.
Enrollment is now open for my next two Electric Quilt online classes. Foundation Design will be a brand new class on creating patterns suited for foundation or paper piecing. Easy Draw will assist you in learning how to draft blocks using the Easy Draw worktable in Electric Quilt.
Read more below.
While in North Dakota last weekend my niece Josie (age 8) decided she wanted to design a quilt of her own in Electric Quilt. Here was her first project -- a little complex (but very artsy).  Josie's First Electric Quilt 7 Quilt
After playing with Easy Draw, I introduced her to the block library. After looking at some of the options, she decided to create a quilt with her name on it.
I am very excited at what Josie was able to accomplish with a little direction and coaching. 
Josie's 2nd EQ7 Project
When Tania (my sister-in-law) saw the design, she decided she wanted to piece the quilt and display it in Josie's room. We made a quick trip to the two quilt shops in Bismarck (for fabric and an Add-A-Quarter ruler). When we got back I made a few modifications to the blocks to make them foundation friendly and provided Tania a lesson in foundation piecing.
She did really well completing her first block. I called her this week to see how the rest of the quilt was progressing -- and she noted that the top was done and was hoping to quilt it next week! I think she did a fantastic job and I love the slight design changes she made to the setting as well. 
For my Electric Quilt tutorial, I will share my process for making the Electric Quilt alphabet blocks foundation friendly and how to create the elongated sashing/border around each of the letters.
Are you ready to make your own name quilt? I would love to see your design.
Foundation Drawing Using EQ7
Be the first to learn the ins and outs of creating foundation patterns for paper piecing. This brand new instructor led online class starts June 5, 2017.
Cost: $100 
Bonus: Enroll by May 31 and receive a 20 minute private consultation with Kari to draft a foundation pattern from your own favorite photograph.
Drafting Easy Draw Blocks using EQ7
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.
Cost: $80 Last Chance for Discount on Row by Row Webinar
The replay of the row by row webinar (held last week) is currently on sale for $20. At the end of the month the price goes up to $30.
Learn tips for designing your row by row quilt in EQ7. Plus learn my tips for integrating your work in EQ7 into pattern instructions in Word. If you are contemplating writing your own pattern -- this webinar is packed with information to get you started.
This week I will hosting my first webinar for shop owners and row by row designers. Read more below.
But first ... have you used the hexagonal layouts in Electric Quilts layout library. You can create fantastic quilts using one of these layouts with some very simple blocks.
Let me share with you how to go from two simple blocks designed with a 4 x 4 grid to a spectacular quilt in this weeks video tutorial.
Here are the blocks:
Here is the drafted quilt (sized at 55.5" x 48").
The video also includes the math for resizing these quilts to sizes conducive to using an equilateral triangle ruler. Here is a handout of the quilt math provided in the video.
Attention Row by Row Designers and Shop Owners
Have you designed your Row by Row quilt for 2017 yet? If you would like to design your own row, I have a webinar that can help.
In this webinar, I will share suggestions for selecting a "block theme", finding or drafting a compatible block, effective layouts, incorporating Row by Row fabric, plus share a few of my own project ideas to inspire your own row. The presentation will focus on using Electric Quilt 7 plus Microsoft Word to complete both the row and the instructions.
Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 3 pm (Central Daylight Time) Cost: $20 Bonus: You will also have an option of watching a replay of the session at any time in the future. Plus you will also receive a handout of the top 10 tips to create your row by row. Participation will be limited to 50 attendees. Register now to reserve your space.
Last week I shared a video tutorial on creating labels for all my quilts created during the last two years -- a daunting task. If you missed the tutorial, please feel free to check out my previous post.
This week I will share with you my shortcuts for printing these labels. My video tutorial describes using the Photo Layout feature within Electric Quilt. It is a great way to combine a number of labels on an 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of paper or fabric sheet.
I will admit that I didn't quite follow all the "rules" for the actual printing of my labels. After a couple of test runs, I realized that my color laser printer produced a much more intense label than my ink jet printer. So even though the Electric Quilt website clearly said their product was for ink jet printers, I ran most of them through my laser printer instead. I didn't see a problem -- but I didn't try to wash or rinse them after printing either.
If I eventually have fading, I've decided I will be ok with it. At least I have a label with my name on it -- even if it ends up being in "invisible ink". Designing T-Shirt Quilts using Electric Quilt - New Class
This will be one of my brand new classes that will premiere at the MN Quilt Show in Duluth. I finalized all the projects this week -- and wanted to give you a preview of them.
In this class you will learn to work with actual photographs of your t-shirts and learn how to audition them in your quilt. You will also learn options for working with t-shirts with "unique" sizes that can make them a bit of a challenge. Design instructions for six separate quilts are included with the class. Please join me in Duluth! Register for classes here.
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Kari SchellElectric Quilt Expert and Educator and Pattern Designer. Categories
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