In a Facebook group this week, there was a discussion on creating files that could be used by cutting machines such as Silhouette Cameo, Brother Scan and Cut, Cricut Explore Air and Cricut Maker.  These cutting systems all have proprietary software that makes sharing designs between systems problematic.  However --- all of them allow for use of SVG files.

So what is an SVG file?  An SVG file is a graphics file that uses a two-dimensional vector graphic format.  Unlike raster formats such as JPG, GIF, and PNG, an SVG image remains crisp and clear at any resolution or size.

Since Electric Quilt exports to raster formats, we need to be able to transition from those formats to SVG.  

In my free Electric Quilt video tutorial, I will share how to go from a block in Electric Quilt to an svg file.  The intermediate software I use is Inkscape. Inkscape is a professional vector graphics editor for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It's free and open source. 

​It can seem overwhelming to use when you open it for the first time. However I will share with your the few items you need to create your SVG file from Electric Quilt.  You can download Inkscape here.

Once you have it downloaded it is super simple to convert your files. 

You may never need to purchase an SVG file again -- just use blocks from the Electric Quilt library or draw your own.  You could even use these designs in creating personal cards.

Are you just getting started with Electric Quilt 8 and need some help? 

Shoot for the Stars is designed to get you started with Electric Quilt 8 through training delivered straight to your inbox.  This series includes 14 short (ie. 5-10 minute) videos delivered over the course of a month allowing you to learn the basics of this complex program in bite size increments.

​The class is currently on sale for $35 (regular $50).  Join now.

Would you like to join me for an in person hands-on Electric Quilt class?  I will be teaching at the Minnesota Quilt Show in Rochester MN.  This is my only scheduled in person class for 2019.

The class, Introduction to Electric Quilt 8 is a full day class on Saturday, June 15, 2019.  You can learn more and register here.  

I look forward to seeing you there.

Last week I shared a tutorial on how to create one of a kind snowflakes using EQ8 and I have been seeing some great creations on social media.  

If you missed the tutorial, you will definitely want to go back and check it out.

This week I have remained obsessed with these snowflakes and really want to use them in a quilt project.  I quickly realized that they were pretty intricate and cutting them out by hand would be super tedious.  So I decided it was time to pull out my Silhouette Cameo (it is the one without a number) and see if I could cut them there.

This ended up being a little more involved that I had planned as the first few snowflakes were a disaster -- fabric was shifting and cuts were not clean.  However I had some conversations with others on Facebook and kept playing.  And after a number of different experiments I finally found the "secret formula" for cutting these out.

​I will share all in my current tutorial.  How I transfer designs from EQ to the Silhouette Design Studio along with my suggestions for a successful cut.

I want to give a shout out to C J Tinkle.  She has created numerous appliques using her Silhouette Cameo 3.  She mentioned to me that she had successfully used the following settings -- which were different than what I ended up with -- but a great starting point..  So it really is important to experiment and see what works for your machine.

I also started researching other digital cutting options -- and found that Cricut has a digital cutting machine that uses a rotary cutting blade.  It is more expensive than the Silhouette -- but may be worth it if it works as well as the advertisements.  Anybody out there currently using the Cricut Maker for cutting fabric appliques?  I would be interested in your opinion.

I am currently at a retreat and fused and stitched 3 of the snowflakes for a mini-quilt.  Here is the result.  Now on to design new borders.

Are you ready to finally master using the applique tools in Electric Quilt 8?  I have an online class that will provide you everything you need to get started in using these tools within EQ8. ​

Did you know I have a You Tube channel?  My goal has been to place copies of my older videos on my You Tube channel.  This will give you an easy place to search for those oldies but goodies. It is also useful if you are searching for a particular Electric Quilt or Art and Stitch topic.

You Tube informed me that I now have over 1,000 subscribers.  I suspect a few of you may be on that list.  If not, feel free to hop over to my You Tube channel and subscribe.

Included are separate playlists for both Art and Stitch and Electric Quilt videos.  So you can focus on the area that most interests you.  

When cleaning up my You Tube channel, I came across a video on transferring applique designs from Electric Quilt to the Silhouette Cameo.  What a great way to cut your applique shapes -- particularly if you need precision in the process.

I thought I would replay the video this week as I suspect many of you may have missed it back in 2014.  :)

The first session of Introduction to Electric Quilt 7 filled -- so I have opened a second session that will start on February 13th from 1 - 2:30 Central Time.  

​Class size will be limited to 8 participants.  Seats are available on a first come first serve basis.  This class will be exactly like taking at "in person" class at a show or shop.   We will use screen sharing technology -- so you will be able to see my screen and if you have specific questions, I will also be able to view yours as well.

EARLY ENROLLMENT BONUS:  Free 20 minute private coaching session ($60 value) for anyone enrolling prior to January 31, 2017.

Enroll now.

Just added...

Are you ready to learn the secrets of Easy Draw.  Join the instructor led Easy Draw online class on February 13, 20 and 27, 2017 6:30 - 8:00 pm (Central time) (three sessions).  Enroll now.

EARLY ENROLLMENT BONUS:  Free 20 minute private coaching session ($60 value) for anyone enrolling prior to January 31, 2017.

Valentines Day is a month away!  Do you have a favorite valentines quilt for decorating your wall or table?  My Be My Valentine Quilt is an fun easy pattern.  Here are a few of the fabric options.

This also makes a great shower or wedding gift for someone special in your life.

Quilt measures 40" x 16".

A physical copy of the pattern may be purchased at your local quilt shop.  Or enjoy one of three purchasing options directly from On Point Quilter. Note that both Hugs and Kisses and True Love include both physical and digital copies of the piecing pattern.

Even though I love designing my own quilts, I also enjoy makes quilts by other designers.  I am a member of Heritage Club at Four Season Quilt Shop in Maple Grove, MN.  At each meeting we receive either a pattern from Jo Morton's "Jo's Little Women Club" or Pam Buda's "Prairie Women's Sewing Circle".  During the Christmas break, I thought I would make up one of the patterns from the last year.  The one I chose was Contrary Wife by Pam Buda.  It gave me an opportunity to do some applique and I really liked her setting.

For today's post, I thought I would walk you through my process including 

1. Tracing the applique block in Art and Stitch;
2. Using the Silhouette Cameo for cutting my freezer paper templates;
3. Using the Corner Pop ruler by Studio 180 Design for the sashing stars; and 
4. How I chose to quilt the project.  
   

My favorite applique technique is using freezer paper templates ironed to the back of fabric.  The fabric is cut 1/4" around the templates and the seams are folded over and glued to the freezer paper template.  I then use invisible thread and a blind hem stitch on my machine to attach the pieces to the background (you must be able to adjust both the stitch length and the stitch width for this to work well).  I learned this technique in a class from Harriet Hargrave many years ago.  I've taken numerous classes and tried many other applique methods over the years, but this one works the best for me.  Which method of applique do you prefer?

However, I digress.  What I wanted to do, is cut out my freezer paper templates with the Silhouette Cameo.  In order to create the pieces for cutting, I used Art and Stitch to draft the units and the block and then transferred to design to Silhouette Cameo.  The follow video provides a demo of how I did this.

For the sashing, I thought I would try out the Corner Pop ruler by Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Design.  The pattern called for folded corners and this ruler provides another way to better execute those corners.  Let me share the steps with one of the units in the Contrary Wife quilt.

I took a photo of my quilt top and brought it into Art and Stitch as a backdrop.

I found a sashing design that I had previously designed that worked really well (bowties).  I aslo had a paisley point to point design that I could work around the star blocks.  Then I just needed something for the center of the star blocks and and contrary wife applique.  I just used the leaf from the applique and made a magic square.

Here is the final quilt with a close-up of the quilting.

The quilt will be on display as part of the Heritage Club show at Four Season Quilts during the month of January.  If you are in the area, please check it out.

Happy quilting.

Kari

Welcome.  This week I am excited to share two videos with you. There was so much to share that I decided to split the video into two parts.  Here is the finished project.

I want to do a special call-out to Anne Hurlburt.  She is a certified Art and Stitch instructor and did her Addendum on doing Applique on her longarm.  She has a ton of good information particularly for those using a Statler.

My approach was a bit different than Anne's, but is built on her technique.  I started with a design in Electric Quilt, transferred it to Art and Stitch (where I created my new master).  From Art and Stitch I created the stitching for my longarm.  I also took the shapes and cut them using my Silhouette Cameo.  All of this is described in Part 1 of the Video.

if you aren't using a Silhouette cutting machine, you can ignore the last section of Part 1.  Just print out the patterns in Art and Stitch and trace them on your fusible interfacing.

Part 2 of the video shows the actual application and stitch out on my APQS Millennium with Intelliquilter.  Regardless of your computerized system, I think you will find this useful.

Part 2 was done using a small video camera and is a little choppy.  I did some major editing to shorten the video which is much more noticeable when using a camera.  

Once I finished my piece, I added an "envelope" back and created a full fall pillow.  I used lots of leftover batting pieces for stuffing the pillow form.

Footnote:  I heard from a couple of people that are using the Brother Scan-and-Cut system.  Silhouette has also recently come out with PixScan technology.  If you wanted to avoid tracing the jpeg Art and Stitch file, you could actually print out the filled shapes from Art and Stitch and scan directly into your system of choice.  (I just received my PixScan mat this afternoon and was very impressed with the accuracy of the scan of my printed Art and Stitch file.)

Happy quilting.

Kari

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