Welcome to the EQ8 Block Spotlight series! Each month we highlight a block from the EQ8 Block Library with a few design ideas. Then we want you to show us what you can do with the block.

If you’re a brand new EQ8 user, I hope you’ll join in the fun! This monthly series is great motivation to dig into the software and practice your new EQ8 skills. And if you’ve been using EQ8 for a while, I hope these posts will inspire you to try something new! :-)

This month’s block: Fan Dance 3

Where to find it: 02 Contemporary Pieced > Fans

Design ideas to get you started

This first design uses a Horizontal Strip quilt layout. The fan blocks are set in alternating Pieced Blocks and Half Drop Blocks strips. The fabric used in this quilt is the Floradora collection by Jen Hewett for Ruby Star Society and Moda. I downloaded the fabric images from Moda’s website. Visit our support site to learn how to import fabrics from a manufacturer’s website.

For my second quilt, I edited the block on the Block Worktable to add triangles to the wedges. One version with triangles in the outside wedges; another version with triangles in the center wedge.

Then I set them in a horizontal layout in groups of four and rotated the blocks to make full wheels. I must be in the mood for dark navy backgrounds this month. ;)

What would you design with the Fan Dance 3 block? Post a quilt or two in the comments below. It can be as simple or as complex as you’d like (it just has to use the featured block!).

Export an Image of your Quilt

  1. On the Quilt Worktable, click the PRINT & EXPORT tab.
  2. Click Export in the ribbon.
  3. In the palette on the left, click Image.
  4. Type a name for your image and click the Save button. (Make sure you know where you’re saving the image on your computer. We recommend saving to your My EQ8 > Images folder.)

In the comment form below, tell us a little bit about your design and then click Browse to include the image of your quilt.

Don’t forget to comment on other quilter’s designs too. Let’s build each other up!