Island Batik Ambassador Challenge: Whimsical and Wonky

My last Island Batik Ambassador challenge project for the year is part of the Whimsical and Wonky theme. This challenge was a harder theme for me to figure out.

When I designed my original project, I created a basic block that I repeated 4 times to make a simple table runner.  I was not completely happy with this design, I felt it was not Whimsical or Wonky enough for this Challenge.

So I decided to play a little bit further and came up with the design mockup pictured above.  At this time, I was a bit behind on this Island Batik project due to I have been completing two other quilts that were due to Island Batik for their Spring/Summer 2019 Catalog.  So once I finished them, I had 4 days to complete this project.  On Friday, I started making all my blocks.

The fabric I choose for this project was from the Island Batik "Check It Out" Collection from the Fall/Winter 2018 collections. Did you know that you can get a plain black, white and even grey Batiks?  Island Batik has a Foundation collection where you can get these colors.  If your local quilt store doesn't have them ask for them.  They are beautiful fabrics, and they are must in any stash.

To make the blocks I used the Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design tools, Square Squared® 6" and V Block® Tools.  The central unit in the blocks was from the High/Low Technique Sheet.

I started with making the two different High/Low Units, one slanting to the left and the other slanting to the right. These were made with the V Block® Tool.

Next, I made all the square squared units.  These units had two black corners on opposite sides and the colored fabrics on the other edges.

With all the units made it was time to assemble the blocks. Making sure to line up the correct colors to match the slanted units.  I only needed two of each block.

The final block I needed was a basic 9 Patch block for the center of the quilt.  Now all blocks made, to position them on my design wall.

By the end Friday evening I had finished adding all the sashing pieces.

Saturday morning, I started cutting all my corner and side pieces. Once I had the quilt stitched together. I trimmed it to prepare for the borders. By the end of the day, I completed the quilt top, and by the end of Sunday, I finished the whole quilt including the binding.

Here is the final product which I'm calling "Whimsical Chimes."  This quilt was a blast to make and watch come together.  So, I have decided I will be adding this quilt to my list of workshops in the next couple of weeks. If you would like me to teach this at your quilt guild or shop, please contact me at qa@quiltingaffection.com.

The 2018 Island Batik Ambassadors have one more project for a January. Starting the week of January 7th - February 1st will be hosting the "Getaway Blog Hop," knowing these talented ladies we will have some exciting projects using new collections from the Fall/Winter 2018 catalog.  So stay tuned.

I sure love being an Island Batik Ambassador, so many exciting projects this year.

I will be hosting "Graceful Points" Quilt Along starting February 1st.  The blocks using Deb Tucker Studio 180 Design Blockbuster Blocks.  If you would like to get more information, please visit the original block post HERE.

I would like to wish my fellow Island Batik Ambassador, Studio 180 Design Certified Instructors and all my readers a Happy NEW YEAR!  See you in 2019!

Tina

"Designs to Inspire"

EQ7 Designing Panel Quilts - Custom Layout

After teaching Beginning EQ7 Class last weekend.  I was asked on how to design Panel Quilts in EQ.  Well I decided share my experience with designing Panel Quilts.  In this month’s blog I will show you how to set up a Panel Quilt using Custom Layout Style.  Using the Custom Layout allows you design on Layer 1.

Below are the steps on how to set up my Panel Quilt.

1. Create New Project.

2. Click Quilt > New Quilt > Custom Set.

3. Click Layout, select the center of quilt size.  In this quilt example, I used 46” x 46”.

4. Click the Layer 1 tab at the bottom.

5. Click the Set Block tool.

6. Right-click inside the palette and choose Add Plain Block.

7. Drag the “Plain Block” from the Sketchbook Palette onto the quilt. You will notice the block will snap into place and will be 6” x 6”, in the next step we will adjust the size for the Panel.

8. Click the Adjust tool, then click to select the block on the quilt.  Most Panels are made 24” x 44”, but make sure you measure your panel before finalizing your quilt design.

9. After the Panel Block is adjusted to the correct size.  Click on the Center horizontal and vertical buttons which will move you Panel block to the exact center of the quilt center.

10. Now, in the next couple steps we will add 1” sashing pieces around the Panel block using the Plain Block.

11. Click the Set Block tool.

12. Click on the plain block and drag into the quilt center.

13. Click the Adjust tool and select the block to 1” x 44” these piece will be added to the sides of the Panel. Place on the Left side of the Panel Block.

14. With the Sashing piece still selected, click Edit > Copy, then Edit > Paste.

15. Click the Adjust tool and select the copy sashing piece and drag to the rightside.

16. Repeat with the top sashing pieces. Using 26” x 1” for the top and bottom of the panel quilt.

17. Next steps filling in the empty sides around the Panel and Sashing blocks.  I choose 2 blocks that I liked for the quilt.  I’m using an Hourglass and modified half square triangles that I added to the sketchbook.  The modified half square triangle was done in the EasyDraw worktable.  You can replace these blocks with blocks of your choice.

18. Select the Modified half square triangle in the Sketchbook and drag it to the far top right corner of the quilt. Setting the block orientation to be 0 x 0.
19. With that block still selected, Click Edit > Copy, then Edit > Paste. Drag it to the opposite side. Setting the block orientation to be 36 x 0.

20. Repeat 2 more times, dragging the blocks to the bottom corners.  Making sure that all the alignments match up.

21. Setting the block orientation on the left bottom to 0 x 36. Right Bottom Position 36 x 36.

Note: You can adjust the Size and Orientation by using the Precision bar, see the diagram above. Refer to your Manual Page 90 - 91.

22. Rotate the blocks, so the blocks are positioned diagonally.

23. Select the “Plain block” in the sketchbook. Drag it under the top right Modified half square triangle.

24. Adjust the block to 10” x 1” sashing pieces.  Setting the block Position at 0 x 10.
With that 10“x 1” sashing block still selected, Click Edit > Copy, then Edit > Paste.

25. Drag it to the opposite side. Setting the block Position at 36 x 0.

26. Select the Hourglass block, dragging the block to below the 10” x 1” sashing block.
With Hourglass block still selected, Click Edit > Copy, then Edit > Paste. Drag it to the opposite side.

27. Select the block to 10” x 4” sashing block. Drag it under the top left 10” x 1” sashing block.

28. Adjust the block to 10” x 4” sashing block.  Setting the block Position at 0 x 21.

29. With that 10“x 4” sashing block still selected, Click Edit > Copy, then Edit > Paste. Drag it to the opposite side. Setting the block Position at 36 x 21.

30. Select the already placed Hourglass block on the leftside of the Panel, Click Edit > Copy, then Edit > Paste. Setting the block Position at 0 x 25.

31. With Hourglass block still selected, Click Edit > Copy, then Edit > Paste. Drag it to the opposite side. Setting the block Position at 36 x 25.

32. Select the already placed 10” x 1” sashing block on the leftside of the Panel, Click Edit > Copy, then Edit > Paste. Setting the block Position at 0 x 35.

33. With 10” x 1” sashing block still selected, Click Edit > Copy, then Edit > Paste. Drag it to the opposite side. Setting the block Position at 36 x 35.


34. Add borders to the quilt. Border 1(Inner Border), Long horizontal 1" and border 2, Mitered 3". 

35. Finish your design with a little color of your choice, you can placing the panel in the center panel block. 

This shows you how to use set up a Panel quilt in EQ7.  Next month November 10th, I will show you how to set up another panel quilt using a horizontal layout.

Make sure your check out other Bloggers Celebrating EQ7 Anniversary with themed EQ7 Blog posts.  Also visit Electric Quilt to enter their monthly giveaway HERE.

QuiltShop Gal

FunThreads Designs 

From My Caroline Home

Seams to be Sew

Pamela Quilts

Tina

What can EQ7 do for you?

What can EQ7 do for you? Whether you are a serious quilt designer or a hobbyist that has a couple of design ideas that you want to play with. EQ7 by the Electronic Quilt Company, is a tool that can speed up your work and expand your creativity. EQ7 is a computer software program which allows you to design a quilt from the basic block to the finished layout. Many of Quilting Affection Patterns are designed in EQ7 especially the pieced patterns.  Let me show you a few features that makes it fun and easy to design your next quilt in EQ7.  

EQ7 contains more than 5,000 ready to use blocks in the Block library, ranging from Foundation, Applique, and Pieced. If you don't see what you are looking for you can draw your own.  Once you are happy with the block, you have the ability to  insert colors or fabrics into the individual pieces. Then if you want to see the design in another color, you can just change them in a matter of seconds without having to completely redrawing the block.

There are over 5000 different scanned fabrics included in the program. You can also scan and import your own fabrics from your own stash.

When you are ready, EQ7 lets you put all the blocks together and build an entire quilt. You have the flexibility to choose the number of rows and columns to include in the quilt. If your block are not all the same size you also will have the ability to create custom layouts.

To add to the fun once the blocks are set in the quilt, you can rotate and change the fabric and or coloring to get different looks. This really enable you to stretch your imagination.

Once the quilt is designed to your liking, EQ7 will provide you with recommended rotary cutting instructions and even calculate the amount of each fabric you will need to build your quilt.

It actually does all of the math for you. You also have the ability to print your fabric yardage charts, rotary cutting charts, templates and foundation piecing.  You can also export images of your quilt so others can see what you are doing.

Here are a few of the quilts that I have designed in EQ7;

EQ7 Design (Bed of Flowers)

Finished Quilt

 

EQ7 Design - Flower Bloom

Actual Quilts

EQ7 is a wonderful tool that allows you to get creative with your quilt designs. This is just the start what you can do with the program, there is so much more. If you worried about the using the software product, Electric Quilt Company, has lots of ways for you to learn, from online tutorials to taking classes at EQ Academy’s.  Also many of your local quilt stores may offer beginning classes.
 

Need more information on EQ7 check out their website at http://electricquilt.com/

This year Electric Quilt Company is celebrating their 25^th Anniversary.  On the 10th of every month check out their blog for updates on contests and giveaways. There are also several social media promotions on Facebook and Instagram.

Make sure your check out these other today Bloggers Celebrating EQ7 Anniversary with themed EQ7 Blog posts.

QuiltShop Gal

FunThreads Designs 

Pamela Quilts

Have a great quilting day,

Tina