Welcome back.  This is Part 2 of designing the octagon shaped Stardrop Table Topper with Electric Quilt 8.  In our first lesson, we used the polydraw drawing tools and features including the Octagon drawing tool to create the Stardrop block.  In Part 2, we will set the block into a quilt and learn how to print the foundation pieced pattern.  If you missed the first lesson, you can find it at this link,  Stardrop Table Topper – Part 1.  On to creating our quilt!

Stardrop Table Topper – Part 2

Size: 24″ x 24″

Skill Builders:

  • Creating an irregular shaped quilt
  • Printing foundation pieced patterns

On to the design!

  1. Open EQ8.
  2. On the left side toolbar, click the Open project button. 


  3. Select the Project we already saved from Part 1, Stardrop Table Topper and click OK.
  4. Select the Quilt Worktable. 
  5. Select DESIGN QUILTS, and choose  the NEW QUILT tab.  
  6.  Under the NEW QUILT tab, select Horizontal.
  7. Under LAYOUT, Update the Horizontal Layout Palette.
  8. Under Number of Blocks, Change both Horizontal and Vertical to 1.
  9. Under Finished Size of Blocks, check to keep width and height equal.  Change to 24 inches.
  10. Keep Sashing at 0.
  11. Select the Borders tab to display the Borders Palette.
  12. Under Lock size adjustments, select all and move the borders to zero.
  13. Select the Design tab.
  14. Select BLOCK TOOLS on the ribbon bar.
  15. In the Sketchbook blocks palette, choose the Set Block Tool.    You should see the Stardrop Table Topper Block you created in Part 1.
  16. In the quilt drawing area, choose  the Layer 2 tab at the bottom.
  17. Click and drag your Stardrop Block to the top left corner of the quilt drawing space and let go.  The block should drop right into the quilt. Note: Because you used layer 2, you are able to keep the Octagon shape of the quilt.
  18. Add it to the Sketchbook. 
  19. From here you can print your yardage estimate and print out your foundation paper piecing pattern.

How to print the foundation pattern for the block to make the quilt.

  1.  Select the PRINT and EXPORT tab.
  2. Select Print  in the ribbon bar.
  3. Make sure you are on Layer 2.  (Remember we placed the block on Layer 2)
  4. Click on the block to select it, you will see a green highlight around the whole block.  Once you select it, the foundation tool will be available.
  5. Under the Print Patterns Palette, choose the FOUNDATION TOOL. 
  6. EQ8 will do its best to group your foundation paper piecing pattern.  In this case, each wedge could be stitched out as a single paper piecing pattern.  However, the wedge will not all fit onto an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of paper, so we will break it up into two pieces.
  7. Under the Sections tab, choose Start Over.  Since all of the wedges are the same, we are only going to create foundation paper piecing templates for one of the wedges.  Some of this is trial and error if you are doing it yourself, but I have already figured out how to split up the design for you.  You select the pieces in the order you want to sew them.
  8.  Start with the bottom triangle and select it, then select the background on the right and left sides, then the bottom band.  Click the Group Button to make that one group for a template.
  9. Next, Select the middle triangle, then the right and left background pieces, then select the top triangle.  Click the Group button to make that another template.
  10. Next, lets look at the Options tab.
  11. From the Options tab you can customize how the foundation templates will print.  We are using the Style of Grayscale fill, but there are option for just a line drawing or a color fill.
  12. You can change the Line Thickness and even the font size of the number under the Fonts button at the bottom.  Take a few minutes to look at these options.
  13. Finally, we will check the numbering of the pieces, select the Numbering tab.
  14.  The numbering looks good and to be in the right order.   Lets look at a print preview to see how it will print.  Select the Preview button in the bottom row.
  15. The two templates need to be moved to fit on regular printer pages.  Click and hold to highlight and drag the template pieces to the top two pages.  The larger template is still going across two pages.
  16. Click the larger template to select it and then use the Rotate button to rotate it until it fits onto the page.  Now you are ready to print your templates onto foundation paper.

HINT:  Have you tried printing on EQ Printables Foundation Sheets?  EQ has 25 sheet packages of special nonwoven material that you can run through your printer just like paper.  It tears away easily, is translucent and won’t dull machine needles. If you don’t want to print, you can also use a pen, pencil or marker to draw your template onto the paper.  

Here are  Tips and Help Articles to help you get ready to sew up your design.

How to print fabric yardage estimates

How to print templates

Ready to Quilt?

Now that you have designed this with EQ8, why not sew this beautiful Stardrop Table Topper?  You can find  a Detailed Tutorial for this quilted topper on my Lori Miller Designs blog.

 Questions or Feedback?

Please share your ideas, questions and feedback in the comments. I would love to hear from you. Thanks!

Lori J. Miller lives in Troy, Michigan, where she designs, stitches and sews quilts and quilty things. She loves experimenting with fun colors and designs to make playful and clever products for the modern stitcher.  Sewing since age 11, Lori has deep roots in sewing and quilting traditions that add a unique dimension to her designs.  She loves designing using Electric Quilt 8, Electric Quilt Mini and EQ Stitch.  You can follow her quilting adventures on her blog at lorimillerdesigns.com or on instagram @lorimillerdesigns