At that time, EQ6 was the current version.

I enjoyed drafting some of the quilts shared during our meetings. 

I also began experimenting with writing simple patterns for my designs.  The only software used with Electric Quilt 6 and Word. 

​I didn't charge for my patterns, but shared them with the Jo's Little Women's group.

The quilt I am sharing today is from one of those designs..

Using EQ8, I will walk you through the process of drafting the block and playing with Symmetry on the quilt worktable for a variety of quilt options.

I will also share with you my pattern (from 2009).  Just to show you that you don't need a lot of extra software to get starting writing your own patterns. 

Here were the Symmetry versions I chose to save.

I decided on Option 3 for my pieced quilt.  Which one do you prefer?

Here is the video.

You could also create a different variation by changing the coloring of the quilt.  I look forward to seeing what you do with the block.

​Please share photos on the Learning EQ Facebook group.

The pattern is pretty basic -- but it does provide instructions for piecing the Miniature Antique Blues quilt. 

​I hope this serves as encouragement for those that want to write their own patterns.   Just get started and use software that you already know how to use. 

This pattern was never sold -- but was provided to those in a quilt group I participated in.

Here was my pieced miniature quilt.

Here are some recently completed EQ8 projects from Tech Know Quilter members. 

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.

The class for more advanced (Masters) members in March was Miniature Quilts.  

The American Quilt Study group hosts a Biennial Quilt Study for its members. They note “It is a great way to combine the creativity of quilt making with learning about a particular quilt, its maker (if known), style, and technique.”

The selected reproduction quilts become part of a traveling exhibit hosted a museums around the country.  I went to an exhibit of Star quilts when it was in Minnesota and was completely enthralled with the miniature quilt collection along with being able to look at pictures of the original quilt to see their inspiration.
 
For this miniatures series, I decided to take their seven topics, and challenged the Masters members to draft a miniature from our selected inspiration quilt. 

​Here were some of the student projects from the series.

For most, Memorial Day is start of summer.  The long weekend a perfect time to get away with friends and family.

However, Memorial Day is a reminder of those who served our country and gave their lives for our freedom.  For many it is a chance to honor those who are no longer here.

The holiday's origins can be traced back to the American Civil war.  It was originally called Decoration day as the war graves were decorated with flowers, flags and wreaths.   

Memorial Day decorations typically involve patriotic colors, flags and symbols of remembrance. 

When designing the Memorial Day quilt, I tried to incorporate the spirit of the original Memorial Day/Decoration Day. 

Does your schedule get less hectic in the summer?  Or maybe you need a little me time after taking care of family all day.  Classes are designed to work with your schedule.  This a great time to learn Electric Quilt 8.

Use coupon code 2025MEMORIAL when you enroll now.

Choose a start date of June 2, 2025 or July 2, 2025.

​Coupon good through May 30, 2025. 

 I decided to add a floral wreath along with a silhouette of an eagle on top of the flag.  (Consider using a different background block for a variation of the design.)

To keep things simple, the wreath and eagle blocks were obtained from the EQ8 block library.

The eagle motif was found in 06 Motifs>Folk Motifs.  Blocks included in Motifs category do not have a background.  Because the design is a silhouette it was simple to recolor. 

For the pieced border, I went with an auto-border.  I selected Picket Border 12 from the Picket style.  I loved that it carried the striped theme from the flag.  

One of the plusses of using an auto-border is it also provides a coordinating corner.  EQ decided to pair the picket block with an attic window corner.

Check out how to create the blocks and quilt in this short video.

Here is the quilt from the video.

I know there are many in my audience that are not from the US.  What do you do to honor those who have died in service for your country?  How would you modify the design to reflect your customs and traditions?

​Share your designs in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Do you sometimes find that you are over thinking your quilt design?  Quilt designing does not need to be difficult -- particularly if you own Electric Quilt 8.

The quilt you will be learning to draft this week is super versatile.  I started with 3 simple to piece asymmetrical blocks from the Electric Quilt block library.  For those of you that purchased Block Base Plus, you could also pick your blocks from there. 

​The blocks I chose to work with were a log cabin, simple basket and flower basket.   These blocks would be super easy to either rotary cut or to foundation piece and don't have a lot of pieces.

The magic comes in the layout.  The layout I chose to work with is the first hexagonal option in the EQ Layout Library (under Layouts by Style).  

Within Electric Quilt you can put any square block in a diamond space and your block is now a diamond block.  Or if you place it in one of the equilateral triangles, it will cut off half the block and it is now an equilateral triangle block.  
​
You can even kept things simple when coloring the quilt -- choosing to work with colors rather than fabrics (giving the quilt a very modern vibe).

This is a super quick video and one that you will find very easy to replicate.  However if you are up for flexing your designing muscles, consider swapping out the blocks and the layout.  

Here is the hexagon quilt from the video.

I would love to see what you do with this concept.   Feel free to share in the Learning EQ Facebook group.  I've set up a post for you to include your designs.

I then placed them in a 3 x 3 layout -- rotating units until I found something I liked.  I then sewed the units together into five different 9 patch blocks.

I then decided I would try using the disappearing 9-patch technique - slicing each block into quarters, rotating the blocks and sewing them back together -- for new blocks.  You can see the slices on my image of the last 9 patch block above (I forgot to take a picture before the slicing)..

I rotated the units (either 90 clockwise or counter-clockwise or 180 degrees) 

​The slicing reduced the block size to 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" (finished size) or 9" x 9" (unfinished size).

Here are the slice and spin blocks.  (The last is before sewing -- can you see where we will loose part of the block in seam allowances?

Just for fun match each of the slice and spin blocks to the original 9 patch blocks. 

In this weeks video, I will take you through the EQ process to create the blocks.  The process will  replicate my construction process.  It will start with a 9 patch block and end with the slice and spin block.

​The plans are to create a layout featuring my new blocks.  But I will save that for another week.

​Here are the high level steps from the video:

Step 1:  Draft, color and save  the 9 patch block with half square triangles.
Step 2:  Add lines for the "slicing"
Step 3:  Rotate the lines in each quadrant (90, 180, or 270 degrees)
Step 4: Color the block, staying true to the patches before rotation in the original block. (This was the hardest part of the process.)
Step 5:  Draw 1/4 inch lines for the interior cuts that will become seam allowances.
Step 6:  Delete the lines in the seam allowances.
Step 7:  Resize the existing image to fill the worktable (or quadrant) and convert to guides.  (This is necessary as EQ rounds resize calculations to the nearest percent.)
Step 8:  Change the block size to reduce for the lost seam allowances.  (This involves reducing the size by 1/2". 
Step 9:  Trace the guidelines and color the block. 
​Step 10:  Save your slice and spin block.

If you would like to challenge yourself create your own 9 patch block with half square triangles and take it through the slice and spin process.  I would love to see your designs.

Last week I presented a webinar where I shared a new technique on creating your own blocks using the "Magic Half Square Triangle Technique".  During the webinar I shared three different ways of creating Magic Half Square triangle blocks -- along with a number of ways to turn them into new blocks and quilts.

​The following blocks were created during the webinar based on Magic Half Square Triangle designs.

In the webinar, I then shared how to to use the blocks to create this quilt. 

Although the information on drafting the individual blocks is not included in this blog post, you are welcome to download and trace the blocks in Electric Quilt.

Effective May 1st, the webinar including the instructions for these blocks and quilt became an exclusive bonus for Tech Know Quilter members in May 2025.   This bonus included the three techniques to create your own Magic Half Square triangle blocks and quilts.

If you are interested in obtaining this bonus, I have reopened TKQ for 36 hours.  Click on this link to learn more and sign up.  

The bonus will be sent to TKQ members on Monday, May 5, 2025.  You must sign up for Tech Know Quilters before then to receive the bonuses.

I also had another quilt idea -- but ran out of time to include it in the webinar.

Even if you don't have the blocks from the webinar, you could select other blocks to use with the layout.

This quilt uses the Vertical Strip Layout.

If you wish to make your design rotary cutting friendly (with 90 and 45 degree angles), it will involve a bit of math.  Here is how I approached the sizes for the borders:

Step 1:  The original sashing block was drawn at 12" x 4".  A ratio of 3 to 1.  If you stay at that ratio, all of the pieces have 90 and 45 degree angles -- making them very rotary cutting and piecing friendly.

Step 2:  After experimenting with different widths, I decided on a block with of 4-1/2".  Which makes the ideal length 13-1/2" (4.5 x 3 = 13.5).  The 13-1/2" x 4-1/2" supports the 3 to 1 ration from Step 1.

Step 3:  Size of quilt needed before adding Border #3 (the pieced block border).  Multiply the length of the planned border block with the desired number of blocks in that border.  

• 13.5 x 5 blocks = 67.5" width
• 13.5 x 6 blocks = 81" length 

Step 4:  On the layout tab, locate the quilt center size before adding any borders is:

• 57" width
• 68" length

Step 5:  Subtract the size of the center layout (step 4) from the required size of the pieced border (step 3).  Divide those number by 2 and split between any previous borders.   We need a total of 10.5" (67.5-57) for left and right borders (5.25 for each side).  I set the borders as follows:

• Border 1: 3"
• Border 2: 2-1/4"

Step 6:  We need a total of 13" (81-68) for top and bottom borders (6.5 for each side).  I set the borders as follows:

• Border 1: 4"
• Border 2: 2-1/2"

Step 7:  Before typing in the size for these borders, make sure to turn off Lock size adjustment All and turn on L&R (left and right) and T&B (top and bottom).

Step 8:  Double check the size of your blocks under Print & Export.  They should be 13.5 x 4.5.

Here is the final quilt.

The video will provide additional information on the steps within EQ8 for creating the quilt.

I would love to see how you use the Vertical Strip Layout.  Consider trying a favorite block and sashing block for your quilt.  Please consider posting to the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Here are some recently completed projects from Tech Know Quilter members. ​

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, you can learn more here.