Flutterby EQ8 Tutorial

2/24/2024

A new EQ8 tutorial for you today. I think you will enjoy this fun idea for a new block -- that looks much more complicated than it is.

Plus be inspired by the most recent designs from Tech Know Quilter members.

Flutterby Blocks and Quilt

Did you know that Flutterby is another name for Butterfly? Which do you prefer?

For this project, I am using the Rooville fabric collection designed by Kimberly Einmo for Benartex. This was a free download from Electric Quilt for November 2023.

Start by drawing a 3" block using EasyDraw. EasyDraw is just like working with pencil and graph paper.

Notice the 1/2" strip on the left -- that simple strip is the magic that keeps this quilt from being boring

Flutterby Single Block

I designed the block to be conducive to adding cheater corners on rectangle blocks -- which may be your preferred construction method for adding those triangles.

However the beauty of EQ is that this would be super easy to modify if that is not your favorite construction technique.

Add four short lines -- delete two others and now you can used half square triangle units instead of cheater corners for your blocks.

Which construction method do you prefer?

Modifications for Half Square Triangle Friendly Units

Use the Serendipity Feature to create multiple versions of the block. In Shrink and Flip, EQ shrinks the selected block, then flips and rotates it in the four quadrants to create a new block. Here were the two options I decided to use for my quilt.

Flutterby Shrink and Flip Block 1

Flutterby Shrink and Flip Block 2

For the quilt, I suggest using a horizontal layout.

Set the number of blocks at 4 by 4 with a size of 6" for each block. Of course it would be easy to add more blocks or change the size of the blocks if you would like bigger Flutterbys.

Under sashing, select a size of 3". This was the size of the original Flutterby block. Also select the option to include sashed borders.

To create a more random look for the blocks:

Using Alt (PC Users) or Options (MAC Users) and set Shrink & Flip block 1 in the first full block space on the quilt worktable.
Using Alt (PC Users) or Options (MAC Users) and set Shrink & Flip block 2 in the 2nd full block space on the quilt worktable.
Using Ctrl (PC Users) or Command (MAC Users) set the initial block in the corner stone spaces on the quilt worktable.
Randomly rotate the cornerstone blocks.
Use Symmetry and click on one of the Shrink and flip blocks. The Symmetry tool is a fast and fun way to achieve various quilt designs by using combinations of rotate and flip on all the full blocks of the quilt at once.

Flutterby Quilt designed in EQ8

When I am in design mode, I frequently create more than one variation on a quilt. As I make changes, I always come up with other ideas that I want to experiment with.

For this quilt, I decided to try a block in the sashing area.

I made it an easy to piece block with only rectangle pieces.

Flutterby Quilt with optional pieced borders.

Check out the video for all the details on creating the Flutterby blocks and quilt.

I would love to see your designs. Feel free to share pictures on the Learning EQ Facebook group. I've set up a dedicated spot for your pictures.

To personalize the project, swap out the Flutterby block with your own 3" block and use the same concepts to create a new quilt.

Flutterby Learning EQ Facebook Post

Tech Know Quilters January Showcase

Every month I challenge Tech Know Quilter members to apply what they have been learning in the Tech Know Quilter classes. I am so proud of this group of quilters as they share their creativity with us.

Eileen Dover I did the bargello class and loved creating the designs. This is my fave of the bunch

Terry McCaskey I finished piecing the re-design I created in EQ for the Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt "Indigo Way." This is "Indigo Way Another Way" thanks to EQ skills developed with Kari in TKQ.

Kristy Goodin Soard My snowflake mug rug was a favorite from this month.

Rhonda Goss Letters and Text Masters Class

Beth Voss Ennis Here's a quilt I want to make for my son. I added (by photo and finding fabric image at manufacturer) my own fabric, along with the Hunter Star block to see what it will look like.

Beth Voss Ennis I feel like an over achiever, as I've created 2 quilts to make in the past week, and have another in mind. This one is for a great-nephew, and again, I added my own fabrics from the designers website, one had to be through a photo. Then I used a pattern from a 3 yard quilt book but used the rotate tool to come up with my own layout. I'm really loving what I've learned so far!

Julie Pedersen This month, I took the Masters Letters and Text class. For this challenge, I chose to use the custom layout and create a card for my school principal who is on medical leave. I used blocks from each of our seasonal quilts to create it...Winter, spring, summer and fall. Looking forward to next month's class to learn more about this topic.

Denise Mohler What did I learn in January? Well I am still playing catch-up so I have a list of completed lessons for this month..... so here we go!!!!!! TKQ Advanced Borders Lesson 10

Denise Mohler TKQ Reproduction Quilts 2 Lesson 5

Denise Mohler TKQ More Optical Illusions Lesson 13

Denise Mohler TKQ Masters Advanced Custom Set Lesson 5

Denise Mohler TKQ Masters Advanced Polydraw Lesson 3

Denise Mohler TKQ Masters Fabric From Photos Lesson 5

Denise Mohler TKQ Masters Folded Corner Holiday Quilts Lesson 7

Denise Mohler TKQ Masters Modern Dresden Blocks Lesson 7

Denise Mohler TKQ Masters Pictoral Foundation Lesson 2

Denise Mohler TKQ Masters Design Your Own Medallion Quilt Lesson 5

Denise Mohler TKQ Masters Stained Glass Quilts Lesson 2

Connie Bradley Bobcik TKQ Masters Class January 2024, Letters and Text. I am using Topper Quilt I designed for my Word Challenge. I used skills we learned to split a design and add lettering to that. I also added applique motifs. I loved all of the lettering ideas we learned thru out the month.

Stella Shaffer Crutcher I used some new skills like merging blocks and the auto borders in making this. The new skills from the classes are valuable even when I am working on something completely different than the quilts we are doing in class.

Edith Craig My class this month was Masters Letters and Texts. This class has been a great way to practice drafting appliques and placing them on a quilt. I used some images from the EQ library as a starting point for some of my appliques, removing the backgrounds to make them motifs.

Fran Heisey TKQ Masters Letters and Text. This was my favorite class so far. The snow flakes were such fun.

Brigitte Lee I made the Queen-size quilt by redrawing all the different braid sizes. After the MTKQ Class Letter and Text, lesson 2. I changed my approach for the Sofa throw, by saving the largest braid as a photo and cropping the photos to the right length. There was some fine-tuning needed as the photo added a border. (Panels are from Kaufman Fabrics, Island Sanctuary)

Roswitha Franz In January I took part in the Masters course “Letters and Text”. I was fascinated by the snowflakes and the possibility of adding text to them and using them to design a round quilt. I have included my family's names. It was a particular challenge to arrange 7 stars instead of the 5 in the course. In the 4 years that I have been attending Kari's courses, I have learned a tremendous amount. I never thought I'd get to the point of showing a design here. For me, Kari's courses are something like brain jogging, too. Implementing them keeps me mentally fit.

Would you like to join this amazing group of designers and quilters? Click on the Learn More Image to find out about Tech Know Quilters.

Happy quilting.

Kari

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