Contest closed. Rita V. of Fort Collins, CO was the lucky winner!
Here’s what Rita would like to design: I would love to make a quilt for each of my great-nephews with the initial of each one’s first name!
Be sure to look at other comments, including some from the author herself!
Thanks to all who participated.
The Book
In 2022, EQ lover, Jo Ann Lepore, joined the faculty of the Mid Appalachian Quilt Retreat, held at Gettysburg College, in Pennsylvania. Her roommate that she was paired with at the retreat was already an author with Fox Chapel Publishing. One evening, after a long day of teaching, they were discussing what they each design and the roommate suggested Jo Ann write a book. As Jo Ann told me, “she’s not afraid of rejection,” so after she found the proposal forms on the company’s website, submitted a proposal, and within days received a message that there was definite interest in her idea!
The premise of the book was to look for charted, or pixelated, designs that could be recreated in fabric. Jo Ann surfed the internet, books, and Pinterest for ideas, and before she knew it, she had hundreds of possibilities. Having used EQ for many years, she went directly to her laptop and started drafting quilt designs. Within the software she can easily try out so many different colorways and placements of fabric making it the perfect way to experiment!
A Brief History
Asking when and how Jo Ann got into quilting, before the book was even dreamed about, I learned the answer is not straight forward, but very interesting! Although Jo Ann doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t sewing, for the record, she says that she’s been sewing since the age of 8 and took her first lesson when she was 9 years old. For her wedding, she made all of her bridal-party outfits and 185 table napkins, so that everything matched! Jumping ahead a few years, an extended family member opened a craft shop and after leaving a 13-year job in HR, Jo Ann finally had some time to get back to sewing to contribute to the craft shop. She started making soft-sculpture crafts, took a class to make large teddy bears, and met a new friend who soon after bought a quilt shop, so took piecing and quilting classes there. During one of those classes, the teacher recognized Jo Ann’s skill and invited her to teach at the shop. Simultaneously, this led to Jo Ann starting her own wholesale decorative-accessory business which she ended up owning and leading for over 25 years! All the while, she continued to teach quilting techniques around the region. Due to changes in the industry, she decided it was time for a change, so began quilting full time, teaching extensively, and entering competitive quilt shows!
Here are some pictures of items Jo Ann made and sold while running her wholesale business.
Using EQ Software
Wondering about her use of EQ, Jo Ann let me know she started with EQ4 and has upgraded ever since. She learned about the software through her intense exposure to the entire quilting industry. Specifically, she was looking to design original quilts for competition. She had no reservations about using computer software and noted that EQ has gotten easier with each version.
Here’s one of Jo Ann’s very first EQ designs that she entered into the 2014 Vermont Quilt Festival… and won 1st place!!
Back to the Book
Here is Jo Ann’s favorite single-charted heart quilt that “started it all” and was the inspiration for the book! In fact, she’d love to do another book with only heart designs! Fingers crossed, or should I say, “Cross your heart?!”
Having your own copy of this book, you’ll learn how to create custom quilt designs using the Picture Patchwork technique of turning a simple grid into a quilting work of art! The 15 projects in the book range from beginner to advanced. Here are a few examples of Jo Ann’s EQ designs that found their way into the book. Notice how each design starts with a bunch of small squares, or pixels, and once colored create a neat picture!
Sewing machine
No Strings Attached and L monogram
Whale… I’m Lost
Inspired by her love of heart designs, it’s so easy to try out different options in EQ so here’s the same Heart Duo x 2 design with and without a border.
There are 15 unique and fun designs in the book which are sure to inspire!!
You can find Jo Ann’s book through Fox Chapel’s website and wherever you like to buy books. Follow Jo Ann on Instagram @sewjospecial or Facebook. And, if you find yourself in the Warren, New Jersey area on Wednesday, March 26 at 7pm, stop by the Pieced Together Quilt Guild to get a signed copy of the book by the author herself!
Giveaway!
The giveaway is closed. The winner will be announced this week. Thanks to everyone who submitted comments!
A copy of the book will be shipped to one lucky winner! To enter, submit a comment on this post letting us know what picture of yours, or one of Jo Ann’s designs, you’d like to make into a charted quilt. Giveaway closes 11:59pm ET February 2, 2025. Winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email. One entry per person. U.S. shipping only.
Tell us, what picture of yours, or one of Jo Ann’s designs, would you like to make into a charted quilt?
