Behind the Mouse: The Electric Quilt Blog

The Swath tool is fun to experiment with but can also make some awesome blocks! The Swath tool draws a stylized stroke surrounding a line. The line or “spine” of the stroke can be edited and shaped like any curve or line segment. The stroke or “hull” surrounding the spine can have varying widths and end styles. So, it’s great for making blocks with Flying Geese!   First let’s find the Swath tool. Open EQ8 and click Block Worktable Click NEW BLOCK > Applique > Block (you could also choose Motif but in this example we’re using Block). Click the DRAW tab > Drawing Tools > Draw > Swath Position the cursor where you want to begin. Press and hold the left mouse button. Still holding the left mouse button, drag in any direction. (To make the “flying geese” fly right, draw your stroke from left to right. To make

Something new is coming! This contest is now closed. Congrats to winner, Caroline L Winfrey! Caroline, watch for an email from EQ staff! Thank you to all participated! Watch for the official email announcing the availability of the new Four Seasons add-on very soon! As mentioned in our mid-month newsletter, we have been trying to stay chill, but are springing with excitement because you’re going to fall in love with our next product. We teased a special announcement for this hot new product and giveaway on the blog so here it is! For the past couple of months, we’ve been working hard to create something new for EQ users and now we can finally tell you about it! With the holiday season just around the corner, we thought it’d be the perfect product for this time of year. You’re going to love the versatility of this product and the applications

Fall is the time of year when I think of the color orange.  We see it in the changing leaves colors, pumpkins being carved for Halloween, pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice lattes, and much more.  I am not a huge fan of the color orange, but it is effective when used in small doses, blended with other colors, or as the highlight of an entire quilt made of oranges. Open your EQ8 program and give the new project a name called ‘Everything Is Coming Up Orange“.  Click OK at the bottom of the box to apply the project name. You should now see the name of the project at the top of the screen. Click on the project sketchbook icon on the far left side of the screen.  In the box, click on the fabrics heading.  Click on the three little dots in the upper right corner of the project sketchbook. 

Welcome to the EQ8 Block Spotlight! 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. Whether you’re a brand new EQ8 user or a seasoned pro, come join in the fun! This month’s block: Plaid Knots Where to find it: 02 Contemporary Pieced > Knots Design ideas to get you started The first quilt is a 4 x 4 horizontal layout. The Plaid Knots block is in the center four block spaces. I edited the block to remove some lines for the blocks in the surrounding spaces. The quilt is colored with Quilter’s Linen fabrics, which come installed with EQ8. You can find them in the Fabric Library in the Manufacturer Basics > Robert Kaufman-Quilter’s Linen section. The second quilt is a 3 x 3 on-point layout, and the

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to winner, Joanne Clark! Quilt designer, instructor, and long-time EQ user, Karen Ackva, just published her first book! We are so excited for her and YOU because Karen’s giving away a copy to one lucky winner! Read all about the book below and enter for your chance to win! Tell us about Transparendo – The Transparency Sampler Quilt. Only SIX fabrics are needed to achieve all those looks?! Karen: Yes, only six fabrics are used in the transparency sampler quilt – five for the blocks and one background fabric. A lot of times we are drawn to fat quarters and fabric series being newly released onto the market. These prints come and go, but solids and tone-on-tones survive over the decades. Just look at Amish quilts. These vibrant quilts made of simple solids from clothing remnants retain their interest and allow the design of

We loved seeing the colorful entries come in for the Water’s Edge challenge! Check out all the quilt designs we received here! Thanks to all who participated! Winners Two winners were selected by fabric designer Brett Lewis! Congratulations to…. Winner 1: Julie Johnston Winner 2: Kay Cook A Note from Brett Lewis “So many amazing designs to chose from again!” – Brett Lewis Honorable Mentions Don’t forget to look at all the amazing submissions to this challenge. Here are a few honorable mentions! More Chances to Win Ridgewood by Minick & Simpson for Moda is September’s Fabric of the Month! Download the collection and enter in our design challenge for another chance to win some fabric!

This contest is now closed. Winner is announced here. September is here and so is a new Fabric of the Month! Ridgewood by Minick & Simpson for Moda is this month’s featured collection! The fabrics evoke the serenity and warmth of a comfy, cozy stitching spot — that moment of peace we all strive for! Sweet florals and paisleys dance against a backdrop of cherry red, soft pink, and creamy neutrals. Your needle awaits! A bundle of these fabrics will be given away to one lucky winner! Submit your EQ design featuring Ridgewood below…all instructions and contest details are in this post. Good luck! To enter In order to enter for the giveaway you must submit a quilt using the current Fabric of the Month AND comment on at least one other person’s quilt you like by the end of the month. If you’re the first person to submit a quilt, make sure to come back and comment on