Two months ago we announced that we’ve teamed up with the Quilts of Valor Foundation® (QOVF) for a special 8-month collaboration! We’re requesting both an image of your EQ-software-QOV design and a photo of the accompanying finished Quilt of Valor®. Scroll down below to read more details about this fabulous event!

Gina Gempesaw


Reaching out to Gina, of Gem Hill Quilts, she was very excited to read about the venture between EQ and QOV! Like many of you, Gina’s “QOV quilts are inspired by family and friends who have served.” She is particularly inspired by her niece’s husband who serves in the military.

Gina’s “Free As a Bird” quilt was originally seen in the March/April 2022 issue of Love of Quilting magazine. Gina used a variation of the 54-40 or Fight block. Knowing that the phrase “54-40 or fight” was used as a slogan in 1844 to rally support by then Presidential-candidate James Polk, it gives Gina “a sense of nationalistic pride,” perfect for a QOV! (You can purchase a download of the pattern for this quilt.)

“Free As a Bird” EQ designs

Above you’ll see Gina’s quilt design in EQ8 with and without patch lines, which is a great option to see exactly what your quilt will look like! Next, there are pictures of the quilt so you can see the entire gorgeous quilt, the starry backing, and a closeup to show the perfect swirls and stars quilting!

“Free As a Bird” finished quilt, backing, and quilting details

“Out to Sea” was the cover quilt on the July/August 2022 issue of Love of Quilting magazine! That issue was all about the sea, so Gina naturally thought about a friend who served in the Navy! The design she used creates a lot of movement; so much so that you can almost hear the waves crashing! (You can purchase a download of the pattern for this quilt.)

“Out to Sea” EQ design and finished quilt, featured on the cover of Love of Quilting

You can see Gina’s “Lady Liberty” quilt in the March/April 2021 issue of Love of Quilting magazine. While wonderful for any veteran, she thinks it would be particularly fitting for someone from New York! (You can purchase a download of the pattern for this quilt.)

“Lady Liberty” EQ design and finished quilt

Finally, Gina’s “Heroes and Friends” quilt was in the November/December 2020 issue of Love of Quilting magazine. She designed this quilt using the Crown of Thorns block which to her is “so appropriate to honor our veterans.” You’ll note that she chose a floral border which may be a bit unusual for a QOV, but Gina believes it “can be just the right thing for some veterans.” Another interesting thing about the quilt is that in the magazine there are instructions on how to make it a smaller, lap quilt, perfect for wheelchair-bound veterans. Gina was able to use EQ8′s Fussy Cut tool to get the fabric print exactly where she wanted it for the smaller version. (You can purchase a download of the pattern for this quilt.)

“Heroes and Friends” EQ design and finished quilt

The smaller, lap-sized version of “Heroes and Friends.” Note the use of the Fussy Cut tool to get the sayings and fabric images in the center of the blocks.

Recap

We included some brilliant examples in the first post and continue to receive incredible submissions! If you’ve already posted some of your quilts, thank you, and be sure to check back to see comments about your inspiring quilts. In each subsequent post, we’ll include more heartwarming pictures and stories, hoping they will encourage you to submit your own pictures and reasons for making the quilt.

2023

Are you making any resolutions for 2023? Maybe one is to make a QOV and this event is the gentle “push” you need. If so, there’s still plenty of time to join in this fulfilling project!

Speaking of 2023, this is the Quilts of Valor Foundation’s® 20th anniversary! They have some exciting things planned to celebrate, including heading to Paducah in September! Read about how this wonderful organization got started!

Special offer

Again, there’s still plenty of time to join in this fulfilling project. If you don’t have EQ8, you can save 25% by applying code VALOR25 to your order (expires July 4, 2023).

Or, if you’re more comfortable simply viewing, enjoying, and commenting on any of the beautiful quilts in the posts, please do so!

Submissions and Prizes

QOV event prizes

You can submit as many different quilts as you want, as long as they meet the requirements. Remember, at the end of this event, all submissions are eligible to win 1 of 3 amazing prize packs, including:

  • a bundle of Northcott’s Stars and Stripes fabric
  • an American Express gift card
  • a copy of the recently released QOV book, All-Star Quilts of Valor!!

(See the Rules and Prizes sections in the first post.)

Now, please show us your designs and quilts!

How to submit an image of your quilt design from EQ and the photo of your sewn QOV:

  1. On the EQ 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, choose PNG or JPG as the file type, 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.)
  5. We recommend setting the Resolution setting to 150. Quilt and patch lines are optional.
  6. Click Browse by the “Upload an Image of your EQ Design” box to upload the image.
  7. Take a picture of your sewn QOV and save it to your computer. (Again, make sure you know where you’re saving the picture on your computer.)
  8. Click Browse by the “Upload a Photo of the Finished Quilt” box to upload the photo.
  9. Enter why you made the quilt in the Comments field.
  10. Click Submit.