• Blog
  • About
  • EQ Training
    • Tech Know Quilters Electric Quilt 8 Membership Training
    • Shoot for the Stars with EQ8
    • Electric Quilt 8 Sneak Peek
    • Scheduling a Workshop or Lecture
  • Store
  • Card Making
  • Contact
  • Free Stuff
    • Other Video Tutorials
Picture

Louisiana Block Playtime and Free Webinar

9/23/2023

0 Comments

 

Fall Migration Free Webinar on Monday and Tuesday (September 23-24, 2023)

Registration Now Open for Free EQ8 Webinar - Options Available for Next Monday or Tuesday
Picture
Do you ever find yourself staring at a blank Electric Quilt 8 screen, brimming with ideas but unsure how to bring them to life? We've all been there, and it's time to break free from those creative constraints!

Join me for my free Electric Quilt 8 webinar - Fall Migration, and let's unlock your quilting potential together!
Last week I shared how I took Louisiana (a historic quilt block) and created my own variation using Custom Set within EQ8.  If you missed the tutorial, you can still catch the video here.
Picture

Louisiana Block Playtime

Picture
Louisiana Block from BlockBase+
Picture
Louisiana Variation Created by Kari Schell
This week I will share how to create a full quilt (complete with coordination borders) for the Louisiana variation block.
After setting the variation in the quilt, I decided it needed something more.  So I went back to EasyDraw and modified the block to add a flying geese unit in one of the corners.  I thinking putting it in all the corners would have been too much.  But that is a personal design decision.

After adding the corner, I rotated three of the blocks -- which created another pinwheel where the blocks come together.
Picture
I knew I wanted to carry the flying geese unit into the border -- but I didn't want those flying geese units around the entire quilt center as I thought it was a bit heavy for the center of the quilt.

So I decided to put four of them on each side of the corners.  And I added one of those rectangle plus flying geese units to the corners as well.
Picture
Flying Geese for Borders
Picture
Border Corners
In the video I also share how to deal with all those pesky unused block spaces in the pieced borders.
Here is the final quilt from the video.
Picture
Louisiana Quilt in Morris Garden fabrics (from video)
I also thought I would try this quilt with a different fabric collection.  This one is using the Flourish fabric collection from QT Fabrics.
Picture
Louisiana Quilt in Flourish Fabrics
I look forward to seeing what fabric collection you decide to work with.

Feel free to share pictures in the Learning EQ Facebook group.
Learning EQ Facebook Post for Louisiana Quilt

Tech Know Quilters Masters Challenge - Louisiana Block 

Each month, I provide a challenge to Tech Know Quilter Masters members.  In August the challenge was to design a quilt using the Louisiana block.  Look at how different every quilt submitted in the challenge is.  It is so amazing to see the creativity when there is no set pattern to follow.  

Looks closely at each quilt and find the Louisiana block. Some are harder than others to figure out.  Bonus points if you can identify the layout used by each designer.
Picture
Roxanna Khoury (3 color quilt)
Picture
Fran Heisey
Picture
Michelle Tuller
Picture
Michelle Tuller Second design- I added more to the block instead of adding another block to the design.
Picture
Lee Wiencki Designed the block and then custom set to make the block a quilt. Added stencils for quilting.
Picture
Mary Groesbeck Being a native Louisianian, I have played with this block before. Since today probably doesn't follow the rules, this one is not my "official" challenge design (the blocks overlap and I had to add additional block pieces to get them to encroach on the border. I used this month's EQ fabric collection (which I LOVE). This one was quite a challenge and turned out a lot more tedious than I thought it would. But I'm really happy with the result. It's 68", so a nice large throw. I have an idea for my official one that I hope to get to next week.
Picture
Curryanne Hostetler Here is the challenge...I got started and just had to finish
Picture
Rhonda Goss This struck me as a patriotic block.
Picture
Katherine Martin
Picture
Linda Carlson I used the Louisiana block 6 times in 2 different sizes. Louisiana, MO is only about 1 1/2 hours from me.
Picture
Krisy Goodin Soard Louisiana block challenge was fun and I drew on my "surprising corners" class lessons and applied them here.
Picture
Kristy Goodin Soard My second Louisiana block challenge quilt is set on point and I tried a few change ups to the borders. I liked how they turn the corners.
Picture
Nanne Panne here is mine, have used serendipity, clip and flip and shrink and flip
Picture
Joy Hegglund
Picture
Mary Groesbeck - A one block quilt.
Picture
Joyce Drenth
Picture
Lynne Maramieri I enjoyed the Louisiana Block Challenge. My first decision was to use two blocks, then I played with lots of different colours and borders but like this version best. The optical illusion created was a complete surprise!
Picture
Loronda Schuler
Picture
Zdenka Nemethova I enjoyed this challenge and used Irregular Grid for quilt layout.
Picture
Edith Craig I used the Louisiana Block and then added an additional block by using the techniques from the Block Buster series.
Picture
Karen Humphrey I liked the basket weave in the sashing and the flowing pinwheel effect of the block colouring.
Picture
Ann Horsley
Picture
Renae Butler For this challenge I decided to use a quilt layout I hadn't played with before.
Picture
Debbi Treusch Kept it simple and just played with default blocks.
Picture
Julie Pedersen Here is my Louisiana Block quilt. I played with custom set and overlapped blocks to see what it would look like.
Picture
Julie Pedersen I decided to make it more subtle and less busy with this one.
Picture
Helen Hicks Here’s my rendition of the Louisiana Block used custom Quilt layout finished 32 x 37 wall quilt. I used the Double Pinwheel whirls as my base block to build off of as I could not locate BB+ Louisiana block inside EQ8, outside I could but after the fact…. anywho this was a fun experience and I learned so many things from past lessons and I hope I did the challenge justice □□
Picture
Pat Harkins
If you have completed twelve or more months of Tech Know Quilters, you are eligible to join Tech Know Quilters Masters.  If this interests you, send me a note and I will provide you more information on the program.

Picture
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.
Picture
0 Comments

Create a New Block From The Historic Louisiana Block using EQ8 and Custom Set

9/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Every month I offer a challenge opportunity to my Tech Know Quilter Masters members.  These are my more advanced students.  The challenges give them an opportunity to expand their Electric Quilt 8 skills -- but more importantly their design skills.  The members have mentioned that I should participate in the challenges as well.
The challenge I provided them last month was to create a quilt based on the Louisiana block.  I pulled the block from BlockBase+, a program from the Electric Quilt Company that compiles over 4000 quilt blocks from Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns book.

Here is a post I did on BlockBase+ a year ago.

Barbara Brackman noted that the block Louisiana was first published in Hearth and Home magazine about a century ago when the magazine asked readers to mail in blocks named for their home states. The BlockBase+ # is 1335.
Picture
Louisiana Block from BlockBase+
No worries if you don't own BlockBase+ (yet).  This is a super easy block to draft directly in Electric Quilt 8 and I will share how in this video.
But wait there's more!
For the challenge, I decided to play with a variation of the block.  I was intrigued by the rectangle patch in the block and was curious what it would look like if I shared that space with another copy of the same block.  In the video, you will see how to play the "what if" game and design your new block using custom set in the quilt worktable.

Here is the idea I ended up pursuing.
Picture
Louisiana Variation Designed in Custom Set
From there you will learn how to take your custom set design and use it as a tracing image.  Along with a fast way to draft the new block in EasyDraw.  You will also learn how to figure out how the best size and snap points for the new block.
Here is my Louisiana variation from the video.
Picture
Louisiana Variation
Picture
Morris Meadow Collection
If you don't have the Morris Meadow collection in EQ8, you can obtain a copy on DoYouEQ.com  This is a free download that you can install on your computer.  And then access in EQ8.
Link to Morris Meadow Fabric Download
I would love to see your Louisiana block.  (FYI for the TKQ Masters members -- no need to share ahead of my post next week as I plan to post your quilts at that time.)  ​?
Learning EQ Facebook Group Post for Louisiana Block
Check back next week to see a quilt using this block.  Spoiler alert -- there just may be an additional change to this block.  And learn how to use elements from your block as a guide for your pieced borders as well.

There will also be a show of the quilts Tech Know Quilter members designed for their challenge.  I've looked at them and can say with a great deal of confidence that they will amaze you with their designs.

Picture
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.
Picture
0 Comments

No Stress Stars

9/9/2023

1 Comment

 
Quilting should be easy.  However, sometimes getting all those points to match up can take the fun out of the quilting process.  So I thought I would create a "no stress" block that is both easy to draft and easy to piece.
The fabric collection I decided to use, is one of the free monthly downloads from DoYouEQ.com.​
Picture
Ridgewood Collection by Moda
The free download I used for my blocks and quilts is from the Ridgewood collection designed by Minick & Simpson for Moda.

You can download the collection here.

This collection can only be used with Electric Quilt.
The no stress blocks started with a basic 9-patch block.  Rather than "precision" flying geese units I drew some random lines for a more casual look.
Picture
9 Patch No Stress Block - Coloring 1
Picture
9 Patch No Stress Block - Coloring 2
I then decided to "tilt" the block using Serendipity.  As part of the "tilt" process I rotated the inside of the design 90 degrees to ensure the blocks looks different.
Picture
No Stress Block tilted 45 degrees - coloring 1
Picture
No Stress Block tilted 45 degrees - coloring 2
Learn how to create the blocks and quilt with the video.
For the first quilt, I chose to add a binding to finish off the 3 x 3 layout.
Picture
No Stress Star Quilt -- without borders.
But I rarely stop at just one design.  So for the next quilt, I decided to carry the "no stress" look into the borders.  But for the borders, I chose to create some "no stress" half square triangles rather than flying geese units.
Picture
No Stress Quilt designed in the video.
Continuing with the "what if" game, I decided to swap the coloring in the centers for the "light background" and "dark background" blocks.
Picture
No Stress Star Quilt with alternating backgrounds for the star centers.
For another option, I thought I would use a third background fabric for the centers.  And just for fun decided to fussy cut them.
Picture
No Stress Stars Quilt with 3rd background in the center. Center of star is fussy cut.
There are so many more ways you could personal this quilt.  It might be fun to use sky colors for the background and star colors for the stars.  How would you make this your own?

Feel free to share pictures of your quilts in the Learning EQ Facebook group.  I've set up a dedicated post for your designs.
No Stress Star Block and Quilt Learning EQ Facebook Group Post
Picture
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.
Picture
1 Comment

Back to School Quilt

9/2/2023

0 Comments

 
In Minnesota parents are getting ready to send their kids back to school with the official start date for most schools on September 5th.  This quilt is in honor of teachers and school workers.  

It is a two color red and white quilt -- so super simple to color.  And a fun quilt to piece once the drafting is done.
Here is the quilt from the video.
Picture
Back to School drawn in Electric Quilt 8 by Kari Schell
Feel free to draft this quilt in EQ8.  Or bonus points, if you use the block in a different layout.  I would love to see pictures of your quilt.  Feel free to share in the Learning EQ Facebook group.
Back to School Learning EQ Facebook Group Post

Tech Know Quilter Showcase

Tech Know Quilter members shared some of their favorite projects (along with their own designs) from their July class.  You can learn more and sign up for the wait list to join this amazing group of designers here.
Picture
Picture
Terry M. Option A
Picture
Terry M. Option B
Picture
Terry's Pieced Quilt (minus the last border)
​Terry McCaskey
Using my improved TKQ Custom Set tools I have finally re-visited a 2019 UFO. This was a bit challenging for me...even though a simple design...made doubly troublesome because it is a "modern design" (not typical for me). Plus I am nearly out of the black & white stash fabric (which are polished cottons) so a redesign needed to happen. Now a 110 sketches into this puzzle and I have landed on my top two and have made progress in actually getting it together. You can let me know which outer border gets a thumbs up...or if I should go back to the drawing board.
Picture
Lynne Maramieri I have always loved Sampler Quilts and really enjoyed creating my own Sampler Quilt.
Picture
Rhonda Goss Quilt Layouts class
Picture
Patricia Hansen I liked the layout from lesson with the pine tree border. I modified it and call it Southwest Visit.
Picture
Curryanne Hostetler At the sea....sampler. Some of the blocks are Angie Padilla's foundation blocks.
Picture
Margo Reppert I enjoyed learning different ways of displaying sampler or swap blocks in a quilt. This one is my favorite.
Picture
Denise Mohler Wow I have learned so much with the Mix and Match Medallion Centers and had a lot of fun along the way! One thing that stands out the most for me is that I learned how to fix a polygon error that I kept getting! The whole lesson was fun and I definitely am feeling more comfortable with EQ8
Picture
Julie Pedersen This is a variation of Lesson 7 of the Masters Sampler Quilt class. I played with colors and decided to see what it would look like as a grayscale quilt. Here are 4 colorations of the same quilt.
Picture
Picture
Kristy Goodin Soard  I just finished the Design Your Own Sampler Layout Masters class. Here is my quilt and my template (both done in EQ).
Picture
Picture
Renae Frank Butler  I am a Group Leader for Quilts of Valor. So many times I like to play with ideas that might be appropriate for our group. I almost never use the colors and blocks given the lesson. I thought two of my quilts from lesson 4 & 7 could be improved on in one I lightened and changed the background blocks along with other changes. In the other I went to less busy blocks and worked with color changes.
Picture
Fran Heisey This is my quilt for the Masters Challenge this month. The block was copied from a cement tile, which I thought would be quick and easy to draft - boy was I wrong. Kari's classes are always challenging and she is so helpful to answer questions when I run into a problem.
Picture
Faye Groth I loved playing with combining two blocks.
Picture
Jan Beckert Here's my attempt at a landscape...based on the view of my field as I walk out of the woods. I took the "Landscape Quilts" class...this was a great class! I learned many things...and, especially, I learned that I need a lot more practice!
Picture
Edith Craig My class this month was Masters Sampler Layout. I used custom set, putting the blocks on-point and filling the extra spaces with additional blocks. This class showed me the various things that can be accomplished with Custom Set, rather than trying to fit a design in a traditional layout. It was great fun to work with the many different possibilities.
Picture
Linda Carlson I completed the Masters Sampler Layout Designs class. This is a variation of the Lesson 7.
Picture
Zdenka Nemethová Last Masters Class was simply GREAT ❤ I prepared this Summer Sampler.
Picture
Picture
Helen Warwick Combining two quilt patterns to come up with one I can’t wait to make. I drafted the block and added sashings not in the original pattern.  I changed the size of the blocks from 20 to 16 inches. The original pattern was Enchanted Garden by Jason Yenter. The other pattern for the next quilt is Woodland Creatures by Quilts By Rosemary. I plan to call the combined quilt Enchanted Garden Creatures After Dark. I have been having so much fun just being able to find something I like and combining with other pattern parts. Thank you Kari for all that I have learned. You are the BEST!!! 
Picture
Terry McCaskey I almost chose to skip the "TKQ Speciality Dies & Rulers" class since I do not have or anticipate having a cutting system. As always though I learned lots from Kari and am glad to have taken it. I especially liked the applique drawing exercises. I found a different bear image for practice and now have a motif I can resize to fit a specific project rather than being tied to the cutting system template....and I have more confidence to try additional outline drawings. Thanks Kari.
Picture
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.
Picture
0 Comments
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Free guide available for newsletter subscribers
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Kari Schell

    Electric Quilt Expert and Educator and Pattern Designer.

    Categories

    All
    Art And Stitch
    Cricut Maker
    Dear Jane
    Electric Quilt 7
    Electric Quilt 8
    Goose Goose Duck Challenge
    Inkscape
    Longarm Quilting
    Patterns
    Silhouette Cameo
    Stampin Up
    Summer Games
    Tips And Techniques
    Tools And Rulers

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    RSS Feed

Contact:
On Point Quilter
e-mail:  onpointquilter@comcast.net
phone:  763-566-6536

GET MY NEWSLETTER FOR REGULAR EQ AWESOMENESS!

* indicates required
  • Blog
  • About
  • EQ Training
    • Tech Know Quilters Electric Quilt 8 Membership Training
    • Shoot for the Stars with EQ8
    • Electric Quilt 8 Sneak Peek
    • Scheduling a Workshop or Lecture
  • Store
  • Card Making
  • Contact
  • Free Stuff
    • Other Video Tutorials