New Ideas, New Adventures

Written by Diane Harris on September 12, 2020. Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Trunk Shows

I have a new idea for a quilt I really want to make, and it happened in a very roundabout way. First let me show you a mockup of the quilt that I designed in EQ8 quilt design software.

I think it would such a great quilt to practice machine quilting on! The blocks are easy and forgiving, and you can use any type of fabrics and it will look great.

I think I will do something special with the border. Stay tuned for that. So here is how this quilt was conceived.

A while back, my friend Carolyn Beam asked if I might want to try something new and do Facebook Live events for Quilter’s World. We were well into the pandemic and most of my speaking travel had been cancelled so I decided I’d give it a try. It has turned out to be great fun.

I do a short Live event on the Annie’s Facebook page each month, and they share it to various groups and channels such as Quilter’s World.

For September, I talked about Block One in the Awash with Color Mystery Sampler, a Log Cabin. And that’s why I was playing in EQ8 to see what interesting things I could cook up.

I was less than thrilled with my first try. The center patch is muddled up in the red logs—not enough contrast. (Just one reason to experiment in EQ8 rather than in fabric!) I tried other centers and that helped, but then I wondered something else.

What kind of interest could I create if I made Courthouse Steps, which is just a Log Cabin variation. I was more excited about this idea, so I kept on playing, which is really the beauty of EQ8.

Eventually I landed here, and I realized that I could make two different blocks for a sort of checkerboard effect. I’m certainly not the first person to do this but I still love it.

And when I added in the gingham with fabrics from the EQ fabric library (which is included in the software) it just got better and better! I’m going to order some gingham before the week is over and make the blocks a few at a time.

I’m using bright, happy fabrics and Kona White for background. I’ll decide how big to make it when I feel I’m done!

I thought it would be fun to change up the colors in EQ8 to show you some options. Do you like a ground of yellow?

How about pale blue with a pink gingham border?

Maybe sturdy black is your cup o’ tea. Probably not mine but there will be someone who loves it! That’s what makes the world go ’round.

Click the image to go to electricquilt.com!

Here is more of a bird’s-eye view of some of the variations I messed around with. Can you see why I can spend hours playing in EQ8?

So to wrap it up, here are some things for you:

Free instructions to make the Courthouse Steps blocks. (No yardage at this point, but I will work on that. 😊)

L ink to Annie’s Awash with Color Mystery Sampler Block 1, Log Cabin.

Link to watch my Facebook Live from Sept. 10, 2020. Be sure to Like Annie’s and Quilter’s World on Facebook!

A coupon code for 20% off everything on the website at electricquilt.com, where you can get EQ8 quilt design software and other great products. Use code EQ8STASHBANDIT at checkout through the end of the month.