Kari Schell On Point Quilter Blog

On Point Heart Variation with Ribbon Border

2/14/2025

On February 1st, I shared an On Point Pieced Heart block and quilt. If you missed the video tutorial, you can still watch it here.

In honor of Valentine's Day, I wanted to incorporate the block in a whole new layout.

The new layout will include a bit of applique -- think wreathmaker around a simple heart applique.

And will include an incredibly versatile pieced ribbon border.

On Point Pieced Heart Block Drafted in EQ

On Point Pieced Heart Quilt from February 1, 2025 Post

On Point Heart Applique

Using the "heart" under the Shapes tool in the applique toolkit -- learn an easy way to modify the motif to fatten it up.

You will end up using a 3" and 4" motif in the quilt.

(In the video the stand alone motifs were created after doing the heart flower motif below.)

3" Applique Heart

4" Applique Heart

Using the 3" applique heart as a starting point, draw a simple petal.

User Wreathmaker to surround the heart with a group of petals.

Move individual petals in and out to create a more pleasing arrangement around the heart.

Heart Flower with Petals added using WreathMaker

Use the Brush stroke to create the 3 stem pieces.

Draw a Teardrop (use the tool under shapes as a starting point).

Cluster groups of 3 teardrops over each of the smaller stem pieces.

Heart Flower Applique Motif

Alternate On Point Heart Quilt Layout

Set up a new quilt with an On Point layout.

Set the size of blocks at 8" x 8".

Create the borders:

Border 1: .75" Long Horizontal. (Note the quilt size of 24.127 after adding this border.)

Border #1 (Note size after adding border).

Border 2: 3" Blocks. Set the number of blocks in border to 12 horizontal and 12 vertical. Note that makes each block 2" wide. (24.127/12=2.01)
Border 3: .75" Long Horizontal.
Border 4: .5" Mitered (binding).

Final quilt size is 32.6" x 32.6".

Quilt Layout

Adding Blocks and Coloring

Set the On Point Pieced Heart Block in the On Point Layout (Layer 1).

Add applique hearts on Layer 2.

Place 3" hearts in the half square triangles in the corners.
Place 4" hearts in the larger setting triangles.

Blocks Added to Layer 1 and Layer 2

Create blocks for the ribbon border.

Border blocks measure 2" x 3".
Border corner blocks measure 3" x 3".

Ribbon Border Block 2" x 3"

Ribbon Border Corner Block 3" x 3"

Add the ribbon blocks to border #2.

To rotate all the blocks along one side of the border at once, make sure to use the Alt (PC Users) or Options (Mac Users) key before clicking on Rotate.

Finish coloring the quilt and add to sketchbook (to save).

On Point Heart Variation with Ribbon Border Quilt

Watch the full video tutorial.

I would love to see your design. Post pictures in the Learning EQ Facebook group. I've set up a dedicated post for your quilt designs.

On Point Heart Variation with Ribbon Border Post in Learning EQ Facebook Group

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.

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Love Word Art

2/8/2025

Love Roses from Creative Fabrica

I've been looking at a lot of graphic designs and one that intrigued me was a word composed of some flowers and leaves. I spent some time playing in Electric Quilt, to see if I could replicate the concept with some simple shapes. (Let's face it, I don't have enough time or patience to replicate the inspirational photo.)

The two shapes I decided to work with were the heart and a posie. Both are super simple to create in the applique worktable in EQ8. In fact the posie is done with a new tool in EQ8 called PosieMaker. If you are hesitant to draft your own applique, this is a great place to get started.

In my free EQ8 tutorial, I will show you how to create the shapes, and then place then in a block to create your own WordArt. We also cover using Wreathmaker (as I found it helpful in drawing the "O").

I didn't cover drafting the quilt layout. However, if you would like to replicate my project, create a Horizontal layout with 1 x 1 blocks. The block size was 14 x 5. There are two borders. The first is a .5 inch long horizontal and the second a 1 inch long horizontal.

Here is my quilt. The fabric in the border is part of the free fabric download from EQ for February 2020 (Mackinac Island by Moda.

Love WordArt designed by Kari Schell using EQ8

After designing the Love WordArt quilt, I started thinking about using other words. This could be a fun gift for a child, friend or family member. Here is "quilter" spelled out using the same concept.

Quilter WordArt designed by Kari Schell using EQ8

What word will you put in your WordArt quilt? Feel free to post your Word Art on the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Word Art Post on Learning EQ Facebook Group

Be My Valentine

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 her rulers.

Click here to purchase Be My Valentine. On sale for $5 (regularly $8).

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.

Pieced On Point Heart Block and Quilt

2/1/2025

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The design I am sharing today, was one I recently found in an old file from EQ4. That was the first version of EQ I owned. Functionality (and fabric options) were much more limited in those days. But EasyDraw and many of the quilt layouts we enjoy today were available for designing in the early years of Electric Quilt.

I did a bit of research and I could not find the block in the EQ library or in any of the free projects on their website. So it is possibly an original design. Or it could be something inspired by a quilt in a magazine (as the design was created before Pinterest became our go to source for inspiration).

I hope you enjoy.

Pieced On Point Heart Block

The block is conducive to either rotary cutting or foundation piecing. So in addition to being fast to draft, it would also be easy to piece.

On the Block Worktable, create a new block with the style EasyDraw.

In the Precision Toolbar, set the block width and height at 6".

Set the snaps every quarter inch (multiply the size of 6 times 4) -- so 24 x 24.

Make sure to turn on Snap to Grid.

Precision Toolbar for EasyDraw Block

Draw half the block (the upper left section after drawing a diagonal from the lower left to upper right).

Notice that the start and stop point for each line is a grid snap point.

Drafted Half Block

With the Pick tool select all the lines.

Under Advanced Symmetry select Clone.

Followed by Flip Left to Right and Rotate 90.

Position in the lower right corner.

Make sure patches are snapping to the grid points.

Drafted Full Block (after clone, flip and rotate)

Select the Color tab and color the block.

I used an updated default fabric collection (a benefit of the EQ Members Club offered by Electric Quilt).

Pieced Heart On Point Block Colored with Default Fabrics

Here are the rotary cutting instructions for the pieced on point heart block. Notice that there are instructions for every patch. So no templates or manual calculations will be required.

Feel free to use these instructions if you would like to piece the heart block (6" finished size).

Rotary Cutting Instructions for the Pieced On Point Heart Block

Pieced On Point Heart Quilt

On the Quilt Worktable, select New Quilt.

Select the style On Point.

On the Layout table set the number of blocks at 1 Horizontal and 3 Vertical.

Set the finished size of blocks at 6".

Layout Tab

On the Borders tab, set up three borders

1/2" Long Horizontal
2" Corner Blocks
1/4" Mitered

After setting the blocks, I decided to add a fourth border (before the first border). This was a long horizontal border. The top, left and right side had a size of 0. The bottom 2". This trick allows the top and bottom of the pieced heart layout to look the same.

Layout with Borders as Designed in EQ8

Quilt with Blocks and Colored Setting Pieced and Borders

On the Design tab, set the pieced on point heart blocks in the quilt.

Color the setting triangles and the borders.

If you are using a directional print, use rotate fabric to adjust the orientation.

Hint: Use the Eyedropper under fabric tools to find the fabrics in the block and use them to color the borders.

Save your design by selecting Add to Project Sketchbook.

Adding Quilting Designs

Locate a quilting design from the EQ Block library.

Edit to Block Worktable.

EQ Block Library>Stencils>Hearts

Edit the block (I found it necessary to put the larger heart below the small heart. This allowed me to color the thread for the hearts using two different thread colors.)

For the thread properties, I chose the dashed line style and the 2nd from the bottom weight. This will allow the thread work to be more visible on the quilt.

Hearts Colored with Thread on the Block Worktable

On the Quilt Worktable, drag to place the heart blocks on Layer 3. Only thread from a block is visible when placed on Layer 3.

Set the size of the blocks at 3".

Position in the setting triangles and the corners.

Rotate as desired.

Add to Sketchbook to save the quilt.

Heart Stencil Layout on the Quilt Worktable

Watch the video to see the full process.

Here is the finished quilt.

I am curious what you would do with the block?

Would you add quilting to the setting triangles? Or would you incorporate a different design?

Share pictures of your design in the Learning EQ Facebook Group.

I look forward to seeing your quilt.

Learning EQ Facebook Group Post

Pieced On Point Heart Quilt designed in EQ8

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.

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Hearts

1/25/2025

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I recently resurrected an old project that was created in Electric Quilt 4. In an attempt to find the inspiration for that project, I ended up opening a number of my old projects. Although I never found the quilt I was looking for, I did discover the quilt I am sharing with you today.

The quilt has blocks on Layer 1 and Layer 2. And two different heart blocks. I was actually pretty impressed that I was able to do it in EQ4.

However the EQ4 fabric options weren't very pretty (i.e. they were ugly in those days). And I did see a few flaws in my design. So I decided to redo the project in EQ8.

This ended up being a quilt that I made from my EQ4 design-- because I thought that was what I was suppose to do with my EQ designs.

Fabrics

Hollyhocks and Roses by Bunny Hill Designs for Moda

In my search for a collection of fabrics with pinks and reds, I found Hollyhocks and Roses by Bunny Hill Designs for Moda. It was part of the EQ Stash Collection - 2024 Download 2 - from Electric Quilt.

If you don't want to purchase the Stash collection, the fabric can also be downloaded from the Moda website.

In the video, I share how I added the fabrics from the Stash Collection to my Hearts project.

(I did end up including an additional red (solid) for my cornerstones.

Heart Blocks

While EQ does have a heart under Shapes in the Applique toolkit, I don't actually love the shape of the heart.

Rather that editing that heart, I decided to pick a heart block from the EQ library that better reflected the style of heart I wanted in my quilt.

In the video, I cover finding and editing the block from the library and creating two different heart blocks that were used in the quilt.

Heart Flower Block under Contemporary Applique - Hearts in the EQ8 Library

Heart Block for Quilt Center

Heart Block for Remaining blocks in the Quilt

The blocks will be set in an on point quilt, so don't worry about adjusting the fabric rotation on the block worktable.

Hearts Quilt

Set up a new quilt with the style On Point.

In the Layout tab, set the number of blocks at 3 horizontal and 4 vertical.

Set the size of the blocks at 4 inches.

Set the sashing at 1 inch.

On Point Layout for Hearts Quilt

The quilt has three borders:

Border #1 - 1" Long Horizontal

Border #2 - 3" Mitered (I went with Mitered as I used a directional print in the border.)

Border #3 - .25" Mitered (for binding)

Hearts Quilt Layout with Borders

The 2nd heart block was placed on Layer 1 with a single click in each of the block spaces.

The remainder of the quilt was colored (with the exception of the four squares and sashing in the center).

Not coloring the blocks under another block, will improve the fabric yardage calculations.

The 1st heart block will need to be dragged onto Layer 2 and the size set with the adjust tool. There are no predefined spaces on Layer 2 -- so we get to decide both size and placement of any blocks.

Hearts Quilt - Layer 1

Heart Quilt - Layer 2

Check out the full tutorial in the video.

Create your own heart quilt in Electric Quilt. If you would like to challenge yourself, consider using a different applique element in the blocks.

I would love to see your design.

I've set up a separate post in the Learning EQ Group where you can share your designs. (Or even your favorite heart quilt).

Learning EQ Facebook Group Post for Hearts Quilt

Hearts Quilt Construction

Rather than use applique hearts, I used a collection of doilies for my Hearts quilt.

I did a straight stitch over the edge of the doily (using a matching thread). Super simple (and fast).

Some of the doilies were quartered.

For the smaller doilies, I just centered them in the block.

Heart Quilt with Doilies Created by Kari Schell

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.

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Sashiko is Possible in Electric Quilt

1/18/2025

What is Sashiko?

Sashiko is a Japanese hand sewing technique that involves stitching patterns of running stitches to reinforce or decorate cloth and clothing.

The word "sashiko" literally translates to "little stabs". Four or six thin strands of 100% cotton thread are twisted together tightly to create a single strand of Sashiko thread. Sashiko thread is non-divisible, meaning that it is meant to be used as a single strand and not divided down or pulled apart like embroidery floss.

Sashiko and Electric Quilt

Because of the geometric nature of these designs, they are very conducive to drawing inEasyDraw and PolyDraw.

However if the plan is to use the designs for traditional Sashiko, the EasyDraw/PolyDraw tools really don’t work well due to the double stitch lines created with adjoining patches.

So I found that the best way to create Sashiko designs is as an applique motif.

I will be sharing how in this tutorial.

Sierpinski Triangle

Sierpinski Triangle from Wikipedia

Mary Groesbeck of Womancave Design shared with me an idea that involved using Sashiko in a Sierpinski triangle. The blocks and quilt I am sharing today was inspired by her design. The Sierpinski triangle essentially is a block with equilateral triangles inside other equilateral triangles.

Per Wikipedia, "the Sierpiński triangle, also called the Sierpiński gasket or Sierpiński sieve, is a fractal with the overall shape of an equilateral triangle, subdivided recursively into smaller equilateral triangles."

So what is an equilateral triangle?

An equilateral triangle is a triangle in which all three sides have the same length, and all three angles are equal.

Equilateral Triangle Diagram

Rather than remembering my High School Geometry, I typically use an online Equilateral Triangle calculator to figure out my measurements for my blocks and quilt.

Here is a link to my favorite.

Rechneronline Equilateral Triangle Calculator

Here were the measurements I used in my blocks and quilts. The only thing you need from the calculator is edge length (width) and height (height).

Just ignore the rest!

Equilateral Triangle Calculations

Drafting the Sierpinski Triangle Quilting Motif

Set up a new block that is a combination EasyDraw&Applique.

Using the equilateral triangle calculator measurements, set the Block Width at 16 and Block Height at 13.86.

On the EasyDraw tab, draw the outside edges for the triangle. Find the center of each edge (Partition>Half) and and draw a line from the center node to the opposing corners.

Partitioned Equilateral Triangle on the EasyDraw tab

Sashiko Stitching triangles on the applique tab

Go to the Applique Tab.

Trace one of the EasyDraw triangles.

Select the 3 lines, clone, resize and position in the larger triangle.

Continue to clone, resize and position for two additional triangles.

Clone, rotate 120 degrees and reposition two additional sets of three triangles. Use the EasyDraw lines as reference lines for placement.

Add one line from the center of the equilateral triangle to the lower right corner.

Delete the outside line from first triangle.

Sashiko Stitching in EasyDraw&Applique Block

Sashiko Stitching as an Applique Motif

Using the Edit tool in the main toolbar, copy all the lines on the applique tab.

Paste them in a new Applique Motif block.

Select Thread tools and color the lines.

Drafting an Equilateral Triangle in EasyDraw

Draw a basic Equilateral Triangle in EasyDraw and color. Of course if you didn't want the two outside triangles, you could draft this this same triangle in PolyDraw instead.

EasyDraw Equilateral Triangle

Equilateral Triangle Block

Drafting Stitching for the Outside Triangles

Start a new Applique Motif block.

Block size is actually not important, but set the snaps horizontal at 20 and vertical at 10.

Snapping options should be just Snap to Grid.

Draft slanted lines on both the left and right sides of the blocks connecting nodes on the left and right edges with nodes on the bottom.

Sashiko Stitching for Outside Triangles

Drafting the Sierpinski Quilt

Set up a new Custom Set quilt.

On the layout tab change the size to a width of 64 and a height of 55.5. (The 55.5 is a rounding of the calculated number of 55.426.)

On the border tab, change the size to 1/2 inch and the style to mitered.

Custom Set Layout

Sierpinski Triangle Layer 1

Place the EasyDraw Equilateral triangle block on Layer 1.

With the Adjust tool change the size to 64 x 55.5 and center horizontally and vertically.

Color the border.

On Layer 2 place the Triangle Applique motif blocks.

Use Snap to Grid (set at 2") for placement of the first row.

For the second, third and four rows, you will be able to snap to grid for the X-Axis.

However you will need to manually input the numbers for the Y-Axis. Refer to the Equilateral Triangle calculator number for the numbers to use for the Y-Axis.

Sierpinski Triangle Layer 2

Sierpinski Triangle Layer 3

On Layer 3, place the stitching (stencil) for the outside triangles.

Size the motif at 64 x 55.5 (consistent with the block size).

Center horizontally and vertically.

Watch the full video tutorial.

Here is the final quilt.

Sierpinski Triangle Quilt Designed in Electric Quilt

If you would like to get creative, consider creating a different stencil for the Sierpinski triangles. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Hint: In exporting your image, make sure to have on Outline patches and Outline blocks. Otherwise you will not see the stitching on Layer 2.

Learning EQ Facebook Group Post for Sierpinski Triangle Quilt

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.

<<Previous

Forward>>

On Point Heart Variation with Ribbon Border

On Point Heart Applique

Alternate On Point Heart Quilt Layout

Adding Blocks and Coloring

Love Word Art

Be My Valentine

Pieced On Point Heart Block and Quilt

Pieced On Point Heart Block

Pieced On Point Heart Quilt

Adding Quilting Designs

Hearts

Fabrics

Heart Blocks

Hearts Quilt

Hearts Quilt Construction

Sashiko is Possible in Electric Quilt

What is Sashiko?

Sashiko and Electric Quilt

Sierpinski Triangle

Drafting the Sierpinski Triangle Quilting Motif

Drafting an Equilateral Triangle in EasyDraw

Drafting Stitching for the Outside Triangles

Drafting the Sierpinski Quilt

Kari Schell

Categories

Archives

On Point Heart Variation with Ribbon Border

On Point Heart Applique

Alternate On Point Heart Quilt Layout

Adding Blocks and Coloring

Love Word Art

Be My Valentine

Pieced On Point Heart Block and Quilt

Pieced On Point Heart Block

Pieced On Point Heart Quilt

Adding Quilting Designs

Hearts

Fabrics

Heart Blocks

Hearts Quilt

Hearts Quilt Construction

Sashiko is Possible in Electric Quilt

What is Sashiko?

Sashiko and Electric Quilt

Sierpinski Triangle

Drafting the Sierpinski Triangle Quilting Motif

Drafting an Equilateral Triangle in EasyDraw

Drafting Stitching for the Outside Triangles

Drafting the Sierpinski Quilt

Kari Schell

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