Teaching at Electric Quilt Academy

 I am so happy to be teaching at the upcoming Electric Quilt Academy in Ohio in late September!

This is a wonderful set of workshops that feels more like a retreat with small class sizes.  Plus the group tends to eat meals together so you can make new quilt friends.  You can come for one or all three days.

The workshop is hosted by Electric Quilt in-person from September 29 - October 1, 2022 in Perrysburg, Ohio.  I will be flying into Detroit which is not too far from Perrysburg.

I will be teaching four workshops on Friday and Saturday.  If you are brand new to EQ8, there is a two day beginner class that is always super popular.

Friday, September 30, 2022: 9 am - noon

Friday, September 30: 1-4 pm

Saturday, October 1: 1-4 pm

Saturday, October 1: 9am - noon

Do you use EQ8?  Are going to attend (or thinking about) attending EQ Academy?  Would you be interested in an online EQ8 workshop?

EQ8 - Celebrating 30 Years with Pearls of Wisdom

I am happy to be a part of Electric Quilts EQ8 Celebrating 30 Years with Pearls of Wisdom blog series. In the series, different designers that use EQ8 are showcasing how they use the program, tidbits and tips about designing in EQ8, and more.  

Hop over to the post on the Electric Quilt blog to read a little about me, and how I used EQ8 to import and test out various fabric lines for quilts in my book. There are even a couple of pictures of the rendered quilts compared to the actual finished quilts. Here is one below... You might even find a giveaway and special coupon code on the post too :)

March EQ8 Block Spotlight

Did you know that each month Electric Quilt highlights a block from the EQ8 Block Library? They share a few ideas on how you could use the block in a unique way in a quilt top then asks EQ users to play and show what they can do with the block.

This month's block is 2 Little Flowers 2 in the Contemporary Applique, Flowers category and you can find it on EQ's blog here.

This block was a challenge for me as I do not tend to design applique much and the cute flowers were not really my style.

I transformed the block using the Serendipity Kaleidoscope function to make the one block into 4 new blocks.  Here is my new quilt top...

Have you ever played with and submitted a design in the EQ8 Block Spotlight?

The Electric Quilt Company is generously offering a special coupon code for my readers.  Use can use EQ8CHERYL for 20% off of their entire website, ElectricQuilt.com (EQ8, EQ8 upgrades, books, add-ons, etc.). The code is good until March 31, 2020.

February EQ8 Block Spotlight

Did you know that each month Electric Quilt highlights a block from the EQ8 Block Library? They share a few ideas on how you could use the block in a unique way in a quilt top then asks EQ users to play and show what they can do with the block.

This month's block is the Flower Wreath and you can find it on EQ's blog here. You can link up your design and see everyone else's on the blog page too.

I have never seen the Flower Wreath in EQ8 (there are so many blocks!) and I really like it.  Here are three quilts I made with the Flower Wreath block...

1. On-Point Layout

I used the On-Point layout to turn the blocks 45 degrees and then only added the Flower Weave to certain blocks, leaving some as plain blocks.  I think that this spaces the blocks out well and avoids the design from looking too busy.

2. Serendipity - Kaleidoscope

I am getting ready to teach EQ8 at QuiltCon later this week and one of the classes is all about using the Serendipity functions to create new blocks.  I decided to use the Serendipity Kaleidoscope function to create an intricate main block and surrounded it with some borders for a wall sized quilt.  Is't it awesome how the block is transformed using the Serendipity function?

3. Serendipity - Fancy Star

For the last design I used the Serendipity function Fancy Star.  I chose to make the star as large as possible and have 8 points.  I really like how the star almost looks woven.  I added a border around the star using the original Flower Weave block.

Which is your favorite design? Have you ever played with and submitted a design in the EQ8 Block Spotlight?

The Electric Quilt Company is generously offering a special coupon code for my readers.  Use can use EQ8CHERYL for 20% off of their entire website, ElectricQuilt.com (EQ8, EQ8 upgrades, books, add-ons, etc.). The code is good until March 31, 2020.

EQ8 ++ Turning Seam Lines On/Off

Ready for another EQ8 tip?  Did you know that you can easily turn the seam lines on and off in the quilt top in EQ8?  Showing the seam lines is great to see how the quilt top is put together and hiding the seam lines gives you a better idea on how the actual quilt would look pieced with fabric.

There are two ways of turning the seam lines on and off.

Method 1

While your mouse is on the quilt top in the Quilt Workshop, right click.  This brings up a menu where you can turn the seam lines on and off for the blocks and pieces.

 Quilt top with all seam lines

Quilt top with seam lines only around the blocks

Quilt top with no seam lines

Method 2

On the right hand side of the screen right over the question mark button is a Hid/Show Quilt Patch Lines button.  Clicking this button will turn on and off all seam lines.

I hope that you have found this tutorial to be helpful!  Happy designing!!

The Electric Quilt Company is generously offering a special coupon code for my readers.  Use can use EQ8CHERYL for 20% off of their entire website, ElectricQuilt.com (EQ8, EQ8 upgrades, books, add-ons, etc.). The code is good until March 31, 2020.

January EQ8 Block Spotlight & Giveaway!

Did you know that each month Electric Quilt highlights a block from the EQ8 Block Library? They share a few ideas on how you could use the block in a unique way in a quilt top then asks EQ users to play and show what they can do with the block.

This month's block is the Pinwheel Square and you can find it on EQ's blog here. You can link up your design and see everyone else's on the blog page too.

I decided to play with the Pinwheel Square this month and came up with three different looking quilt tops.

1. Vertical Layout

I used the vertical layout to have regular and half drop blocks and then colored parts of the block the same color as the dark background to give a vertical zigzag look between the columns of blocks.

2. Combined with Duck and Ducklings

For the second design, I combined the Pinwheel Square block with the Duck and Ducklings block. I colored parts of both blocks white like the background to simplify the quilt top a little.

3. Combined with Irish Chain

For the last design I combined with Pinwheel Square block with a simple Irish Chain block I drew in EQ8. I colored the blocks to look a little like flowers.

Which is your favorite design? Have you ever played with and submitted a design in the EQ8 Block Spotlight?

GIVEAWAY ALERT

Do you want to win a copy of EQ8? I am giving away a copy over on Instagram right now! You can find the link here. (Note: this giveaway is only on Instagram, a comment on this post will not be counted as an entry.)

The Electric Quilt Company is generously offering a special coupon code for my readers.  Use can use EQ8CHERYL for 20% off of their entire website, ElectricQuilt.com (EQ8, EQ8 upgrades, books, add-ons, etc.). The code is good until March 31, 2020.

EQ8 ++ Snap Grid Options Tutorial

I love EQ8 by the Electric Quilt Company and use it to design almost every single one of my quilts.  I have had the chance to teach EQ8 to a number of guilds, at QuiltCon, and at the EQ Academy. 

I have just been given the opportunity to partner with EQ over the next few months to help spread the word and teach more about EQ8.  What does that mean for you?  More blog posts filled with tips and tricks for EQ8, behinds the scenes looks at my design process, giveaways, and more!

Today, I would like to show you a little feature of EQ8 that I learned when I was teaching at the EQ Academy...did you know you can customize your grid display?  You can change both the size of the grid dots and the color.  You can make the grid larger and darker to make it easier to see or smaller and gray to make it blend in more with the background.

Here is the default setting for the grid display: small, green grid dots.

To change the grid...

On the left hand side of the screen, click on the Worktable Options icon shaped like a gear (it is the bottom icon).

This brings up the Drawing Board Setup window.  Click on Snap Grid.

You can change the Grid Display from Small grid dots, to Medium grid dots, or Large grid dots.  You can also select from 8 different colors.

Here is my new grid setup with medium grid dots in a magenta color.  I find that this combo is very easy to see when I use my smaller (and less bright) lap top screen instead of my stand alone monitor.

I hope that you have found this tutorial to be helpful!  If you have ideas on what you would like EQ8 tutorials on, please leave them in the comments below.

The Electric Quilt Company is generously offering a special coupon code for my readers.  Use can use EQ8CHERYL for 20% off of their entire website, ElectricQuilt.com (EQ8, EQ8 upgrades, books, add-ons, etc.). The code is good until March 31, 2020.