Build Your EQ7 Stash

I discovered how to add fabric to my EQ7 stash!  Two things to know: some fabric companies give away their electronic fabric files and putting them into EQ7 takes about three steps...so easy!

In 20 or so minutes, I dropped about 350 different fabrics from the Moda line into my EQ7 library.  Luckily they are already grouped into their respective lines, so when you choose a collection of fabrics, you get all of the fabrics in that line.  Sometimes it's 20 or 30 different fabrics, sometimes it's 50 or 100 different fabrics.  I decided to go with solids and batiks to start.  

 Begin by going to the Moda website (click here) and choosing one of the fabric lines by clicking on a pair of blue scissors (for jpeg images).  The entire line of fabrics will download to your computer.  Click on the download and save it to your computer.  I made a folder, titled Moda fabrics, to put all of my fabric downloads in.  

Now open EQ7 and click on Libraries in the top row of choices.

On the drop-down menu, click Fabric Library.  

When your Library box opens, click on import, which is on the bottom near the center. 

And now click on From Image Files.... 

This is when you'll be glad you remembered where you saved the fabric swatches. I named my file Moda Fabrics to help me find it, remember?  

Open the file and click on the first swatch then hold down the shift key and click on the last swatch.  This highlights all the swatches.  Now click open and give the computer a moment to right itself after uploading all those swatches.  

The swatches are now in the EQ7 program but there’s a final step to keeping them there: click on the Add to Sketchbook button on the right side near the import button; then click Close.

 You’re all done!  Go you!  Okay, so now let’s make sure you follow directions successfully—check that the swatches are indeed where they need to be.  Look for the button with a picture of eye glasses on it.  Click to open the Sketchbook.

Now click on Fabrics, which is in the middle of that colorful column.  You may need to scroll over to see the new fabrics, but below the swatches there’s a line that tell how many swatches are in the Sketchbook.  Either way, enjoy your stash!  Let me know if it's as much fun as shopping your real stash.

Happy stashing,

Mary

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: EQ7 ideas and tutorials

Did you know that if you go to Pinterest and search EQ7 hundreds of ideas, lessons, and blogs?  I'm not going to put you through 15 pins that you'll see anyway.  Instead, I'm going to post just a few and say run, don't walk over there.  So far every one has been useful and interesting, and some I will have to revisit.  

You're welcome!
Mary

Playing in EQ7

Every now and then I open EQ7 and try my hand at figuring out how to do the things I WANT to do.  I'm not very good at being patient and learning stuff so that I can do stuff.  The problem is not the learning part--it's the patient part.  I want to learn it as I do it: not learn so I can do it.  

Anyhoo...it's slow, but I'm getting better.  One reason is that I've quit trying to do.  I'm going about it the way regular people go about learning things:  I'm just learning.  Sure, I build blocks, but so far I've not used one block that I've built.  That's because....well, look at the blocks!  It's just so sad.  

I'm blaming this cruddy cough that has plagued me all week...it stifles my creativity.  And since learning a computer program doesn't require creativity, I'm hoping that by the time the cough is gone, I'll have figured out how to manipulate EQ.

There is some good news on the EQ front, however sad the blocks appear: I used EQ to sell a quilt!  Sure, if you're determined enough, and the quilt is simple enough, and the customer is your sister (so you have an angle) it can happen.  It probably helps that the angle is I'll add some of mom's fabrics in the quilt.  

Regardless, I'll be working on this cute red/white quilt for the next few days.  I don't mind setting aside my own project for this one because it's going to a doll of a niece who is moving away.  

She's a fashionable young woman who will know that chevrons are all the rage.  Since I've been thinking of making one for that very reason, I suggested to her mom that we consider it.  Sister/mom is thrilled, niece will be thrilled, and I'm pretty happy, too.  Click, click, click and we're all together in Kansas that fast!

What's got you going to Kansas, Dorothy?  Any new projects?  Any suggestions for EQ7?  Any clue what kind of cold meds I'm on?

Little Squares Quilt

On Saturday morning I woke up early and escaped to the studio.  To find this......

Trees, puppy beds, dog food--all piled in front of the design wall. First things first, moved out the trees, tossed away the puppy beds, and hauled the sack of dog food to Richard's shed.  Now that's much better.

I'd left a mess on the sewing table, as well.  This mess is all mine. On Friday evening I started working on a small quilt using the 2 1/2 inch squares that I'd picked up while at QuiltCon in Austin.  These are simple little blocks with straight lines that zip together quickly.

In no time I had a nice pile of sewn blocks sitting on the ironing board.  I quickly pressed them and began sticking them to the design wall.

 

I ended up using every one of the little squares from all five packs of 42 and added a few solids from the stash so that I'd have enough.  By noon I was sewing the blocks into strips alternating them with solid white squares.  Six blocks across and six blocks down, so in no time I had a whole quilt top completely put together.

 

Easy stitching.

 

 

Sunday afternoon, while the kids played and ran around, I loaded the quilt top on the long arm.  By the time the rain started and everyone left, I was well into the quilting.    I decided to have a little fun with some hearts and scrolls on the large white squares and smaller hearts on the small white pieces.

 

 

It still needs binding, but it's off the long arm and at about 60 X 60, it's a perfect size for cuddling.   

 

I had so much fun that I've begun creating the pattern in EQ7.  I'm thinking it's easy enough to be able to recreate while learning how to use the program.  I'll let you know how that goes.  In the meantime, tell me what you think of "Little Squares." 

Happy Quilting,

Mary