I would prefer not to quilt in the summer months.  I find handling a quilt in summer to be too hot during warm weather.  Instead, I do all my planning and designing during the summer using my EQ8 and then I am ready to go when the cooler weather starts.  I sit outside in the sunshine with my computer and get lost in the design process of creating quilts.

Double click on the EQ8 icon to launch the program.

On the opening screen, click on the new project icon on the upper left side of the screen.

In the project helper box, click on the ‘create a new project tab’ and then type in the name ‘Summertime Quilt Planning’.  Click the OK at the bottom of the box.

I used the colors of the clear blue sky and the bright oranges and yellows of the summer sunshine to be my inspiration for my quilt design.

Click on the block worktable icon on the upper right side of the screen.  Click on the NEW BLOCK>Pieced>EasyDraw from the ribbon at the top of the screen.

On the properties bar at the top of the screen change the properties to block width and height 12 inches and the snaps horizontal and vertical 24. 

Click on the line drawing tool to select it.  Move the cursor over to the worktable and click/hold/drag/release a line both horizontal and vertical 2 inches from the outside edge of the block.

Click on the grid tool to select it.   In the grid tool options, set the columns and rows to be 4 x 4.

Move the cursor over to the center of the block workable and click/hold/drag/release a grid from the upper left corner to the lower right corner of the inner square on the block.

Click on the color tab at the top of the screen.  Click on the Fabric Tools from the ribbon at the top of the screen and then select the paintbrush tool. 

Using the colors of the sky and sun, color in the block.  Make the upper left and lower right corners a bright sunshine color.

Add to sketchbook 

Click on the quilt worktable icon on the upper left side of the screen.  Click on the NEW QUILT tab and select the Vertical Strip layout from the ribbon at the top of the screen. 

Click on the layout tab at the top of the screen.  Click on the word ‘DELETE” three times so you only have one strip remaining.  In the drop-down menu, select the ‘diamonds’ style.  Set the size of the remaining strip to be 12 inches wide and  72 inches long. Set the number of blocks to be 6 along the length and 1 across the width.

Still, under the layout tab, click on the word ‘ADD’ to add another strip.  Set the properties of this strip to be Pieced Blocks from the drop-down menu.  Set the width to 12 inches and the length to 72 inches.  Set the number of blocks along the length to be 6 blocks.

Click on the diamond’s block strip to select it.  It will be gray when selected.  Place a checkmark in front of ‘clone the selected strip’ and then click on the word add to add another diamond layout strip.

Click on the blocks strip to select it.  Click on the word ‘ADD’ to add a cloned strip to the layout with blocks.

Click on the diamonds strip one more time and clone and add it to the quilt layout.

 Add to sketchbook 

Click on the Design tab at the top of the screen and select the block tools from the ribbon.  Click on the set block tool.  Scroll to the end of the blocks to find the colored block we created.  Click on it to select it.  Move the cursor over to the worktable and click on each of the diamonds to set the block on the worktable.

Click on the rotate tool to select it.  Move the cursor over to the worktable and click on the blocks so they rotate within the setting so the yellow outer squares on the block are vertical in the layout.

Click on the set block tool.  Select the block and then fill in the blocks strips of the quilt with the block.

Click on the fabric tools from the ribbon at the top of the screen and use the paintbrush to select the same color used for the block’s blue background.  Click on the remaining open layout area to complete coloring the quilt.

 Add to sketchbook 

Turn off the block outlines by clicking on the ‘hide/show patch outlines’ tool on the far left side of the screen. This is a toggle switch and can be turned on and off with a simple click.  Be sure to turn it back on before you continue with your design.  This will give you a better idea of how the quilt will look as fabrics and not as a drawing. 

 

Want a more dramatic look?  Simply change the colors of your fabrics for a totally new look.