INTRODUCING BLOCK BASE PLUS

Make sure to use code SEW25 when checking out to receive your savings.

Block Base+ is on sale this weekend (through October 16, 2022).  And you may be wondering if the software is right for you.  In this blog post, I will be sharing information about the software (there are some really great features) along with providing you a tutorial on how I integrate the Block Base Plus with Electric Quilt 8.

​Block Base Plus is based Barbara Brackman's  Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns.  This book is the perfect resource for identifying 4000+ historic blocks plus the names and publishing information.   

I decided to check things out by selecting a block that wasn't a standard square or rectangle size as they can sometimes be the most problematic when creating a usable quilt and extracting construction information.   So I chose Barbara Brackman's Block 201 named either The Pyramid (by Yvonne Khin) or Sugar Loaf (by Nimble Needle Treasures).

---

#1  Historical Information About the Block

Information on the block is easy to read (so much better than the original Block Base) to assist in determining both who published the block and the time frame of publication.  This is helpful in determining if I need to do additional research on potential copyright issues.

Block Base Plus Layout

#2 Ability to Export an SVG File 

Since I have been cutting out some patches on my Cricut Maker, this was probably the most intriguing of the new features.  The SVG export will also work with Silhouette Studio or Brother Canvas software.

This feature will make it super easy to cut out the blocks using an electronic cutting system.  We are given options to cut out the block image (without seam allowances) or to upload templates (with a seam allowance) and choose between export all or unique templates.

SVG Export Dialogue box from Block Base Plus

To test the SVG export feature, I decided to export both the block and the templates from Block Base Plus and then did two imports into Cricut Design Space (my preferred cutting system as Cricut has this amazing rotary cutting tool).  

Import Block Image (fill only)

Import Unique Templates

I was pleasantly surprised to find that both SVG files uploaded at the correct size -- something of a miracle as I had been reading about problems with the newest updates to Design Space that were causing problems with sizing.

However, I also appreciated that EQ also includes a test square in the template export so we can double check that the sizing is correct before cutting out a lot of fabric pieces.  This is always important to test, because who knows what will happen in the next release of Design Space.

Cricut Design Space Worktable after adding the EQ Files

I also used this upload as an opportunity to test a new feature (to me) in Cricut Design Space  -- Offset.  Offset adds extra space around a patch -- basically think of this as the ability to add a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  It doesn't give you the blunt corner lines like the Block Base templates -- but I still appreciate this added functionality.

#3 New Printing Options

In addition to the printing options we find in Electric Quilt 8 (block, foundation pattern, templates and rotary cutting), EQ moved rotary cutting in Block Base Plus to a whole new level.  In the rotary cutting dialogue box, we can input the block size, seam allowance, number of blocks and usable width of fabric.

Block Base Plus Rotary Cutting Dialogue Box

I will admit that I am really loving this added functionality and look forward to the possibility of it being added to EQ sometime in the future.  A girl can always wish for more.  :)

#4 Integration with Electric Quilt 8
​
Although Electric Quilt 8 is not required to use Block Base Plus, I found that the integration is seamless.  Block Base Plus is easily linked to Electric Quilt 8.  Which means you can import any of the blocks in Block Base Plus into an Electric Quilt 8 project.  This will allow you to both modify the blocks and recolor them using fabrics of your own choosing.  (If using Block Base Plus as stand-alone software, you do not have the ability to modify or recolor.  Although you can resize.)

One of those pleasant surprises is that Electric Quilt redrew many of the non-standard blocks using PolyDraw and Applique tools.  This is particularly beneficial for the blocks that are not square or rectangular in format.  Often these will fall into the 01 One Patch and 02 Non-Square Blocks categories in Block Base.

The original Block Base had these blocks drawn in EasyDraw -- which meant they had a background around their irregular shape.  This background could not be removed and auditioning the blocks in a quilt layout was problematic.  

In my video tutorial, I will share how I added the #201 Block Base Plus block to an Electric Quilt Project file, set it in a Custom Set layout and then modified the block for an entirely new quilt. 

Here are the adjusted blocks from my EQ file.

Sugar Loaf Block #1

Sugar Loaf Block #2

Sugar Loaf Block #3

Here is the modified Sugar Loaf Quilt.

Modified Sugar Loaf Quilt designed by Kari Schell using BB Plus #201 block

Learn more about Block Base+ and purchase through my affiliate link.  Note that this does not change your pricing. 

Offer only applies to Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns and BlockBase+ at ElectricQuilt.com.

Use code SEW25 at checkout. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
Sale ends October 16, 2022 at midnight, ET. All prices are in U.S. Dollars (USD).​

Historical Quilt Reproduction Challenge

Tech Know Quilter Masters members were challenged to find a historic quilt and redraw it using Electric Quilt 8.  I wonder how many of their inspiration quilts are in Block Base Plus?

Curryanne Hostetler Inspiration Quilt

Curryanne Hostetler My quilt from the Original.

Mary Groesbeck I settled on a Mountain Mist Pattern (#33) from 1933. The original MM pattern is called "Bunnies and Butterflies" and seems to be for 3 baby quilt patterns. But the photo in The Quilt Index is called "Blue Bunnies". The quilt is in the Museum of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. The creater is not named, and the year is estimated at 1945. It is 46" wide, machine pieced, hand appliqued, hand embroidered with a buttonhole stitch, and hand quilted with a wreath around the center bunnies, a meandering fern in the outside blue border, and filled in with crosshatching.

Mary's Work in Process

Mary Groesbeck Oh, I thought of SOOOO many ways I could change this quilt to make it mine...from the design, color, and fabric to the suggested quilting designs. But in the end, none of my changes improved how much the quilt makes me happy. So I'm sticking with the blue and the original design--although I will probably change the quilting when it is finished. Thanks so much, Kari, for letting me know what I didn't know--that I need to make ANOTHER quilt. I'm having fun with it. I did notice that both of the quiltists from the photos of this quilt that I have changed the center bunnies faces to add eyes to them (from the jumping ones). The original design had their eyes closed, which I think is much sweeter. So, as much as I like to change things, I even went with the original on that. Here's my design...just like the original in 1933.

Rhonda Goss Desdens

Rhonda Goss EQ8 Design

Debbi Treusch This quilt from the Quilt Index caught my eye. The quilt is Path Through the Woods. It was made in 1910.

Debbi Treusch Here's my finished challenge quilt. I started with a Path in the Woods block with some minor modifications and then mostly played with color. I'm calling this Pinwheels in the Wind. Most of the fabric is Tula Pink. I played with colors in the border, but felt like the same color kind of anchored the quilt so just let it all purple.

Edith Craig This will be my historic quilt for this month. It came from the Quilt Index, 1900-1920.

Edith Craig Here is my block revised from my inspiration quilt. I chose is picture it in batiks.

Edith Craig Here is my completed challenge quilt. The historic one had hand embroidery along the seams (in the same manner as a crazy quilt). I used quilting to enhance the block instead, using more modern lines while still calling attention to the blocks.

Fran Heisey This quilt is from Barbara Brackman's blog. I think it has real possibilities for a modern adaptation.

Fran Heisey These are my inspiration blocks, and my attempts to modernize them.

Fran Heisey Here is my mostly finished quilt - I haven't figured out all of the quilting. I call it Cupids Hugs and Kisses. The layout is almost identical to the inspiration quilt. The X block is set into the cornerstones. I was originally going to call it Hugs and Kisses, but when I colored the background of the blocks, sashing and cornerstones all the same, the X's turned into arrow points. Serendipity. I narrowed the stripe in the sashing block to emphasize the arrow. The color combo is a nod to the original quilt.

Julie Pedersen I love this block that is called Summer Winds (Nancy Page). It was published in a column by Florence LaGanke Harris in the late 1920's to the 1940's. I will create a quilt using it.

Julie Pedersen EQ Design

Linda Carlson I went through the Quilt Index Batting Wrappers collection and found several patterns that intrigued me. Then I opened the Block Library Classics and typed in Mountain Mist where I found these 3 blocks. IMHO, the layout for these blocks is a modern set that provides a secondary design.

Tech Know Quilters members are eligible for the Masters program after completing 12 months of Tech Know Quilter classes.  Masters members receive fewer lessons each month, with more time to devote to their own projects and challenges.

Drop me a note if you have completed over 12 months of Tech Know Quilters and are interested in learning more about the Masters program.
​
You can learn more about the regular Tech Know Quilters membership program and sign up for the wait list for the next open enrollment period here.

​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.