Kari Schell On Point Quilter Blog

Create Your Own Charm-Friendly Cutting Charts with EQ8

6/27/2026

Last week I shared how to design a quilt in EQ8 that can be made almost entirely from 5" charm squares—with the only exception being the binding.

If you missed that tutorial, be sure to read it first and watch the accompanying video. You'll see exactly how I designed this patriotic quilt using charm-friendly dimensions.

Previous in Series - Link to Celebrate 250 Post

Charm Friendly Block 14 x 14

Charm Friendly 14 x 2 Sashing

Celebrate 250 Charm Friendly Quilt (51" x 51")

Designing the Quilt Is Only the Beginning

Once the design is complete, there's another question to answer:

How can I cut this quilt as efficiently as possible from charm squares?

Electric Quilt 8 creates excellent rotary cutting charts, but I rarely use them exactly as printed. Before I cut fabric, I always study the cutting charts and ask myself:

Can I make the cutting easier?
Can I reduce fabric waste?
Can I better accommodate pre-cuts?
Can I simplify the piecing process?

Making a few thoughtful adjustments at this stage often saves both time and fabric.

Reviewing the EQ8 Rotary Cutting Charts

For this quilt, the sashing and cornerstones didn't require any changes.

The main block, however, benefited from several small modifications that made construction easier while allowing me to take full advantage of charm squares.

These are the revisions I discuss in the video.

Main Block Modified Rotary Cutting Chart - Page 1

Main Block Modified Rotary Cutting Chart - Page 2

Turning Rotary Cutting Charts into Charm-Friendly Cutting Charts

Once I finalized my cutting plan, I created custom cutting diagrams for every unique patch in the quilt.

Instead of simply knowing what to cut, I now know exactly how many pieces to cut from every charm square.

For this quilt I created six custom cutting charts.

Charm Cutting Chart #1

2½" × 4" Rectangles

Cut two rectangles from each charm square.

These are used in the sashing blocks.

Each sashing block requires four different background rectangles.

For the entire quilt you'll need:

48 background charm squares

Charm Cutting Chart #1

Charm Cutting Chart #2

2½" Squares

Cut four squares from each charm square.

These become the cornerstones.

For the quilt you'll need:

4 red charm squares

Charm Cutting Chart 2

Charm Cutting Chart #3

2¼" × 4" Rectangles

Cut two rectangles from each charm square.

These serve two purposes:

Outside edge units of the block
Flying geese units in the center star

For the quilt you'll need:

54 background charm squares

Charm Cutting Chart 3

Charm Cutting Chart #4

2¼" Squares

Cut four squares from each charm square.

Each block requires:

14 blue squares
2 red squares

For the quilt you'll need:

32 blue charm squares
5 red charm squares

Charm Cutting Chart 4

Flying Geese Construction Tip

For the outside edge units, sew a red 2¼" square to one corner of a 2¼" × 4" background rectangle using the folded-corner (snowball) method. Half of the units will have the folded corner on the left and half on the right.

For the flying geese units, begin the same way using a blue square. After pressing, add the second blue square to the opposite corner.

The finished units measure 2¼" × 4" (with seam allowances).

Rectangle with Folded Corner on Right (without same allowances)

Rectangle with Folded Corner on Left (without same allowances)

Flying Geese Unit (without seam allowances)

Charm Cutting Chart #5

Quarter-Square Triangle Pieces

Cut four triangles from each charm square.

Each block uses:

8 blue triangles
8 background triangles

For the quilt you'll need:

18 blue charm squares
18 background charm squares

Charm Cutting Chart 5

Construction Tip

After sewing the quarter-square triangle units, trim them to 4" × 4".

I like using the Tucker Trimmer because it makes trimming fast and accurate.

Quarter Square Triangle Unit

Charm Cutting Chart #6

4" Squares

Cut one square from each charm square.

Each block requires four background squares.

For the quilt you'll need:

36 background charm squares

Charm Cutting Chart 6

Watch the Complete Process

In this week's video I walk through the entire process of:

Reviewing EQ8's rotary cutting charts
Modifying the cutting plan
Creating custom charm-friendly cutting diagrams

Once you understand this process, you can use it with almost any quilt you design.

Next Step: Working with Pre-Cuts in EQ8 Class

Ready to Design Your Own Pre-Cut Quilts in EQ8?

If you enjoy working with charm packs, jelly rolls, layer cakes, fat quarters, and other pre-cuts, you'll love my upcoming Working with Pre-Cuts in EQ8 class.

In this hands-on, one-month class, you'll learn how to design quilts specifically for today's most popular pre-cut fabrics while using EQ8 as a true design tool—not just a pattern viewer.

You'll learn how to:

Design quilts that maximize every fabric in your pre-cut collections
Create customized cutting charts for your own designs
Understand how pre-cut dimensions influence design decisions
Develop original quilt blocks and layouts from simple units
Create your own variations of favorite quilt styles
Make better use of fabrics already waiting in your stash
Build confidence designing original quilts in EQ8

We'll work with:

Jelly Rolls
Charm Packs
Layer Cakes
Fat Quarter Bundles
Fat Eighth Bundles

Each lesson builds on the previous one, giving you practical design skills you can apply to virtually any pre-cut collection.

Enrollment is open through June 30, 2026.

Special Sale Price: $53 (Regularly $73)

If you're ready to get more value from your pre-cuts and discover entirely new ways to design with EQ8, I'd love to have you join us. Click on the image for all the details.

Have you ever redesigned a cutting chart to better fit a charm pack or another pre-cut? I'd love to hear your favorite tips—or your biggest challenge—leave a comment below!

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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Celebrate 250 with a Charm-Friendly Quilt Design in EQ8

6/20/2026

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One of the habits I've developed over my many years of quilting is cutting leftover fabric into 5" squares. Along the way, I've also collected quite a few books devoted to quilts made from these versatile squares. One of my longtime favorites is Nickel Quilts by Pat Speth and Charlene Thode.

For today's EQ8 tutorial, I decided to combine my love of 5" squares with another design celebrating America's 250th anniversary.

The result is a patriotic quilt that can be pieced almost entirely from 5" charm squares. The only exception is the binding.

For this sample, I used the American Valor fabric collection by Cheryl Haynes for Benartex. The rich reds, blues, and backgrounds work beautifully in this design. Of course, if you already have a collection of red, blue, and background charm squares in your stash, you can easily create your own version.

Designing the Blocks

Charm Friendly Block 14" x 14"

This quilt uses two simple blocks: a feature block and a pieced sashing block.

The main block is a star-within-a-star design.

When the blocks are combined with the sashing and cornerstones, a third star emerges across the quilt surface, creating an eye-catching secondary design.

Both blocks can be drafted using EasyDraw in Electric Quilt 8.

For the feature block, I began with an 8" block based on an 8 x 8 grid. After drafting the block, I increased the block size to 14" on the Quilt Worktable. This size makes excellent use of 5" charm squares while minimizing waste.

The second block is used in the sashing. It is constructed from 4" x 2½" rectangles, which can also be cut from charm squares.

Charm Friendly 14 x 2 Sashing

Designing the Quilt

On the Quilt Worktable, start a new Horizontal Layout quilt.

Set the layout to 3 blocks across and 3 blocks down. Feel free to adjust the number of blocks to create a quilt size that suits your needs. If you plan to use charm squares, however, keep the block size at a finished 14".

Under Finished Size of Sashing, turn on Include Sash Border and set the width to 2".

Next, move to the Borders tab. Add a ½" mitered border. This creates the appearance of a finished binding in your design and is the only component that cannot be cut from charm squares.

On the Design tab, place the two blocks into the quilt layout. Rotate the vertical sashing blocks as needed and experiment with color placement until you're happy with the design.

When finished, don't forget to Add to Sketchbook to save your quilt.

Charm Friendly Celebrate 250 Quilt

Charm Friendly 250 Celebration Video Tutorial

Watch the step-by-step video below to learn how to recreate this quilt using Electric Quilt 8.

Ready to Design Your Own Pre-Cut Quilts with EQ8?
Special Class Offering

If you enjoy working with charm packs, jelly rolls, layer cakes, and other pre-cuts, you'll love my Working with Pre-Cuts in EQ8 class.

This hands-on design class combines practical quilt-making strategies with creative design exploration, helping you turn pre-cut collections into original quilt designs.

In This One-Month Class You'll Learn How To:

Design quilts that maximize the fabrics in your pre-cut collections
Create customized cutting charts for your designs
Understand how fabric dimensions influence design decisions
Develop original blocks and layouts from simple pre-cut units
Create your own variations of popular quilt styles
Make better use of fabric already in your stash
Use EQ8 as a true design tool rather than simply a pattern viewer

We'll Work With:

Jelly Rolls and other 2½" strip collections
Charm Packs and Nickel Squares
Layer Cakes and 10" square collections
Fat Quarter Bundles
Fat Eighth Bundles

Each lesson builds on the previous one, giving you the skills and confidence to create original quilt designs using virtually any pre-cut collection.

Enrollment is currently open through June 30, 2026.

The class is on sale now for $53 (regularly $73).

If you're ready to get more value from your pre-cuts and discover new ways to design with EQ8, click below for all the details.

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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Celebrate 250 Stars and Stripes Quilt Tutorial with EQ8 - Patriotic Quilt Design in Electric Quilt 8

6/13/2026

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Inspirational Stars and Stripes Quilt

While browsing Pinterest recently, I came across a striking patriotic quilt that immediately caught my attention. I especially loved the way the stripes flowed through the design.

After a bit of detective work, I traced a similar quilt to a design by Jean Nolte, editor of Fons & Porter. Google suggests the pattern appeared in the May/June 2016 issue of Love of Quilting. Unfortunately, that issue happens to be missing from my collection, so I haven't been able to verify the original source firsthand.

Rather than recreating the quilt exactly, I decided to use the concept as inspiration and design my own version. My adaptation replaces the appliqué star with an easy-to-piece eight-pointed Variable Star block, creating a quilt that celebrates America's 250th anniversary while remaining accessible to piecers.

Regatta Days by Maywood Studio

Regatta Days Fabric Collection

The June 2026 Fabric of the Month free download from DoYouEQ is Regatta Days by Maywood Studio.

This cheerful maritime collection combines classic red, deep navy, and crisp white prints—making it a perfect choice for a patriotic quilt project. Whether you're planning a quilt for Independence Day, a community celebration, or simply love nautical fabrics, this collection provides a wonderful starting point.

Download the free fabric collection from DoYouEQ.com

Drafting the Stars and Stripe Block

8" Stripe Block

Begin in EasyDraw by creating a new block sized 8" x 8".

Draw a diagonal line from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner.
In the upper-left corner, draw horizontal and vertical lines at the 4" mark, creating a 4" square.
Add 1" finished stripes in three different directions—horizontal, vertical, and diagonal.

The diagonal stripes may look intimidating, but in the video I share a simple no-math method for spacing them perfectly one inch apart.

Next, select your favorite star block and choose Serendipity > Merge Block to combine it with the striped block.

For my sample, I used an eight-pointed Variable Star, but this technique works beautifully with virtually any star block. Experiment with different star styles and see how they change the overall appearance of the quilt.

Merged Celebrate 250 Stars Block

Four Quilt Layout Possibilities

One of the fun aspects of this design is seeing how dramatically the quilt changes with different layouts and block rotations.

In the video, we'll create four unique quilt variations:

Quilt 1 Horizontal 3 x 3 layout
Quilt 2 On-point 3 x 3 layout
Quilt 3 On-point 2 x 2 layout using different block rotations
Quilt 4 On-point 2 x 2 layout with striped setting triangles

Quilt 1 - 3 x 3 Layout

Quilt 2 - 3 x 3 On-Point Layout

Quilt 3 - 2 x 2 On-Point Layout with rotated blocks

Quilt 4 2 x 2 On-Point Layout with Striped Setting Triangles

Celebrate 250 Stars and Stripes Video Tutorial

Watch the video below for complete step-by-step instructions on drafting the block, creating the quilt layouts, and exploring additional design options.

Construction Suggestions

Although EQ provides rotary-cutting instructions, this design is especially well-suited for strip piecing. Using strip sets will save considerable cutting time and help maintain consistency throughout the quilt.

Diagonal Stripe Strip Set
(Lower Right Corner Section)

Step 1: Create a strip set alternating four background strips with three red strips. The strip set should measure approximately 7-1/2" x 40".

Step 2: Measure 12-1/2" along the bottom edge and mark with a pencil.

Step 3: Using the 45-degree line on your ruler, cut a diagonal edge beginning at the marked point.

Step 4: Cut a second diagonal edge beginning at the lower-left corner.

Step 5: Measure 12-1/2" along the top edge and mark.

Step 6: Cut another diagonal edge beginning at the marked point.

Repeat across the strip set to create the required units.

Cutting Diagram for Diagonal Stripe Strip Set

Small Triangle Strip Set
(Right and Bottom Edges of the Pieced Star)

Step 1: Create a strip set alternating three background strips with two red strips. The finished strip set should measure approximately 5-1/2" x 40".

Step 2: Cut the strip set into 4-7/8" sections.

Step 3: For the first section, cut diagonally from the lower-right corner using the 45-degree line on your ruler.

Step 4: Cut diagonally again from the upper-left corner of the same section.

Step 5: For the second section, cut diagonally from the lower-left corner.

Step 6: Cut diagonally from the upper-right corner.

Continue alternating cuts throughout the strip set to create mirror-image triangle units for piecing the block.

Cutting Diagram for Small Triangle Strip Set

Your Turn

Now it's your turn to experiment with the design.

Which quilt layout do you prefer?
Would you choose a different star block for the 4" square?
What happens if you enlarge the block from 8" finished to 16" finished (using 2-1/2" strips instead of 1-1/2" strips for piecing)?

One design concept can lead to countless quilt possibilities, and I'd love to see where your creativity takes you.

I've created a discussion post in the Learning EQ Facebook Group where you can share your favorite version and connect with other quilters exploring the design.

Celebrate 250 Stars and Stripes Learning EQ Facebook Group Link

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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Upsy Daisy Quilt: A New EQ8 Tutorial Inspired by an AI Quilt Design

6/6/2026

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June 8 is National Upsy Daisy Day, a lighthearted holiday that encourages us to greet the day with enthusiasm, gratitude, and optimism. Founded in 2003 by Stephanie West Allen, the celebration is all about bouncing out of bed with a smile and embracing life's adventures.

To celebrate this cheerful occasion, I designed a new EQ8 project featuring oversized daisies and colorful pieced bars. The quilt combines simple piecing with applique and is a great opportunity to practice both drafting and quilt design skills in Electric Quilt 8.

Finding Inspiration for the Upsy Daisy Quilt

The inspiration for this quilt came from an AI-generated image that appeared in my Facebook feed. Lately I've been exploring how artificial intelligence can be used as a source of creative inspiration for quilt design.

One interesting aspect of AI-generated images is that they generally are not eligible for copyright protection because they are not created solely by human authorship. That makes them excellent practice material for learning drafting techniques in EQ8.

However, there is an important distinction. While the AI image itself may not be copyrighted, the quilt pattern you create from that image can be. Likewise, tutorials, videos, and instructions showing how to draft a design based on an AI image can also be protected by copyright.

In other words, several quilters could begin with the same AI-generated image and each create a unique, copyrightable pattern. What cannot be copied is another designer's finished pattern or instructions.

AI Generated Image with Daisies found on Facebook

Drafting the Pieced Block in EQ8

Begin by creating the pieced block in EasyDraw.

Set the block size to 6" x 30".
Set the snaps to 6 x 15.
Under Snapping Options, select Snap to Grid only.
Draw a horizontal line at 20".
Use the Grid tool to place:
- A 1 x 10 grid in the upper section.
- A 1 x 5 grid in the lower section.
Add random vertical lines within the bars at either 2" or 4" intervals. Leave some bars unpieced for variety.

The goal is to create a casual, modern arrangement rather than a perfectly balanced design.

Color the block and add it to your Sketchbook.

Draw tab in EasyDraw with Pieced Block

6" x 30" Pieced Block

Creating the Daisy Motif

Next, create the flower as an Applique Motif.

Set the block size to 8" x 12".
Choose Snap to Node and Auto-Join Segments When Drawing.

Using the Petal shape:

Drag a petal onto the worktable.
Use the Edit tool to adjust the petal curves.
Select the petal and open Wreathmaker.
Set the number of clusters to 12.
Adjust the spacing and size until the petals overlap slightly.

Wreathmaker Daisy

To create the stem and leaves:

Select the Bezier Curve tool.
Draw the stem and one leaf.
Refine the shapes using the Edit tool.
Clone and flip the leaf to create the second leaf.
Resize, rotate, and position the leaves as desired.

Convert the stem to a patch using Brush Stroke. Adjust the Minimum Width and Boldness settings until the stem has the appearance you want.

Color the motif and save it to your Sketchbook.

Wreathmaker Daisy with Added Leaves

Using the Brush Stroke to Create the Stem

Upsy Daisy Day Applique Motif

Assembling the Quilt Layout

With both blocks complete, it's time to create the quilt.

Start a new quilt using a Custom Set layout.
On the Layout tab, set the center size to 14" x 30".
On the Borders tab, choose Mitered Borders and set the border size to 0.5".
On Layer 1:
- Place the pieced block on the left side.
- Add a plain block on the right and resize it to fill the remaining space.
Switch to Layer 2 and add three copies of the daisy motif.
Turn on Preserve Aspect Ratio and reduce the width to 7".
Use the Adjust tool to rotate and overlap the flowers for a more natural arrangement.

Save the completed quilt.

Watch the Video Tutorial

I've created a step-by-step video showing the entire drafting process in EQ8. Follow along as we build the pieced block, create the daisy motif, and assemble the finished quilt layout.

Construction Tips

Pieced Block

Print the rotary cutting chart for the pieced block and cut the pieces according to the chart.

Sew the individual bars first, then join the bars together to complete the block. The unfinished block should measure 6-1/2" x 30-1/2".

Rotary Cutting Chart

Daisy Applique

Print the block pattern and templates from EQ8.

If you plan to use fusible applique, print the templates without seam allowances. Cut the pieces and use the printed block image as a placement guide.

Secure the applique using your preferred stitch. My personal favorite is a blind hem stitch with both the width and length set to 1.0.

Print Block Output - Showing Fabrics

Print Template Output

Make It Your Own

One of the joys of quilt design is personalizing a project to fit your style. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Swap Out the Pieced Block

Replace the 6" x 30" pieced block with five 6" square blocks. Use a favorite block repeated five times, or create a sampler with five different blocks.

Experiment with New Flowers

The daisy is just the beginning. Explore Posy Maker and other applique tools to create entirely different floral motifs. Be warned—Posy Maker can become wonderfully addictive!

Share Your Upsy Daisy Quilt

I'd love to see your version of the Upsy Daisy Quilt. Whether you follow the tutorial exactly or put your own creative spin on it, be sure to share your project in the Learning EQ Facebook Group.

I've created a special post where you can upload your designs and inspire other EQ users.

Upsy Daisy Day Post on Learning EQ Facebook Group

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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Create Your Own Charm-Friendly Cutting Charts with EQ8

Designing the Quilt Is Only the Beginning

Reviewing the EQ8 Rotary Cutting Charts

Turning Rotary Cutting Charts into Charm-Friendly Cutting Charts

Watch the Complete Process

Ready to Design Your Own Pre-Cut Quilts in EQ8?

Celebrate 250 with a Charm-Friendly Quilt Design in EQ8

Designing the Blocks

Designing the Quilt

Charm Friendly 250 Celebration Video Tutorial

Ready to Design Your Own Pre-Cut Quilts with EQ8?
Special Class Offering

Celebrate 250 Stars and Stripes Quilt Tutorial with EQ8 - Patriotic Quilt Design in Electric Quilt 8

Regatta Days by Maywood Studio

Drafting the Stars and Stripe Block

Four Quilt Layout Possibilities

Celebrate 250 Stars and Stripes Video Tutorial

Construction Suggestions

Your Turn

Upsy Daisy Quilt: A New EQ8 Tutorial Inspired by an AI Quilt Design

Finding Inspiration for the Upsy Daisy Quilt

Drafting the Pieced Block in EQ8

Creating the Daisy Motif

Assembling the Quilt Layout

Watch the Video Tutorial

Construction Tips

Make It Your Own

Kari Schell

Categories

Archives

Create Your Own Charm-Friendly Cutting Charts with EQ8

Designing the Quilt Is Only the Beginning

Reviewing the EQ8 Rotary Cutting Charts

Turning Rotary Cutting Charts into Charm-Friendly Cutting Charts

Watch the Complete Process

​Ready to Design Your Own Pre-Cut Quilts in EQ8?

Celebrate 250 with a Charm-Friendly Quilt Design in EQ8

Designing the Blocks

Designing the Quilt

Charm Friendly 250 Celebration Video Tutorial

Ready to Design Your Own Pre-Cut Quilts with EQ8? ​​Special Class Offering

Celebrate 250 Stars and Stripes Quilt Tutorial with EQ8 - Patriotic Quilt Design in Electric Quilt 8

Regatta Days by Maywood Studio

Drafting the Stars and Stripe Block

Four Quilt Layout Possibilities

Celebrate 250 Stars and Stripes Video Tutorial

Construction Suggestions

Your Turn

Upsy Daisy Quilt: A New EQ8 Tutorial Inspired by an AI Quilt Design

Finding Inspiration for the Upsy Daisy Quilt

Drafting the Pieced Block in EQ8

Creating the Daisy Motif

Assembling the Quilt Layout

Watch the Video Tutorial

Construction Tips

Make It Your Own

Kari Schell

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GET MY NEWSLETTER FOR REGULAR EQ AWESOMENESS!

Ready to Design Your Own Pre-Cut Quilts in EQ8?

Ready to Design Your Own Pre-Cut Quilts with EQ8?
Special Class Offering

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