Kari Schell On Point Quilter Blog

Deck the Halls - A New Christmas Quilt using EQ8

12/2/2023

Thanksgiving is over. So it is now time to decorate for Christmas. For me that means pulling out my Christmas quilts along with a few winter quilts.

For gift giving, I particularly enjoy creating table runners and smaller wall quilts. I find recipients appreciate items that focused on a particular season and it is less important to "match" their "current colors" or "decorating style". It is a great opportunity to experiment with a new fabric collection or even a new "style" of quilt.

The project today will be a fabulous gift option -- in either traditional or non-traditional Christmas fabrics? I look forward to seeing what you do with the design.

Deck the Hall Table Runner using EQ8

New Fabrics

It is always fun working with a new fabric collection. When I am working on Christmas projects, I will often go to my favorite manufacturer websites and search for their latest fabric collections.

After Google searching I located the Christmas fabrics on the Northcott site. Click on the photo to access this page.

Northcott Christmas Fabrics

If you click on any of the photos on the page you will be able to see the fabrics in the collection.

I picked the Angels on High by Cathy Squire, The fabrics are vibrant and shimmery.

On the Northcott page, click on the link to Download Fabric Files. This will give you a zip (compressed) file.

On your computer, you will need to unzip the images. This process will differ depending on the type of computer (PC versus MAC) and even the operating system your are on within the PC or MAC environment. If you haven't done this before, do a google search for un-compress or unzip and note your current operating system to see how it is done.

Although the location is not required, I typically suggest putting the fabrics in a folder under My EQ8>Images. The key is being able to locate it once your have EQ8 open.

Northcott Angels on High Fabric Collection

For my block, I also needed some "silver" neutrals.

You could use some greys in the EQ8 Fabric library.

I did find an older collection that included a few greys on Northcott. So I downloaded a few of those fabric as well.

Northcott Silver Moon Fabric Collection

Note that the video does not include information on downloading and importing the fabric into your EQ project. Feel free to use the default fabrics for the project or a collection from the EQ8 Fabric Library.

Draw the Ornament Block

On a Christmas tree, those shiny ball type of ornaments offer a degree to glitz along with sophistication.

Notice that lines on this block are all horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines (45 degree angles). That makes the patches conducive to either rotary cutting or foundation piecing.

Ornament Block Drawn using EasyDraw

Create the Quilt Layout

Horizontal Layout

Layout Tab
Number of Blocks 1 x 4
Size 6 x 6
Sashing 1"

Borders Tab
#1 - 1" Long Horizontal (background)
#2 - 1" Long Horizontal (blue/teal)
#3 - 3" Long Horizontal
#4 - 1" Long Horizontal (blue/teal)
#5 - .5" Mitered (binding)

Design Tab
Set the ornament block. Rotate individual blocks for a random look.

Print and Export
Click on the plain blocks in the 3" border and note the finished sizes.

Deck the Halls - Initial Quilt Layout

Applique Border Blocks

Create a new block with the style EasyDraw Plus Applique.

The block should be sized at 31" x 3" -- the finished size of the left and right borders.

Set the snaps at 12 by 6 to provide guidelines to place both the leaves and the circles.

Under Shapes, you can find both the leaf and the circle. Drag them on the block worktable with the Ctrl or Command key.

One you've drawn one of each, you can clone, flip and reposition for the remaining patches. In the video I include some tips for getting everything centered in the block.

Left and Right EasyDraw & Applique Border Block

The second block, can be created, using the first six leaves and two circles from the first applique block.

Make sure to note the size of your patches (under selected segment properties) before changing the size of the block to match the finished size the top and bottom borders.

The top and bottom applique block will measure 16" x 3".

Top and Bottom EasyDraw & Applique Border Block

Finish the Quilt

Place the applique blocks in the quilt and rotate each block so the circles face in.

Add to sketchbook to save your quilt and all the block colorings.

Deck the Halls Final Quilt Drafted using EQ8

Check out the full video tutorial.

As I look at my finished quilt, I am already thinking about possible modifications including:

Swap the ornament block for a different block (it doesn't have to be Christmas).
Try a different fabric collection.
Change out the number of blocks or the size of the blocks.
Try a different layout.

What changes would you make to personalize the project?

Feel free to share your design in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Deck the Halls Learning EQ Facebook Post

Deck the Halls Construction Tips

I suggest using either foundation pattern or rotary cutting for the ornament block.

You will notice that piece E is missing from the rotary cutting instructions. That is because there are 8 sides to the piece -- which EQ considers not to be rotary cutting friendly. I would cut a 5-1/2" x 5-1/2" piece. Then add 1-3/4" x 1-3/4" folded corners to all three sides.

Alternatively you could use the template for Piece E to trace and cut the fabric.

Ornament Block Rotary Cutting with Suggested Modifications

For the applique blocks, I suggest using templates. The templates could also be used with an electronic cutting system, if that is your preferred method to cut applique shapes. You can include or exclude seam allowances on your templates.

Tech Know Quilters Showcase

One thing I hear over and over again is -- I didn't know you could do "that" using Electric Quilt 8. One thing that holds us back from truly using Electric Quilt 8 is just not understanding that this versatile software can help you create any type of quilt. In this showcase, be inspired by the quilts created by Tech Know Quilter members using Electric Quilt 8.

Jane Perri While playing around with putting quilting designs on various blocks in my Art Nouveau add on library, I like them so much that I put this quilt together. The quilting designs are excluded because they blurred the image of the blocks. This one may just be made.

Rhonda Goss Lemoyne Stars

Sandy Dingman Wells Just a beginner with EQ8... In this month's lesson we learned about fabrics and colors, as well as bringing in blocks and editing quilts. For some reason, this particular color combination "speaks to me".

Lee Wiencki The inspiration quilt is one found at the International Quilt Museum. The quilt made by Dora M. Oehrke Redeker was created around 1910. It is part of the Linda Giesler Carlson and Dr. John V. Carlson collection.

Curryanne Hostetler

Terry McCaskey This was my favorite sampler quilt from my October class. Thank you Kari for helping me figure out the math to "simplify" the design elements in my Spider Web Sampler.

Kristy Goodin Soard Lone and Lemoyne Star Class

Kathleen Lemon Pawlik My quilt from the Modern Quilt lessons. I like the simplicity - and I think I could actually make it!

Loronda Schuler I reworked my quilt pattern that goes with my embroidery BOM for 2023. It was good to review techniques such as setting in photos and taking a picture of my fabric and using it in the quilt. Overall a refresher.

Margo Reppert I enjoyed doing this design.

Julie Pedersen I did the Masters Lone Star/LeMoyne Star class this month. It was a bit challenging at times, but with Kari's great directions, I finished it. Here are my quilts that are a combination of several blocks from the lessons. The ones on the bottomare the quilts we created using the videos and the ones on the top are my creations using pieces from the lessons.

Edith Craig

Dorothee Ilgner In October I was in the Lone Star and LeMoyne Class where I learned how to draw an extended border around an on-point middle block. This came handy in designing this medallion quilt. The quilt is based on a foto I found in an old Australian magazine made by a group of quilters.

Tech Know Quilters is a membership program focused on mastery of Electric Quilt 8. We have members at all stages of their Electric Quilt journey.

If you would like to join this amazing group of quilters, you can sign up for the wait list here.

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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Day After Black Friday Frenzy Quilt- a New 3 In 1 Block EQ8 Tutorial

11/25/2023

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Were you a Black Friday shopper this year?

This has been an enjoyable weekend with family in Kansas City. I've been trying to get some Christmas shopping done -- which of course meant braving a few stores on Black Friday. I am finding that if you wait until mid-afternoon the shopping experience is much less stressful. However I have been thinking about some more crazy Black Friday experiences

Back in my early-adult years, I remember getting up before the crack of dawn to stand in long lines for particularly enticing Black Friday offers.

The one I remember best is the time I started with a trip to JoAnn Fabrics at 6 am. The store was a zoo. Uncle John came with me and graciously stood in the fabric cutting line for me while I scoured the store for some great buys.

We were done by 7 am and hurried to Herberger's where they were handing out free cookbooks to the first few hundred customers. It is still one of my favorite cookbooks in my kitchen.

The cookbooks also had coupons and I managed to score a $100 coupon with which I enjoyed a nice shopping spree.

Did you participate in any Black Friday activities this year? If so, let me know your favorite find in the comments.

My new EQ8 tutorial is an idea that will allow you to decompress after a busy shopping day. This new quilt design is focused on keeping things simple.

Day After Black Friday Frenzy EQ8 Tutorial

With the busyness of the holiday season now upon us, I am all about easy.

See how to play the "what if" game as you start with a simple 8 pointed star drawn with EQ8, Design your own corners and then play with a variety of options on the quilt worktable.

Adding pieced borders is an opportunity to to create coordinating blocks using my 3 in 1 concept -- with no additional drawing required.

I started by pulling a new fabric collection for my project.

The fabric is Christmas Eve by Lella Boutique for Moda. I am loving the collection of greens, reds and greys.

The fabric images are available in the Stash 2023 Download 1 or you can download a collection of the images from the Moda website.

EQ is having their own Black Friday sale with 25% off store-wide through November 30, 2023 which includes their Stash collections.

Make sure to use the coupon code NOVEMBER when checking out to get your 25% discount.

EQ8 Stash Link

I started by drafting this 8 pointed star. It is a block in the EQ8 library (under 9 patch stars). But I typically find it faster to draft it in EQ8 instead of figuring out EQs naming convention or location for the block in a very large library.

I love this block as it is super easy to piece with my Deb Tucker V Block Trimmer. I am a fan of the oversized piecing trim down method as it truly gives me my most accurate results.

8 Pointed Star from EQ8 Block Library

I've played with this basic block in the past. This week I decided to focus on creating a new corner.

Notice the diagonal with an accent color (red).

When I design in EQ8, I always am thinking about construction. These corner units would be super easy to piece.

Create strip sets for each row.
Sub-cut them at 1-1/2"
Piece the rows together.

For the first option, I set up a Horizontal quilt layout.

Set up a 3 x 4 layout with 12" blocks.

Set alternate coloration of the blocks every other row.

I then experimented with a larger quilter, created by adding an additional column and row and adding some simple borders.

Consider using a stripe from the collection for the binding.

Do you see the rotated fabric?

For the next option, I needed two additional blocks.

What makes this super easy is I can create both the blocks, from the main block. No additional drawing is required.

I am calling this this my "Three Blocks from One" concept.

Check out the video to see how I did this.

For the final quilt I inserted a new border (where I used the new blocks) and did some modifications of the coloring.

Border #1
Style: Blocks
4" Size
3 Horizontal and 4 Vertical Blocks in Border

Border #2
Style: Long Horizontal
1" Size

Border #3
Style: Long Horizontal
4" Size

Border #4
Style: Mitered
1/2" Size

I look forward to seeing what you do with the Day After Black Friday Frenzy blocks. Feel free to share in the Learning EQ Facebook post.

Day After Black Friday 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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Turkey Celebration EQ8 Tutorial

11/18/2023

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Turkey Celebration EQ8 Video Tutorial

Last month I challenged the Tech Know Quilter Masters members to create a harvest themed quilt. You will definitely want to scroll down and check out their designs. They are super creative.

I decided to challenge myself to complete a harvest themed quilt myself. I will walk you through my process and share with you the blocks and quilts in this weeks video tutorial.

Start by setting up a new project. I labeled my project Turkey Celebration.

I found it useful to add some addition "fall-like" fabrics. Most of the added fabrics were from the Plaids collection (under Themes).

Draft three EasyDraw blocks. These are great beginner blocks to draft.

Flying Geese Block (for quilt corners)

Merge Block for Quilt Center

Merge Block for Alternate Block Spaces on Quilt

There are some super fun fall and harvest themed blocks in Electric Quilts library. Under Foundation Pieced category, scroll to Holidays - Other.

Locate the Turkey and Pioneer Hat blocks and Add to Sketchbook.

Use Serendipity>Merge Block for new blocks for the quilt center and for the Alternate Block Spaces.

Quilt Center with Pilgrim Hat Merged Block

Alternate Block Merged with Turkey Foundation Friendly Block from EQ8 Library

For a different quilt, consider using different foundation blocks for the merge.

Note that the triangles in lower corners of the turkey block, will actually help us create a faux flying geese patch that will extend across three blocks.

On the Quilt worktable, set up as following:

Horizontal Layout
Number of Blocks 3 x 3
Size of Blocks 3 x 3
On the design tab set and rotate the blocks.

Quilt Center with Blocks

Set up the borders
Border 1

Style Blocks
4" Size
Number of blocks in border 6 x 6

Border 2

Style Long Horizontal
1" Size

Border 3

Style Long Horizontal
2" Size

Border 4

Style Mitered
.25" Size
(Use for binding)

Set up the borders on the Borders tab.

Go to the Design Tab.

Under Auto Borders, select the border style "Flying Geese".

Select the Guided Geese Border and click on any of the block spaces in Border #1.

Flying Geese Auto Border Options

Finish off by coloring the blocks and remaining borders.

To save your work select "Add to Sketchbook".

Turkey Celebration Designed by Kari Schell using EQ8

Check out the details in the video tutorial.

I look forward to seeing your version of this quilt. Please feel free to share your designs in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Learning EQ8 Facebook Post for Turkey Celebration

Harvest Time EQ8 Challenge Showcase

Each month, I provide a challenge to Tech Know Quilter Masters members. In October the challenge was to design a Harvest themed quilt. It is so amazing to see the creativity of this group of EQ8 users.

Wanda Smith Hizer Here is my challenge quilt using the theme Harvest time. The block is one from Block Base Plus called Harvest Star. The setting is from a block of the month program that I designed for our local quilt shop called a Quilt from all Seasons. I designed four quilts one for each season.

Edith Craig Here is my challenge quilt. I used a pumpkin applique for some of the blocks and a pieced block for the others. A vine border was added and I included the pumpkins for the border corners.

Mary Groesbeck For my block, I chose the sunflower. I own 2 houses in Minnesota, United States of America. One is in Fergus Falls and one is in Pelican Rapids. Driving from either one to the airport or to shop in Fargo (North Dakota, USA), they alternate crops. So in the lucky years, there are miles and miles of sunflower fields. Depending on the time of day, their "faces" are all turned toward you or away from you. I just LOVE that! I would spend those miles and miles listening to my audiobook and just smiling at the sunflowers. I have big plans for this block, but we'll see what I end up with.

Mary Groesbeck Just to make this month's challenge MORE challenging, I bought my fabric in September. Here's what I bought (it's Vertex by QT Fabrics, which is already in EQ8).

Mary Groesbeck Then I used my sunflower block from last week, added some barns and silos, and designed a fall wall hanging. Now I'm ready to sew (when I finish quilting my September challenge quilt). I won't get to this until next week, so I may change the border up to make it more interesting.

Curryanne Hostetler My Challenge using Harvest type blocks and fall fabrics

Lee Wiencki A harvest themed quilt called Geese and Grain Fields. Based on the BlockBase Castle Garden block.

Jane Perri Here is my challenge quilt using the theme Harvest Time. I love corn mazes so that the center block with corn around the border too. Cornucopias surround the maze. Fall trees and leaves are in the next ring with the sun and blue skies shining down on it all.

Rhonda Goss My harvest suns quilt

Jane Perri Awhile ago, Kari shared a quilt by Kathy Bradbury, "Blue Jeans Pearls and Drama" in a help session. I loved the quilt and challenged myself to make it. I modified it a bit and changed the color scheme completely. I thought this would fit nicely with the harvest time theme, so I am sharing it. It looks like fall is busting out all over.

Katherine Martin For my Harvest Time Quilt Challenge, I decided to use and manipulate blocks from the EQ8 libraries.

Connie Bradley Bobcik I used the Harvest Star from Block Base+, a Star block that I modified using the Harvest Star for sizing so that seemed to be so my small gold triangles would be the exact same size as the Harvest Star and various applique blocks of which I modified to be motifs. That seemed my time consuming part until I remembered some steps that were key to success. I am pleased I stepped up to the challenge!

Connie Bradley Bobcik I posted my first Challenge block a little while back. I really had fun with that so I changed it up a little and had the same theme in different layout.

Thelma Bonfiglio-Lucas Fall challenge, these block, are fall, the block came from EQ.

Janice Kawka First time posting a challenge, first month in Masters program. My challenge is based on block #4167 called Harvest Moon. Used Kaleidscope to create the blocks. If this quilt made I would use whole cloth and applique curves using the Apliquick method. Used fall colors.

Julie Pedersen This challenge reminded me of a class from months ago, Landscape Quilts. Here is mine from that class. I revamped it a bit.

Loronda Schuler Played with ready made blocks as time is short during harvest time here. Thinking Thanksgiving. Just looked at your fall tutorial and realized I chose the same optional leaf as you did in your optional quilt.

Lynne Maramieri My Challenge Quilt. A simple Harvest Themed Table Topper.

Renae Frank Butler Quite simple but I don't work with Applique alot. Reinforced a couple of things when I drew the center by hand and with shapes.

Helen Hicks Here’s my harvested pumpkin table runner truly had fun with this challenge

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.

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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Are You Ready to Design Your Own Quilts using Electric Quilt 8

11/10/2023

I remember agonizing over my first purchase of Electric Quilt. I loved quilting and had a ton of patterns and books – more than I could ever use in my lifetime. Can you relate?

I wasn’t completely convinced I needed the software. However, I also realized that those purchased patterns were not always accurate and there were quilts that I saw in magazines and at shows that did not have patterns. And I didn't necessarily want to make an exact replica of the quilts from patterns I had bought.

Once I started using the software, I knew I couldn’t live without it. I quickly found that I recouped my investment in the software through significantly fewer PIGS (projects in grocery sacks). You know those quilts that you thought would be your next masterpiece. But as you got started piecing them, you realized something wasn’t quite right.

I knew from my own struggles that the initial purchase of Electric Quilt 8 can be a challenging decision. As a result, I want to help you resolve whether the software will be useful for you.

In this blog post I will be sharing with you:

The top six reasons to purchase EQ8
Three reasons why not

Six Reasons to Purchase Electric Quilt 8

After purchasing Electric Quilt and working with it (and teaching others how to use it), I've come to realize that Electric Quilt 8 is hands down the best tool I have purchased for creating both blocks and quilts.

Full disclosure. I use it personally, but I also teach people how to get the best use of the program. I am pretty sure you know which side of the fence I will come down on.

But I want you to go into this with your eyes open. So I will also be sharing some of the objections to buying…to help you make the right decision for you.

#1 - Audition Your Favorite Fabrics

When is the last time you bought a pattern because you loved the quilt on the cover? And then realized that the fabric is no longer available. Or maybe it doesn't work well with the other colors in the room you are hoping to use the quilt in. If you have trouble visualizing what your favorite fabrics will look like in your quilt pattern, you are perfectly normal.

Before Electric Quilt, I lost count of the number of times I purchased some fabulous fabrics, cut them up and realized (after the point of no return) they wouldn’t work with my selected quilt pattern.

With Electric Quilt 8 you have the option to audition fabrics before your first cut. This can even be done before spending money on fabric.

The EQ8 Fabric Library comes pre-loaded with 6,200 fabrics from top manufacturers! This may look intimidating. But don’t worry. The fabric library is well organized and very easy to use.

Add a Stash fabric download from Electric Quilt which provides images of some of the newest fabrics on the market.
You can also add fabrics from the web! Download fabric images from a website, then import into EQ8.
You can even scan or photograph your fabric and import into EQ8.

#2 - Never Manually Calculate Fabric Yardage Requirements Again

One of my favorite features of Electric Quilt 8 is the ability to obtain fabric yardage requirements with a push of a button. If you use fabric from the Electric Quilt library, it even will provide you with a fabric reference number to assist you in purchasing the fabric at your favorite quilt shop.

Bonus: A new feature in Electric Quilt 8 is the option of printing the number of Fat Quarters needed for your quilt.

#3 - Modify Blocks and Quilts from Purchased Patterns

Have you purchased a pattern and realized there are things you would like to change? Maybe the block needs to be tweaked to use your favorite ruler or die set. Or maybe the sizes or layout needs to be adjusted so the quilt can work for your bed -- and then of course you need to adjust the yardage requirements to accommodate the new size.

Good news! Electric Quilt 8 has three different sets of tools for drawing your own blocks or redrafting a block from a picture.

EasyDraw tools are similar to working with graph paper and pencil, just like you use to do.

And if you want to draw a more complex design, PolyDraw tools also allows you to create pieced blocks that are not based on a standard graph paper type of grid. Think circular or kaleidoscope types of designs.

If you are into hexagonal quilts, PolyDraw also provides us the ability to create interlocking blocks.

And if you love applique, you will definitely be interested in the applique toolkit. I have not found an applique project that cannot be drafting using Electric Quilt 8.

However, before starting to draft your own block, you may want to check if your block is in the Electric Quilt block library. With the release of EQ8, Electric Quilt added 1400 new bocks to their already extensive library. Giving us a total of 6500 blocks to choose from for starting our next quilt.

But if you cannot locate your favorite block in the library, there is no need to worry. There is the option to import a picture of the block and trace it. This is probably my all time favorite feature of Electric Quilt 8. This is an area I love working with Electric Quilt users on and an area of focus in Tech Know Quilters - a paid membership program for Electric Quilt 8 users.

There are also options to add more blocks to the library through collections such as as Block Base Plus based on Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns. Choose from collections by Judy Martin, Marsha McCloskey or even Dear Jane. And the beauty is that all of these blocks will be able to be modified by you within Electric Quilt 8.

Within Electric Quilt 8, they even have added a group of Serendipity tools that provides a fast way to create entirely new blocks based on a previously drafted block. I find this is a great option for creating brand new original quilt blocks on days I am not feeling super creative.

#4 - Select Your Favorite Construction Method

Many potential Electric Quilt 8 users wondering if the software will assist them in constructing their block. Electric Quilt does assume that users are familiar with basic quilt construction techniques. The software will not teach you how to applique, foundation piece or even piece together rotary cut patches. It will also not provide you step by step instructions typically found in a purchased quilt pattern.

However it will provide you with a variety of tools to facilitate cutting fabric and even the foundations to paper piece your blocks. The method of construction is your choice.

Here is an example of a typical Electric Quilt 8 rotary cutting chart for a block colored in the fabrics of your choice.

Electric Quilt 8 will also provide you the foundations (assuming your pattern is foundation friendly). You also have the option to section and number yourself if you would prefer a different set of foundations.

For every block there is always an option to produce templates -- with or without seam allowances..

#5 - Save Money

All it takes is two quilts that didn't come out as you had envisioned them to recoup the cost of purchasing Electric Quilt 8. Maybe just one at the current price of fabric.

And think about how much less fabric you will need to purchase when you can design your entire quilt complete with fabrics before investing.

And if you have shelves filled with fabric, you can design with the fabrics on your shelves and start working through that large stash. That may also make other members of your household happy.

#6 –Support

Electric Quilt 8 has an incredible reference manual with great instructions and illustrations -- all available in the help section of the program. There are also some decent getting started videos on the EQ website. Along with hundreds of free videos in my blog posts (onpointquilter.com) and on YouTube. Electric Quilt's support for EQ8 users is second to none.

The challenge many new users to Electric Quilt 8 experience is that because there is so much functionality with the program it is easy to become overwhelmed. If you purchase Electric Quilt 8, you should plan on time to get comfortable with the software.

Frankly it is because of this I have created a variety of well-structured training programs for Electric Quilt 8 users. I know how quilters learn best and I know the things to learn first -- to ensure long term success with the program.

Summary of top Reasons to Purchase

Electric Quilt 8 is fantastic for:

Auditioning your favorite fabrics in your quilts (before making them)
Push of a button fabric yardage charts
Ability to draft and modify any quilt block from a purchased pattern
The option of selecting your favorite construction method
Saving money on fabric purchases.
Support once you have purchased the software.

But of course you know there are also reasons why it may not be a great fit Because obviously it can’t be a good fit for every quilter. Next, I will now go into the reasons it may not be a good fit for you.

Reasons Buying Electric Quilt 8 May Not Be Right for You

#1 - You Want to Do All Your Quilt Designing on a Tablet or Phone

You may enjoy perusing Pinterest and watching You Tube videos on your tablet or phone and would love to be able to design your quilts on your phone or tablet.

EQ8 will not run on Chromebooks or any devices running Android or iOS. EQ8 requires one of the following Windows or Mac operating systems:

Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 7 with Service Pack 1
macOS Monterey (12), Big Sur (11) Intel and M1 processors, Catalina (10.15), Mojave (10.14), High Sierra (10.13)

#2 - You Enjoy Creating Quilts from Kits

Many quilters love purchasing quilts and are very comfortable making them exactly as laid out in the quilt. If most of your quilts are from kits, there is probably not a need for Electric Quilt 8 -- unless you decide to modify the kit (or find a problem with the instructions in the kit or pattern).

#3 - You Love Designing with Graph Paper

Do you find that you enjoy designing with graph paper and colored pencils and enjoy figuring out the math for your quilt blocks and quilts? I know of a number of professional quilt designers who still enjoy using graph paper and pencils to create their blocks and quilts.

I have found that graph paper can be a decent solution when all your blocks are comprised of squares, rectangles and half square triangles. And you are comfortable calculating your own rotary cutting and fabric yardage calculations. And you are good with selecting fabric based on your colored pencil renditions of your blocks and quilt.

If this is you, EQ8 is not necessary. However even if you love designing with graph paper, you my find that sometimes you get stuck. And do you really enjoy doing all those calculations by hand all of the time? Sometimes it is so much easier relying on the software to take the tedium out of the design process so you can focus on the parts your truly enjoy. If graph paper and colored pencils are not providing the results you desire, Electric Quilt 8 may provide you with so much more.

Summary

Now that I have summed up the top reasons to purchase along with some reasons not to, I hope I have provided clarity on what is best for you.

Honestly, I believe that the reasons to purchase are much stronger than those not to purchase. Although it is not right for everybody, it is a great tool for many quilters.

If you are ready to purchase, I would like to provide you with some bonuses if you decide to purchase through my affiliate link below.

Affiliate Link Bonus #1 Goose Goose Duck Challenge Material

Goose Goose Duck Video Series – Video series covering creation of six different pieced “goose and duck blocks using Electric Quilt 8 along a number of layouts.
12 Goose Goose Duck patterns
7 Sampler Quilt Patterns
Kari’s Goose Goose Duck Electric Quilt 8 project file with 35 blocks and 19 quilts.

This bonus is only available if you purchase through the affiliate link.

Affiliate Link Bonus #2 Spring Fever Challenge Material

Spring Fever Video Series – Video series covering creation of seven original foundation friendly blocks plus related quilt.
Kari’s Spring Fever EQ8 project file.

This bonus is only available if you purchase through the affiliate link.

Ready to Purchase Electric Quilt 8?

Just click on the picture, enter your name and email and you will receive my affiliate link to purchase Electric Quilt on the Electric Quilt website. Then watch for a follow up email from me where I will ask you for your purchase info.

Electric Quilt currently has a sale going on (25% off everything in their store). Now through November 30, 2023. So now is a great time to make the investment in EQ8.

Kari

Not quite ready to purchase. 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.

Draft Your First Hawaiian Applique Quilt

11/4/2023

1 Comment

Background on Hawaiian Quilting

According to Wikipedia, a Hawaiian quilt is a distinctive quilting style of the Hawaiian Islands that uses large radially symmetric applique patterns. Motifs often include stylized botanical designs.

Hawaiian-style quilts typically use solid or near-solid fabrics in only two colors. These quilts were historically made from the fabrics that were most readily available (often red and white).

Hawaiian Block from Letter I drafted in EQ by Kari Schell

Hawaiian quilt applique is made from a single cut on folded fabric. The fabric is folded in quarters or eighths -- similar to how we may have done paper snowflakes back in grade school.

You could use an Electronic cutting machine, such as a Cricut, Silhouette or Brother Scan N Cut machine to cut out your final image.

Alternatively you could go low-tech. Fold a piece of freezer paper in eighths and trace top section on the freezer paper. Cut out all your layers at once. You can then iron the freezer paper to your fabric and cut out your fabric. You can choose whether you wish to add seam allowances.

Hawaiian Quilt Font

A number of years ago, I discovered a Hawaiian quilt font. Each letter provided a Hawaiian applique quilt block. When I looked on the Internet today, I discovered three different Hawaiian quilt block fonts.

You can download the fonts for free from Netfontes.com The fonts were designed by Pokelele.
I decided that these "letters" would make great quilt blocks, and would also be good practice for learning to use the applique tools in Electric Quilt 8.

Once installed you can even use the alphabet on the quilt worktable. Make sure you are on Layer 2 and have a contrasting color from your background selected.

Drafting a Hawaiian Quilt Block using EQ8

Letter I in Hawaiian Quilt 1 font

In my tutorial this week, I will share with you how to draft a Hawaiian quilt block in Electric Quilt using a "letter" from the Hawaiian font as the starting point.

Here are the pdfs with images of the Hawaiian fonts I obtained from Netfontes.com. Feel free to use my pdf to select images for tracing a Hawaiian quilt block using Electric Quilt..

Here is the quilt from the video.

Hawaiian Quilt featuring the letter I designed by Kari Schell using EQ8

Letter Challenge

Are you ready to put on your detective hat? Here is a "letter" quilt I just designed in EQ8. Each letter was drafted as an applique block in EQ8. Can you decode it?

Hawaiian Code Quilt by Kari Schell using EQ8.

A challenge for you - Create your own Hawaiian code quilt. Post a picture in the Learning EQ Facebook group and let's have fun solving each others coded quilts. No requirements on number of letters (even one is ok). The idea is to have some fun playing with EQ.

Learning EQ Facebook Group Hawaiian Quilt Post

Ready to Learn the Applique Tools in Electric Quilt 8?

If you would like to expanding your applique drawing skills, I recommend my Tech Know Quilter class, Introduction to Applique. You will receive eleven 10 minute lessons (with videos along with written and illustrated tutorials) that will take you step by step through the applique toolkit as you draft a series of blocks and an applique quilt.

Purchase Introduction to Applique Online Class

My plans are to open enrollment for Tech Know Quilters at the end of December. (The membership is a more economical way to take the class.)

Send me a note if you are a current member and would like to add this to you current class for November. I will send you a discount coupon for the class.

If you are new to Applique (or would like to learn at a slower and more methodical approach), I offer an Introduction to Applique class. It is offered in Tech Know Quilters - a membership focused on mastery of Electric Quilt 8.

I have also included a few of the beginning Tech Know Quilter classes in my store -- for those that would like to try a class before joining the membership.

Introduction to Applique Agenda

Lesson 1: Star Flower (Precision tool bar and Line tool)
Lesson 2: Flower and Vine Blocks – Modifying a Block from the Library (Pick tool)
Lesson 3: Octagon and Hexagon Flowers (Shapes tool)
Lesson 4: Octagon Rose (Edit tool)
Lesson 5: Leaf Flower (Bezier and Freehand tools)
Lesson 6: WreathMaker
Lesson 7: Overlapping Heart Flower
Lesson 8: Eleanor’s Applique Quilt
Lesson 9: Flower Basket
Lesson 10: Pac-Man Tulip
Lesson 11: Freehand Meander Design plus Quilt
Lesson 12: Bonus: Pattern Design - Print and Export Instructions Part 2

Purchase Introduction to Applique Online Class

Here are a few images shared by Tech Know Quilter members after completing the Introduction to Applique class.

Nanne Panne (combined elements of the class with original applique)

Ad Sumida

Mary Groesbeck

Zdenka Nemethova

Dianna Carter said the class was so fun, she had to design an extra quilt. She never though she would love to do applique.

Linda Goldfarb

Happy quilting.

Kari

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Deck the Halls - A New Christmas Quilt using EQ8

Deck the Hall Table Runner using EQ8

New Fabrics

Draw the Ornament Block

Create the Quilt Layout

Applique Border Blocks

Finish the Quilt

Deck the Halls Construction Tips

Tech Know Quilters Showcase

Day After Black Friday Frenzy Quilt- a New 3 In 1 Block EQ8 Tutorial

Day After Black Friday Frenzy EQ8 Tutorial

Turkey Celebration EQ8 Tutorial

Turkey Celebration EQ8 Video Tutorial

Harvest Time EQ8 Challenge Showcase

Are You Ready to Design Your Own Quilts using Electric Quilt 8

Six Reasons to Purchase Electric Quilt 8

#1 - Audition Your Favorite Fabrics

#2 - Never Manually Calculate Fabric Yardage Requirements Again

#3 - Modify Blocks and Quilts from Purchased Patterns

#4 - Select Your Favorite Construction Method

#5 - Save Money

#6 –Support

Summary of top Reasons to Purchase

Reasons Buying Electric Quilt 8 May Not Be Right for You

#1 - You Want to Do All Your Quilt Designing on a Tablet or Phone

#2 - You Enjoy Creating Quilts from Kits

#3 - You Love Designing with Graph Paper

Summary

Affiliate Link Bonus #1 Goose Goose Duck Challenge Material

Affiliate Link Bonus #2 Spring Fever Challenge Material

Ready to Purchase Electric Quilt 8?

Draft Your First Hawaiian Applique Quilt

Background on Hawaiian Quilting

Hawaiian Quilt Font

Drafting a Hawaiian Quilt Block using EQ8

Letter Challenge

Ready to Learn the Applique Tools in Electric Quilt 8?

Kari Schell

Categories

Archives

Deck the Halls - A New Christmas Quilt using EQ8

Deck the Hall Table Runner using EQ8

New Fabrics

Draw the Ornament Block

Create the Quilt Layout

Applique Border Blocks

Finish the Quilt

Deck the Halls Construction Tips

Tech Know Quilters Showcase

Day After Black Friday Frenzy Quilt- a New 3 In 1 Block EQ8 Tutorial

Day After Black Friday Frenzy EQ8 Tutorial

Turkey Celebration EQ8 Tutorial

Turkey Celebration EQ8 Video Tutorial

Harvest Time EQ8 Challenge Showcase

Are You Ready to Design Your Own Quilts using Electric Quilt 8

Six Reasons to Purchase Electric Quilt 8 ​

#1 - Audition Your Favorite Fabrics

#2 - Never Manually Calculate Fabric Yardage Requirements Again

#3 - Modify Blocks and Quilts from Purchased Patterns

#4 - Select Your Favorite Construction Method

#5 - Save Money​

#6 –Support

Summary of top Reasons to Purchase

Reasons Buying Electric Quilt 8 May Not Be Right for You

#1 - You Want to Do All Your Quilt Designing on a Tablet or Phone

#2 - You Enjoy Creating Quilts from Kits

#3 - You Love Designing with Graph Paper

Summary

Affiliate Link Bonus #1 Goose Goose Duck Challenge Material

Affiliate Link Bonus #2 Spring Fever Challenge Material

Ready to Purchase Electric Quilt 8?

Draft Your First Hawaiian Applique Quilt

​Background on Hawaiian Quilting

​Hawaiian Quilt Font

​Drafting a Hawaiian Quilt Block using EQ8

Letter Challenge

​Ready to Learn the Applique Tools in Electric Quilt 8?

Kari Schell

﻿Categories﻿

Archives

GET MY NEWSLETTER FOR REGULAR EQ AWESOMENESS!

Six Reasons to Purchase Electric Quilt 8

#5 - Save Money

Background on Hawaiian Quilting

Hawaiian Quilt Font

Drafting a Hawaiian Quilt Block using EQ8

Ready to Learn the Applique Tools in Electric Quilt 8?

Categories