Back to Top

Design & Discover – EasyDraw Tips and Tricks

Posted 06-01-2023 by Heidi | Posted in: Design & Discover

EasyDraw is for pieced blocks. You can also use PolyDraw, or Applique.

With EasyDraw all the lines must touch each other and/or the edges of the block. Think of your lines as seams.

For example, in the first block the lines do not touch the edges.  The center pieces are “floating”. When you click the COLOR tab you won’t see the diamond.

You couldn’t piece the first block, so you can’t draw it that way in EasyDraw either!

In the second block, lines are added. Now, you could sew it, and it appears correctly on the COLOR tab.

There are a few other things you want to consider BEFORE you start drawing your block: the block size and the precision bar settings.

Block Size

Let’s say you want to draw the log cabin block below and want the finished block to be 12 inches x 12 inches.

If you analyze the block a little you will see that it’s based on an 8 x 8 grid.

So, it will be easier to draw the block at 8 inches x 8 inches than at 12 x 12.

Even if you draw the block at 8 x 8, when you set the block in a quilt, it will automatically resize to the layout size of the quilt, meaning that’s where you could set your block size on the LAYOUT tab to 12 x 12 for this example.
Or, if you are planning on printing it from the Block Worktable you can change the size of the block when you print.
Another option is just to change the size of the block once you’re done drawing it.
But, the point is, draw the block at the size that works the best for that particular block, not the finished size you want!

Here are a few more examples…
This blocks is based on a 3 x 3 grid. You would want to draw the block at 3 x 3 or at dimensions that are multiples of 3.

This blocks is based on a 6 x 6 grid. You would want to draw the block at 6 x 6 or at dimensions that are multiples of 6.

 

Let’s practice with the log cabin block.

  1. Click Block Worktable > NEW BLOCK > Pieced > EasyDraw
  2. Under Block Width and Block Height make the block 8 x 8

    Precision Bar Settings
  3. Under Snaps Horizontal and Snaps Vertical enter 8 x 8
  4. Turn Snap to grid points on worktable ON

With these settings the lines will snap to every inch.

Once you have the correct set up, the lines will literally just pop into place! (Then you can click on the COLOR tab to color it as well!)

Click Add to Project Sketchbook    for any variations you would like to keep. If the project is unnamed, EQ8 will prompt you to do so. (To be saved, your item needs to be in the Sketchbook AND your project needs to be named. Here is more information.)

What if you wanted other snapping options for an 8 x 8 block?

  • If you wanted to draw lines at the half inch marks you could set your snaps to 16 x 16 (8 x 2)
  • If you wanted to draw lines at the quarter inch marks you could set your snaps to 32 x 32 (8 x 4)
  • If you wanted to draw lines at the two inch marks you could set your snaps to 4 x 4 (8 ÷ 2)

What if your block was 5 x 3, for example?

  • If you wanted to draw lines at the inch marks you could set your snaps to 5 x 3 (5 x 1, 3 x 1)
  • If you wanted to draw lines at the half inch marks you could set your snaps to 10 x 6 (5 x 2, 3 x 2)
  • If you wanted to draw lines at the quarter inch marks you could set your snaps to 20 x 12 (5 x 4, 3 x 4)
  • In this case you wouldn’t be able to set the lines to snap to the 2 inch mark because  5 ÷ 2 = 2.5 and 3 ÷ 2 is 1.5 and you can’t enter decimals or fractions as snap settings. The best option would be to set the snaps to 5 x 3 and start your lines close to the 2 inch increments.

Something else to check out is the Graph Paper Cells. You can turn them off and on and adjust the Horizontal and Vertical settings. But, this only controls the graph paper, or guide lines; it does not effect how the lines snap. In the example below my Graph Paper is set to 3 x 3 but my snaps are set to 8 x 8. If I try to draw a line at 2 2/3 inches (where the first grid line is) it will snap to the 3 inch mark. (Also, the graph paper is there to help you, but will not appear on printouts, nor is a part of the block drawing.)

EasyDraw Tools

Take a look at the EasyDraw tools…
Pick Tool
Edit Tool
Line Tool
Arc Tool
Grid Tool

The Edit tool is sometimes overlooked and can be very helpful, especially for blocks you may not be able to see the grid for.  Let’s use the Edit tool to draw the block below.

  1. Make the Block Width and Block Height 6 x 6 (although the size doesn’t matter too much for the method we’re going to use)
  2. Under Snaps Horizontal and Snaps Vertical enter 6 x 6
  3. Turn Snap to grid points on worktable ON
  4. Click the Line tool and draw a diamond like shown.
  5. Now, turn Snap to grid points on worktable OFF
    With this off, your lines will not snap to any grid points.
  6. Turn Snap to nodes of drawing ON
    With this on, your lines will snap to the nodes of your drawing.
  7. Click the Edit tool
  8. Click on each line of the diamond and click the Half button
  9. Click the Line tool and connect the nodes to draw a square.
  10. Click on the Edit tool and click on each line in the square and click the Half button.
  11. Repeat that process until your block is complete.
  12. Color the block if you would like.
  13. Click Add to Project Sketchbook 
Let’s try one more block.
  1. Click NEW BLOCK > Pieced > EasyDraw

    We aren’t using the Snaps Horizontal and Snaps Vertical so the block size doesn’t matter in this case.
  2. Click the Arc tool and draw two arcs.
  3. Click on the the Edit tool and click on a arc to select it
  4. Enter a number under Partition Segment and click Apply.
    Partition Segment divides the line or arc into equal segments.
  5. Click on the other arc to select it.
  6. Enter the same number under Stagger Segment and click Apply.
    Stagger Segment inserts a half segment before the first node and after the last node. The other nodes are evenly spaced.
  7. Turn ON Snap to Nodes of drawing (and the other snapping options off)
  8. Click the Line tool and connect the nodes
  9. Color the block if you would like.
  10. Click Add to Project Sketchbook 

If you want to post images of your blocks, here is how to export the images.

To post your image click to comment on this post. Fill in your info and then click Browse.
Go to: Documents\My EQ8\Images

I can’t wait to see what you’ve done! I hope you enjoyed the lesson!
If you have questions about the lesson feel free to post them below.
If you have questions about something else EQ related, please contact techsupport@electricquilt.com.
If you have suggestions for new Design & Discover lessons feel free to comment below or email Heidi@electricquilt.com.

EQ Design Challenge & Giveaway – Vertex

Posted 06-01-2023 by Olivia | Posted in: Contests

June’s Fabric of the Month is Vertex by QT Fabrics, which is their newest blender collection! With an array of 84 colors, this textural print will become your go-to favorite. Select colors are also available in 108” wide fabric too. Ask your favorite independent quilt shop for Vertex and tell them QT Fabrics sent you! A bundle of these fabrics will be given away to three lucky winners! Submit your EQ design featuring Vertex below…all instructions and contest details are in this post. Good luck! To enter In order to enter for the giveaway you must submit a quilt using the current Fabric of the Month AND comment on at least one other person’s quilt you like by the end of the month. If you’re the first person to submit a quilt, make sure to come back and comment on someone else’s quilt before the contest ends. Instructions for how to submit an image are at the

Book Giveaway with Cheryl Brickey

Posted 05-25-2023 by Christine | Posted in: EQ Artists From Our Users Q&A

EQ Artist, Cheryl Brickey has a brand-new book out called Just Two Charm Pack Quilts which would make a great gift (even for yourself!!). Read all about it below and enter to win a copy! EQ: We are so excited about your new book! This book is a continuation to one of your previously published books, right? Cheryl: Yes! Just Two Charm Pack Quilts is a follow-on to my best-selling book Just One Charm Pack Quilts. Each of the quilts in my Just One Charm Pack Quilts book used a single charm pack, an additional fabric, and a background fabric in order to stretch the charm pack into a full quilt. I thought of it as the Hamburger Helper of charm packs. Each of the quilts were smaller in size, perfect for babies, children, and smaller lap quilts. Quilters loved the designs but wanted larger quilts so Just Two Charm

Lessons with Yvonne–May 21, 2023–Quick and Easy Disappearing 9-Patch

Posted 05-21-2023 by Yvonne | Posted in: EQ8 EQ8 Lessons with Yvonne Favorite Posts

Disappearing 9-patch blocks are extremely popular to use in quilts.  They are easy to make in EQ8 using the Serendipity tools.  With just a few clicks you can see all the different variations of a 9-patch block using EQ8. Open your EQ8 program and create a new project called Disappearing 9 Patch.   Be sure to click the OK at the bottom of the box. Open the view sketchbook and locate the built-in EQ8 9-patch design. Select the 9-patch and then click on EDIT at the bottom of the box.  This will place the design on the block worktable. The block worktable opens up on the DRAW tab of the block worktable. Click on the COLOR tab at the top of the screen and recolor the block as below. Add to sketchbook  At the top of the screen, click on the BLOCK heading and select Serendipity>Clip and Flip. The Clip and

Do You EQ Too? – Chris Behme

Posted 05-16-2023 by Olivia | Posted in: Do You EQ Too

Welcome to our blog series, Do You EQ Too? Each month, we will spotlight a different EQ user and their quilts! If you haven’t already, you can read our introduction post here. This month we are spotlighting Chris Behme! “I was a quilter from 1994-2000, when I dropped sewing for knitting,” says Chris. “I have since returned to quilting after building a new house in 2017 and covering 13 windows with Roman Shades and valances. The search for window treatments and home decor led me down a rabbit’s hole into a return to quilting. I quilt with the Mudsock Quilters Guild in Fishers, Indiana and have started tutoring guild members in my EQ8 knowledge. I try to submit challenges each month, but a busy schedule of quilting, grand-kids, and life have prevented my attempts this year. But I do enjoy looking at what others have created and have saved projects from past challenges!” Check

EQ8 Block Spotlight: Nine Patch Art Square

Posted 05-10-2023 by Jenny | Posted in: EQ8 Block Spotlight

Welcome to the EQ8 Block Spotlight series! Each month we highlight a block from the EQ8 Block Library with a few design ideas. Then we want you to show us what you can do with the block. We hope these posts will inspire you to try something new and expand your EQ skills! This month’s block: Nine Patch Art Square Where to find it: 01 Classic Pieced > Diamond in a Square Design ideas to get you started I used a standard 4×4 horizontal layout for my first quilt. I alternated the Nine Patch Art Square block with the default Mosaic, No. 2(2) block. Coloring this way gives the illusion of an on-point setting. For my second quilt, I used the Stars-19 layout from the library. The featured block is set in the center star point spaces and the default Nine Patch is set in the outer diamond spaces. I

Breezeway – Winners Announced!

Posted 05-10-2023 by Olivia | Posted in: Congratulations

Thank you to everyone who participated in April’s design challenge! Such a fun variety of quilts were submitted and we loved seeing them all! Winners Two winners were selected by the Maywood Studio team! Congratulations to…. Winner 1: Cynthia Concha “Love the use of all the fabrics in the interlocking diamond blocks. We could see this design used for many collections. Well done!” – Maywood Studio Winner 2: Julie Johnston “Her use of traditional blocks and color play really caught our eye!” – Maywood Studio Honorable Mentions Don’t forget to look at all the amazing submissions to this challenge. Here are a few honorable mentions from Maywood Studio! Honorable Mention 1: Deni Dickler “We loved the inspiration behind her design and learned something new.” – Maywood Studio Honorable Mention 2: Cynthia K Ryan “Her first submission and very impressive. Can’t wait to see what her next designs are.” – Maywood Studio More Chances to

Page 1 »