Precision Heart Quilt Tutorial in EQ8: EasyDraw, Snap to Grid & Merge Blocks EQ8 Tutorial

So… are you Team Wonky or Team Precision?

Last week we bravely turned Snap to Grid OFF and embraced playful, wonky heart and flying geese blocks. It was creative, freeing — and maybe just a little nerve-wracking for those who love accuracy.

If the wonky approach made you slightly jittery, this week is for you.

​We’re recreating the quilt using precision-drafted blocks that are easy to rotary cut, simple to piece, and wonderfully calming.

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A Quick Look Back: Team Wonky

Here were the wonky blocks and quilts from last week’s tutorial.

Single Wonky Heart Block

Four Wonky Heart Block

Wonky Flying Geese Block

12" Frame Block with 1" Strips

Frame Block Merged with Four Wonky Hearts Block

Diagonal Single Wonky Heart

Diagonal Single Wonky Heart Merged with Frame Block

On Point Square Block

On Point Square Merged with Four Wonky Heart Block

Wonky Hearts Horizontal Layout

Wonky Hearts On Point Layout

If you missed it, you can check out the full tutorial here.

Now let’s rebuild the design with clean lines and perfect symmetry.​

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Drafting the Precision Blocks

All of the precision blocks were drafted in EasyDraw, and the most important setting?

Turn Snap to Grid ON.

​That single step keeps everything aligned and ensures the blocks will piece beautifully.

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Precision Flying Geese Block

The flying geese block was drafted at 4″ x 12″, matching the size of the sashing.

Snaps were set every inch:

• 4 horizontal divisions
• 12 vertical divisions

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Precision Flying Geese Sashing Block

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Precision Heart Block

The precision heart block was drafted at 12″ x 12″, with snaps set every inch:

• 12 horizontal divisions
• 12 vertical divisions

The single heart block itself is not placed directly into the quilt layout.

​Instead, we use it as a building block for larger designs using Serendipity > Merge Blocks.

Precision Heart Block

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How Serendipity>Merge Blocks Works

The Merge Blocks feature on the Block Worktable allows you to combine Sketchbook blocks to create entirely new blocks.

Here’s how it works:

When you open the Merge Blocks dialog, EQ evaluates the blocks in your Sketchbook to determine which ones qualify as a background block. Only certain blocks appear on the left side of the dialog.

To qualify as a background block:

• It must be an EasyDraw block (or an EasyDraw-based library block).
• It must contain at least one large parallelogram patch.
• That parallelogram must occupy a significant portion of the block.

Any suitable block in your Sketchbook can then be merged into that background block.

​It’s one of those features that feels like magic once you understand how it works.

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Building the Precision Heart Variations

The single precision heart block was merged with three previously drafted blocks:

• The Default Four Patch
• The Frame Block (created in the prior tutorial)
• The On-Point Square-in-a-Square Block (created in the prior tutorial)

Merged Four Patch with Heart Block

Merged Frame with Heart Block

Merged On Point Square with Heart Block

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Creating a Two-Heart Block

One limitation to note: Electric Quilt does not allow you to fill multiple patches at once on a merged block.

However, you can edit the merged block and use copy-and-paste to duplicate portions of the design.

​Using that method, you can create a two-heart block with hearts in opposite quadrants (for example, upper left and lower right).

Merged Four Patch with Two Heart Blocks

From there, you can merge this block into the Square-in-a-Square background block.
​
And yes — it truly feels like magic when it comes together.

Merged Square in a Square with Two Hearts

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Creating the Precision Quilts

Once the precision blocks are drafted and merged, it’s time to update the quilt layouts.

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Precision Hearts — Horizontal Layout

1. Select the Wonky Heart Horizontal Layout quilt in the Project Sketchbook.
2. Click Edit.
3. Use the Erase tool while holding Control (PC) or  Command (Mac) to erase all blocks in the layout.
4. Place the new Precision blocks into the quilt.
5. Rotate and recolor as desired.

Precision Hearts Horizontal Quilt Layout

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Precision Hearts — On-Point Layout

1. Select the Wonky Heart On-Point Layout quilt in the Project Sketchbook.
2. Click Edit.
3. Use the Erase tool with Control (PC) or Command (Mac) to clear the existing blocks.
4. ​​Set the new Precision blocks in the layout.
5. Rotate and recolor for balance.

Precision Hearts - On Point Layout

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Watch the Video Tutorial

Be sure to watch the full video below for step-by-step instructions on:

• Drafting precision heart and flying geese blocks
  
• Using Serendipity > Merge Blocks
  
• Creating multiple block variations
  
• Updating both horizontal and on-point quilt layouts
  

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​Team Wonky or Team Precision?

Now that you’ve explored both versions…

Do you enjoy the playful freedom of wonky designs?

Or do you prefer the calm, symmetry, and rotary-cut friendliness of precision piecing?

​I’d love to hear which team you’re on.

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​Happy quilting.

​Kari

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