It is the Critters and Bugs blog hop and I want to give a big thanks Bea Lee for all her hard work and time she put into this hop. I also want to give a big thanks to EQ for their support and programs they have to help all us quilters.
I just got my EQ 7 not that long ago, so I am only learning how to use it. It seems as every time I am on, I learn something new. I would recommend this to EVERYONE that quilts. I use to get out my graph paper and spend hours, drawing and figuring out size and dimensions of the blocks that I wanted to make. Now, I just look in the block file on my EQ and I can design any block! I love to design my own quilts. And I know the more I learn this program, the easier it will be.
OK, Critters.....I decided to make a Barn Quilt, my own style and add farm animals to the barns. So I went to the blocks and picked which ones that I wanted. I also altered a few.
Here is a star block that I found. I then added extra lines in the corner blocks.
I chose the colors that I wanted to make my quilt from their fabric file. You can scan your own fabric into the program so that way you see exactly what you are making and how it will look when completed. But unfortunately,I do not have a scanner. So at this time I match their fabric to what I want to use the best I can using the fabric that is with the program.
Here is the sample as to what I came up with as far as blocks. (each block is 8 inches)
Then I drew all my barn blocks. I wanted a different barn in each corner. Here are two of my drawings. (because I do not have a scanner I took a pictures, sorry they did not turn out so good.) The blocks for on the barns were common blocks from EQ. Each one is a different size to fit onto the barn. Since I used simple blocks, I did not need a pattern for them.
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I got out my scraps, I love using scraps and hunting for the right piece when I applique. I then went by the directions on my Steam a Seam II and put all my barn blocks together. Then I found pictures of animals on the internet. I did a copy/paste method to my word perfect program. I made them the size that I wanted then copied them onto white fabric to use in my appliqued barn blocks.
OK, time to make my barn blocks and show you my critters.
What do you think? The blocks on the barn were made and cut to size. I did not have a 1/4 inch seam around the completed block for I pressed them on Steam a Seam carefully and appliqued them on by machine to my barns.
I added flowers, grass, rocks, etc, with my chickens, cows, sheep, and a black horse.
I appliqued them on by machine using monofilament thread and the blanket stitch. That way my stitches would not be seen when the quilt was finished. When I was finished appliqueing all the pieces on, I trimed the blocks to 8 1/2 inches square
Then I made my center. Since I had all my barns, I made a farm house. But wanted it was back in the early 1940's. So first I did the background, the sky, field, and grass.
This applique I did not make a drawing on a paper. I just drew my pieces on the Steam a Seam for I knew just want I wanted. I added a 38 Chevy pick up truck to the driveway.....
Oh, and of course hung some quilts on the wash line.
Then added an old red wagon and sat it in the yard
Then I added a 1940 John Deer tractor to the field.
Everything was also appliqued by machine like the barns.
I put everything all together, and quilted it carefully on my machine to accent the positive. (the clouds, field, grass, etc.) I then quilted in the ditch in the blocks.
Total size is: 33" X 33"
I also want to add that EQ not only helps you with blocks for large quilts, but baby quilts, wall hangings of ALL sizes, Table toppers, any shape or size quilt you can come up with.
Why, even Mug Rugs. I never made one so I just had to make a Mug rug for my tea when sitting on my porch doing hand sewing this spring. I used one of their cute patterns. I started by cutting out 5 - 2 1/2 inches square blue daisy printed fabric, 4 - 2 1/2 inch squares white fabric, and a 6 1/2 inch light blue square.
Then proceeded to sew them together to make a nine patch and sewed it to the light blue square.
Then I copied the pattern of the Butterfly and Daisy (the size I wanted) and made an applique for the plain blue side of my Mug Rug. I appliqued them on by machine.
Then layered, and quilted in a grid pattern.
I know Butterflies are bugs....but they are the prettiest bugs I have ever seen.
OK, I know I cannot brag enough about EQ. They have not only EQ 6 or 7, but
MANY other programs that are great to help all us quilters. Including quilting designs. Oh, they are
GREAT!
The Electric Quilt Company were so very kind.....they gave me this
DVD of Quilting Designs, Volume 5, to
GIVEAWAY.
OH, YEAH, It has over 800 designs and 10 Quilting Videos! It will guide you though the designs whether you hand quilt, machine quilt, or use a long arm machine.
To enter.....that is easy, Just be a follower and leave me a message. Do you have EQ? what do you love best about EQ?
I will be in another hop starting tomorrow, but I will continue this giveaway through April 30th. On May 1st, I will go to random.com and pick a winner.
Now that you have seen mine, come join me in checking out the rest on this blog hop. You will find the list below:
Friday April 26th
Electricquilt
If you missed any of the other blogs this week, go to
Beaquilter and you will find the schedule...DO check out all the Summer Animals, Critters & Bugs, and Summer Stuff. You will have fun, for sure! So grab a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy......
Hay, also don't forget there is another hop going on....
"SHAKE YOUR POM POM'S.....this one is sponsored by
PigTailsandQuilts. So Shake your Pom Poms and Cheer all your fellow bloggers out!!
HAVE FUN AND HAPPY QUILTING EVERYONE
To get special designed quilts or to see my gallery, check out my site at: http://janesquilting.com
