Sometimes I want to know "How many blocks can I make from a fat quarter of fabric?"  There are a lot of ways to figure this out with math -- but let me provide an easy way to do with Electric Quilt that requires no (or at least minimal) math -- I promise!!

Let's assume I want to do a quilt with a traditional Bear's Paw block.

Step 1 - Find the Bear's Paw block in your Block library.  Or you can draft one with a 7 x 7 grid using Easy Draw.

Step #2 - Print out a rotary cutting block for your block at the size you wish the block to be in your quilt.  Let's assume this one will be 10-1/2" x 10-1/2".

Step #3 - Create a new Patchdraw Block in EQ.  The setup should be as follows:

• Block width: 20 (width of a fat quarter)
• Block Height: 18 (length of a fat quarter)
• Grid: Rectangle
• Snap:  40 horizontal and 36 vertical (every half inch)
• Graph paper cells:  20 horizontal and 18 vertical

Step #4 - Refer to your cutting chart and draft one of each of the dark patches.  For those patches with fractions, round up to the next 1/2" mark.  (Or if you wish to have oversized pieces for your half square triangles, now is the time to make those adjustments.) 

So I will draft the following patches using the Polydraw tool:

• 3-1/2" x 3-1/2"
• 2" x 2"
• 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" (for the
  2-3/8" triangles)

I find it easiest to draft in the upper left corner as I can see my ruler lines to easily know how far I need to go to create the patch.  Remember that in Polydraw you must draw the whole patch. 

After selecting the Polydraw tool left click on the 0,0 point on the page.  Go to the  3-1/2,0 mark and left click again.  Then to the 3-1/2, 3-1/2 and left click.  And finally back to 0,0.  Now left click twice to close the block.

Once you have completed the first patch, move it out of the way and create the next two patches.

Step #5 - Now make enough copies of the patches for one block by using the clone button (see my red circle around the cone button.  I made 4 3-1/2" squares, 8 2-1/2" squares (there are 2 patches for each square per the cutting chart, so I only needed 8 squares for the 16 triangle patches), and 1 2" square.   

Step # 6 - Place the patches in rows to get the best use of the fabric.  Also try to consider how best to do the layout for rotary cutting efficiencies (i.e. all the 3-1/2" patches in one row).  As you can see I can squeeze all the pieces in a 6" x 20" piece of fabric.

Step # 7  Left click with your mouse and drag a box around all of your patches.  Then copy, paste (you now have a complete set for a second block).  Fit those pieces below your first section.  Do a third paste and fit those below your second section.  You can see that everything fits into the 18 x 20 inch block. 

So you can make three Bear's Paw block with one fat quarter.

Step #8  Color your block.  Make each size a different color.  Add to sketchbook.  At this point I would also print out and make add reference marks with sizes for each of the color coded squares.  You now have a very efficient cutting chart for the dark fat quarters.

Step #9 - I would also suggest going to the project sketchbook and including notes on the size of the block in case you need to refer back to your work.  

Now let's do the same for the background pieces.  I won't go through all the steps, but will show you the final layout.  First one block, then three blocks.  

I needed to move a few of the 2" patches (see those circled in blue) to make best use of my fat quarter.

Also note that you can rotate the pieces as well to optimize your layout.  In this case it was most efficient to do the 2" x 5" pieces with the long side horizontally.

I learned that I could cut backgrounds for three blocks out of one fat quarter.

I hope you find this useful.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Happy Quilting.

Kari

Sign up for my newsletter to stay current on what's happening in my studio and learn more quilting tips.  As a thank you, I'll send you a FREE pattern for this small maple leaf quilt.

Do you ever finish your quilt top and then agonize over "How should I quilt this?"

In my most recent quilt pattern, Smiling Irish Eyes, I played it "safe" with quilting one of the samples.  I quilted in the ditch around the shamrocks and stitched a few lines through the Irish Chain. 

For the other quilt in the pattern, I decided to spruce it up a bit.  Click on the photo to see the quilting close up.

I created a swirl in/out design for the shamrock blocks.

I also drafted a couple of shamrocks to use in the background spaces.

I also wanted to incorporate shamrocks in the border.

I even came up with a Shamrock wreath to use in the Celtic block.

If you would like to use these designs for quilting your St. Patrick's Day projects, I have included pdfs of each of the designs in the "Free Stuff" page or you can click on any of the photos above.  You will want to check the size before using and resize as necessary.

Some of you may have "Art and Stitch", a program used to draw digitized designs.  If so, you will be interested in my video "How to draw a shamrock in Art and Stitch".  The video covers drafting a basic shamrock.

Happy quilting.

Kari

Sign up for my newsletter to stay current on what's happening in my studio and learn more quilting tips.  As a thank you, I'll send you a FREE pattern for this small maple leaf quilt.

I am excited to share the release of "Be My Valentine" -- just in time for Valentine's Day.

Create a quick table quilt measuring 40" x 16" to celebrate Valentine's Day.  Or this would also make a great shower or wedding gift for that special someone.

This project is a lot simpler than it looks.  I used over-sized units that are cut down with the use of rulers from Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Design.  I've also provided alternate instructions if you wish to do the project without the rulers.

Click here to purchase Be My Valentine.

Do you want some ideas in how to quilt this project?  Check out the following video.  

These suggestions are designed for use on a domestic sewing machine.  Trace the shapes with your finger to get a feel for the shape.  If you need a guide before quilting, draw the shape on your quilt with a water soluble pen.

To celebrate the release, I am offering free shipping on any purchase that includes Be My Valentine.  Offer is good through February 24th.

Sign up for my newsletter to stay current on what's happening in my studio and learn more quilting tips.  As a thank you, I'll send you a FREE pattern for this small maple leaf quilt.

Happy quilting.

Kari Schell
On Point Quilter

I hope you have enjoyed working on the Ice Crystals wall hanging/table runner.  I've decided mine will have a place on the table in my family room.  I've done a number of extra blocks -- so maybe I will do a gift as well.

As a reminder, this free pattern will be available on my website until the end of the month.

In quilting Ice Crystals, I'll admit that I threw it on the longarm and used a snowflake pantograph.  However, I have thought a bit about how I would quilt this on my domestic machine.

I went back to an old favorite, snowflakes and loops.  This is a very forgiving pattern and a great one to practice your machine quilting.  The points of the snowflakes don't need to be the same size and it looks fine if they don't even stay on top of the line when traveling back.  Check out this video to see how to quilt this out.

Here are a few photos of a recent customer's quilt in which I incorporated this technique.  This stunning quilt was done by Judy Berry and will be on display as part of the Redwork Show at Four Season's Quilts during the month of February.  Check the show out to see this quilt in person.

Happy quilting.

Kari Schell
On Point Quilter

It is the beginning of 2014.  Do you use this time to reflect on the past year and make goals for 2014?  Before I can set goals, I find it helpful to understand where I am currently at with my various quilt projects.  My various stints in Weight Watchers (along with my salaried job working with Six Sigma) have taught me that tracking is key to making progress on any goal.  When I track what I eat, I eat less.  Writing the information down or entering it into a computer program holds me accountable. 

My first inventory of works in process was taken in January 2011.  I also decided to categorize my "inventory" as follows:

• Kits (fabric selected or purchased but no work done)
• Fabric cut
• Blocks in process
• Blocks completed
• Top completed
• Quilted
• Binding in process

Much to my amazement I had 82 projects on the list.  The largest # were "tops completed" -- waiting to be quilted.  I figure that meant I started about four projects each year that I never finished or got back to.  Based on the inventory, I made some conscious decisions to finish, re-design and/or give away projects.  When I re-inventoried everything a year later I was down to 61 items.

While writing this post I decided I should do an inventory for this year.  I am currently at 51 projects (15 kits, 2 fabric cut, 9 blocks in process, 10 blocks completed, 15 tops completed, 3 quilted but not bound).
 

Based on this, I've decided that my New Year's resolutions will include:

• I will quilt at least 4 tops in my inventory (one by March 31, one by June 30, one by September 30 and one by November 30).  
• I will either give away, re-purpose or actually start the quilt for at least 5 of the kits currently in inventory. 

I think that is achievable – and still gives me opportunity to do new stuff. 
 
Do you have any quilting New Year’s resolutions? 

Happy quilting.

Kari Schell

On Point Quilter