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Getting Started

Before you start Lesson 3 make sure that you have completed Lessons 1 and 2. If you have not completed these previous lessons return to the Skylights Mystery Quilt lesson list and complete them both before you begin Lesson 3. If you are a beginner to EQ6 then you may want to familiarize yourself with EasyDraw before doing this mystery lesson. 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.

Set up Snap Grid

  1. To create a block you must be on the Block worktable. On the menu bar, click WORKTABLE > Work on Block.
  2. To start a new block click BLOCK > New Block > EasyDraw Block on the menu bar.
  3. On the menu bar, click BLOCK > Drawing Board Setup > Snap Grid (in EQ6). Beside Horizontal grid points(Horizontal Divisions in EQ5) click the arrows until the number of point is 9. Repeat this step for Vertical grid points (Vertical Divisions in EQ5) until it is also 9.Important: Remember you have done this. You will want to set this back to the default numbers 24 x 24 after this lesson.
  4. (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.
  5. Click OK.

Make a 9-patch Block

  1. Click the small square in the Grid tool button image . The Grid Setup box appears and allows you to adjust the number of columns and rows that the grid will contain. If the setup box does not appear, on the menu bar, click BLOCK > Grid Tool Setup (Grid Setup in EQ5).
  2. In the Grid Setup box click the arrows beside Columns until the number of columns is 3. Follow this same step with Rows so that the number of rows also is 3.
  3. Make sure the Grid tool is still selected and place the crosshairs of the Grid tool over the top-left corner of the block outline. Click, hold and drag the crosshairs diagonally to the bottom-right corner of the block outline. You will see four solid lines that split the block into nine sections, making a Nine Patch. If you don’t get a perfect Nine Patch, click EDIT > Undo and draw again.

Draw the Block

The only patch of the block that you will draw in is the center patch, which when completed will be a Squared Chain. The remaining patches will get a solid color fill when it comes time to color the block.

  1. Click the Line tool. You will draw a total of four lines.

Line 1

Line 2

Line3

Line4

  1. The block is now complete. Click the Add to Sketchbook button (Save in Sketchbook in EQ5).

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. Click the color, then click on the area of the block that needs to be this color. The example below shows where each of the colors need to be used in the block.
1. Black
2. Dark Gray
3. Light Gray
4. Yellow

Continue coloring your block until it is complete. When your block is complete it should look like the following:

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 the block you just drew and colored. (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. Beside Name type:Squared Chain.
  6. Click the X in the top-right corner of the notecard to close it. You will notice that your block now displays its name.
  7. Click Close (x in EQ5) to close the Sketchbook. Click the Save button.
  8. Exit EQ6 (EQ5) by clicking FILE >Exit.

Congratulations! You now have two mystery blocks drawn.