Tag Archives: EQ7

Free Motion Quilting Challenge – April

Posted on April 28, 2012 | 11 comments

I am participating in the 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge over at SewCalGal. The multitalented quilter, Don Linn, has created a video tutorial for April.

I decided to use a design that I drew in EQ7.

Don Linn has a great transfer method for quilt designs! All I need are simple tools…a Sharpie, an embroidery hoop, and a piece of tulle. Put the tulle in the hoop, lay it over my design (tulle pressed flat over the design), and carefully trace with the Sharpie.

After heat setting the traced design, place it back into the hoop and lay it over my fabric (again, tulle pressed flat to the fabric). Now here is where I screwed up…don’t be like me. I used my favorite chalk marker, but my marks were gone before I could actually free motion stitch. So I faked it, and my stitching is not as accurate as it should be. Perhaps with a less complicated design, the chalk would have lasted longer. With the right marker, the transferring works great!

I used a purple rayon in the top, and a purple 50 wt. Aurifil in the bobbin. I also used a 90/14 denim Schmetz needle and loosened my top tension.

The fabric is my own hand-dyed fabric.

Don Linn also describes an easy way to come up with quilting designs. I chose a simple design from one of my favorite, well-used books. The copyright is 1994. I got mine several years ago (maybe in 1994) from Dover books, but in doing a quick Google search, I see it is still available in several places.

This is so simple! I cut out the teardrop shape.

And I tried it rounded side up (top left of photo) and rounded side down (top right of photo). I like it rounded side down, but tucked under the heart (lower half of photo). Ta-da! New design!

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Tagged Don Linn, EQ7, fmq challenge, free motion quilting, LCsCottage, machine quilting, Pat Holly, quilt design, sewcalgal, Sue Nickels

Orbiting Stars

Posted on March 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

I’ve been playing with another old EQ project file. The block was drawn many moons ago (very many moons) when I took an EQ class at Quilt University.

This is a simple layout…3 blocks x 3 blocks set on point with a 3″ sashing.

Boring. Floating blocks have their place, but not here.

Adding stars in the sashing adds more interest, but everything is still floating.

Switch up the color. Now the stars are anchored. I’m liking this mucho better!

How about dressing up the border? For some folks, this is too busy; other folks like lots to look at. Do what you like (or what the recipient of the quilt likes).

I do see that I need to go back to the drawing board and fix my star points in the border blocks. It looks like I’ve drawn the outer points longer than the inner ones. Nothing like a picture to point out one’s mistakes!

And with a click of the mouse, let’s change up the color.

Not everyone’s favorite colors, but I can see the stars in the sashing quite nicely.

Another click (or two) of the mouse and another color scheme. Hmmmm. I can see white paddle fans hovering over a tiled floor. Is it just me?

And yet another quick color change. It may be classic black, white and red, but it sure is busy. I think I’ll try that with a more solid black ground when I go back to the project file to fix the star points.

And the reverse of the previous quilt. I like it better.

There’s a lot more playing around with this design. My friend, Judy, is creating beautiful virtual quilts with subtle soft and muted colors. I got darker the more I played with this design. What if I went softer?