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Getting Started

Before you start Lesson 7 make sure that you have completed Lessons 1-6. If you have not completed these previous lessons return to the Skylights Episode lesson list and complete them all before you begin Lesson 7. 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.

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 > Block Size (General tab in EQ5). Make sure block size is 6 x 6. If it is not, double-click the existing number for Width (Horizontal in EQ5) and type 6. Repeat this step for Height (Vertical in EQ5) until it is also 6.
  4. Click Snap Grid (only EQ6). Beside Horizontal grid points (Horizontal Divisions in EQ5) click the arrows until the number of point is 6. Repeat this step for Vertical grid points (Vertical Divisions in EQ5) until it is also 6.
  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 OK.

Make a 36-patch Block

  1. Click the Grid tool. On the menu bar, click BLOCK > Grid Tool Setup (Grid Setup in EQ5). The Grid Setup box appears and allows you to adjust the number of columns and rows that the grid will contain.
  2. In the Grid Setup box click the arrows beside Columns until the number of columns is 6. Follow this same step with Rows so the number of rows is also 6.

  1. Place the crosshairs of the mouse cursor over the top-left corner of the block outlineClick, hold and drag the crosshairs diagonally to the bottom-right corner of the block outline. You will see solid lines that make your block into a 36-patch. If you don’t see a complete 36-patch, click EDIT > Undo, and drag again from top-left to bottom- right corners. (These are permanent lines that will appear when you click on the Color tab.)

Draw Variation 1 of the Star and Nine-Patch Block

15. Click the Line tool .16. Looking at the drawing to the left, draw four diagonal lines across four squares, to make the star points.17. Save this block by clicking the Add to Sketchbook button (Save in Sketchbook in EQ5). This is Variation 1 of your block.We need to make another version of this block — with the star points going the other direction. To make Variation 2, we’ll rotate the diagonal lines to make the star points go in the other direction.

Rotate Lines to Create Variation Two

  1. Click on the Pick tool (Symmetry tool in EQ5). Click on one of the diagonal lines, to select it.
  2. On the menu bar, click BLOCK > Symmetry. The Symmetry box appears.
  3. Click on Rot 90. The line will rotate 90 degrees.
  4. Click on another of the diagonal lines, to select it.
  5. Click on Rot 90. The line will rotate 90 degrees. While the rotated line is still selected, drag it slightly to make sure it snaps into place.
  6. Follow the same steps to rotate the last two diagonal lines. Be sure, after each rotation, to drag the line slightly to make sure it snaps into place.Rotating a line unhooks it from where it was snapped and “unsnaps” it. Usually a line will snap in place by itself, but if you want to make sure your lines are snapped correctly, click the Shape tool (Edit tool in EQ5), then click on the node (the dark square) at each end of every diagonal line you have rotated. You may see the line move slightly, indicating it was not snapped exactly where it needed to be, and is moving and snapping.
  7. Your block should now look like the image to the right.
  8. Save this block by clicking the Add to Sketchbook button (Save in Sketchbook in EQ5). This is Variation 2 of your block.

Color Your Version 2 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 and then click on the area of the block that needs to be this color. The example below shows a suggestion of where each of the colors needs to be used in the block.

Save and Name your Variation 2 Block

  1. When you are done coloring your Variation 2 block click the Add to Sketchbook button (Save in Sketchbookin EQ5).
  2. Click the View Sketchbook button.
  3. Click the Blocks section.
  4. Click your newly colored Version 2 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. Beside Name type:Star and Nine Patch Variation 2.
  6. 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.

Color Variation 1

  1. Click the Variation 1 block (still uncolored and unnamed).
  2. Click the Edit button on the Sketchbook. This sends your variation 1 block down to the worktable.
  3. Click the Color tab at the bottom of the screen.
  4. On the Fabrics palette click the Colors tab (Solids in EQ5).
  5. Click the color and 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.

Save and Name your Variation 1 Block

  1. When you are done coloring your variation 1 block click the Add to Sketchbook button (Save in Sketchbookin EQ5).
  2. Click the View Sketchbook button.
  3. Click the Blocks section.
  4. Click your newly colored variation 1 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. Beside Name type:Star and Nine Patch Variation 1.
  6. 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.
  7. Click Close (x in EQ5) to close the Sketchbook.
  8. Click the Save button.
  9. Exit EQ6 (EQ5) by clicking FILE >Exit.

Note: If you are sewing this block you will sew:

* Four of Variation 1
* Six of Variation 2

Think “sky” colors, as these blocks are also sky blocks and will fit above the Log Cabin part of the sky.

Bye until next month… another episode, another suspect, and Mystery Lesson Eight