EQ8 Lessons with Lori

Hello Electric Quilters!  We had so much fun designing pieced hexagons with my last lesson, I decided to share some tips in creating quilt layouts for those hexagons.  Using non-square blocks is sometimes tricky, but there are several methods we can use to create some beautiful quilt layouts.  In this lesson, we will explore the EQ8 one patch tool.  We will be using the hexagon shape and pieced blocks we created from my previous lesson , Designing Pieced Hexagons.  Head on over to that lesson if you have not created them yet. Hexagon One Patch Quilt Skillset: Beginner Skill Builders: Create a hexagon one patch quilt Discover hexagon designs   Lets talk about the hexagon shape first.   The hexagon shape is a six sided shape whose overall dimensions are not square. The hexagon above is oriented horizontally with the flat sides on the top and bottom. Hexagons are measured by their

Hello Electric Quilters!  I have been intrigued by English paper piecing and all things hexagon.  I have done many traditional square blocks but I had not experimented with drawing or designing with hexagons.  I had taken a class in design many years ago but had not really used the skills in a while.  I dove right in and fell in love with the design process.  In this lesson, we will learn a way to draw a hexagon and draw pieced hexagons using some simple shapes. Pieced Hexagons Skillset: Advanced Beginner Skill Builders: Create a guide for block drawing Draw a hexagon using polydraw   Lets talk about the hexagon shape first.   The hexagon shape is a six sided shape whose overall dimensions are not square. The hexagon above is oriented horizontally with the flat sides on the top and bottom. Hexagons are measured by their side length.  For this example we

Do you have a favorite quilt pattern you have designed but want to change the size?  Do you want to turn a throw quilt into a baby quilt?   Or do you need to supersize a twin size quilt  to a queen size quilt?  Here are some  super quick and super simple tips and ideas to resize your designs in a jiffy. Let’s design a throw quilt to use for this practice. Quilt Size Matters Skillset: Beginner Skill Builders: Add and remove blocks Add and remove sashing Add and remove borders Open EQ8. Name the Project.  The project name appears at the top left of the EQ8 Window. Right now the project says Untitled – EQ8. On the left side toolbar, click the New Project button.  On the Create a new project tab, type in the project name field “Quilt Size Matters”.  Click OK.  The box will close.  Notice the project name Untitled has been replaced with Quilt

I love how versatile EQ8 Quilt Design software is no matter what kind of quilt you are making or how you want to cut it out.  In this lesson, we are going to explore nine patch blocks that you can cut out with your Accuquilt GO! Cutters using the Qube die sets. Accuquilt GO! Qube dies contain 8 basic die shapes that you can mix and match to make Four Patch blocks in a 2 x 2 grid. However, you can also use those same shapes to make Nine Patch Blocks in a 3 x 3 grid.  Here is how: When you know what size Nine patch block can be created with your Qube, you can easily size your nine patch blocks to match in EQ8. For example, an 8” GO! Qube makes 12” nine patch blocks.  Since the Qube is based upon a four patch block, when we use

Do you have a lot of different sized blocks that you want to put together into a quilt?  Maybe you have a lot of Orphan blocks (blocks left over from other projects) or maybe you were gifted a stack of different sized blocks, there is a way to put them all together in EQ8 using a Custom Set Quilt.  I want to share with you some tips to using this approach to combining your myriad of quilt blocks. Designing a custom quilt may take a little more time,  but once you try it,  you will find it is a great technique to build your skills toolbox.  I am going to share my tip and tricks for this versatile method of quilt design too. Quilt Name Skillset: Advanced Beginner Skill Builders: Design a custom set quilt Drag and drop blocks Use grid snap settings Open EQ8. Let’s name the Project.  The project

Snowy days are on their way if you don’t already have a pile outside.  With visions of snowflakes and fun in the snow, I have just the thing to warm up your design skills.   This lesson explores using prairie points, not just for a quilt border, but to add dimension to this frosty Winter Star quilt.  We are going to use EQ8 to help us with the designing.  Our secret weapon will be the magic of Layer 2 on the Design Worktable. Quilt Layers Remember there are three layers that you can work with in Electric Quilt.  We are going to use the first two layers. Layer 1 is made of of pieced or applique blocks sewn together to make the quilt top. Layer 2 is for blocks, motifs and text that are sewn on top of the quilt top.  You drag your blocks or motifs from the palette over

Part of the magic and fun of Electric Quilt is trying out blocks and color combinations virtually.  You can get a good feel for the look of your quilt before you cut into those precious fabrics.  In this lesson, we are going to play with fabrics and color on a traditional Pineapple block.  This exercise is created to stretch your limits and let you just play with color and design.   From here you can use the designs and principles to ‘play’ with color on any quilt block to create the perfect masterpiece quilt. Pineapple Color Play Skillset: Beginner Skill Builders: Add fabrics to a project Edit the fabrics and colors on a block and quilt First, let’s get some fun fabrics.  We are going to download one of the free fabrics of the month.  Go to  doyoueq.com and select the Fabric of the Month tab.  Click on the display to be taken to the fabric