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Getting Started

In this lesson we will draw and color a block called Peter’s Quilt. This block is in BlockBase, because it appeared in Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns. But it is not in EQ5 or EQ6 because it’s an original block designed by Nancy Crow, named for her brother, we believe.

Before you start Lesson 11 make sure that you have completed Lessons 1-10. If you have not completed these previous lessons return to the Skylights Mystery Quilt lesson list  and complete them all before you begin Lesson 11. Make sure, if you’re a beginner with our programs, that you have worked through the beginning Workbook lessons, especially the EasyDraw lessons, in the “EQ5 Getting Started” book or the “EQ6 User Manual” before trying these mystery lessons. Print off these instructions from your internet browser by clicking FILE > Print.

Open your Mystery Project

  1. Double-click the EQ6 (EQ5) icon on your Windows Desktop.
  2. Click the Open an Existing Project tab in the Project Helper.
  3. Choose your Mystery Project file which should be saved as mystery.PJ6 (or mystery.PJ5). When this file is selected it is highlighted.
  4. Click OK. The Sketchbook containing your Mystery Project is now showing.
  5. Click Close (x in EQ5) to close the Sketchbook.

Start with a Library Block

  1. Click LIBRARIES > Block Library on the top menu bar.
  2. In EQ Libraries > scroll down and click the “3 Foundation Pieced” (“3 Paper Piecing” in EQ5) category.
  3. Scroll down and click the “Geometrics” style.
  4. After the first few horizontal stripe blocks is one with diagonal strips. (Just titled “Diagonal Strips.” In EQ6, the block is red and yellow. The block is pink/purple in EQ5.) Click the block, to select it.
  5. Click the Add to Sketchbook button (Copy button in EQ5) to put this Diagonal Strips block in your Sketchbook.
  6. Click the Close button to put away the Library.

Set up Snap Grid – All 8′s

  1. Click the View Sketchbook button > click the Blocks section.
  2. Click the Diagonal Strips block, to select it > click the Edit button to send the block down to the worktable.
  3. On the menu bar, click BLOCK > Drawing Board Setup > Block Size (General tab in EQ5). Make sure block size is 8 x 8. If it is not, double-click the existing number for Width (Horizontal in EQ5) and type 8. Repeat this step for Height (Vertical in EQ5) until it is also 8.
  4. Click Snap Grid (only EQ6). Beside Horizontal grid points (Horizontal Divisions in EQ5) click the arrows until the number of points is 8. Repeat this step for Vertical grid points (Vertical Divisions in EQ5) until it is also 8.
  5. (EQ6 only) To make it easier to draw precisely you will want to make sure that snapping is activated. While still in Drawing Board Setup click Snapping (under EasyDraw). Make sure there is a check in the boxes besideSnap to grid and Snap to nodes of drawing. If there is not, simply click on the box and a check will appear.
  6. Click Graph Paper on the side (EQ6) or on the top (EQ5). Click the box beside “Show graph paper” (EQ6) or click the down arrow under “Options” beside “Style” and choose “Graph paper lines” (EQ5). Make the number of graph paper divisions 8 for both number boxes.
  7. Click OK. You will now see graph paper lines across your block to help you draw. These lines will not appear in your final block drawing.

This is the block you’re drawing.

  1. Draw your block, following this picture. Start by drawing a horizontal line across the center of your block at the 4″ mark.
  2. Draw the vertical line from the bottom-center to make 2 squares at the bottom of your block. Your block will now look like this:

  1. Now draw the diagonal lines through the two bottom squares in your block. Each one will start and end at a graph paper cell corner like this:

  1. Click Add to Sketchbook (Save in Sketchbook in EQ5) when you have drawn your block.

Color the Block

  1. Click the Color tab at the bottom of the screen. Your block will appear and be ready for color. (Note: If any lines disappear, it is because they are not drawn completely point to point so they do not snap to the grid. Click the EasyDraw tab, click the Edit tool, click the nodes of the “Problem lines” or redraw using the Line tool.)
  2. On the Fabrics palette click the Colors tab (Solids in EQ5). This is where you will get the solid colors for your block. Scroll through the colors until you find the colors that you need.
  3. Color your block so it looks like this:

  1. Click the color and then click on the area of the block that needs to be this color.

Save and Name Your Block

  1. When you are done coloring your block, click the Add to Sketchbook button (Save in Sketchbook in EQ5).
  2. Click the View Sketchbook button.
  3. Click the Blocks section.
  4. Click your newly colored Peter’s Quilt block. (It is unnamed.) (For EQ5, click the arrow pointing right, beneath the block, to display the block in color).
  5. Click the Notecard button at the bottom of the Sketchbook. A blank notecard appears.
  6. Beside Name type: Peter’s Quilt.
  7. Click the X in the top-right corner of the notecard to close it. You will notice that your second block now displays its name.
  8. Click Close (x in EQ5) to close the Sketchbook.
  9. Click the Save button.
  10. Exit EQ6 (EQ5) by clicking FILE > Exit.

Note: If you are sewing this block you will sew one block. For fabric, think of light sky colors for the half-square triangles, and darker building “skylight” glass, metal, or brick colors for the strips.