Welcome to Design & Discover! You can follow along with a lesson and submit your version of the quilt right on the blog with a link up. If you have a blog, make sure to add your site too. Let’s visit each others’ blogs and all get to know each other!

Before getting started, keep in mind any of the images can be viewed larger by clicking on them.

Also, you don’t have to make the blocks or quilts exactly as shown, have fun and make it your own!

This month we will be learning about drawing foundation blocks. We’ll draw one from scratch. The other one we’ll import an image to trace to create the foundation block. We won’t literally trace the image but use it as an inspiration to create a foundation block.

We’ll start with a pretty simple acorn…

…then also create one that is more advanced.

Let’s get started!

1. Click Block Worktable

2. Click Pieced

3. Click EasyDraw

4. Click the Grid tool

5. Make the grid 5 Columns and 5 Rows

6. Since we’re dealing with a block on a 5 x 5 grid, let’s make the block 5 inches by 5 inches with snaps at 25 x 25.

7. Click in the upper left hand corner of the block and drag down to the lower right hand corner.

8. Click Add to Project Sketchbook
This adds your block to the Sketchbook but it also adds dots at the intersections of lines and breaks the lines into sections.

Also, if you haven’t named your project yet, 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.)

9. Click the Pick tool.

10. Hold your Delete key down on your keyboard and click on the lines you would like to delete, as shown.

Your block should now look like this:

11. Make sure Snap to Grid Points on Worktable and Snap to Nodes of Drawing are on. They will be highlighted in blue.

12. Click the Line tool

13. Draw the lines as shown.

14. Click the Color tab and color as desired.

15. Click Add to Project Sketchbook

16. Now, click the Print & Export tab
17. Click Print
18. Click Foundation
19. Click Preview
The block is sectioned and numbered for you.
That was easy! Now, let’s try this block…
This acorn was roughly based on an image. You can download that here.
1. Click New Block
2. Click Pieced
3. Click EasyDraw
4. Click Tracing Images to import the image you want to trace.
5. Click Import Image
6. Navigate to where you file is located and click Open
7. Set the Width and Height to 720 x 720 and click OK.
8. Click Drawing Tools
9. Click the Line Tool
10. Make sure that Snap to gridpoints on worktable is OFF, Snaps to nodes of drawing is ON and Snaps to lines and arcs of drawing is OFF.
Remember: Your lines must touch the edge of the block or other lines. There can’t be any floating lines or they will disappear.
Let’s start drawing!
It’s a good idea to start by deciding what your largest sections will be.
11. Draw three lines to section off the stem, the top of the acorn (actually called a cupule!) and the bottom.
12. Draw six more lines to define the general shape of the acorn.
I clicked Hide/show image for tracing so it was a little easier to see what I drew. You can keep it on if you’d like.
13. Draw in more detail as shown. You can extend your lines past the intersections. The extra part will be deleted because they’re not touching the edge of the block or other lines.
Make sure to keep in mind how you plan to sew the block. Here is more information on paper piecing blocks from Alyce Blyth at Blossom Heart Quilts.
14. Click the Color tab and color as you wish.
Sometimes coloring can also help you realize things you may want to edit, or change. For example, I want to delete this line.
15. To delete a line:
Click the Draw tab
Click the Pick Tool
Click on the line
Click Delete
16. Once you have your block the way you would like it, click Add to Project Sketchbook
17. Click Print & Export
18. Click Foundation
It may come up blank
19. Click on a piece to start, then click Group when you’re ready. You’ll obviously need to take into consideration how you plan on sewing the block.
I grouped mine into the three original sections we made.
20. Click Preview to make sure everything looks as you would expect.
21. Close the Preview
22. Click the Numbering-tab.
If the numbers are gray, they are just EQ’s suggestions. Click on them to make them black, confirming that you want that numbering. To change the order just click on the pieces in the order you would like. Gray numbers won’t show up in the print preview.
If the number are black, EQ has automatically numbered the block. To change the order you can click Change Numbers.
23. Click Preview
24. Print the pattern if you would like or click Close.
25. Click Add to Project Sketchbook

26. Now design a quilt with one of your acorn blocks so you can post it below!
27. When you are done with your quilt don’t forget to click Add to Project Sketchbook

28. If you would like to export an image of your quilt click the Print & Export tab. You can also click the Hide/show quilt patch lines tool, if you prefer your quilt without lines.

29. Click Export

30. Click Image

29. Name your file and click Save (in Documents\My EQ8\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 your quilts! 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.