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Rotating and Fussy Cutting Large Scale Fabric Using Electric Quilt 8

8/19/2023

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Last week I created a new block that I called "Sashing and Block Combo" and set it in a quilt.

The circle was drawn and quartered with the Ellipse applique tool and I set and rotated one fabric for the four quarters of the circle.

Most of the fabric used in the quilt were from from the Waters Edge fabric collection FREE download from Electric Quilt.

You can find last weeks tutorial on drafting the block and quilt here.
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When I went to play with rotating and fussy cutting some of the Waters Edge fabric pieces, I quickly realized some of the fabrics had a very large repeat.  This first piece in the collection was 25 inches square -- and it isn't even a full repeat of the design.
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Waters Edge by Brett Lewis for Northcott (SKU 26719-49)
Trying to rotate and fussy cut a 25" piece of fabric in a 2-1/2" quarter circle, did not work very well for me.  So I knew I needed to approach the process a bit differently.

I thought about the time I did a One Block Wonder quilt (a real quilt -- not an EQ design) where I cut the theme fabric into strips that were exactly the same section of the fabric (essentially cutting the repeats).  I then aligned each of the strips and sub-cut them for each of the blocks.  Then sewed together for a kaleidoscope type of design.

The approach I chose for fussy cutting in my quarter circles in the Sashing and Block Combo EQ quilt was similar to that.  However I chose to cut my strips larger than needed.  Then I could have more options for fussy cutting the design to pick different elements to highlight. 
I found that I could cut the 25" fabric swatch into 25 different 5" segments -- more than I need for the  Sashing and Block Combo quilt.

In this weeks video tutorial, check out how I created smaller fabric swatches, rotated fabric and fussy cut in the quilt.  
Here are my updated blocks.  Check out the circle designs in each of them.  The first 8 were from the fabric image shown above.  Can you find the designs in the full fabric image?

Click on each block for a close-up view.
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The last four were from the following piece.  This is also from the Waters Edge fabric collection.  This one had a full repeat both horizontally and vertically.  The single repeat was 16-1/2" by 12-1/2".
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Waters Edge by Brett Lewis by Northcott SKU 26711-86
Here is the final quilt.
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Sashing and Block Quilt with Rotating and Fussy Cutting of Theme Fabric
I look forward to seeing what you choose to do with fussy-cutting.  Feel free to share a block (or two) in the Learning EQ Facebook group.
Learning EQ Facebook Group Fussy Cut Design Post

What to do about Pixelated Fabric?

When I reopened the Sashing and Block Combo Design project file after last weeks video, I noticed that some of the fabric in the sketchbook, looked pixelated and appeared to have lost its color. (See the last three fabrics in the picture as an example.)

After some experimenting I found that if you use this fabric to color a quilt, it will look "normal" in the quilt.  The pixelation is only visible in the coloring tools and in the project sketchbook.
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Pixelated Fabric Problem
I reached out to Electric Quilt who shared with me that it was a known issue.  I suspect related to these super large fabric swatches.  The workaround is:
  • Close the project.
  • Reopen the project.
  • The first screen you will see is the Project Sketchbook.
  • Select the Fabrics tab before doing anything else.  Scroll over and note that the fabrics should now be able to be viewed correctly.

I was able to fix this project.  However I did find that it doesn't work 100% of the time.  So we may need to deal with a few "pixelated fabric swatches".  FYI -- I didn't find any issues after cropping the large pieces.

Tech Know Quilters Working with Fabric Class

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The first Tech Know Quilters class is all above working with fabrics in Electric Quilt 8.  In addition to learning how to import fabric from multiple sources, you will even learn how to photograph and scan your own fabric.  Won't that be a great stash busting option!

If you would like to join Tech Know Quilters ahead of the next open enrollment period, send me a note and I will send you information on getting started in September -- back to school for you.

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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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Sashing and Block Combo Design

8/12/2023

1 Comment

 
Last week I mentioned that I was away at a quilt retreat.  It was so fun catching up with some quilting friends and even getting a bit of quilting done.  Of course not nearly as much as I was planning on.  But I did get the binding on two quilts and borders pieced and added on a third quilt.  I thought those borders would take me 1/2 day -- boy was I wrong.  But I do like how the quilt turned out.
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Block Busters Pieced Quilt by Kari Schell
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Block Busters EQ8 Version by Kari Schell
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Close Up of Corner (with correction of coloring using PhotoShop)
This was a project I had included for my TKQ Masters group a few months ago.  In Block Busters we took pieces of one block and played with different arrangements and incorporated them in other blocks.   We even played with overlapping blocks for new designs.

The color of the actual quilt is a bit off as I decided to photograph it at 9:30 at night in my family room.  Not ideal for getting the colors correct.

For those who have completed at least 12 months of Tech Know Quilters, let me know if you are interested in the Tech Know Quilter Masters program.  We have so much fun exploring the design part of working with EQ.  I would love to send you more information on the program.

Sashing and Block Combo Design Using EQ8

The Electric Quilt tutorial today has a bit of a surprise in it.  The quilt looks like a custom set quilt.  But it was done with a horizontal layout.

In the video tutorial, I cover, drafting the blocks, working with the Ellipse applique tool and rotating fabric.

The "sashing" can be pieced with 1-1/2" strips, making this a fun stash buster idea.

The fabric used in the quilt was a combination of default fabrics and Waters Edge.  Waters Edge was designed by Brett Lewis for Northcott.  It is a free download from Electric Quilt.  
Waters Edge Fabric Collection Download from Do You EQ?
Enjoy the video.
Here are the blocks and quilt from the video.  Each of the blocks have a 9" x 9" finished size.
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Sashing and Block - Block 1
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Sashing and Block - Block 2
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Sashing and Block Combo Quilt
I would love to see what you decide to do with the combo block.  Feel free to post in the Learning EQ Facebook group.
Learning EQ Facebook Group Sashing and Block Combo Design Post
Spoiler alert -- I am playing with a different idea for the applique circles.  I hope to be able to share that with you next week.

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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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1 Comment

Learn to Create An Optical Illusion Quilt

8/5/2023

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As this posts, I am enjoying an extended weekend with members of my local quilt guild.  For me this means some time actually piecing a quilt or two and catching up with some dear friends.  It is always inspiring to see what everyone is working on and hear about their latest fabric and tool finds.

I also get super inspired when members of Tech Know Quilters share what they are working on as well.  I consider them my "online guild".  They provide me inspiration each and every day.  I will be sharing a few of their virtual projects in this post.

​Scroll down for an EQ8 tutorial on designing an optical illusion quilt -- complete with added quilting.

Tech Know Quilter Showcase

Tech Know Quilter members shared some of their favorite projects (along with their own designs) from their June class.  You can learn more and sign up for the wait list to join this amazing group of designers here.
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Mary Groesbeck I took a welcome break from a big project and made this for a friend's birthday. The center is from A Bit Orange and the border design is mine. I added the borders on the longarm, so there was no design or sewing until the binding. It took about an hour (plus binding). I'm pleased with it.
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Rhonda Goss Surprising Corners class.
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Connie Bobcik I was working on TKQ Optical Illusions. I had so much fun this month and learned so much also. It amazes me how much the quilt layout can change the entire look of a quilt and really give you an Optical Illusion as in lesson 9.
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Connie Bobcik Lesson 8 learning the Hollow Block was also a fun block to do. Learning how to draft a simple block in such a way that it totally changes the look and really gives your quilt some dimension. I can see my blocks rolling down a staircase!
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Connie Bobcik I also really enjoyed lesson 5, in Optical Illusions, the Overlapping Ribbons. There are so many options to changing this block up. It was so much fun to playing with coloring also in this block.
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Connie Bobcik Another really fun lesson was lesson 10. Learning how to spin your block just by moving a node is so cool.
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Julie Pedersen I took the Surprising Corners Masters class. This was a quilt from one of the lessons that I played with after the lesson and changed the motifs used.
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Helen Warwick Last month I took your Advanced Borders Classes. I mentioned to a quilting friend that I was taking a class on borders and she asked if I could come up with a border for the scrappy log cabin quilt top she had just made. So I did. She loves it. I printed out the the paper piecing and blocks for the Woven Star corner blocks and wrote up sizes and directions on how to do the rest of it. I think it turned out great. Your classes have given me the confidence to tackle projects I never would have done otherwise.
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Curryanne Hostetler I worked with different blocks of Checkerboard to create a quilt as well as the auto border of checker boards.
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Curryanne Hostetler - a second coloration.
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Fran Heisey Surprising Corners is a fun class. The corners really do surprising things. The block in the corner stones is the block with the surprising corners.
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Kristy Goodin Soard Surprising Corners Masters Class...original block from the library was Topeka Rose.
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Terry McCaskey I enjoyed the Modern Quilts 2 class this month. The Fibonacci class was probably my favorite and this quilt design is one I might actually construct sometime.
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Debbi Treusch I had the Surprising Corners class this month. It was a fun class. I took a block from one of the lessons and made a few modifications, the set it into a non-square layout. I really like the result. The blue lines between the blocks is just a plaid fabric. I'm not a plaid person, but I like the effect of it in this quilt.
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Marcia Jensen I finished the PolyDraw lessons in TKQ, and I loved using all the skills we learned in that group of lessons to make this Compass block/quilt!
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Edith Craig My class this month was Surprising Corners. It was such fun to see the secondary patterns that appeared when blocks were put into a quilt. Such a variety of options. This quilt was adapted from one of the lessons, adding additional diamonds, setting blocks on the outer edge to make a square, and then adding pieced borders.
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Jane Perri This quilt was designed in the Optical Illusions class Lesson 11 Impossible Triangles.

Optical Illusion with Quilting EQ8 Tutorial

I designed this project for one of my Optical Illusion classes in Tech Know Quilters -- but didn't have enough room to include it in the class.  As you saw in the show a number of Tech Know Quilter members just finished their projects from an Optical Illusions class.  So I thought it would be fun to share this tutorial with you.
Here is the quilt from the tutorial.
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Optical Illusion with Quilting design by Kari Schell using EQ8
I look forward to seeing what you decided to do with this block.  Please feel free to post pictures in the Learning EQ Facebook group.
Learning EQ Facebook Post for Optical Illusion Block and Quilt
In Tech Know Quilters there are two different Optical Illusions classes.  Here are some of the projects from each of the classes.
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If you are currently in Tech Know Quilters and would like to take either of these classes as an add-on class, just send us a note.  We would be happy to get you a discount coupon for your class.

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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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0 Comments

Swirling Geese in a Quilt

7/29/2023

1 Comment

 
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.
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Swirly Line Drawn in Applique in EQ8
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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.
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Swirling Geese Option 1 (from the video) uses just two fabrics.
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Swirling Geese Option 2 I decided to scrap out the fabric for the geese. And then used two alternating backgrounds.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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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
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1 Comment

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.
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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.
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Elizabeth B.
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Elizabeth B. - A smaller placemat.
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Pat H.
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Tanya S. Fabrics were Strawberry Lemonade - a collection by Sherri & Chelsi for Moda that is coming out in September.
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Dianna C.
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Janis T. (Option 1)
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Janis T. (Option 2)
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Helen H. (Option 1)
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Helen H. Using inspiration for a TKQ class, she decided to put fish in the corners.
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Kristy S.
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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.
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Full Circle Design
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Half Circle Design
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Quarter Circle Design
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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

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​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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    Kari Schell

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