Maple Leaf Custom Set Quilt EQ8 Tutorial
A number of years ago back (way back in 2014), I created a free pattern for those that signed up for my newsletter. The quilt was designed in EQ7 and continues to be a favorite of mine. I pieced and quilted two different variations of the quilt.
I decided to resurrect the design, and update it with some new fabrics. I also added an easy to construct pieced border. The video tutorial will take you through the entire process of creating the block and quilt using EQ8. It will also give you confidence in using Custom Set.
Here is the block and the quilt from the video. You might be able to find the maple leaf block in the EQ library or BlockBase+. However I typically find it is faster to draw many of the "simple" blocks myself as sometimes figuring out the naming convention and locating the block can be a challenge.
After the video, I decided to play with a different Maple Leaf block from the library. I did a little modification to eliminate the extra patches on the left and bottom edges. Blocks from the library (or even BlockBase+) are always editable in EQ8.
I look forward to seeing what maple leaf block you chose to work with. Or did you pick a different block to use with the layout? Please post your designs in the designated post for the Learning EQ Facebook group.
I always enjoy seeing your work. Tech Know Quilters Masters Leaf Quilt Challenge
Each month, I provide a challenge to Tech Know Quilter Masters members. In September the challenge was to design a quilt that incorporates a leaf block. It is so amazing to see the creativity of this group of EQ8 users.
I even added my own challenge quilt at the bottom of the post.
If you have completed twelve or more months of Tech Know Quilters, you are eligible to join Tech Know Quilters Masters. If this interests you, send me a note and I will provide you more information on the program.
It has been a hectic week. It has been a privilege to welcome a new group of EQ enthusiasts into Tech Know Quilters. It was super fun to meet up with some of them at a private help session on Thursday.
For those that were part of the Fall Migration webinars, your bonus is still a work in progress. It has been taking a little longer than expected. But I hope to get it out to you shortly. In MN, the weather has finally started to feel like fall. I have my jacket on (huddled over my computer) as I write this post. I am still resisting turning on the heat. But may need to break down this weekend. I always get a bit excited when working with fall colors in my quilts. So I am super excited to share my latest quilt creation. Fall Pinwheel EQ8 Tutorail
I've always loved quilts comprised of two alternating blocks. To get started, I found a block in BlockBase+. If you would like to learn more, here is a post I did on Block Base+ a year ago.
The block is in Category 08: Four Patch and the Subcategory 13 Like Dutchman's Puzzle. They are square blocks divided into four parts by horizontal and vertical seams. Each quarter of the block is repeated in some rotation in the other four corners.
If you don't own BlockBase+, you can draft this block in EasyDraw. I suggest setting the block width and height at 8" x 8". Set your snaps horizontal and vertical at 4 x 4. The only snapping option needed is Snap to Grid. I know you can do this.
For fabrics, I went back to the Flourish by QT Fabrics collection. This was the one used in the Fall Migration project. Both the color and the leaves in the fabric are really speaking to me. This was one of the free Fabric of the Month download from Electric Quilt -- and the fabric is still findable in quilt stores.
In the video, I share how to start with your initial block (in my case the Pinwheel block) and create a coordinating block using the same grid structure and incorporating some of the elements of the first block.
Check out how the background fabric creates a lattice design around the on point square. I suspect if you didn't know the design process, it would be hard to know exactly what was block A and block B.
Then it was necessary to decide if I should do anything special with the large on point squares. For those of you who love the actual quilting process, it is a great place to showcase some awesome quilt design.
I elected to add a touch of applique. In the EQ8 library, I found a leaf under Motifs>Leaves. I used wreathmaker to turn the leaf into a group of four leaves and incorporated it in my alternate block.
Check out the entire process in my video tutorial.
Here is the final quilt from the video.
I would love to see your Fall Pinwheel quilt. What modifications will you make to personalize the design? Although I used 12" blocks in the quilt, it would also work well at 4", 6", 8" or 12". It would also be easily adaptable for a bed quilt.
Feel free to post pictures in the Learning EQ Facebook group post. It has been a super busy week with the Fall Migration webinars followed by open enrollment for Tech Know Quilters (which happens only a few times a year) ...and trying to keep up with my latest Tech Know Quilter class. So rather than doing a video today, I thought I would take the opportunity to share some amazing quilts recently completed by Tech Know Quilter members as part of the month-end challenge. As you can see they are super talented. Click on the photo to see a close-up of the quilt designs. Did you know it was possible to design all these quilts using Electric Quilt 8? I am so proud of this super group of Electric Quilt users. Click on the Learn More Image to find out about Tech Know Quilters. Fall Migration Free Webinar on Monday and Tuesday (September 23-24, 2023)
Registration Now Open for Free EQ8 Webinar - Options Available for Next Monday or Tuesday
Last week I shared how I took Louisiana (a historic quilt block) and created my own variation using Custom Set within EQ8. If you missed the tutorial, you can still catch the video here.
Louisiana Block Playtime
This week I will share how to create a full quilt (complete with coordination borders) for the Louisiana variation block.
I knew I wanted to carry the flying geese unit into the border -- but I didn't want those flying geese units around the entire quilt center as I thought it was a bit heavy for the center of the quilt.
So I decided to put four of them on each side of the corners. And I added one of those rectangle plus flying geese units to the corners as well.
In the video I also share how to deal with all those pesky unused block spaces in the pieced borders.
Here is the final quilt from the video.
I also thought I would try this quilt with a different fabric collection. This one is using the Flourish fabric collection from QT Fabrics.
I look forward to seeing what fabric collection you decide to work with.
Feel free to share pictures in the Learning EQ Facebook group. Tech Know Quilters Masters Challenge - Louisiana Block
Each month, I provide a challenge to Tech Know Quilter Masters members. In August the challenge was to design a quilt using the Louisiana block. Look at how different every quilt submitted in the challenge is. It is so amazing to see the creativity when there is no set pattern to follow.
Looks closely at each quilt and find the Louisiana block. Some are harder than others to figure out. Bonus points if you can identify the layout used by each designer.
If you have completed twelve or more months of Tech Know Quilters, you are eligible to join Tech Know Quilters Masters. If this interests you, send me a note and I will provide you more information on the program.
Every month I offer a challenge opportunity to my Tech Know Quilter Masters members. These are my more advanced students. The challenges give them an opportunity to expand their Electric Quilt 8 skills -- but more importantly their design skills. The members have mentioned that I should participate in the challenges as well.
No worries if you don't own BlockBase+ (yet). This is a super easy block to draft directly in Electric Quilt 8 and I will share how in this video.
But wait there's more!
For the challenge, I decided to play with a variation of the block. I was intrigued by the rectangle patch in the block and was curious what it would look like if I shared that space with another copy of the same block. In the video, you will see how to play the "what if" game and design your new block using custom set in the quilt worktable.
Here is the idea I ended up pursuing.
From there you will learn how to take your custom set design and use it as a tracing image. Along with a fast way to draft the new block in EasyDraw. You will also learn how to figure out how the best size and snap points for the new block.
Here is my Louisiana variation from the video.
I would love to see your Louisiana block. (FYI for the TKQ Masters members -- no need to share ahead of my post next week as I plan to post your quilts at that time.) ?
Check back next week to see a quilt using this block. Spoiler alert -- there just may be an additional change to this block. And learn how to use elements from your block as a guide for your pieced borders as well.
There will also be a show of the quilts Tech Know Quilter members designed for their challenge. I've looked at them and can say with a great deal of confidence that they will amaze you with their designs. |
Kari SchellElectric Quilt Expert and Educator and Pattern Designer. Categories
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