Easter Egg Hunt EQ8 Tutorial

The weather is getting warmer.  And spring is getting closer.  I loved playing with some spring colored fabrics in creating this fun new block which has two quilt options.

There are three components to the whimsical/block:

1. A pieced background (completed in EasyDraw).
2. Eggs drafted as Applique motifs. 
3. Easter bunny obtained from the EQ8 Block Library and incorporated in the combo-block.

Easter Egg Hunt Design

Pieced Background

Start a new block> Pieced and Applique>Easy Plus Applique.

Make sure snap to grid is turned on with grid snap increments at 36 x 36.  That will give you very clean cutting instructions for the block.

Draw four horizontal lines and four vertical lines to create 16 rectangles.  Ideally they are all different sizes.  

In each of the 16 rectangles add additional horizontal and vertical lines to provide more visual interest for your background.

Don't worry about matching my lines.  The key is to have lines that will be easy to rotary cut and machine piece.

Pieced Background with Squares and Rectangles Only

Adding Applique Eggs

On the applique tab, use the Circle under Shapes and draw 3 circles using The Cntl (PC users) or Command (MAC users) key.

Change the nodes at the top and bottom to Symmetrical.

Shorten the handles at the top to get an egg shape.

Resize the eggs -- ideally you will have three distinct eggs for the block.

Place the applique eggs  in the original rectangle spaces, rotating as desired for a random "look".
​

Pieced Background with Applique Easter Eggs

Blocks were colored with the default palette and Dots fabrics  The Dots fabrics are available in the EQ8 Fabric library under Themes.

Adding the Bunny from the EQ8 Blocks Library

In the EQ Block library, under Contemporary Applique>Holiday-Easter, locate the Bunny with Flowers block.  

Edit to block worktable.  

Copy the applique pieces and paste on the Background with Easter Eggs block.

Bunny with Flowers from the EQ8 Block Library

On the combo block, resize, rotate and place the Bunny.  I just played with all three until I found something visually appealing.

Color the added patches using the fabric collection.

Easter Egg Block with Added Bunny

Draft the Quilt on the Quilt Worktable

I created two quilt options.  One with one block and the other with four.  Pick the option that appeals to you.

Easter Egg Hunt 27" x 27"

Easter Egg Hunt 46" x 46"

Check out the video for more details on creating the block and quilts.

There are so many ways you could personalize this design.

• Change the horizontal and vertical lines drawn in EasyDraw.  You could simplify the design -- or add more.
• Change the sizes of the eggs -- or consider using a different shape.
• Replace the bunny with a different applique motif.

I would love to see what you do with the concept.  Feel free to share you designs in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Learning EQ Facebook Group Easter Egg Hunt Post

​Happy quilting.

​Kari

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