This is my first orginal design using Electric Quilt. I started it in October 2006 and finally finished it in April 2008 (it was packed up for half a year while we debated a move to Alabama). We tabled that idea when the housing market went south without us. And, thankfully, all the quilting goodies could be unpacked again.
I used the quilt-as-you-go when making this quilt. It's got its pros and cons. Because of my limited time, it takes me awhile to complete a quilt...longer these days than when I first started this hobby. And I enjoy breaking up the different processes of making a quilt. About the time I'm tired of piecing, I can switch to quilting and vice versa.
I learn more each time I make a quilt and am applying some painful lessons learned on this one with my next work-in-progress...
I really love this quilt. I'm sure it is much prettier in person. I can see all the quilting you did on it, is this machine and hand quilted. You did a wonderful job. I have heard of "quilting as you go", but never done it. Do you think it makes it easier to quilt doing it this way.
I just upgraded Electric Quilt from V4 to V6. When I first got it I didn't spend much time on it, only used it once in awhile. But now, I am working on a wall hanging that I designed with Electric Quilt, hopefully I will have the top done today. It is really nice to know you did it all yourself and not from a book. The V6 has more instructions for someone like me, that can be better thick sometimes. It takes me several times to do something before it gets into my head.
Sue
Quilt as you go has its pros and cons. I think it definitely makes the quilting process easier for large projects...a full, queen or king sized quilt for example. I have a somewhat small work area for sewing in my office and a limited amount of time to work on my projects so working on smaller items while quilting allows me to keep my area cleaner during the entire process. Plus with the larger sized projects, I'm always working on the outer border of the quilt versus trying to shove the middle of the quilt through my machine....easier on my hands and shoulders. Breaking up the process also makes it more interesting. About the time I'm tired of quilting, I'm back to piecing. It's been a learning process though with some hard mistakes. However, I think that's true of all my quilting projects. I learn something (usually painfully...grin) each time and have managed to go on to different msitakes....
This quilt is all machine quilted. I used some of my machine's stitches for interest along the seams and to outline some of the pieces.I'd love to try hand quilting but would definitely have to limit myself to a small project or the baby would never get finished.
I upgraded from Electric Quilt v5 to v6. Like you, I didn't spend a much time on it as I would get frustrated trying to learn it. But then I ran across a book on their website and decided to give it a try. EQ5 Simplified by Fran Gonzalez. Awesome book that walks you through the process step by step including shortcuts. I highly recommend it, but get the V6 edition for sure. It is so much clearer than the cookbook that comes with the software. About half way through the book, you're so excited with what you've learend you get antsy to start your own project...
Very pretty!
Thanks, Linda!!
Hi,
You said that you made some mistakes along the way, I'm thinking because of the "quilt as you go". We all do learn from our mistakes, but if possible I would like to learn from others so I don't make the same mistakes. Are there things that you could pass along that would help us all.
There is a forum topic on the home page, what techniques you have learned. This would be a great place to put some of your helpful hints.
Thank you for the information about Electric Quilt, I will look into that. I'm learning so much from you all.
Sue
And in my favorite colors - blue and white - always looks so fresh. Great job.
Thank you both. I love the colors as well andI would love to have it on my own bed but my two cats eliminate that possibility as one is black and the other is ceam. Between the two of them, I'd see hair on every piece.So it sits on the back of a sleeper sofa in my husband's office and is used when we have company.
Linda what a great quilt! I love the blue and the complementing blue pattern, but especially like the outlining you did! I have a question about the quilt as you go. Can you explain the process a little bit as to how it's done? I've got all these ideas floating in my head about how, but none of them really make sense, so just being curious as to how it's done...Cheryl
Thanks Cheryl. Check out my Navajo Nation [ http://www.allourquilts.com/content/navajo-nation ] quilt. I'm still working on that one (and yes, I've come to a stand still on it lately...hoping to get back to it soon). I've got pictures there illustrating the technique I use for adding each round.
I'll be checking it out, to put all those ideas out of my head LOL
I really like it! I love the darker blue. And the pattern.......where did you get it? I really like it. Great job!
Thanks. The "Army Star" block has been around for awhile. Marcia Hohn's Quilter's Cache http://www.quilterscache.com/A/ArmyStarBlock.html has an excellent description of the block. The quilt itself I designed using Electric Quilt 6.
I really like your quilt! I have electric quilt, but have NOT made friends with it.
I too love this quilt and it being designed with EQ6! I just now viewed this page to see your quilts & stories. I'll want to get Fran Gonzalez' book to see if that helps me get off the ground with this program. I've done quite a bit of quilt-piecing to go and would like to take on quilting to go too. I can see how that'll help with larger projects.
I'll look at your Navajo Nation more closely to find out how you're doing this. Such nice work!
I love the blue and white and the pattern is awesome. A quilt to be proud of for sure!!
I love being able to incorporate border-type arrangements in a quilt and Electric Quilt is a great way to play with the concept. This was my first time and I used a fairly simple border. With Navajo Nation, I got a little more adventuresome by using squares with the border feature. and borders within borders...you can just go crazy playing with the program. I love the affect of one or two dominnat colors with white. I want to do a red, white, and black print quilt (have the fabrics but need to play with EQ to come up with an overall theme to use them). Unfortunately, I keep getting sidetracked by all the wonderful projects/ideas I'm seeing here and so so many wonderful books. Shame on all of you. (okay, really shame on me ....you all are much more timely on finishing your projects...grin).
It is so nice to have a face to connect with the Navajo Quilt. I was a newcomer when I added it to my favorites list. I love that quilt....I also love your blue and White one. I have always love the older ones that use one color with white. But Blue has been my favorite. I have been seeing this new Electric Quilt program and would love to get into it . I have the Sew Precise and love that but would love what the EQ 5 and 6 can do....Is this program the one that teaches you to quilt as you go as well. You do such good work and love your choices in putting your quilts together with color combinations.
I have EQ6 but it's on my husband's PC - so I rarely get a chance to even use it. I just wish I'd bought the program for the Mac but my Babylock software goes with the PC only too. Which means, I don't ever use that either!. At the time, I'd get a bit of time on the PC but now he uses it daily for computer games. Oh well. Classes and magazines still work.
I love the blue/white fabrics and your pattern is beautiful. Really nice job!!