Kari Schell On Point Quilter Blog

Snowflake Sampler Custom Set Quilt

1/21/2023

Last week I shared with you how to find some blocks in the Electric Quilt block library and turn them into snowflake blocks. If you missed the video tutorial, you can check it out here.

This week I will share a custom set layout in an Electric Quilt 8 video tutorial. Although Custom Set can seem intimidating, with my step by step video instructions, it will be easy to put together this Custom Set quilt design.

If you would like to redraft this quilt, here are a few photos taken during the video that will be useful.

Altered Irregular Grid 11 Layout

Line Drawing of Snowflake Sampler Quilt designed by Kari Schell in EQ8

Snowflake Sampler Quilt designed by Kari Schell in EQ8

Are you ready to get creative? If you have a set of blocks you have drafted, here is an opportunity to showcase them in your own quilt. And try a new fabric collection to inspire yourself to piece a few of them. (Like me, you may be ready to be done with winter and snow.)

I would love to see your designs. Feel free to hop over the the Learning EQ Facebook group and share.

Learning EQ Snowflake Custom Set Quilt 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.

Using Snowflake Blocks and Fabrics from the EQ Library

1/14/2023

There is a lot of snow in Minnesota this year, so I thought it was time to design a snow quilt.

This one is a lot of fun as all my blocks come from the Electric Quilt 8 Block Library. I decided not to get too fussy -- so there will be a lot of 8 pointed snowflakes rather than the traditional 6 pointed ones. 8 pointed snowflakes are typically much easier to piece.

This is a great tutorial for new Electric Quilt 8 owners (or those that have been away for a while) as we will explore grabbing fabrics and blocks from the Electric Quilt libraries. There is so much to choose from.

Here is my challenge for you. Find approximately 15 snowflake blocks in the library. Or if you are up to it draft your own blocks. Color them and save them to your Project Sketchbook.

Remember that in Electric Quilt, saving is a two step process. Make sure to name your project. If you haven't named it, it will say unnamed at the top. Then select add to sketchbook for each block. Super simple -- once you know the two steps.

Argyle Socks Modified

Blazing Star

Double Star Variation

Pinwheel Swirl Modified

Radiant Star

Rolling Crosses

Rolling Plate

Rolling Star

Silver and Gold

Snowflake Feathered Star

Southern Star

Spiderweb Star

St Louis Star Variation

Sunbeam

Tangled Web

Share your favorite colored snowflake and let us know if it was from the library or one you designed yourself. Or maybe it is a hybrid.

Snowflake Sampler Blocks 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.

Calendar Quilts Using EQ8

1/7/2023

We have turned the calendar to 2023. And if you are like me, you are thinking a bit about what you wish to accomplish during the year ahead. A few years ago I created a class on creating calendar quilts for those in Tech Know Quilter. This seems like a very appropriate topic for January.

During the Tech Know Quilter class we went through the process of creating a monthly calendar using Electric Quilt. We attached the calendar to a monthly themed quilt and turned the entire design into a backdrop that could be used with a computer. Imagine being able to showcase one of your quilt designs without needing to piece it.

In this free tutorial, I will share how to modify the 2020 calendar to 2023. Then how I updated my original quilt with the latest calendar.

For those that took the Tech Know Quilter's calendar quilt class, you will be able to modify your designs from the class. For others, you will be inspired by seeing how you combine two quilts in a single project.

There are lots of great take-aways for creating your own calendar quilt.

Here are the updated January 2023 calendar quilts from the video.

As a New Years special, I decided to open up an opportunity to take the Calendar Class -- without joining Tech Know Quilters. Scroll down for more information on this exciting new opportunity.

Changing the Desktop Background in Windows 11

Each operating system has its own way of changing the Desktop background. I recently switched to Windows 11 and thought I would share screenshots of the process for that particular operating system. If you are using a different computer/operating system, you may want to do a search to see how it is done on your system.

In the Search Window, type in Background.
Under Best Match, select Background Image Settings. You can double click to open or select open on the right.

Under Settings>Personalization>Background, select Browse Photos.

Navigate to where your saved your image exported from Electric Quilt 8. Note that my image was saved under My EQ8>Images.
Select the Photo.
Select Choose Picture.

If the picture is slightly off (i.e. some white space on the left and right), under Choose a fit for your desktop image, select Stretch.
Alternatively you can add a background color to fill the space.

Here is what my desktop screen looks like after using the exported photo from the video.

Kari's Desktop Backdrop after completing the above steps.

I also experimented with a backdrop that was just the calendar. For this one, I used "Fit" and added a background color.

If you took the Tech Know Quilter's calendar class, now would be a great time to update your quilts for 2023.

Special Opportunity to Take the Full Calendar Quilt Class

Would you like to take this class? I've decided to offer it as a stand alone class available for purchase during January 2023. The class does assume you are familiar with using both EasyDraw and Applique tools in Electric Quilt. I would not consider it a "beginner" class.

Here were my 2020 combination quilts (quilted design plus calendar) created during the Calendar Quilts class. Click on the images for an up close view.

What images do you think of when you turn the pages of your calendar? In this class you will be using the various block worktables in Electric Quilt 8 as you draft a 20 x 15 block for each month of the year.

You will also learn how to draft your own monthly calendar in EQ and then combine the quilt blocks with the calendar to create background images that you can use for your desktop computer.

The images for each month are also suitable for creating your own 8-1/2 x 11 photo calendar.

This series is geared toward the intermediate user of Electric Quilt 8 and assumes you have a working knowledge of EasyDraw and Applique worktables and well as creation of some basic quilts.

The stand alone EQ8 Calendar Quilt class is only available for purchase during January 2023.

It will be delivered over five weeks, starting with your date of purchase.

For those desiring support as you go through the class, I've set up a private Facebook group which provides a vehicle for me to answer any of your questions as you go through the class.

The class retails at $60. But it will be offered at the sale price of $49.99 during January 2023.

Purchase the Calendar Quilt Class for $49.99 (regularly $60)

Current Tech Know Quilter members, please contact me if your wish to take this as an add-on class in January. The class currently exists in TKQ and there are added discounts for current TKQ members.

Tech Know Quilters Showcase

Tech Know Quilter members shared some of their favorite projects (along with their own designs) from their November class. You can learn more and sign up for the wait list to join this amazing group of designers here.

Jane Perri This quilt contains all of the blocks designed in the Easy Draw course.

Nanne Panne I have learned how to appliqué and here is my quilt

Helen Bagnall I am attaching my Modern Bargello block, Lesson 12.

Mary Groesbeck I think this is my favorite part of the program--applying what we've learned. But it's also a little difficult to choose one since we learn so much in a month. I think my favorite from the hexagon class is this one.

Zdenka Nemethová I took Quilting Designs Class in November. This gave me a lot of ideas of how to finish me quilts nicely.

Lee Wiencki An optical illusion quilt using some EQ8 blocks.

Fran Heisey Hexagon Magic was a really challenging and rewarding group of lessons.

Julie Pedersen Here is mine for the Hexagon Magic Class.

Edith Craig My class this month was Master's Hexagon Magic. This was based on Lesson 7 of that series which used many of the blocks that we drafted throughout the month. After doing the initial coloring, I used the randomize button until I saw a color combination that I liked and then mapped that color selection to fabrics. This was an easy way to re-color the entire project and the system came up with color combinations that I wouldn't have thought of. I am quite pleased with the result. It is really exciting to be able to combine the many techniques that I have learned through TKQ.

Family Tree Challenge Showcase

Within Tech Know Quilters Masters, there is an opportunity for those who have completed twelve or more months of Tech Know Quilters to join this more advanced program where we focus on support for those applying their EQ8 skills to their own projects.

Each month, TKQ Masters members are encouraged to create an original design around a specific topic.

During November, Tech Know Quilter Masters members were encouraged to design a family tree quilt. There was a lot of discussion on the topic and a few even managed to complete their EQ designs.

Zdenka Nemethová I did it simple (inspired by pinterest) otherwise I would need the whole forest not just one tree □ Just my parents, me and my 2 sisters (we are 3 sisters □ ) and our families. One X-mas present is on the way □

Edith Craig Here is my family tree quilt, showing myself, my husband, our children and their spouses, and the grandchildren. I started with a picture from ClipArt and redrafted it into an applique block. I then used motifs of apples for the names, adding the actual names on top with the text tool. Each generation is in a different color (shades of reds and oranges). I added a vine border, placing a larger version of the same apple motif in the corners. Finally, I added an overall stencil in dark green to show the quilting.

Brigitte Lee Here is my Family "tree". It all started with a heart exchange. 40 people cut 40 hearts (template) of the same fabric. So I ended up with 40 different hearts. Today I re-designed my quilt (right) in EQ which I made and designed in Quilt-Pro in 2003. I'm representing the bloodline with the same fabric. Light colors female, dark male. Top raw my mother, my father left and my step-father right, with his ex. Below my siblings. My brother, passed away as a teenager, my two sisters, (twins) with their families,. Left the older twin, right the younger with her ex and her husband. Next raw, myself and my hubby, my older boy, adopted, and our second one. Bottom right all my mother's grandchildren. I modified the quilt draft and am showing on the hearts their mother and added the new arrivals. This was quite a bit of a challenge as I started with only 40 hearts and had to source which of the fabrics I could get more of from my friends. Pieced, hearts are machine blanket stitched in black.

Patricia Hansen I decided that it would be like early Christmas to design my family tree like a Christmas tree. So, here it is. It only shows the direct line, not all the cousins "which I number in the dozens, nor the aunts."

Julie Pedersen A simple tree for us using embroidery.

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.

Two Block Quilts

12/31/2022

It has been a busy week between the Panel Quilt webinars and open enrollment for Tech Know Quilters. Now my time moves to primarily serving those in the Tech Know Quilter group.

I received a couple of notes from people who missed my e-mails regarding the Tech Know Quilter open enrollment during the last four days -- not exactly sure how that is possible but email providers seem to love putting my emails in spam and promotions folders. And I heard that a few of you were traveling and not able to get to your emails.

If that is you, send me a note and I will send you a link to sign up. We can still squeeze in a few new members before we start delivery of classes on Monday. This will be the last time to lock in to 2022 pricing.

You can read more about the program here -- but the sign-up links have been taken down.

Two Block Quilts

Two times a month I do live help sessions with Tech Know Quilter members. During the session on Thursday, one member was asking about working with blocks that don't quite work well together. Maybe one uses a 7 x 7 grid and the other an 8 x 8. While Electric Quilt can turn these all into a standard block size, the numbers on the rotary cutting chart start looking a bit scary.

We talked through how to resolve that issue. Since I still had my panel quilt Electric Quilt 8 project open I demonstrated a process on how to design blocks that work well together.

I started with one of the pieced border blocks from the Panel Quilt webinar. Here is some background on drafting the block. Just in case you missed the webinar.

This block was drawn in EasyDraw with a width and height of 8 x 8.

Set the snaps at 8 x 8 -- with snap to grid the only snap option turned on.

For the diamonds, you have flexibility in exactly where to put the horizontal and vertical lines. I will typically modify the design to accommodate my favorite construction methods.

Here was how I chose to draft the block. I was thinking I would do 1-1/2" folded corners on 2-1/2" squares for the the "house" units.

Alternatively, I could have drawn another line for a rectangle, flying geese unit, and two half square triangle units.

I love that EQ gives us the flexibility of deciding the way we want to piece a block.

Watch the video to see the process to draft the remaining blocks as quilt.

In todays video, I drafted the coordinating block using the same grid.

Coordinating 8 x 8 grid block.

Add a binding to finish off a quilt that would be easy to piece. This would make a great project Linus quilt -- or with some resizing (adjust the number of blocks horizontal and vertical), a quilt of valor.

But I couldn't stop. I began thinking about taking the modified 9-patch corner segments and create a pieced border that also works well with the pieced blocks in the center.

Do you prefer the quilt with or without the pieced border? Or maybe you have a different idea for a two block quilt. Share your ideas in the Facebook group.

Two Block Quilt 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.Happy quilting.

Candy Cane Circular Quilt

12/17/2022

One week to Christmas. The to do list is growing with everything I want completed "before" Christmas. The project in this post is a fun one -- use it as a break when you need a little time to decompress from all of the holiday bustle.

Scroll down to see the free EQ8 tutorial.

I also want to check and make sure you have signed up for the free webinar -- right after Christmas. Make sure to reserve your spot for this live webinar.

Turn Your Next Panel into a One of a Kind Quilt
Free EQ8 Live Webinar

How many times have you purchased (or contemplated purchasing) a panel and then struggled knowing what to do with it? Obviously you can slap on a couple of straight borders, add a bit of basic quilting and the binding, and it is ready to go.

But what if you want to do more?

Maybe you wish to personalize your panel with unique borders.
Or to cut up your panel and make it a series of blocks in your quilt.
Or maybe you just want a go-to method for working with any panel you currently own (or plan to purchase in the future).

Let me show you how to quickly get past the overwhelm and uncertainty in working with panels.

When you join my free Electric Quilt 8 webinar, I will take you step by step through the entire process to create your own panel quilt. In this live webinar, you will learn how to:

Import a panel image into EQ8 and figure out the size of not only the complete panel, but any sections within the panel as well.
Subdivide the panel image to experiment with different options for using the panel in a quilt.
Learn how to personalize your quilt by designing coordinating blocks.
Learn my tricks for working with those awkward sizes that always seem to happen when designing around panels.
Learn how to create borders with multiple blocks that create flow and visual appeal.

Bonus for Attending Live

Each of the live webinars will have a drawing for one of the fabric panels used during the webinar.

You must be present during the drawing to win.

What are you waiting for? Join us today.

Plus all participants will also receive a guidebook that you will be able to use as a reference both during and after the video. This will assist you when you're working on your project.

I can't wait to see your panel quilt design.

Join us now.

Free Webinar Registration Information

Choose the time that works the best below and register for this amazing fun webinar. You won't be disappointed.

For all those that attend live, I will be offering a special bonus offer as well. Make sure to join me. I can't wait to see you there.

A replay will be available for 24 hours if you cannot attend live. But you must register in advance to access the replay.

Date and Time

Tuesday, December 27
10 am Central Time

Tuesday, December 27
3 pm Central Time

Tuesday, December 27
8 pm Central Time

Registration Link

Enroll

Local Time

Time Zone Converter

Candy Cane Circular Quilt

A super fun quilt for Christmas.

The Candy Cane block will be drawn as a combination block -- which combines both PolyDraw and Applique in the same block.

PolyDraw is the ideal tool for the wedges of the block as we can use the Circle Grid. The circle grid allows you to split the circle in an equal number of wedges and an equal number of rings. Patches can be drawn by connecting any of the wedge/ring intersections.

The other plus in using PolyDraw is the block does not need to be square or rectangular. So rather than drawing a circle within a Square block -- the circle is the block.

There is no need to learn all the Applique tools for this quilt, as we will use a block from the EQ library.

You will learn how to copy the applique (without the background) from one block to another.

And you will then be introduced to WreathMaker. WreathMaker is super fun as it can turn any applique into a wreath.

To color the block, I used the Noel fabric collection by Andover. The collection was designed by Laundry Basket Quilts.

This was part of the Electric Quilt Stash collection (Download 01 for 2022). The collections are $9.95 and can save you the work of downloading, cropping and resizing from the manufacturer websites.

Here is the candy cane wreath block from the video.

To add a finishing touch, I will also share how to draft a binding block in PolyDraw as well.

Finish off the quilt by setting the two blocks in Custom Set. Change the size to accommodate the planned usage of the quilt.

I would love to see pictures of a circular quilt you designed in EQ -- it could be this one or a different project.

Facebook Candy Cane Circular Quilt Post

No time to make the quilt? Use it as your desktop background. Or post to your Facebook newsfeed. so your friends and family can see your work.

Tech Know Quilters Showcase

Tech Know Quilter members shared some of their favorite projects (along with their own designs) from their October class. You can learn more and sign up for the wait list to join this amazing group of designers here.

Lee Wiencki I used all the lessons in Paper Piecing to make this.

Loronda Schuler I used lessons past and mix and match medallion boarders to draw my own corner blocks and play with a different center and colors. Very fun.

Cindy Meyer I used lessons in Working with Fabric Images to create this Quilt of Valor. I imported photos of fabric on hand and used them to create the quilt.

Merle Rawson I played with the Twister Tesselations lessons to come up with my butterfly. After I created the quilt I moved the butterfly down so she was no longer centered. I hope to make this sometime for my bed.

Eileen Tuss Specialty Rulers and Dies

Julie Pedersen Here is my Tessellation class quilt.

Edith Craig I drafted this quilt as part of the Master's Tesselation class and added some applique balls and a bow. It was fun to take the concepts from this class and draft something of my own.

Curryanne Hostetler Here is my challenge.

Candy Huddleston Here is one of the quilts I designed during my Landscapes Classes.

Candy Huddleston Lovebird and Candy Here is one of the quilts I designed during my Landscapes Classes.

Terry McCaskey I am making progress with foundation paper piecing. This quilt is a compilation of techniques from Kari's lessons this month. I doubt I will ever make a loon quilt but learning the techniques is always helpful.

Zdenka Nemethova I enjoyed Advanced Easy Draw Class this month. I used Feathered Star block in this quilt.

Nanne Panne I have taken the modern class this month and this is one of my quilts

Nanne Panne And this is fun too.

Carol Mayhew Here are three variations of the feathered star quilt from the Advanced Border Design class, The last two I added a 1" inner border and increased the number of diamonds to 17 to maintain the 45 degree angle that you mentioned in your video. The last quilt layout I changed the half dropped diamond border to the diamond border and changed the corner units so the points extend all the way to the meet the point of the diamond in the border. The first quilt I left the dark area around the spinning design (in the quilt body) but changed it to the background color in the others.

Debbi Treusch Here's my quilt from the Tessellation class where I turned a cross stitch pattern into a twister pattern.

Dorothy Ilgner In October I was in the Tessilation Class. I liked the idea of transforming an embroidery pattern into a twister Tesselation and choose a peacock from one of my embroidery magazines.

Zdenka Nemethová In Masters Class I applied Tessellation on a X-mas tree

Anne Hurlburt My Tessellated Pumpkins quilt, in its finished form. Paper pieced.

Pat Harkins My fall tessellations wreath with acorns and pine cones applique

Mary Groesbeck In October, the Masters Class tessellated. This was a really fun class. One of my favorite designs for the month was Mr. Turkey. He would be tedious to piece (lots of blocks), but I could easily simplify him to have far fewer blocks.

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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Forward>>

Snowflake Sampler Custom Set Quilt

Using Snowflake Blocks and Fabrics from the EQ Library

Calendar Quilts Using EQ8

Changing the Desktop Background in Windows 11

Special Opportunity to Take the Full Calendar Quilt Class

Tech Know Quilters Showcase

Family Tree Challenge Showcase

Two Block Quilts

Two Block Quilts

Candy Cane Circular Quilt

Turn Your Next Panel into a One of a Kind Quilt
Free EQ8 Live Webinar

Candy Cane Circular Quilt

Tech Know Quilters Showcase

Kari Schell

Categories

Archives

Snowflake Sampler Custom Set Quilt

Using Snowflake Blocks and Fabrics from the EQ Library

Calendar Quilts Using EQ8

Changing the Desktop Background in Windows 11

Special Opportunity to Take the Full Calendar Quilt Class

Tech Know Quilters Showcase

Family Tree Challenge Showcase

Two Block Quilts

Two Block Quilts

Candy Cane Circular Quilt

Turn Your Next Panel into a One of a Kind Quilt ​Free EQ8 Live Webinar

Candy Cane Circular Quilt

Tech Know Quilters Showcase

Kari Schell

﻿Categories﻿

Archives

GET MY NEWSLETTER FOR REGULAR EQ AWESOMENESS!

Turn Your Next Panel into a One of a Kind Quilt
Free EQ8 Live Webinar

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