This is a special bonus post for the EQ7 Summer Drawing Series Sew Along! For this mini lesson, we’ll use the four flowers we drew in the Block 3 lesson to create some fun variations!
I’ll give you some hints on how to draw this block, but I won’t be writing out step-by-step instructions because I’d like you to give your new drawing skills a workout.
Note: I have Auto Fill turned off for the following illustrations (which is why my patches are not cream colored). You can easily turn this function on and off using the Auto Fill button on the Precision Bar.
Click here to download the Mini Lesson PDF file.
Wreathmaker
When we drew Flower #2 we used the Wreathmaker tool on a single shape to create the flower. You can also use it on a group of selected shapes.
With the Lesson 3 Block on the worktable, make sure you are on the Appliqué tab. Click the Pick tool . Delete Flowers #1, #3, and #4 by dragging a marquee box around each one to select it, and then pressing the Delete key on your keyboard.
Click EDIT > Select All (or CTRL+A) to select all the patches of Flower #2 and then click the Wreathmaker tool on the Precision Bar. Input the following settings and click OK:
And there’s our 4-flower wreath, nicely centered in the block.
You could add some leaves between the flowers to jazz it up a bit too!
Don’t forget to Add to Sketchbook .
In a Basket
Let’s take a plain basket block from the Block Library and add our flowers to it.
Click LIBRARIES > Block Library.
Click EQ7 Libraries > 04 Classic Applique > Baskets. Click on the first basket to select it, then click Add to Sketchbook. Click Close to close the library.
Click View Sketchbook . Click the Blocks section on the left, click on the original 4 flower block and then click Edit to send it to the worktable.
Click the Appliqué tab, then the Pick tool . Drag a marquee box around a flower you’d like to add to the basket.
Click EDIT > Copy (or CTRL+C).
Click View Sketchbook . Click on the Basket block and click Edit to send it to the worktable.
Click the Appliqué tab, then the Pick tool . Click EDIT > Paste (or CTRL+V) to paste the copied flower on to the block.
Drag the flower into place. You could also resize or rotate the flower at this time. It’s easiest to make these adjustments while the entire flower is still selected, rather than trying to go back and re-select all the shapes later.
You could paste more copies of the same flower into the basket (EDIT>Paste again), or you could go back to the original 4 flower block and copy and paste a different flower. If copying a different flower, you’ll have to save your in-progress basket block first by clicking Add to Sketchbook . Edit the original block and copy the flower, then edit the in-progress basket and paste another flower.
What other ways can you think of to use these flowers? Here are a few more ideas to spark your creativity:
Come back on July 31 for the Block 3 Link Up!
07-15-2013
6:03 pm
Thanks so much, Jenny!
07-15-2013
11:19 pm
Unbelievable creativity! Jenny, you go, girl! My creative juices are really flowing! Now, all I need is time!
07-17-2013
8:52 am
I have a question about wreathmaker Jenny. When I have several flowers overlapping, I always have one that does not overlap on one side. Both sides are under the one on each side. How do I change that?
I love these sessions. I’m learning sew much.
07-17-2013
9:44 am
Hi Bev, Jenny is out, so I thought I’d try to help. Unfortunately in EQ, there’s no way to make that happen. There has to be that one petal that is the base for the design. You’ll just want to remember this when you’re starting to place your applique pieces before sewing and slip the one side of the bottom-most petal on top of its neighbor. If you’re trying to go for “the look” in EQ, you could get really advanced and edit the curve of one of the patches to make it look like it’s behind it, but that gets complicated and won’t give you a good template piece in the printout. I hope this helps.
Sara @ EQ
07-17-2013
1:18 pm
Hello Sara
That does help actually, knowing that there is not a fix for that. I appreciate the prompt answer.
Sew Long for Now
Bev
07-26-2013
9:25 am
How do I save these lessons to my computer so I can view them later. Thanks in advance
07-26-2013
9:47 am
Hi Janet,
Each lesson has a link to a PDF file, which you can download and save to your computer.
The lessons will also remain on the blog and you can find them from the main menu of the blog (under Behind the Mouse). Hover your mouse over Sew Alongs and then click EQ7 Summer Drawing from the drop-down menu to see all the posts.
08-01-2013
4:22 pm
In the lesson #3 I can not SEND BACK the third leaf.
It is a great experience that drawing working lesson.
Merci Lise
08-02-2013
11:14 am
Hello Lise,
Make sure you have the shape is selected with the Pick tool, then you can either right-click on the shape and choose Send to Back from the menu. OR you can use the Send to Back button on the Precision Bar (you must have the shape selected with the Pick tool for these buttons to appear). The Send to Back button has two grey rectangles and one green rectangle with an arrow pointing to the back.
08-01-2013
7:36 pm
Thank you I will have to take a photo of what I have done I am so proud of you guys our dollar has dropped although our exports will benefit but sadly to say we do not create or make things ourselves so the costs now are spiraling????? This helps me to make some sense with the fabrics I bought in the good times!!!
03-06-2016
6:33 pm
Love the lessons. I did a double wreath and it turned out nice, but when I go to color it it only has two layers. The center wreath will color but the bottom wreath colors the whole block. How can I set the bottom wreath separate from the backing? Thank s for any help. I think I trying to say the the bottom and the 1st wreath seems merged but separate from the center or second wreath.
03-07-2016
1:53 pm
Hi Maxine,
I’m having trouble picturing your block, and how the wreaths are coloring. How about sending your project file to techsupport@electricquilt.com and we could take a look at?
Thanks,
Jenny @ EQ
09-05-2016
7:03 pm
It looks like your tulip is made up of three patches that overlap in the center. Is there a way to draw the three patches and then merging the three patches into one perhaps by deleting the overlap?
09-06-2016
9:36 am
Hi Brenda,
You could edit the drawing to make the three separate patches into one. There are two different ways to approach it:
You could use the Shape tool to add nodes to the patches at the overlap intersections. Then you can Break the closed shapes at those new nodes, delete the extra sections, then Join the nodes to create one closed patch.
Or, you could use the Pick tool to select all three patches, then right-click on the worktable and choose Convert to Guides. Then trace the guides to create a new shape that’s only one patch, instead of three separate patches.
Jenny @ EQ