Riotous Autumn Cabin in the Woods Quilt

Leaves in my part of the country are just starting to turn.  It seems to be a bit later than normal.  Since there are no leaves to rake this weekend, I thought I would design a new quilt with an abundance of fall color.

Using Electric Quilt 8 -- of course! 

Autumn Cabin in the Woods EQ8 Tutorial

Thought Process When Starting my Block

This quilt block  was designed to be foundation piecing friendly. 

When designing the quilt, I set a rule for myself -- all lines that I drew had to snap to a horizontal and vertical snap points. 

I arbitrarily set the block size at 20" x 20" and I set the snaps horizontal and vertical at 40 x 40.

As I work through each section, I am thinking -- is there a better way to draft the block to reduce the number of sections.  If I discover one, I will go back and modify my design.

Drafting the Cabin

Initial Cabin in the Woods

I started by drawing some long horizontal lines to connect the left and right edges.  And a vertical line to connect with the tip of the roof.

In EasyDraw all drawing must connect to an outside edge.  Otherwise we have broken one of the rules for drafting EasyDraw Blocks.

I then focused on drafting the cabin itself.

The roof of the cabin will be one section.  (Note that the two teal patches on top the roof are actually part of the fall color background).

Foundation Sectioning for the Cabin

​Because of the windows, the base will have 5 sections.  Three of those sections currently have only one patch (at least at this point).

In looking at the foundation, I realized that with two additional lines I could have eliminated that light purple section.  Can you see how?

Drafting the Background (Riotous Fall Colors)

I then decided to add some long tree trunks along with a few branches on the left and right sides of the cabin.  I needed something to produce all that fall color.

Cabin with Added Chimney and Trees

Then I was ready for the real fun.  Adding horizontal vertical and diagonal lines to fill in the color.

Filling in the Autumn Color

For the space under the cabin, I decided to create three rows.  I set a goal that each row needed to be just one foundation.

I also decided that there needed to be a path starting at the bottom of the door and extending to the bottom of the block.

Kari's Final Autumn Cabin in the Woods block.

If you would prefer to trace my block, feel free to download my finished block to your computer.  Upload it into EQ and trace the design.

Final Cabin in the Woods Block - Download for Tracing

Drafting the Quilt

The quilt itself is super basic.

Style:  Horizontal

Three Borders

1. Long Horizontal (1")
2. Tile Squares - 11 blocks horizontal
3. Mitered (1/2")

Color the quilt with some slightly muted fall fabric colors -- tans, browns with a splash of orange.

Riotous Cabin in the Woods Quilt by Kari Schell

Watch the video to see my complete drafting process.

Feel free to draft the cabin in the woods -- either using my design or consider modifying to personalize the design.

I would love to see pictures. 

​Feel free to post in the Learning EQ8 Facebook group.  I've set up a dedicated post.

Autumn Cabin in the Woods Facebook Post

Creating the Foundation Pattern

Electric Quilt will usually provide us a recommended sectioning and numbering for our foundations for the block.

Unfortunately EQ decided not to play nice with my design.

EQ decided my block was not foundation friendly.  I disagree with the program -- but fortunately EQ has an option to section and number any foundation pattern yourself.  Since I was contemplating the sections while drafting the block -- it was pretty easy to tell EQ how I wanted to break it into sections.

If you would like to try this exercise, use my block for tracing (shown above) and a marker.  Draw lines around each section.  Then see how your sectioning compares to mine below.

Kari's Sectioning (without EQs Help)

How did you do?

Happy quilting.

​Kari

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