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Electric Quilt 4 Frequently Asked Questions

 

How do I set a block or motif into Layer 2 or a quilting design into Layer 3?
To set blocks into Layer 2 or Layer 3:

  1. Click on the Layer 2 tab or the Layer 3 tab.
  2. Point the mouse cursor at your quilt, and instead of clicking, drag the mouse to form a box for the block. When you release the mouse, your block will pop into the block space you've drawn.
  3. To move the block, click the Adjust tool, click the block, then drag the block.
  4. For more help see:
    1. EQ4 Design Cookbook page 38-39 instructions on setting blocks in the recip for "Setting Blocks into a Country Set Quilt" -- it works the same way for layers.
    2. See the Help files in EQ4.

How do I delete a block from Layer 2 or 3?
Use the Adjust tool.

  1. Click on the Adjust tool.
  2. Click on the Block you want to delete. It will become selected.
  3. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

When I right-click on the quilt and choose Properties, nothing happens. Why?
Properties should have been taken off the menu, because it is only a word, not meant to do anything. So just disregard it.

How do I change thread color on my quilt?
You can change thread color:

  1. On layer 2 -- on an Applique motif (changing the color around the applique motif, as if the applique was sewn on with colored thread).
  2. On layer 3 -- on a Quilting stencil. To change the thread color of a quilting stencil.

Here's how to change the thread color:

  1. Have your applique motif on Layer 2, or your Quilting stencil on Layer 3.
  2. Have the Layer 2 tab or the Layer 3 tab selected, depending on which layer you are working on.
  3. Click on the Thread Color tool. The Fabrics & Colors palette appears.
  4. Click on the palette to select a color.
  5. Click on the applique motif or the quilting stencil (on the quilt). The thread color changes to your selected color.

To change color on all motifs or stencils at once, hold down the CTRL key as you click in step #5.

How do I change quilt block size in a Country Set quilt?
Although the EQ4 Design Cookbook mentions a Layers tab on the QUILT menu, there is no Layers tab. We changed EQ4 (taking off the Layers tab) to make it easier, but this was after the Design Cookbook went to the printer. You now use the Graph Pad to resize a quilt block on the Country Set quilt layout.

  1. Have a Country Set layout on the worktable
  2. On the VIEW menu, click to put a check in front of Graph pad. You'll see a gray toolbar pop onto the bottom of your screen.
  3. Drag the mouse on your quilt to set a block.
  4. Click on the Adjust tool.
  5. Click on the block you want to adjust. The Graph Pad will "come alive," showing you numbers. These numbers show you the size, rotation, and position (on the quilt) of the selected block.

The Graph Pad is used to make fine adjustment to blocks on layers 2 and 3 and to blocks on layer 1 of a Country Set quilt. The Graph Pad updates automatically when you adjust the selected block with the mouse. When you change one of the controls on the Graph Pad, the corresponding position, dimension, or property of the selected block is adjusted to the new value. For full, illustrated, information on using the Graph Pad, see the EQ4 Help files:

  • In EQ4, on the HELP menu, choose EQ4 Help.
  • Double-click on Designing a Quilt.
  • Double-click on Designing a Country Set Layout.
  • Open and read these two topics
    1. Using the Graph Pad on a single block
    2. Using the Graph Pad on multiple blocks at once

Why is my quilt size wrong? It seems to be stuck on one size.
You're doing everything right. EQ4.0 can get stuck on a size. To "unstick it" do this:

  1. Click on the Layout tab.
  2. Do anything to make a change. For example, change from 3 to 4 blocks, then back to 3 again.
  3. Click the Layer 1 tab and your quilt will show the correct size.
  4. That's the quick fix. For a permanent fix, download the free EQ4.1 upgrade from this Web site.

Why don't I see my quilt size?
You do not have the Status Bar showing on the screen. Click on VIEW on the main menu bar. Then click on the words Status Bar, to put a check mark there. The Status Bar, showing your quilt size, will appear above the Windows Task Bar in EQ4.

Why don't I see all 3 "Same Size" tools on my Graph Pad?
The book EQ4 Simplified shows the Graph Pad on page 79, and I don't see all the tools on my Graph Pad.

Your computer is set for Large Fonts, which makes the tools disappear off the side of the screen. Please try this:

  1. At the Win 95/98 Desktop click Start - Settings - Control Panel.
  2. Double-click on the Display icon.
  3. Click on the Settings tab.
  4. Click on the Advanced button.
  5. Under "Font size," click the down arrow to drop the list of choices. Click on "Small Fonts."
  6. Click on OK. close the other boxes. Your computer will not need to reboot. After it does, please look for the Same Size tools on the Graph Pad and you should see all the tools.

When choosing number of blocks in my border (on the Borders tab) why don't my numbers go above 9 even though I see more than 9 blocks.
Your Windows screen display may be set so large that no more than one number can show in the number box. Please try this:

  1. At the Windows Desktop choose Start - Settings - Control Panel.
  2. Double-click on Display.
  3. Click on the Appearance tab.
  4. Click on the down arrow beside the "Scheme" drop down list box.
  5. Scroll down to choose Windows Standard.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Close all the windows.

How do I make a watercolor quilt?
One way to design a watercolor quilt is by starting with a block such as a 100-patch.

To draw a block like this:

  1. On the WORKTABLE menu, choose Work on Block.
  2. On the BLOCK menu, point to New Block, choose EasyDraw.
  3. Look at the Snap points (above the task bar at bottom-right of the screen) below the blank block. Make sure they are some number than can be divided by 10. If they are not, do the following step.
  4. On the BLOCK menu, choose Drawing Board Setup.
  5. On the General Tab, change the Snap Points to 20 x 20 or 30 x 30. Click OK.
  6. On the Grid tool (right side of screen) click directly on the small black square on the bottom-left of the tool. A Grid Setup box pops up.
  7. Change the numbers in each box to 10. This will mean you'll have 10 squares across and 10 squares down your block when your draw the grid.
  8. Click the (X) close button to put away the Grid Setup box.
  9. Point to the top-left corner of your blank EasyDraw block (your mouse cursor will have a tiny grid, and a cross-hair). Position the cross-hair on your block's corner and drag diagonally down your block, drawing a grid as you drag. Keep dragging until you have a full grid drawn, which hooks to the block's outer edge.
  10. Click the Save in Sketchbook button.

Set this blank block in a horizontal quilt layout.

You'll have a grid of small square patches all over your quilt, the number depending on the number of blocks in your quilt.

Color on the quilt to make a Watercolor quilt.

Why does my ALT key not work when rotating blocks on a quilt?
It sounds as though another software that you have running at the same time you're using EQ4 is interfering with the use of your ALT key. We've seen this happen with one user who had Atomica (ALT + click a word for the definition). Try closing all other programs that are running. To do this, hold down the CTRL key and the ALT key on your keyboard while you press the DELETE key. In Windows 95/98 this brings up the Close Program box. Close everything except Systray and Explorer. In Windows 2000 and XP use CTRL + ALT + DELETE to bring up the Task Manager button. Click this. Click the Applications tab. Click on End Task. Then open EQ4.1 and see if your screen is no longer flashing. By trial and error you can determine which program was causing the conflict.

Can I put a border around blocks in my quilt, but not have it be the outside border?
If you want a border going around some blocks, but not around the outside of the quilt, you need to use the Country Set layout.

This layout lets you set any block, any size, anywhere on the quilt. But with all of this freedom, you have the added work of needing to set, resize and locate these blocks yourself, rather than being able to pop them into a pre-sized block space. It's a good idea to read the Help files for more information on Country Set.

  1. Click HELP - EQ4 Help
  2. Click Designing a Quilt - Designing a Country Set Layout.

If you read HELP for nothing else, read it for Country Set and Layer 2 and 3. It's really helpful.

Generally what you'll do is set the blocks you want, resize them to make them the size you want, then move them.

  • To set a block, select the block on the Sketchbook block palette, point to the quilt, then drag the mouse on the quilt. A box forms. The selected block pops into the box.
  • To resize a block, click the Adjust tool, click the block on the quilt, look at the numbers in the center of your Graph Pad (they are the size numbers). Resize the block by clicking the arrows or typing in the size you want.
  • To resize several blocks at once, once you've sized one block and while it's still selected, hold down your keyboard SHIFT key, and click on all other blocks you want to make the same size. They will all be selected. Click the Same Size tool on the Graph Pad (double crossing arrows). All selected blocks will instantly resize.
  • To make a border around your blocks, line up blocks to make a border, or click the Plain Block tool, point to the quilt and drag out a rectangular border-size strip. Click the Adjust tool, resize it to make it the size you want, then drag it up to your blocks, to border them. Repeat for each side of your blocks, to make borders. If necessary you can rotate the strip, using the Rotate tool on the Graph pad.

For more Graph pad practice, try our EQuinox Mystery Quilt lessons.

Why can't I color the side triangles in my on-point quilt? I set them into Layer 1 of a Country Set Layout.
You cannot color the side triangles because the Country Set space isn't a block - it's just a large open space for you to set blocks into. You must first set a block into that space, and then you can color it.

You can either set individual blocks, or you can save time by setting one big, blank block the size of your Country Set quilt layout, then setting your on-point blocks on top of this, in Layer 2.

To make a blank block:

  1. Click WORKTABLE -- Work on Block.
  2. Click Save in Sketchbook and answer Yes when asked if you want to save a blank block to the Sketchbook.

To set the blank block onto your quilt:

  1. Click WORKTABLE - Work on Quilt. Be on Layer 1.
  2. Click the block in the Sketchbook Blocks palette, to select it.
  3. Point to the quilt and drag the mouse. A box forms. When you release the mouse the blank block sets into Layer 1. Don't worry that it doesn't fit the space perfectly.
  4. If you don't have the Graph Pad on the bottom of the screen, click VIEW and choose Graph Pad. Tip: You will want to know the size of your Country Set layout for the next steps. Click on the Layout tab to see the size.
  5. Click the Layer 1 tab.
  6. Click the Adjust tool.
  7. Click the block you just set in your quilt. Use the Graph Pad's size arrows (center numbers) to make the block exactly that size. The block won't fit exactly yet.
  8. Use the Graph Pad's location arrows (left numbers) to make each number say 0.00. This makes the block fit your space exactly.
  9. Click the Layer 2 tab.
  10. Set your on-point blocks into Layer 2. Tip: Set all of the blocks quickly, paying no attention to size or location. Then click the Adjust tool, resize one block the perfect size. Next, hold down the SHIFT key on your keyboard as you click all the other blocks. Now click the Graph Pad's Same Size tool. same size button The selected blocks resize. (They become the size of the first "perfect" block.) Drag them into position.

I don't understand what County Set is. It just looks like a big blank space.
EQ's Country Set quilt layout style gives you complete design freedom. Use this layout style if you want blocks of different sizes and shapes for the base layer of your quilt. Setting blocks on the base layer of a Country Set quilt is just like setting blocks on layer 2. Use the Set tool and drag the mouse on the quilt to form a box. The selected block will pop into this box. You can also use the Plain Block tool to set large plain blocks as the base of your quilt.

After you have set blocks, use the Adjust tool and the Graph Pad to fine tune your blocks to the exact size and location you want. It is up to you to make sure blocks fit together.

Once your base layer is built, you can use any of the quilt tools to make changes to the quilt. Use layer 2 to add appliqué motifs and layer 3 for quilting stencils.

What is the Graph Pad?
The Graph Pad is used to move, resize and rotate blocks on layers 2 and 3 and on layer 1 of a Country Set quilt. To put the Graph Pad onto the worktable, choose Graph Pad on the VIEW menu. Play with it awhile and you'll understand how much help the Graph Pad can be.

When you select a block on the quilt using the Adjust tool, the controls on the Graph Pad will display the position, dimensions and rotation of the block. The Graph Pad updates automatically when you adjust the selected block with the mouse. When you change one of the controls on the Graph Pad, the corresponding position, dimension, or property of the selected block is adjusted to the new value.

Moving a block:
Click the Adjust [adjust tool] tool, click on the block, to select it, then use the X and Y controls on the Graph Pad: Changing the value in the X entry moves the block horizontally. Changing the value in the Y entry moves the block vertically. These values correspond to the block's upper-left corner to the quilt layout's upper-left corner.

Rotating a block:
Click on the Adjust tool, click on the block, to select it, then use the Rotation entry on the Graph Pad:

To rotate clockwise, click to increase the number. To rotate counterclockwise, click to decrease the number. Allowable values _180 to +180.

Sizing a block:
Click the Adjust tool, click on the block, to select it, then use the sizing controls on the Graph Pad.

The top value shows the width (horizontal dimension) of the selected block.

The bottom value shows the height (vertical dimension) of the selected block.

NOTE: If the block has been rotated, then width refers the length of the edge of the selected block that was horizontal before it was rotated. Analogously, the height refers to the vertical edge before rotation. These edges are drawn in white on the Graph Pad to help identify them.

I’m setting a row of blocks into a Country Set quilt. Is there any way to make sure the blocks are the same size?
Yes. Use the Graph Pad (see the answer above). First you make one block just the size you want. Then you can change any number of blocks to that same size, instantly.

  1. Set blocks on your quilt in whatever size you want you don't need to be careful here. Just put the blocks on the quilt in any size at all.
  2. Click the Adjust tool.
  3. Click on one block, then adjust the size of that one block to make it the perfect size you need. Use the Graph Pad to help you determine the size, as described in the answer just above.
  4. With that block still selected, hold down your keyboard SHIFT key, then click on the other blocks you’ve set that you want to make the same size as the first you clicked on. All these blocks will become selected, with a select box enclosing them all.
  5. Click on one of the sizing tools.[resize tools]
    [resize examples]

Aligning: the selected blocks can also be aligned to the left, right, top or bottom. So to line up all your blocks along the top of your quilt, for example:

  1. Set blocks on your quilt wherever you want.
  2. Click the Adjust tool.
  3. Click on one block, then move that block exactly where you’d like to line up other blocks. Use the graph pad to help you locate the block in the exact placement you want.
  4. With that block still selected, hold down your keyboard SHIFT key, then click on the other blocks you’ve set that you want to make the same size as the first you clicked on. All these blocks will become selected, with a select box enclosing them all.
  5. Click one of the aligning tools.[align tools]
    [align examples]

Can I use one of my Country Set quilts as a "model" to set new blocks into?
Yes. Get your Country Set quilt showing up on the worktable. With the Set tool selected, set a new block to replace the old block by selecting a new block in the palette, then clicking on the center of the block you want to replace. The new block will pop into the old block's space, replacing it. Continue replacing blocks until you have your new quilt as you like.

How can I make pieced sashes?
You can set any block from the Block Library into a sash space in your quilt layout. The square block will stretch to become a rectangle and fill your sash. Tip: Try blocks from the Classic Pieced - Simple Blocks style. You can also draw your own pieced sash. To do this, change the drawing square into a rectangle, and draw the block the same proportion as your sash.

  1. First, set up your quilt layout, noting your sash dimensions. You will know the width = the width you set for the sash on the Layout tab. You can figure out the length by noting the horizontal size of the block on the Layout tab.
  2. Next, see the EQ4 Design Cookbook recipe "Drawing a Rectangular Block" on page 66. Draw your block and save it in the Sketchbook.
  3. Set your sash block into your quilt layout. The block will be square (and look odd) in the Sketchbook, but will look fine when you set it into your rectangular sash space.
  4. To print the block, or templates for the block, click on the Select tool, click the sash, choose FILE - Print - Print Block (or Templates).

 


  
   
 

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