In celebration of the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, I have a special tutorial on creating your own foundation friendly Eiffel Tower block.
Scroll down for the free tutorial on creating the Eiffel Tower block. The Summer Games EQ8 Challenge starts this Tuesday (July 16). I look forward to having you join this group of over 500 EQ8 users, as you learn to create over 20 foundation friendly blocks. Make sure to sign up to join the fun.
Just as we will watch athletes up their physical skills this summer, you will also have an opportunity to up your quilting game through honing your Electric Quilt 8 skills.
Introducing the Summer Games EQ8 Challenge
In the Summer Games EQ8 Challenge you will learn how to draft a series of sports themed blocks. Most of the blocks will be paper piecing friendly with some very simple applique. Imagine the confidence you will gain after a little bit of work in both the EasyDraw and Applique worktables. This challenge is designed for both beginners to Electric Quilt 8 and those that would like to expand their block drawing skills to a whole new level. Through regular emails with instructional videos, you will be encouraged you to spend a small amount of time using Electric Quilt 8 each day. This will allow you to become much more comfortable with the software. To celebrate our favorite summer athletes, the Summer Games Challenge is currently on sale for $21.99 (regular price of $109.99). This sale price is available for a limited time.
What’s Included
How It Works
Special Bonus: Live Finishing Session
You will be invited to a live event on August 24th where I will cover a layout for the blocks. I will also be introducing the Tech Know Quilter membership during the webinar and opening enrollment at that time. The session will be recorded and the recording will be made available to all challenge participants. The Summer Games Challenge along with the Live Finishing Session bonus is currently on sale for $21.99 (regular price of $109.99).
Frequently Asked Questions
What level is this challenge targeted toward? Beginner to Electric Quilt 8. It will help if you have a basic level of understanding of EQ (i.e. have worked through the getting started videos or spent some time playing with the software). Are there any pre-requisites for the challenge? You should be familiar with your computer or have access to someone that can help with basic computer questions. It is important that you know how to save a picture from an email (and where it goes on your device when you save the picture). This process is not part of Electric Quilt and will be different depending on your computer, email system, operating system, browser and even settings on your computer. If you have problems with saving and accessing the picture during the Getting Started series, touch base with your favorite tech guru. They should be able to help. Does it matter if I am on a MAC versus PC? No Electric Quilt looks essentially the same for both PC and MAC users. Both should be able to successfully complete the project using the instructions in the videos. How will I access the videos? The e-mails will contain links to the videos plus any added instructions for completing that day's challenge. You can watch the videos at whatever time works best for you. Are the videos downloadable? No. However they can be watched whenever you wish and can be paused and rewatched as frequently as necessary. What if I didn't receive one of the e-mails? Most of the time these may be located in spam or junk folders. First check there. To minimize the potential issues. add [email protected] to your address book. If that doesn't work, please e-mail me so I can help research the problem. What if I started late? Once you enroll in the program, you will receive your first e-mail within 24 hours. We will get you caught up within a few days. What if I can’t attend the live session? The sessions will be recorded and as a participant in the Summer Games Challenge, you will receive a link to the recording. Eiffel Tower Foundation Friendly Block Using EQ8
Since some of the best athletes in the world will be in Paris later this month, I decided to celebrate with a free tutorial on how to draft your own Eiffel Tower foundation friendly block using Electric Quilt 8.
If you draft the Eiffel Tower block, I would love to see pictures. I have set up a post in the Learning EQ Facebook group where you can share your creations.
The video is similar to those that will be received during the Summer Games EQ8 Challenge.
If you would like to receive all the Summer Games EQ8 Challenge with over 20 foundation friendly blocks you can draft in EQ, you can purchase the series here.
Even though the challenge has not officially started, challenge participants have already started sharing in their EQ designs in the private Facebook group.
As part of the Summer Games EQ8 Challenge Getting Started series, a number of EQ8 users tackled a more complex Eiffel tower block. Check out their EQ drawings. Would you like to join them?
0 Comments
The 4th of July (Independence Day in the US) is just around the corner. I will be sharing one of my favorite red white and blue quilts in this weeks EQ tutorial.
Also check out the month-end showcase of quilts designed by Tech Know Quilter members. Stars and Stripes Door Quilt
The quilt I will be sharing with you today, is one that would be super easy to piece, and a cute way to decorate for Independence Day. If you aren't into red/white/blue quilts, try a different color combination.
The miniature size (23-1/4" x 6-1/8"), also makes it a fun quilt to hang on a door.
There are two rail fence blocks -- one done in EasyDraw and one in PolyDraw.
The fabric used in designing this quilt is from the Bandana Ballad collection by Michael Miller. The collection is included in Electric Quilts 2020 Stash Download 1 Collection
Although it is fun to download fabrics directly from manufacturing websites, it is much more efficient getting them directly from EQ as the fabric is always sized correctly and usually cropped to eliminate tiling problems. In the video, I also share with you my trick for adding a binding around this quilt. The binding is added for a visual perspective of my final quilt. I always calculate yardage for my binding separately, using my preferred binding method.
Here is my pieced version of this quilt. It was done many years ago and was gifted to my mother to use as a door hanger in her assisted living facility.
There are so many possibilities for modifying this design.
I look forward to seeing that you do with the design. Feel free to share in the Learning EQ Facebook group. Tech Know Quilter Showcase
Every month I challenge current Tech Know Quilter members to share a project that showcases something they learned during the previous month. I continue to be amazed at the creativity of these exceptional quilt designers and am honored to assist them on their Electric Quilt 8 journeys.
Check out their amazing challenge posts for May 2024.
This quilt was inspired by a quilt I saw at the MN Quilt Show last weekend. They had an amazing exhibit of from the Quilt Study Group on 19th Century Blues - It's More than Indigo.
I saw this quilt by Sandi K. Petsche of Harlan, Iowa. whose quilt was inspired by a quilt by Catherine Snyder, Minneola, Kaansas ca. 1850.
I decided to create my own version of Catherine's quilt.
However, I was not in the mood for complicated today. So rather than drafting the blocks from scratch, I used artistic license and modified blocks that I already had on my computer. Hopefully you will enjoy the ease of working with existing blocks.
The trickiest part of the design was getting the border blocks to be the same size both horizontally and vertically. This did require adding spacer borders. One was quilt large (4-1/2") -- so I decided to add additional Princess Feathers to complement the design.
Here is my final quilt.
Watch the full video here.
As I mentioned in the video, there are opportunities to swap out blocks (particularly the sunflower and the princess feather). I look forward to seeing what you do with the design concept. Feel free to share in the Learning EQ Facebook group. I've set up a post for your pictures.
I have a special blog post today. Joyce Drenth and Kristy Soard -- two members of my Tech Know Quilters program collaborated to create two very special quilts which have been shared on The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and at the NSQG Quilt show.
Here is the story of their friendship -- and their BFF quilts - which were designed using EQ8. Joyce Drenth and Kristy Soard
|
Joyce and Kristy were math teachers who both taught at the Turpin Middle School in Cincinnati Ohio.
After becoming fast friends in 1976, they soon discovered a shared passion for creating. In 1983, Joyce moved to the Chicago area. Joyce and Kristy continued their long-distance friendship using the phone and internet communication.
I became acquainted with both Joyce and Kristy when they purchased one of my EQ7 Classes -- Easy Peasy Easy Draw. When EQ8 was introduced in late 2017, they both took my intro class (Shoot for the Stars with EQ8) and joined Tech Know Quilters. They have been active participants in the program since then, sharing pictures of both their virtual and finished quilts.
I feel privileged that I have been able to get the know them over our years together -- and consider them fantastic quilters and designers. As well as truly wonderful individuals. |
Best Friends Forever Quilt Beginning
In the middle of September 2021 Alex Anderson of The Quilt Show online presented a FPP (foundation paper piecing) class as the world was still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fabric bundles consisting of Jennifer Sampou and Kaffe Fassett fabrics were purchased by both Joyce and Kristy. Many happy colors were included and the world surely needed happy at this stage of the pandemic. Alex created a specific pattern for the online group to use; however, Joyce and Kristy decided to create their own quilt together using their Electric Quilt 8 programs. |
The Design Process
As they created the quilt, Kristy and Joyce remained in close contact reminiscing over the many years of their friendship and what blocks could be utilized to represent those aspects they treasure.
Early in their friendship, Kristy and Joyce formed a business together with a red cardinal on their calling cards. From this Kristy suggested they incorporate one bird for each of them to signify that bond.
As each of them was inspired they would design the block in EQ8, and then eventually they designed a layout to incorporate their meaningful blocks.
They learned to compress their project into a zip file, and emailed their blocks and the quilt design file back and forth.
Constructing the Quilt
When January 2022 rolled around and they contemplated a start date for the cutting and making to begin, Joyce received a diagnosis of stage 4 breast cancer. This was shocking news as Joyce had always kept up on annual mammograms and breast ultrasound tests. Joyce became very busy undergoing testing and assimilating all that comes with such a diagnosis.
On February 24, 2022, Kristy and Joyce finally connected via Zoom to analyze the center “Life Cross” block and the tactile part of the quilt commenced.
Highlights from the Quilt
Breast Cancer - The top left block, the hourglass/breast cancer block honors Kristy’s sister, (Kathy Goodin Febus) my mother (Charlotte Beasey Belcher) and my diagnosis during BFF quilt construction.
Kristy shared her butterfly fabric for the breast cancer heart. I selected the butterfly as my symbol for gifts to family members and birthday cards for the grandchildren. |
Dress - Our dress blocks became important from the time period when we were teaching and pregnant. Back in 1980, we sewed most of our clothing. Unbeknownst to each other, we frequently purchased and sewed identical maternity clothing. Imagine our laughter as we discovered our uncanny ability to become twins.
|
Smocking - The upper right-smocking block reminds us of our journey into the new world of smocking. This heirloom sewing technique popular in the south produced stunning clothing to be treasured for generations. The flowers are reminiscent of the embroidery stitches typically adorning our sweet little daughter’s dresses. We learned to smock together and visited a smocking shop on the top floor of a beautiful Cincinnati home.
|
Pear & Pear Tree with Bird – These blocks serve as a play on words as we were often referred to as “quite a pair”.
"It’s not about what someone can do for you, it's who and what the two of you become in each other's presence." James Clear This could not be exemplified more than in our friendship. |
Butterfly & Owl – The astute observer will discover a butterfly and owl hidden within the quilting.
The butterfly found on my side of the quilt signifies my desire to be remembered by all those I love each time they see a butterfly. The owl on Kristy’s side is a memory of her daddy. Even though he passed tragically at the age of 38, he still influences her daily life. |
Evergreen trees – The four tree blocks represent children we added to our family trees. The top left tree represents my son, Brian. The bottom left tree represents my daughter, Andrea. Kristy’s right side displays the top right tree for her son, Chad, and the bottom right tree for her daughter, Kate.
|
Sewing Machine & Spools - Our lives revolve around sewing, and the wool sewing machines portray our first memories of the machines upon which our sewing journeys began. Our love of using this fabric medium as well as embellishment with embroidery stitches exemplifies past accomplishments. Each old sewing machine rests on spools of thread, a fitting combination. We blended applique, embroidery and piecing into this central position of each side.
|
Coneflowers – These central anchor blocks represent the love of outdoors, growing not only flowers, but also the lives of our children as they became successful adults. The blocks shared a resemblance to the beautiful New York Beauty quilt block adored by both of us. Again, these shared blocks face the center indicating our continued connection through life.
|
Life Block –The large cross symbolizes how the intersection of childhood experiences influenced the similarities of our adult lives. At the center of this intersection is the flower where the blessing of friendship blooms. The vines embody the growth of our friendship as our lives intertwined throughout the years.
This central block is framed by Log Cabins upon which many quilters begin their journey symbolizing how we started our friendship simply and nourished it throughout the years. |
The BFF Quilts
A few close-ups of the quilting.
Kari Schell
Electric Quilt Expert and Educator and Pattern Designer.
Categories
All
Art And Stitch
Cricut Maker
Dear Jane
Electric Quilt 7
Electric Quilt 8
Goose Goose Duck Challenge
Inkscape
Patterns
Silhouette Cameo
Stampin Up
Tips And Techniques
Tools And Rulers
Archives
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013