Welcome to DESIGN AND SEW ALONG 3-LESSONS WITH YVONNE.  This is lesson one (1) in this series that will focus on seasons and holidays in each of those seasons utilizing the EQ8 software. Not everyone celebrates holidays, so you will have the option of creating a seasonal block instead of a holiday block.  Not all countries celebrate the holidays at the same time.  For instance, Thanksgiving in Canada is in October, and in the USA it is celebrated in November.  You will design your blocks in plenty of time to be able to stitch them out before your holiday time. We will be making blocks that are all the same size so you will be able to put them together to make one large quilt or use them as blocks for smaller projects like bags, table runners, wall hangings, and quick gifts for others.

The written lessons will appear each week on the EQ blog page. https://doyoueq.com/blog/  Be sure to sign up for the newsletter so you will get notifications as each new lesson is released every week.

The lessons can be downloaded and printed so you can reference them as you work along in your EQ8.  You can also save the printed lesson to your computer as a PDF file to refer to in the future.


The lessons will also include a video at the bottom of the blog page that you can either watch online or download and save to your computer to watch at your own pace without being connected to the internet. I strongly suggest you watch the video first at the bottom of the blog page, then work through the written lesson.  A picture is worth a thousand words and by watching the video first it will be helpful to clarify the direction of the class lesson.  It is especially helpful for those of you who are better with visual learning.

At the bottom of the blog page, you will be able to ask questions and/or post pictures of your designs in EQ8.  It is great to share what you are doing so it is a source of inspiration for all.  Any questions asked here will be answered on the blog page as we go along.  We want to see what you have created in this series of lessons so be sure to add your comments and images of your blocks and layouts to the blog in the comments box at the bottom.

If you work through the lessons you will be able to use all the different design tools to create the different blocks and quilt layouts.  The lessons are designed to be able to be completed by a beginner to EQ8 through to advanced users of the program.  There will be something for every skill level.

NOTE: I am working with a PC and the notes I give you here along with the images are for PC.  If you are using a Mac computer your commands are slightly different.  When I say to use Control +Alt for the PC it is Command/Option for the Mac.  Other slight differences can be found on the EQ website at the following links. My notes and the video associated with the notes are for the PC.

Exporting a Metafile of blocks is not available for Macs, only Windows: https://support.electricquilt.com/articles/export-a-metafile-of-block/

When Mac users updated to Catalina, some started getting lines across their print previews (no numbers, text, etc.), therefore, they need to change each of the 5 Font options (Header, Symbol, Footer, Data, Number) to Tahoma: https://support.electricquilt.com/articles/issues-with-eq8-printouts-on-macos-catalina/

FALL/AUTUMN SEASON

1.  Launch your EQ8 program from the desktop.  The program will open to the opening screen where you can choose how you want to start your design process.

2. Click on the new project icon on the upper left side of the screen.

In the project helper box, make sure you are on the ‘create a new project tab’ and then type in the name of the class DESIGN AND SEW 3 LESSONS WITH YVONNE.  Once the name is typed in, click on the OK at the bottom of the box.

The PROJECT NAME  should show somewhere along the top of the screen.

Each time you want to work in the project, be sure to check that the project name is indeed at the top of the screen.

Since you may have been working with your program and changing the default settings, we want to reset the defaults for the program before beginning this lesson.  This way we will all be working from the same starting point.

3.  Click on the gear icon on the far left side of the screen.

4.  In the pop-up box for the program preferences,  click on the word ‘restore’ and then click to place a checkmark in the box ‘also restore default….,’ and then click on the blue box that says ‘restore default settings’.  Another box will open and it will tell you that EQ8 needs to restart.  Click the OK in that box.  The program will automatically close.

5.  Relaunch your EQ8 program from the desktop.

The program will open to the main screen.  Click on the words, ‘open an existing project’ in the center of the screen.

A second box will open.  Click on the ‘open existing project tab’ at the top of the screen and then locate and click on the DESIGN AND SEW 3 LESSONS WITH YVONNE to highlight it.  It should be at the top of the most recently used project box.  Once it is selected, click on the OK at the bottom of the box.

6.  The project sketchbook will open and you should see the project name at the top of the screen.  We have not created anything yet so just click on the ‘close’ at the bottom of the box.

The project for this class now has everyone starting with the same EQ8 default settings.  As we go along inside this project, any changes we make to the settings will be saved with the project. Each time we open a new project is it always best to reset the default settings.  EQ8 remembers what you had as settings the last time you were working with the program and those settings may not work for the new project that you want to create.

SIMPLE SEASONAL DESIGNS

Fall has me thinking of the changing of the colors of the leaves from green to bright vibrant colors.  Let’s create something quick and simple to celebrate this season of the year.  When choosing our colors for this block, we will keep in mind that we will be repeating these colors throughout our other blocks in each of the DESIGN AND SEW 3 LESSONS WITH YVONNE.

1.  Click on the block worktable icon on the upper right side of the screen.

We are creating a series of blocks that can be used in different layouts for small projects or collected and added together to create a larger project.  Since the block designs will need to work together in an overall quilt layout, the size and a repeat of colors should be consistent with every block we design.  By using a repeat of colors in the blocks with the different subject matter, the colors will bring the blocks together for a cohesive look in a quilt.

2.  Set the size of the blocks to be used throughout the lessons.  I am choosing to have a 16-inch block.  This is large, but I need the size for the room to add multiple applique elements and to have some more advanced pieced backgrounds without the pieces becoming too small to deal with. In EQ8 the size we set on the screen is the finished size of the block.  The 1/4 inch seam allowances will be added when we print the pattern.  Always design for the finished size you want to have.

On the block worktable, click on NEW BLOCK/Pieced/Easy Draw.

At the top of the block worktable area in the properties bar, type in the size of the block to be 16 x 16 inches.  Type in the snaps to be 32 x 32 horizontal and vertical.

3.  Click on the grid tool at the left side in the tools box.  Set the grid tool options to be 4 columns by 4 rows.  Move the cursor over to the upper left corner of the block worktable and click/hold/drag/release from the upper left corner to the lower right corner of the worktable.

4.  To edit the line segments separately, click on the color tab at the top of the screen and then click back onto the drawing tab at the top of the screen.  Now there are edit points added at the intersections of the lines.

5.  Click on the pick tool to select it.  Move the cursor over to the drawing board and click on each of the center segment lines to select the line.  Once it is selected, click on the delete key on your keyboard to delete the line segment.

Add the block to the sketchbook. 

5.  Click on the color tab at the top of the screen.

In the fabric tools box on the left side, click on the small colors tab in the center to see the solid color fabrics.  Click on a color and then click once in a block area to fill it with that color.  FILL THE CENTER OF THE BLOCK WITH THE COLOR WHITE.  Keep in mind that the colors you choose here will be the template for the colors you will use throughout all the class lesson designs.  This will make our quilt layout at the end have some cohesiveness with the color repeats across the different styles of blocks.

Add to the sketchbook once it is all colored.

You can easily see the outer squares need to be cut to 4.5 inches and the inner square will be cut to 8.5 inches.  The total size of the block is 16.5 inches unfinished with a finished size of 16 inches.

6.  Let’s use a quilt stencil to print on printer fabric to create a design for the center of the block.  This is faster and easier to create a design rather than trying to draw and sew an applique design.

Click on LIBRARIES>Block Library at the top of the screen.  This will open all the predesigned blocks, appliques, quilt stencils, and layouts built into the EQ8 program.

In the libraries box, you will find quilt stencils under the EQ8 Library/07 Stencils.  You may choose to select a different stencil library if you have some added on to the EQ8 default library.  There are several libraries you can purchase from the EQ company that will provide more Quiltmaker Stencils in your program.  I used a design from my Quiltmaker Stencils volume 2 for my example here.

Click on the 07 Stencils heading and then scroll down to the leaves category.  Click on a leaf design of your choice and then add to the sketchbook in the upper right corner of the library box.  Once you have added the design to the sketchbook, close the library box at the lower right corner of the box.

NOTE: Since I have the Quiltmaker Stencils series of add on designs for EQ8, I chose a leaf pattern from the volume 2 collections.  YOU CAN CHOOSE ANY LEAF DESIGN THAT REMINDS YOU OF THE FALL SEASON  FOR YOUR QUILT BLOCK.

7.  You can only add stencils to your block on the quilt worktable.  Click on the quilt worktable icon on the upper right side of the screen.

NEW QUILT>Horizontal layout is the default for EQ8.  Change the layout and borders by clicking on the tabs at the top of the screen.

Click on the layout tab at the top of the screen.  Under the horizontal layout, set the number of blocks to be 1 x 1, and the finished size of the blocks to be 16 inches.

8.  Click on the borders tab at the top of the screen and click on the ‘delete’ in the box to remove the border.

9.  Click on the Design tab a the top of the screen and then click on the set block icon in the block tools box. Under the blocks tab, click and drag the colored block we just made onto the worktable.  It will snap to size.

Add the quilt design to the sketchbook.

9.  Stencils need to be added to the quilt layout on layer 3.  Click on layer 3 at the bottom of the screen.

In the block tools box on the left side of the screen.  Click on the stencils tab and then click/hold/drag/release the stencil to the center area of the quilt worktable.  It most likely will not be centered.

Click on the adjust tool  and then click on the stencil to select it.   Type in the size of the block to be 8 x 8 inches.  In the adjust block properties box at the left side, click on ‘center horizontally’, and then click on  ‘center vertically’.

Add the layout to the sketchbook.

10.   If the outline of the chosen stencil is light, you may want to make the outline bolder.

Click on the thread tools icon at the top of the screen under the Design Tab.  In the Thread tools box, select the color you want; the style to be a solid line; and the weight to be the boldest selection.  Move the cursor over to the design page and click directly onto each of the lines of the elements to make the design appear thicker.

Add to sketchbook when you have finished making the thread lines thicker.

11.  I want to print a reference block so I can stay consistent with my colors throughout the lessons.  I also want to print the center stencil.

From the quilt worktable, click on the print and export tab at the top of the screen.  Click on the printer icon and then click on the quilt layout icon.

In the print/export pop up box, click on the ‘Edit name’ and then type in the name to be ‘project color reference and design’. ‘Edit name’ turns into ‘Apply’ once you have typed a name.  Click on the ‘apply’ to hold this name with the project.  This will be printed on paper for a color reference chart for your fabric choices.

Set the print references to show fabrics, print name, print overall size.  Click on the ‘preview at the bottom of the box’.

12. On the preview page,  note the name of the project, and the correct size of the block is written.  When you print from this page, it will print on your standard 8.5 x 11-inch printer paper.  This is just a reference page and not a correct block size image. Close the page when done printing.

NOTE:  You don’t have to do this printing.  I just wanted to show you how to use the printed page as a reference when you are working through each of the lessons.  This chart will help me to pull the fabric colors I want to use from my stash in creating the designs for a cohesive quilt layout using similar colors.  All the blocks will be different topics, but the color selections of the fabrics will tie it all together.

13.  I do want to print the center grapevine pattern onto printer fabric.  The printer does not print the color white.  I can choose a white, off white, or muslin color printer fabric for my center printer fabric choice.  I will print the outline onto the printer fabric and use that stencil print-out as a line drawing to color in with my fabric pens, watercolor paints, or whatever medium you choose to use.

Under the Print and Export tab, click on the printer icon.  Make sure you are on layer 3 of the quilt worktable.  Click on the stencil in the center of the block to select it.  There will be a green outline around it when it is selected and the size of the area will show on the screen.

Once the stencil block is selected, click on the print block icon on the left side of the screen.

14.  There is more than one way to print the block stencil image onto printer fabric.  I want to choose the printing option that will give me the boldest outline I can get.  It is necessary to use the preview option to see which printout will look correct for what I want to do.

In the print block settings box, the name of the stencil design is already there.  This was an EQ8 add-on block from the Quiltmaker series so the program already assigns a name for the block in the program.  The size of the block is there already.  The default for the program is to print an outline drawing for a stencil.

Click on the preview at the bottom of the box to see how the design will print.

On the print screen, I can see the design is a very fine line for the outline.  I want a thicker line for my print.  Close the page and select a different option of printing.

In the print block box, change the print style to ‘showing fabrics’.  Click on the preview at the bottom of the box to see how the image will look.

On the print page, you will see the outline is much thicker.  This is what I want to print on my printer fabric.  Click on the print at the top of the page to print the stencil design onto the printer fabric.

Close the page once you have printed the design onto the fabric.

I am printing on fabric so I can color it with my watercolor pencils.  I will choose colors that will remind me of the Fall season and will blend with the colors of my outside blocks to finish creating my design.  I always use the Electric Quilt printer fabrics because I can count on the quality of the printer fabrics to use in my quilt projects.

15.  Still, on the quilt worktable, click on layer 1 at the bottom of the screen. Under the design tab, click on the fabric tools icon. Select the randomize tool.

With the randomize tool selected, click on the radio dial in front of  ‘map to fabrics’.  Move the cursor over to the worktable and click once to view the block with fabrics instead of solid colors.

Add to sketchbook

This view may help you to see how your block will look with a selection of fabrics from your stash.  Since the outer edge squares are only 4.5 inches in size, you will be able to use your scraps with the color theme selected to create your 16-inch block.

16.  If you need to print the cutting directions for this simple block, click on the block worktable icon on the upper right side of the screen.  Click on the view sketchbook on the left side of the screen.  When the sketchbook opens, under the block heading, click on the pieced block to select it and then click on ‘edit’ at the bottom of the box.  The block will open on the block worktable.

Once the block appears on the block worktable, click on the color tab at the top of the screen.  This will show the colored block with the fabric selections instead of the solid colors.

Click on the print and export tab at the top of the screen. Click on the rotary cutting icon to get the preview box.

In the preview box, click on the word ‘preview’ at the bottom of the box.

17. To make it easier to find these same fabrics throughout all the weeks of the lessons, click on the view sketchbook icon on the left side of the screen.  Click on the fabrics heading in the project sketchbook box.  Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the box and then select the ‘sort fabrics’ option from the drop-down menu.

It is easier to find the fabrics you used previously by placing them all together at the beginning of the fabric selection screen.  In the sort fabrics box, click on the smallest icon in the lower-left corner of the box to see more fabric selections.  Scroll through and click once on each of the fabrics you have used.  Once you have selected them they will show in the project’s fabric box.  Click ‘close’ when you have finished your selections in the sort box.  All of your fabrics will now be at the beginning of the fabric selection box each time you want to color your blocks or quilt layout.

Close the sketchbook when done.

Below is a picture of my printed fabric with my watercolors added and the completed block with the pieced fabric outer edge.

THANKSGIVING IN NORTH AMERICA

In North America, Thanksgiving is celebrated with the fall harvest and a feast.  In Canada, Thanksgiving is in early October, and in the USA Thanksgiving is in November.  If you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, you may indeed celebrate the final fall harvest of the crops.

1.  On the block worktable,     click on the NEW BLOCK tab>Pieced and Applique>Easy + Applique to create a new Thanksgiving block.

The block size should still be the same as the last block we created.  Check the size on the block properties bar above the drawing area. Snap to grid and snap to node should be the only snap options turned on.

2. Thanksgiving to me means pictures of turkeys that children draw and a feast of harvested foods on the dining room table. Your memory of Thanksgiving may be different than mine, but for this lesson, we can all use the same design elements to create a block to learn the design tools necessary.

Click on the line drawing tool and move the cursor over to the drawing board and click/hold/drag/release cursor to draw a line in the center of the block from the top to the bottom and from the left to the right.

Click onto the color tab and then back onto the draw tab.  This will add a center node where the two lines intersect.

3.  Click on the grid tool to select it and set the properties to be 2 x 2 columns and rows.  Move the cursor over to the drawing board and click/hold/ drag/release the mouse to create a grid in the upper left corner to the center node and then again from the center node to the lower right corner of the block worktable.

4. Continue dividing the 4 patch grid by selecting the line drawing tool and moving the cursor over to the quilt block and click/hold/drag/ release the mouse to draw diagonal straight lines across the 4 patch block.  Make the diagonal lines in opposite directions for each 4 patch area.

Add to sketchbook

5.  Gather some applique designs from the EQ Library to add to the pieced block that represents the Thanksgiving holiday.

Click on LIBRARIES>Block Library at the top of the screen.

In the Library box, click on the word search>by notecard at the bottom of the box.

In the pop-up search box, type the word ‘turkey’ and then click on the word ‘search’ at the bottom of the box.

In the results box, click on the OK to see the different turkey blocks in the EQ8 program.

6.  Click on the image of the turkey in the library box to select it and then click on the add to the sketchbook in the upper right corner of the box.

Click on the search by notecard at the bottom of the box and repeat this same process to find the cornucopia.  Make sure you spell it correctly.

Click the OK to see the results.

In the library box, click on the cornucopia design to select it and then click on add to sketchbook at the upper right corner of the box.  Once completed, click on the ‘close’ at the bottom of the box.

7.  Click on the view sketchbook icon on the left side of the screen.  In the sketchbook under the blocks heading you will see the two applique blocks we just saved from the EQ8 libraries.  We need to edit these blocks to use them in our block that we just drew.  Click on the image of the turkey to select it and then click on the word edit at the bottom of the box.

8.  On the block worktable that the turkey was created on, click on the applique tab at the bottom of the screen.  We only want the turkey applique and not the entire block.

Click on the applique tab at the bottom of the screen.

Click on the pick tool to select it and then click on each of the legs and click on the delete key on your keyboard to delete the legs one at a time.

Thinking ahead as to the finished size I will work with for my block, I don’t want any really small details to be in the design.  The eyes, beak, and gobbler skin are small and I can easily draw them in with a permanent marker or make them of small buttons and small snippets of fusible fabric to complete the design.  I don’t need templates for these areas.  To avoid having the edit them out of the template pattern later, I will just remove them here.

With the pick tool , click on each of the small elements mentioned above and then use the delete key to delete them from the design.

Add the modified design to the sketchbook.

9.  Click on the control + A on your keyboard to select the entire modified turkey design.  Once it is selected,  right click>copy to send a copy to the clipboard.

Click on the view sketchbook icon and click on the block we drew with the 4 patch corners to select it and then click on the word ‘edit’ at the bottom of the box.

Once the block is on the worktable, right click>paste to add the design to the block.  You should be on the applique tab at the bottom of the block.  It will come in the wrong size and position but we will edit that.

10.  While the turkey is still selected, change the size by typing in the size box at the right side to be 7 x 7 inches.  Once it is resized, click/hold/drag/release with the pick tool     to move the applique to the lower-left corner of the block layout.

TIP–Sometimes when typing in the size of the design you want, the design does not automatically resize.  If this happens, when you have the correct size all typed in, click on the spacebar on your computer and the size will be applied to the design.  This way, the design remains selected and you can click on the crosshairs and drag it as one unit to the correct position on the worktable without having to reselect it again.

Add the design to the sketchbook.

11.  Repeat the same steps as above to bring in the cornucopia design.

Click on the view sketchbook icon on the left side of the screen.  In the sketchbook, click on the cornucopia design to select it and then click on ‘edit’ at the bottom of the box.  The design will open on the worktable it was created on.

12.  On the block worktable, on the applique tab, click on the pick tool to select it. There are several small bits to this design that will be difficult to use as applique when it is resized.  You can easily substitute some of the smaller elements with a fabric marker or with stitches.  Click on each of the following items to select them, then click on the delete key to remove them from the design.

Remove the stems and leaf on the apples and the pear.  Remove the cherries and the stems.  Click on each of the cornucopia basket decorative elements and delete them.

13.  The opening of the cornucopia basket looks too small to me. Click on the edit tool to select it.  Move the cursor over to the worktable and place the tip of the edit tool directly on the outline of the basket and click once to select it.  Edit handles will appear.

With the edit tool still selected, click on the corner edit nodes of the opening of the basket and drag them to a new position to make the opening appear larger to accommodate the harvest foods.

Add the edited design to the sketchbook.

14.  Click on the pick tool to select it.  Click on Control + A on your keyboard to select the entire design.  Right click>copy to place a copy of the design on the clipboard.

15.  Click on the view sketchbook icon at the far left side of the screen.  In the sketchbook box, click on the pieced block with the turkey we saved last. Once it is selected, click on the word edit at the bottom of the box.

On the worktable, right click>paste to have the cornucopia design show on the block.  It will be in the wrong place and much too big.  While it is still selected, type in the properties box at the left to be 7 x 7 inches in height and width.  Click and drag the resized cornucopia using the pick tool to the upper right side of the block design.

Add the block to the sketchbook

15.  Click on the color tab at the top of the screen.  Click on the fabric tools icon and the paintbrush icon  to select a fabric and then click on the block worktable to apply the fabric colors.  Remember, the first few fabric choices are the ones we used in the first block and will be the ones you want to use for consistency in coloring this block.  You may choose to select fabrics that are very similar in color to the first ones to round out your selections.

Add to sketchbook

The block has the tiny elements we edited missing.  This will make it easier to print the pattern without all those small bits to worry about.  Remember, you can add those bits yourself without a pattern being required.  Consider small buttons for dots or french knots for dots, and use a fabric felt marker to draw small stems.

16.  Click on the print and export tab at the top of the screen.  Click on the rotary cutting icon to see the sizes of the pieces to cut for the pieced background.  Click on the preview at the bottom of the box for the rotary cutting images.

In the preview, you will see the number of patches required and the sizes to cut.  This is just for the pieced background and not for the applique elements.  Print the cutting instructions from this page.

Close the print cutting box and then close the rotary cutting chart.

17.  Click on the templates icon on the left side of the screen to view the cutting patterns for the appliques.  In the print templates box, uncheck the ‘print seam allowance’ and click on the large size for the print key block. I uncheck the seam allowance because I want to make this a fusible applique design. Click on the preview at the bottom of the box to see the templates.

On the print preview screen, click on each of the elements that are not necessary as templates and then click on the delete at the top of the page to remove them. (All pieced elements can be deleted.)  The turkey feathers are either large or small.  You could delete all but one of each and just make as many copies as you need when you cut your fabric.

Refer to the key block to better see what the elements are.  You can zoom in to see the small bits easier and then click on fit to screen after viewing the key block more closely.

Close the screen when done.

HALLOWEEN IS ALL ABOUT KIDS

Many symbols evoke the feeling of Halloween.  But, even the youngest of children can participate in picking out a huge pumpkin destined to be carved and cleaned to celebrate this holiday.  Putting your hands inside and squishing the pulp and seeds through your fingers are some of my earliest memories.  Even without trick or treating, the pumpkin carving can be an event all in itself.

1.  Click on the block worktable icon on the upper right side of the screen.  Click on the NEW BLOCK tab then select the pieced and applique design with the easy + applique drawing method.

Check that the block properties are still showing as a 16-inch block with snaps set at 32 and the snap to node and snap to grid are turned on.

2.  Click on the line drawing tool to select it.  Move the cursor over to the worktable and click/hold/drag/release a line from the 8-inch mark on the sides and top of the block to create an inner diamond shape in the block.

Still using the line drawing tool, click/hold/drag/release a line from the 4-inch mark on the left side and the top 4-inch mark to the top edge to the block.

3.  Click on the pick tool to select it.   Click on the drawn line to select it.  Once it is selected, click on the arrow at the left side to open the advanced symmetry options.  Select the word ‘clone’ to place a copy of this line on the worktable.  It will appear slightly below and to the right of the original line drawn.

4.  Move the cursor over to the center of the cloned line and click/hold/drag/release the cloned line to the lower right corner of the block.

While the line is still selected, click on the word clone to make another copy of the line.  Rotate the line 90 degrees.  Click/hold/drag/release the line to move it to the upper right corner of the block worktable.

While this line is still selected, click on the clone command and then click/hold/drag/release the cloned line to the lower left side of the block.  All lines should snap to the outer edges of the block.

5.  Click on the color tab at the top of the screen to make sure all the lines are showing in the correct position on the block.  Once confirmed, click back onto the drawing tab.

Add the block to the sketchbook 

6.  Click on the applique tab at the bottom of the screen.  Click on the shapes icon to select the shapes menu.  Select the octagon from the shapes.

Pumpkins are not perfectly round and they are not symmetrical from side to side. This makes it easy to draw since they do not need to be perfectly shaped.

With the octagon shape selected, move the cursor over to the drawing board and click/hold/drag/ release the cursor dragging it downward to create an octagon shape.

7.  Click on the edit tool to select it on the left side of the screen.  One at a time, click on the three segments on each side of the shape and then click on the ‘convert to curve’ option for the edit nodes.  When you select ‘convert to curve’ you will now see blue edit handles for that segment.  Do this for all 6 sides of the octagon.

After all 6 of the side segments are converted to curves, click on each segment again with the edit tool and then click on a blue edit handle and drag it outwards to create a smooth outer edge for your pumpkin.

8.  For the top and bottom of the pumpkin shape, click on each of those segments with the edit tool and then click on the ‘add node’ option.  A node will appear in the center of the line segment.  Click on the node and drag it inwards to give the pumpkin more shape.

This does not need to be perfect.  Pumpkins are not perfect!

9.  Click on the shapes icon again and select the square shape.  Move the cursor over to the drawing board and click/hold/drag/release the cursor drawing down and across to the right to create a vertical shape for the stem of the pumpkin.

Click on the shape edit tool to select it and then click on the pumpkin stem shape outline to show the edit nodes.  Using the edit tool, click on each of the edit nodes and drag them to a new position to look like a stem.  Add a node if necessary to create more shape in the stem segments.

10.  Click on the pick tool to select it.  Click on the stem shape and then click/hold/drag/release the shape to the top of the pumpkin design.

Click on Control + A on your keyboard to select the entire design.  Once it is selected, click on the center in the block icon to move the entire design to the center of the block.

Add the design to sketchbook

11.  Using this same process of selecting a shape and editing it, choose shapes of your choice to add the facial features to your pumpkin carving.

Add your completed design to sketchbook

12.  Click on the color tab at the top of the screen and add colors to your block.  Choose colors at the beginning of the palette as these are what we have been using on other blocks.

Add to the sketchbook.

WHAT TO CREATE WITH BLOCKS

You could use each of these three blocks we have designed as individual projects.  You can also add them all together to create a fall-themed table runner design.

1.  Click on the quilt worktable icon at the upper right side of the screen.  At the top of the screen click on the NEW QUILT>Open Library.  In the selection box, click on the table runner option under the layouts by size and then select the first layout.  It will have a blue box around it when selected.  Add the design to the sketchbook and then close the box.

2.  Click on the view sketchbook icon   at the far left side of the screen and when the project sketchbook opens, under the quilts heading, locate the table runner we just added.  Click on the table runner to select it and then click on edit at the bottom of the box.

3.  Click on the layout tab at the top of the screen and change the block size to be 16 x 16 inches.

4.  Click on the Design tab at the top of the screen.  Under the block tools, set block, click and drag each of the three blocks we created onto the layout area. It should snap to size and fit perfectly into the layout for the table runner.

The stencil for the center block needs to be placed on layer 3 of the quilt worktable.  Click on layer 3 at the bottom of the screen and then click on the stencils tab to find the fall stencil you created.  Click/hold/drag the stencil to the center block.

5.  To color the quilt you need to be on layer 1.  Click on layer 1 at the bottom of the screen and then click on the fabric tools under the design tab.  Click on the paintbrush tool icon to see the fabric selections. Choose colors that are from the original palette we set to use as consistent colors in our designs.

Add to sketchbook

NOTE: This is an image of a possible layout for a table runner using the blocks we created.   You may decide to use each block differently.  The Thanksgiving block can easily be used to create a placemat.  The Fall inspiration block can be made into a bag or a table centerpiece.  The Halloween block could be used to create a trick or treat bag for a child.  The design layouts will be up to you.

6.  Save an image of the layout to post to the EQ blog page.   On the left side of the screen in the images export box, click on the print and export tab a the top of the screen.  Click on the export icon and then click on the image tool.

7.  The default for the program is to save images of your work in the images folder.  Name your image ( Table Runner Lesson 1 Design and Sew Along 3) and save it to the folder.  The export file image size can just stay the same as it is.  Click OK in the image size box.

When you add your image and comments to the class blog comment section this is where you will find your image to upload.

I hope you have enjoyed this first lesson in the DESIGN AND SEW ALONG 3 series.

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