Kari Schell On Point Quilter Blog

Pinwheel Celebration

6/28/2025

Last week I was able to get away for the day and spend time at the Minnesota Quilt Show in St. Cloud. I love that they bring in a collection of special exhibits (in addition to a great assortment of judged and non-judged quilt).

One of favorite special exhibits was Red, White and Blue Traditions in Miniature. Ellen Carter, Eden Prairie, MN and Andrea Blackhurst Centerville, OH, Sisters Ellen and Andrea first exhibited these quilts and Quilt International in Houston last fall.

The design I am sharing today was inspired by one of the quilts in the exhibit. I think mine is larger. However, with Electric Quilt -- you can make it any size you desire.

Quilt from Red, White and Blue Traditions in Miniature

Pinwheel Celebration

Fabric Collection - For fabric I used Tradition by Andover. This is part of Stash #1 collection for 2025 created by the Electric Quilt Company. Alternatively, you could download the collection from the Andover site and bring the fabrics into EQ.

I started by designing the quilt using an On Point layout with the blocks sized at 3".

Note that in an on point layout, the size of the block is the finished size of a block edge. So the finished size (without seam allowances) of the block is 3" x 3"

Pinwheel Celebration Layout Tab

To ensure the block in Border #2 is easy to piece, adjust the size of the first border.

After adjusting the first border (three sides only) to .625, the block for Border#2 is 14 x 5.

Border #3 is a 2" long horizontal.

Border #4 is 1/2" mitered for the binding.

Borders Tab

Hint if you are having trouble adjusting the size of the first border to .625.

Go to Worktable Options (the gears button).
Change the Nudge Settings to 1/8 inch.

Worktable Options

There are two blocks in the quilt.

Block #1 is a pinwheel block.

Set the block size at 3 x 3.
Set the snaps horizontal and vertical at 4.
Snap to grid is the only turned on snapping option.

Pinwheel Block Created in EasyDraw

Block #2 is a flag-like block.

Set the size at 14 x 5 (this matches the block size in the quilt worktable).
Set the snaps at 14 x 5.
Snap to grid only.
Draw a vertical line at 5". This provides a square on the left.
Use the grid tool to add strips in the rectangle on the right.

EasyDraw tab for Flag-Like Block

On the applique tab use StarMaker to create the five pointed star.

Using StarMaker

Flip Top to Bottom.
Center over the square on the left.

Flipping and Positioning the Star on the Applique tab

Check out the full video.

Here are the final blocks and quilt from the video.

Pinwheel Block

Flag-Like Block

Pinwheel Celebration Quilt designed using EQ8

If you are not into patriotic, try a different fabric collection. And try swapping out the flag-like block.

I would love to see your design. Feel free to share in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Pinwheel Celebration Learning EQ Facebook Post

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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It Looks Like Sun

6/21/2025

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There are extreme heat warnings in Minnesota this weekend with temps predicted in the 90s and dewpoints in the mid-to-low 70s. Saturday and Sunday could feel like 100 to 110 degrees. Minnesota has definitely moved into summer mode

When looking through the blocks in Block Base Plus, I came across the block "Pride of the Prairie". The pattern was sold by Old Chelsea Station (a mail-order company that started in 1933). The Brackman ID is 1489.

I though this really does look like a sun.

Pride of the Prairie from BlockBase+

I did some research to see if I could find any finished quilts made with this block. The only quilt I was able to locate was documented on the Quilt Index.

Pride of the Prairie photographed by Quilts of Tennessee

Quilt by by Sarah L. Henderson McSwain of Puryear, Tennessee. It was made in 1937 and was hand pieced.
Citation: McSwain, Sarah L. Henderson. Pride of the Prairie. 1930-1949. From Tennessee State Library and Archives, Quilts of Tennessee. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=22-18-969. Accessed: 06/04/21

I came up with a layout for the block, which you can create in EQ8. In this video you will learn how to

use a block from BlockBase+ in Electric Quilt 8,
use Random Recolor to assign colors, and
how to export an SVG from BlockBase+ with the templates needed to create this quilt.

If you don't have BlockBase+, consider challenging yourself to draft the block using EasyDraw.

Here is the quilt from the video. I would love to see pictures of your quilts. Feel free to post in the Learning EQ Facebook group. I've set up a separate post for your shared designs.

Sunny Days Quilt

Cutting Fabric Using Cricut Design Space Bonus Video

Curved piecing -- yes or no?

While I love the look of curved piecing, it is not my go to piecing method. Using templates to cut all of those pieces by hand is not my idea of fun. So I decided to use my Cricut Maker to do the cutting for me. The rotary cutting blade is fantastic for cutting through fabric and no sizing or backing is required on the fabric.

In the bonus video, you will learn how to work with the design in Cricut Design Space. Cricut updates there software continually. Typically svg files are not imported into Cricut Design Space at the correct size. There is a workaround that I will share with you. Electric Quilt was really thinking ahead when they added that 1" square in the export.

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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Wonky Star Sashing Quilt

6/14/2025

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Last week, I shared how to create a quilt where sashing is the star. The sashing in that quilt was done with just squares and rectangles.

This week, I decided to focus on a different set of sashing blocks in the EQ8 Block Library.

Under Star Sashing, I found 28 different star point blocks suitable for sashing spaces in a quilt. As I went through each of the blocks, I discovered a number of different sub-categories within this group.

Even Star Sash - In this category there are four star points for each sashing block and all the star points are exactly the same size. 8 options.
Uneven Star Sash -In this category there are four star points for each sashing block and the star points are different sizes. 6 options.
Star Sashing with Inset - In this category there are four star points with a horizontal/vertical line between each pair of star point. 8 options.
Friendship Star -There are two star points for each sashing block, creating a friendship star when using in a quilt. 3 options.
Overlapping Friendship Star - There are four stars for each sashing block, but the star points overlap (3 options).

Here is an example of each used in a quilt.

Even Star Sash

Uneven Star Sash

Star Sashing with Inset

Friendship Star

Overlapping Friendshp Star

For my Wonky Star Sashing quilt, I chose to work with Uneven Star Sash 6 from the EQ8 Library.

The sashing space used for my quilt was 9" x 4".

Given the wonky angles, I would foundation piece this unit.

Uneven Star Sash 6

I also created two variations of the design that allowed me to carry the design into the borders. These are actually just half blocks.

Star Sashing Variation 1

Star Sashing Variation 2

To carry the sashing pieces into the borders, I needed to use Layer 2 on the quilt worktable.

Tip: When overlaying blocks on Layer 2, make sure to delete the "hidden" fabric on Layer 1 to avoid incorrect fabric yardage. Hidden fabrics are still included in fabric yardage calculations.

Here is the quilt from the video.

Wonky Star Sashing Quilt by Kari Schell

What star sashing block will you chose to work with for your sashing quilt? I look forward to seeing your design. Designs can be shared in the Learning EQ Facebook Group.

Learning EQ Facebook Group Wonky Sashing Stars Post

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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Creating a Quilt where Sashing is the Star

6/7/2025

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The last category (and I suspect the least used) set of blocks in the Electric Quilt library is "sashing". Let's face it, sashing is typically not the "star" in a quilt.

I decided to see if I could change that. I challenged myself to design a quilt around the sashing.

I found this block in the library 10 Sashing>Stripes-Bordered. It has the name Stripes Bordered Inside 2.

Even the name seems a bit "boring".

Colored in browns and taupes, this poor block was destined to be overlooked.

Can we make it shine?

Stripes Bordered Inside 2 block from EQ8 Library

Quilt Layout

I started by creating a quilt layout.

Select New Quilt>Horizontal.
Set the number of blocks at 4 x 4.
Set the size of the blocks at 12 x 12.
Set the size of sashing at 4 x 4.
Check "Include sash border".
On the Borders tab, set the first border at 4" long horizontal.
Set the second border at 1/2" Mitered.

Layout Tab Settings for Sashing Quilt

Quilt #1 - Sashing Only

For the first option, I decided to use only sashing.

To color the quilts, I used the June 2025 Free Fabric Download from Do you EQ. The collection Tiny Secrets designed by Pat Sloan and Manufactured by Benartex "captures the quiet magic of nature's most enchanting corners".

I rotated the sashing so that the yellows from the sashing face in on half the blocks and the dark blue faces in on the other half of the blocks.

This provides continuity to the design.

Sashing Quilt #1

Quilts #2 and #3 - Sashing Recolored

I swapped out the colors -- going for red, white and blue.

I then decided to color the large rectangle with the background. Now the intersection of the sashing units is forming crosses.

Piecing this is exactly like piecing the first quilt.

Sashing Quilt #2

Sashing Quilt #3

Quilt #4 - Add a Primary Block

What happens if you create a block to complement the sashing.

Here is the block and the revised quilt.

Initial Primary Block

Sashing Quilt #4

Quilt #5 - Revise the Sashing

What happens if you carry the blue band from the primary block into the sashing?

Here is the block and adjusted quilt.

Reworked Sashing Block

Sashing Quilt #5

Quilt #6 Add Applique to the Primary Block

For the final variation, I added applique to the primary block. And then decided to go with two different colorings of the primary block.

No problem if you didn't set up the initial block us as a combination Easy Plus Applique block. I will show you my trick for getting that applique adding to your block.

Primary Block with PosieMaker Applique

Sashing Quilt #6

Check out the process for creating all six quilts using Electric Quilt 8.

Feel free to use my tutorial to redrafting these quilts in Electric Quilt8.

Or if you would like to challenge yourself, select a different Sashing Block from the EQ Library.

L look forward to seeing your quilts. Feel free to sharing in the Learning EQ Facebook Group.

Sashing Quilt Design Learning EQ Facebook Group Post

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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Pinwheel Celebration

Pinwheel Celebration

It Looks Like Sun

Cutting Fabric Using Cricut Design Space Bonus Video

Wonky Star Sashing Quilt

Creating a Quilt where Sashing is the Star

Quilt Layout

Quilt #1 - Sashing Only

Quilts #2 and #3 - Sashing Recolored

Quilt #4 - Add a Primary Block

Quilt #5 - Revise the Sashing

Quilt #6 Add Applique to the Primary Block

Kari Schell

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