Did you know you can place your stencils (we say “stencils” but we’re actually talking about how it represents the actual quilting) in EQ8 and design with them? And then recolor them with threads from the EQ8 Thread Library (which contains over 4,000 thread colors – these threads are from 12 of the most popular thread manufacturers!)? Did you also know that you can change the style and weight of the stencil’s thread? Whether you did or not, you can still learn more from this month’s Design & Discover!

Let’s get started!

  1. Click Design a quilt from scratch
  2. Make sure you’re using a Horizontal layout, then click the LAYOUT tab
  3. For NUMBER OF BLOCKS enter 1 x 1
  4. For FINISHED SIZE OF BLOCKS enter 10.5 x 10.5
  5. Click the BORDERS tab
  6. Choose Tile Squares
    The size will already be set for you. Here is more information on how Tile Square borders work.
  7. Click the Add button
  8. Under Select a border style choose Long Horizontal
  9. Make all sides of the border 1 inch.
  10. Click the DESIGN tab
  11. In the Block Tools palette, click Open Library
  12. Browse the Block Library and choose a block for the center of your block as well as a few for the tile-square border. (I chose from Contemporary Applique > Hawaiian.)
  13. When you find blocks you like click on the block and click Add to Sketchbook.
  14. When you are done, click Close.
  15. Click the Set Block tool
  16. Click on the block you’d like in the center of your quilt and click to place it in the center.
  17. Click on Fabric Tools
  18. Click Paintbrush
  19. Recolor your quilt as you would like. Keep in mind we’ll be placing stencils on top so you might not want something too busy.
  20. Click Add to Project Sketchbook . 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.)

    Depending what layer you place a block on, it will show up differently. As you can see, on Layer 1 the block is placed within the grid of the quilt layout. On Layer 2 the block is placed on top of the other blocks and patches. On Layer 3 the block shows up as a stencil. Every block in the Block Library (as well as any block you draw) will show as a stencil when placed on Layer 3. Here is more information about the different layers.
  21. Click Block Tools
  22. Click Layer 3 at the bottom of your screen. Notice now that your Fabric Tools and Auto Borders are grayed out. They are disabled on Layer 3. If you would like to enable them, you need to be on either Layer 1 or Layer 2.
  23. Click the Set Block tool
  24. Click on the block you would like and drag it onto the quilt.
  25. Click the Adjust tool
  26. Under BLOCK SIZE POSITION & ROTATION make the block 3.5 x 3.5
  27. Set Grid Snap Increments to 1/2 Inch. If the blocks aren’t being placed where you want, you can set it to a smaller increment.
  28. Place the stencils however you would like.
  29. Click Thread Tools
  30. Click Brush Thread (or whichever you’d prefer)
  31. Choose a color, style and weight. You can also use more threads from the Thread Library.
  32. Click on a stencil to see the changes.
  33. When you are done, click Add to Project Sketchbook .
  34. There are squares outlining each of the stencils and if you don’t like that, here is how to change it – basically, you would need to change them into motifs.
    Another way to get a stencil without a square outline is to choose a motif to begin with, or, of course, a stencil!

    Okay, let’s start with another example…

  35. Click NEW QUILT
  36. Click Horizontal
  37. Click the LAYOUT tab
  38. Make the NUMBER OF BLOCKS 1 x 1
  39. Make the FINISHED SIZE OF BLOCKS 20 x 20
  40. Click the BORDERS tab
  41. Choose Long Horizontal
  42. Make all sides 4 inches
  43. Click the DESIGN tab
  44. Click Open Library if you’d like to look for different blocks to use in your quilt. You could also leave the center blank. (I used Kaleidoscope 2 from Classic Pieced > Eight Pointed Stars.)
  45. Click Fabric Tools and recolor your quilt as you would like.
  46. Click Block Tools
  47. Click Layer 3 at the bottom of your screen.
  48. Click Open Library
  49. Under 07 Stencils choose any stencils you would like.
  50. Click Add to Sketchbook
  51. Click Close
  52. Click the Stencils tab
  53. Click on a stencil and drag it onto your quilt.
  54. Click the Adjust tool
  55. Use the Adjust tool to resize and place your stencil. You can also use the Adjust Block options. Under BLOCK, SIZE, POSITION & ROTATION I set my width to 20 x 20 and my x-axis and y-axis both to 0.
  56. Place your stencils as you like.
    I used a straight heart vine and a corner heart vine to make up the border. I used trial and error to make them fit the way that I wanted, as well as the Adjust tool, Rotate tool, and Copy and Paste. I also edited the heart vine corner block, a bit. You can edit the stencils just like any other block in EQ8…or, of course, draw your own!
  57. Click the Thread Tools to recolor the threads. Again, you can also choose different styles and weights.
  58. Remember to click Add to Project Sketchbook for anything you want to save.

     

    Another option…

    You can also add “stitch in the ditch” quilting to any of your quilts just by clicking on the Thread Tools and the lines of your quilt. No Layer 3 required! Since your blocks are on Layer 1 the Thread Tools can be used on  Layer 1 for this type of example.

    If you want to post images of your quilt, 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.