CONTENTS: Announcements - Ask EQ - Free Stuff - Stitched With Love - STASH Fall 2000 - Works For Me - Benni Harper Lessons - Show & Tell - Author! Author! - BlockBase - EQ Holiday Card - Quilt University - YesUCan - Perfect Tool.



Works for Me
Tips from EQ Users

When Kathy Faryon's cat tore her quilt, she cleverly repaired it with the help of her computer. "I scanned the image of the same place where the tear was, on the pattern repeat, and transferred it to fabric, and then patched it - it worked!"

Jean Carlton, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, writes with a tip for getting the most out of the notecard feature in EQ4. "I often design many versions of a quilt that I want to make, changing block size, borders etc. I may have 20 or more versions in the Sketchbook while I'm working things out before I decide to start my quilt. I found it frustrating to have to open each version to see the layout facts, border sizes and block sizes so I started using the Notecard feature. Instead of a 'name' I type in: 63 x 63 7" block or 64 x 72 8" block for example. Then when I am in the Sketchbook, those facts 'show' as the name of the quilt and I can quickly determine which one I am looking at and which one I want to edit or work with.

Randi Robbins, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina writes, "I find EQ valuable since I usually design backwards.... do the design to use the amount of a fabric I have and want to feature rather than doing the design and then shopping for fabric." She recently used EQ4 to not only print out 90 foundation patterns for my quilt list's anniversary block swap but to calculate the yardage I'll need to complete them. "It let me know ahead of time which fabrics in my stash I already had enough of and which I needed to purchase."

Brenda Brayfield, from Writes with a great tip for teachers. "I draw a 3" square with the drawing grid set for 12 x 12. I connect all the nodes vertically and end up with a series of lines exactly 1/4" apart. I prepare one square for each student in my quilting class." Brenda's students then sew along a line, testing the accuracy of their 1/4" presser foot. "I instruct them to look exactly where the edge of the presser foot is in relation to the line on the right. If piecing, this would be the fabric edge. This is especially helpful when I teach classes on top stitched foundation piecing."

Charlotte Kleiner, of Winnipeg, MB Canada used EQ to help her with needlework she wanted to frame and hang together. "By using Country Set I was able to see how the framed pieces would look together and just what size the whole project would end up, depending on different arrangements and borders (for mats and frames) I used." Charlotte plans to print the "quilts" to take to the framer, to show how she wants each piece framed.

Faith Bluma, I do the newsletter for Star Point Quilt Guild in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. I created a header for the newsletter with EQ4 and I think it looks pretty nice. I use exported bmp's of EQ blocks here and there in the newsletter but the letterhead is the nicest. I've gotten many compliments on it and there is a renewed interest in Electric Quilt among my fellow guild members. I also used the EQ4 program for everyone of my Round Robin projects for guild, and they were stunning borders, if I do say so myself. Round robin can be a challenge, getting border blocks to fit around someone else's quilt. But with EQ4, it is truly a breeze. A cakewalk , as my sister would say.

After I have printed out the templates for a quilt block, which may be any odd size that I choose,(translated that means it does not strip cut very well). I put inexpensive carpet tape (which is double faced) on the back of the printed template and attach it to my template plastic. You have a permanent template. Be sure to mark on the template exactly what it is. Works better than any type glue.

I also use that tape to make quilt block stickers. Move the colored block to Word, size to any size sticker you want, print and use the tape to make a sticker. Just leave the paper on the back until ready to use as a sticker.

Helen Jacobson, of Maxwell, Iowa writes, "After I have printed out the templates for a quilt block, which may be any odd size that I choose (translated that means it does not strip cut very well), I put inexpensive double-faced carpet tape on the back of the printed template and attach it to my template plastic. Be sure to mark on the template exactly what it is. I also use that tape to make quilt block stickers. Move the colored block to Word, size to any size sticker you want, print and use the tape to make a sticker. Just leave the paper on the back until ready to use as a sticker."

Ruth Paul, of Willoughby, Ohio, used EQ4 to map out her sewing room and bedroom. "I used the Country Set layout to the size of the room, using 1 inch to 1 foot and making the furniture blocks. It was so much easier than moving all the real furniture around. I was able to talk my husband into switching our bedroom with my sewing room when I could show him on paper that it would work. Later when I wanted to hang my rulers on the wall I mapped that out as well, using Country Set. I had no extra holes in my wall from having to move rulers. It worked perfectly. I also use Country Set to help me get the most of my batting. When I have a large batt that I want to use for several smaller quilts and wallhangings I map that out before I cut. I need to visualize everything and this certainly beats using graph paper."

Pat Alnes, of Naerbo, Norway shares a tip that worked with her quilt designing grandchildren, ages 9, 7, and 5. "When here for summer vacation they discovered EQ4 on my computer. Well, they then wanted to make blocks to color as well as one for a quilt. The 9 year old caught on fast to "easy draw" and saving and printing. But the 7 and 5 year olds liked drawing too many lines for the Save & Print. They kept getting the "Maximum op-count exceeded" error message. They were disappointed as they could not do what their older sister did. On went my thinking cap. I drew a 25 square grid for a watercolor block, printed it out with thick lines, and told them to put an "X" in each block to help them count each line they drew. Twenty-five X¹s were the limit for them, to help control the number of lines they drew. Well, it worked and they enjoyed making blocks to color on the computer. So now I¹ve a project to sew for them for Christmas, and we had some quality time together."

Georgia Taylor, of Madisonville, Texas writes, "I use EQ for my all around crafting software. For example, I like to tole paint. Recently I needed a cookie jar lid with a calla lily. I did this as a PatchDraw block. A heart was the basic shape. Inside the heart I placed a calla lily extending at an angle on the heart. I placed scallops all around the outside edge of the heart which, when painted, became a lacy border. I also use EQ to design real stained glass. I just design my project, print out finished drawings, tape together if necessary, and use the appropriate shears to remove the space needed for the leading. I¹ve also used the PatchDraw feature to design some custom embroidery patterns. I love my 'crafting' software!" (Editors note: Georgia wrote that she considers herself a novice on EQ. Hmmmm.....)

CONTENTS: Announcements - Ask EQ - Free Stuff - Stitched With Love - STASH Fall 2000 - Works For Me - Benni Harper Lessons - Show & Tell - Author! Author! - BlockBase - EQ Holiday Card - Quilt University - YesUCan - Perfect Tool.