Kari Schell On Point Quilter Blog

Swirling Geese in a Quilt

7/29/2023

I hope you are finding ways to stay cool. It has been super hot in MN this week, so I've been trying to get caught up on a number of computer projects. And I need to find some time to settle on a project (or two) for my quilt retreat next weekend.

In this weeks EQ8 video, I had fun playing with the Swath tool. If you haven't had a chance to use it -- let me share my tips with you.

Swirling Geese EQ8 Tutorial

For fabric I used the Stonehenge Basics collection by Linda Ludovico by Northcott. I love the watercolor look of the fabrics and look forward to finding them at a quilt shop.

The hardest part of the entire process is drawing the swirly line. For this, I recommend using the Freehand tool. Just like working with pencil and paper, draw a simple swirl.

No worries if it doesn't look good. There is always undo if you want to start over.

Once it is "passable", you can clean up the lines by:

Moving nodes
Moving the segment between nodes
Repositioning the handles on both sides of a node
Adding a node

All of these are demoed in the video.

Swirly Line Drawn in Applique in EQ8

Swirly Geese Block created using Easy & Applique

Then you are ready to use the Swath tool.

Make sure you are at full screen view ( you can get there by selecting "Fit to Worktable" under the magnification tools.

Then double click on the swirly line.

There are a number of options to adjust your string of flying geese that I go through in the video.

Here are a few different quilt options. The first was covered in the video. But I decided to do a little more playing after the video was complete.

Swirling Geese Option 1 (from the video) uses just two fabrics.

Swirling Geese Option 2 I decided to scrap out the fabric for the geese. And then used two alternating backgrounds.

Swirling geese option 3. I scrapped the colors for the geese and used a separate background for the triangles connected to the geese. I also used a different block arrangement from Symmetry.

Swirling Geese Option 4 The silhouette goose was from the EQ8 Block library.

I have a couple thoughts on production.

The flying geese could easily be foundation pieced. EQ even sections it for us under Print Foundation pattern.

You could print out the block and trace the background on freezer paper and applique the background to the flying geese swirl. Although the pattern is designed for the geese to be sewn the background, turning under those seam allowances would be painful and isn't something I would recommend.

Alternatively, you could fuse the geese on the background. Then you could just ignore the corners on each of those flying geese segments.

Swirling Geese Sectioning in EQ

Let me know what you decide to do with the swath tool.

I've set up a post in the Learning EQ Facebook group where you can share you ideas.

Swirling Geese Post in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

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.
Happy quilting.

Kari

Quilting Designs for Secondary Blocks

7/22/2023

During last weeks blog post, I shared how to draft an amazing Geometric Garden quilt using Electric Quilt 8.

It is one of those blocks that is fun to draft and also has a lot of potential when used in a quilt.

If you missed the tutorial, you can still catch it here.

Geometric Garden Quilt drafted in EQ8

What Others Chose to Do with the Geometric Garden Quilt

I suggested viewers post pictures of their Geometric Garden quilts. Check out those that were shared on Facebook.

Elizabeth B.

Elizabeth B. - A smaller placemat.

Pat H.

Tanya S. Fabrics were Strawberry Lemonade - a collection by Sherri & Chelsi for Moda that is coming out in September.

Dianna C.

Janis T. (Option 1)

Janis T. (Option 2)

Helen H. (Option 1)

Helen H. Using inspiration for a TKQ class, she decided to put fish in the corners.

Kristy S.

Quiltvreugde (from Sweden)

I hope you enjoyed seeing their variations as much as I did. Quilters are so creative.

Quilting Motifs for the Geometric Garden Quilt

The blank blocks in the Geometric Garden quilt, really called for me to add something more. After a bit of personal debate, I decided on a quilting design. The one I came up with started with a circle and added cross-hatching inside the circle.

If quilting designs intimidate you, this is definitely a great way to get started. I promise -- it is easier than it looks.

Here are the quilting motifs along with the final Geometric Garden Quilt.

Full Circle Design

Half Circle Design

Quarter Circle Design

Geometric Garden with Circle Cross-Hatch Quilting

I look forward to seeing what you decided to do with the alternating blocks. Please feel free to post pictures in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Learning EQ Facebook Post for Quilting Designs for the Geometric Garden Quilt

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.

Geometric Garden Quilt Using Electric quilt 8

7/15/2023

I was perusing the Quilt Index the other day. It has a huge collection of quilts along with historic information on the quilts. It is great inspiration for finding projects to draft in EQ

I came across Geometric Garden, a quilt made by Amanda Brookshire in Limestone Tennessee. It is estimated it was made around 1900. Pretty amazing for a quilt that is over 120 years old.

You can obtain more information about the quilt here.

Geometric Garden by Amanda Brookshire from the White Bluffs Quilt Museum in Richland Washington

Geometric Garden from BlockBase+

If you look up Geometric Garden in BlockBase+ there is a similar quilt block. The one in Amanda Brookshire's quilt is slightly different.

It appears the block in Amanda's quilt was done based on a nine patch. The one in BlockBase+ was based on a five by five grid. Also there are two strips in the alternate sections of the the 9 patch, versus three in BlockBase+ version.

Sizing Blocks for the Quilt

The size of the blocks in the antique quilt appear to be around 12" x 12". I started with the finished size of the quilt ( 63" x 84") and backed into these numbers.

However the block is actually easier to draft at 18" x 18". Then each of those tiny squares in the nine patches in the corners has a finished size of 1". In a 12" quilt, the finished size of the 9 patch squares will be .667". This is something that would be super easy to do with templates. Not so much for rotary cutting.

The beauty of using Electric Quilt is we get to decide the size we want to use for the quilt. it could easily be 9", 12" or 18". Or something else. Whatever you prefer.

Fabric Selection

For fabric, I decided to use the free fabric download from EQ for May 2023. The collection is Color Club, which was designed by Heather Valentine for Windham Fabrics.

And yes -- it is pretty "modern". But with EQ we get to pick our fabric as well.

What collection will you use for your quilt?

Color Club from doyoueq.com

Do You EQ Free Download for Color Club Fabric Images

See how to design the block and quilt in my video tutorial.

Here is the block and quilt from the video.

Geometric Garden drawn by Kari Schell using EQ8

Geometric Garden Quilt drawing in EQ8 by Kari Schell

I look forward to seeing what you do with this block along with what layout you decide to use for your quilt.

Feel free to share in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Learning EQ Facebook Group Post for Geometric Garden Quilt

Tech Know Quilters May Showcase

Current Tech Know Quilter members have been sharing their class projects along with their original designs (and in some cases quilts) in the membership's private Facebook group. Each month they are challenged to apply what they have been learning in their classes. Enjoy this show of some of their recent creations.

You can learn more about the Tech Know Quilters membership program and sign up for the wait list for the next open enrollment period here.

Jane Perri I love stained glass quilts. I made a simple one in a workshop last year. This quilt is from the kaleidoscope class. The smaller points, which is the main center star, were made from modification of an 8 point star block I found in EQ. The larger points are a modification of the center star points.

Rhonda Goss Quilt from the Blockbusters class.

Patricia Hansen I designed a block for the Blockbusters class, used it with another block in a quilt and then tried serendipity. This was my favorite result.

Shari White This quilt is from the Masters Block Busters class on overlapping blocks.

Kathleen Lemon Pawlik From the Intro to Easy Draw Class. Learned so much. I find designing blocks fun but still struggle to put them together into a quilt.

Curryanne Hostetler I use four blocks and made pieceable blocks and designed the quilt.

Connie Bradley Bobcik I was working on Foundation Blocks. I found this a little challenging at times and had to go back and forth fixing my blocks. My favorite quilt for this month was the Heart and Home Quilt. I played around with many blocks, some of them I had no problem with making them foundation piecing and some of my favorites when I actually stitch I'll still be piecing because I really like star blocks. I also played with my barn and modified it.

Kathleen Lemon Pawlik finally got to the serendipity lesson in the intro to easy draw class. Could play with this forever. Although I have no idea how I would actually construct these blocks!

Julie Pedersen Inspired by Block Busters Lesson 7

Julie Pedersen I decided to see what my Lesson 7 quilt would look like in fall colors for this challenge. I like it.

Zdenka Nemethová EQ8 Drawn Table Topper

Zdenka Nemethová SewnTable Topper

Fran Heisey Kari's Masters Block Busters lessons are a step beyond in using EQ8 as a design tool. This is my quilt from the last lesson, but it is actually a product of several of the lessons.

Kathleen Lemon Pawlik Just finished the easy draw lesson, and then you send the email with the log cabin variation. Followed along and learned even more. Like the way it turned out.

Edith Craig My class this month was Master's Block Busters. This quilt, inspired by this class, is based on 3 9-patch blocks, positioned in Custom Set, overlapping and rotating where necessary. Border blocks and a standard border variation were added to complete the quilt. This class is about the confidence to use a selection of blocks and to combine and manipulate them into a pleasing quilt.

Learn More About Tech Know Quilters and Sign Up for the Wait List

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.

Flag Like Quilt

7/8/2023

Last month I challenged the Tech Know Quilter Masters members to design a flag. They came up with some amazing designs -- that I am featuring below. I had planned to participate in the challenge myself, but became engrossed in some other projects and hadn't gotten to it. However inspiration struck this week.

On the 4th I received a newsletter from Terri Gaines. She shared a card she had designed. I took one look and thought that it would be fun to do something similar -- but in fabric.

I liked the idea of using red, white and blue. So I went to some of the Stash Collections that I have purchased from Electric Quilt to incorporate them in my project.

Then spent 1/2 hour and designed a couple of quilts that would be super fast to whip up.

Electric Quilt 8 Flag Like Quilt

Fabric Collection

I debated between two fabric collections and ended up doing a quilt in each of them.

Tonga Honor was in the Stash 2021 Collection 3 from Electric Quilt.
Bright Stars was in the Stash 2023 Collection 1 from Electric Quilt. I suspect this one will still be readily available in quilt stores.

Which collection do you prefer? Since my quilt is a small one, I focused on using the more monochromatic prints for my design.

You can purchase the Stash collections from Electric Quilt. You could also download the collections from various websites.

Link to Stash collections. Note that there is a 25% off sale through tonight (Saturday, July 8th, 2023). Make sure to use the code WOW25 when checking out.
Link to Tonga Honor Batiks (fabrics available for purchase through Burkholder Fabric)
Link to Bright Stars fabrics from Riley Blake

In the images below, I sent each of the swatches in a 9" block, so you could get a better visual of the fabric sizing.

Tonga Honor Fabric Collection

Bright Stars Fabric Collection

Electric Quilt 8 Design

Design the Block

Using the style Easy Plus Applique, design a quilt block.
Size the block at 11 x 18 with snaps set at 22 (horizontal) and 18 (vertical)
Alternate between 1" and 1-1/2" stripes on the Easy Draw tab.
After the 5" strip, draw a horizontal line at 6".
Use StarMaker (under the Shapes Applique drawing tools) to create a five point star.
Resize and rotate the stars and place randomly on the block.

Flag Like Quilt EasyDraw Plus Applique Block

Design the Quilt

Set up a horizontal quilt.
Set the number of blocks at 1 x 1 with a size of 11" x 18"
Border #1 - 1" Long Horizontal
Border #2 - 2" Long Horizontal
Border #3 - 1/2" Mitered
Place block in the quilt and color the borders.

Flag Like Quilt - Layout and Borders

Watch the video for step by step instructions.

In the video I shared the Tonga Honor fabric in the design process. But I also did a version in the Bright Stars fabric. I am curious which you prefer.

Flag Like Quilt with Tonga Honor

Flag Like Quilt with Bright Stars

Pick a fabric collection and draft your own Flag Like Quilt. I would love to see pictures of your quilt. I've set up a post in the Learning EQ Facebook group for you to share your design.

Learning EQ Facebook Post for Flag Like Quilts

Tech Know Quilters Flag Quilts Showcase

Those in Tech Know Quilter's Masters are more advanced Tech Know Quilter's members. They receive exclusive Master's level classes every month and are encouraged to work on their own projects and designs.

Their challenge in June was to design their own flag quilt. As you can see by their quilts, we have members from all over the world.

Rhonda Goss I have always liked this design. I used Breezeway fabrics by Maywood.

Kristy Goodin Soard

Nanne Panne The Swedish flag is easy to make so I made my name in signal flag,

Julie Pedersen My patchwork flag

Patricia Hansen I decided to design a star for my quilt, in which the stripes are fairly accurate.

Katherine Martin Being British my flag has to be the Union Jack (flag). I tried to draw it to scale. I presented it as an English country garden using fabrics from the EQ Library.

Dorothee Ilgner I was born in Hamburg, Germany. But my family originates from Riga, Latvia. In my quilt I combined the flags of both countries and added the coat of arms from Riga and the symbol (Wappenzeichen) from Hamburg. (the use of Hamburg's coat of arms is only allowed for official purposes)

Curryanne Hostetler Flag quilt with 2 blocks Stars and log cabin

Zdenka Nemethová flag of the Czech Republic

Zdenka Nemethová the flag in a quilt

Edith Craig Here is my flag challenge quilt. I decided to make small log cabin blocks for the blue and the stripes and then applique the stars onto it.

If you have completed twelve months of Tech Know Quilters, you are eligible to join Tech Know Quilter's Masters. Send me a note, if you are interested in joining Masters.

Learn More About Tech Know Quilters

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.

Patriotic Panel Quilt

7/1/2023

Designing Around a Panel

Many of those in the United States will be celebrating Independence Day next week. In honor of those who have served our country in military service, I designed a Quilt of Valor quilt that can be made from a panel.

Northcott QOV Fabric Panel

Quilts of Valor are made to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing. You can read more about Quilts of Valor here.

Northcott Fabrics has designed fabric collections specifically focused on Quilts of Valor. Their collection used in my quilt is Stars and Stripes VII - Stonehenge, Although the fabric is now out of print, you can access images of the collection here. This fabric collection has a nice assortment of patriotic fabrics plus a couple of large panels. that would be perfect for a Quilt of Valor.

If you would like to check out Northcott's most recent collection - Stars and Strips 11, you can find it here. It also has an amazing panel.

I created a quilt using Electric Quilt 8 that was designed to complement one of these panels.

Regardless of the panel chosen (or the fabric collection), this video tutorial will assist you in design your next panel quilt.

In the free video tutorial learn how to:

Save Quilt of Valor fabric images from the Northcott website.
Import, crop and resize fabric in Electric Quilt 8.
Add the panel to a quilt using the Photo tools.
Create unique border blocks that complement any size panel.
Set the border blocks in a quilt.
Color the quilt including rotate and fussy cut fabric options.

Here is the quilt from the video.

Quilt of Vaolor designed by Kari Schell using Northcott Stonehenge Stars and Stripes VII Fabric Collection

Test the process out with a panel of your own and share a picture in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Learning EQ Facebook Group - Panel Quilt Post

If you are ready to learn more about working with panels, there is a class on designing both T Shirt Quilts and Panel quilts. Yes the process is very similar for both. :)

Tech Know Quilters T Shirt and Panel Quilts Class

You will never again have to worry about what to do with that pile of T Shirts or that stunning panel you just purchased from your quilt shop.

During this class you will learn how to work with fabric images (both T Shirts and Panels), create a one-of-a-kind custom set quilt, design blocks around a t shirt and expand your skills with working with standard layouts.

For current Tech Know Quilter members, let me know if you would like to purchase this class as an add-on for July. We will get you a discount coupon.

If you aren't a current member, send me a note and I will provide you more information on how you can become one.

Contact Kari Regarding T Shirt and Panel Tech Know Quilter Class

T Shirt and Panel Quilts Class Agenda

Check out what is covered in the class.

Happy Independence Day.

Happy quilting.

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.

Kari

Swirling Geese in a Quilt

Swirling Geese EQ8 Tutorial

Quilting Designs for Secondary Blocks

What Others Chose to Do with the Geometric Garden Quilt

Quilting Motifs for the Geometric Garden Quilt

Geometric Garden Quilt Using Electric quilt 8

Sizing Blocks for the Quilt

Fabric Selection

Tech Know Quilters May Showcase

Flag Like Quilt

Electric Quilt 8 Flag Like Quilt

Electric Quilt 8 Design

Tech Know Quilters Flag Quilts Showcase

Patriotic Panel Quilt

Designing Around a Panel

Tech Know Quilters T Shirt and Panel Quilts Class

Kari Schell

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Swirling Geese in a Quilt

Swirling Geese EQ8 Tutorial

Quilting Designs for Secondary Blocks

What Others Chose to Do with the Geometric Garden Quilt

Quilting Motifs for the Geometric Garden Quilt

Geometric Garden Quilt Using Electric quilt 8

Sizing Blocks for the Quilt

Fabric Selection

Tech Know Quilters May Showcase

Flag Like Quilt

Electric Quilt 8 Flag Like Quilt

Electric Quilt 8 Design

Tech Know Quilters Flag Quilts Showcase

Patriotic Panel Quilt

Designing Around a Panel

Tech Know Quilters T Shirt and Panel Quilts Class

Kari Schell

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