Tips and Tutorials On The 22nd #12 (#TTot22)

Welcome to the 12th edition of Tips and Tutorials on the 22nd. I can’t believe a whole year has gone by, but then again, I can easily believe it. I think I have said it here before but this year has either dragged on or sped by with none of the usual events – feeling a bit like a science fiction film.

Let’s get down to business. This is a brief Electric Quilt 8 Tutorial on how to get fabric estimates for your backing. Once you set up this file it is pretty easy to adjust any way you want.

Set Up the Project:
1. Open Electric Quilt and create a new project.
2. Name it “Quilt Backings”, click ok.

3. Go to “Design a Quilt from scratch”.
4. Scroll to the far right and select “Custom Set”.

5.Select Borders. We won’t use borders, so delete the border.

Set up the Size of the Quilt Back – Include overage for quiting/longarm

1. Select Layout. Enter the size of the backing you need.
2. Start with finished top measurement. Mine is 54 1/2″ x 64 1/2″. EQ likes Finished sizes, so I will use 54″ x 64″.
3. Add 8″ around for 4″ extra for quilting [or 12″ for 6″ all around or 16: for 8″ all around]. My quilt back now is 62″ x 72″.

Add “blocks” to represent lengths of fabric for backing:
1. Go to Design, and Block Tools. and set block.
2. Go to the three dots above the blocks, right click and “clear all unused blocks”.
3. Then go to the three dots and “add a plain block”.

4. Now drag that plain block onto your quilt.
5. Click adjust, and change the size to a piece of fabric you are trying to use. I am going to use a 42 x 72 for the first piece.
6. You can move that piece into position on your quilt. I am putting it on the far left side for now.

7. Now I am going to split a piece of fabric, that is one yard, cut down the fold, that is 36 x 20.
8. Add another block the same size. That will cover your quilt.
9. Color them. I sometimes use different colors for each piece.

Determining Cut Sizes:
1. Go to Print tab.
2. Click on a block, click on rotary cutting, and preview and you will see the size you need. You can see the finished size in the chart, and and 1/2″ for cutting size. Or you can see the cut size by using preview or print.

You know can see and play with block sizes and arrangements. I did another quick one and did the following size pieces for the same custom set.
2 rectangles at 21″ x 72″, and put them on either side. I added 2 – 20″ x 20″ blocks, and then arranged them and filled in the spaces stretching and shrinking plain blocks to fit the space. I then added a pieced block for interest (or left from the front, etc).

The pieces measure as follows:
Grey: 2 @ 22″ x 72″ [or 22.5″ x 72.5″ cut]
1 @ 7 1/2″ x 20″ [8″ x 20.5″]
1 @ 24 1/2″ x 20″ [25″ x 20″]
2 blocks that finish @ 20″ [20 1/2″ unfinished].

I hope this helps those that need a little bit more help or structure in figuring out backs. There are so many ways to do it, but this is sometimes more efficient than for me, than scrawling on a piece of paper.

And now it is your turn to share some fun tip or tutorial for us! Join in the fun and let us in on the quilting secret that makes you happy and work quicker!

Here are the great links last month. I love the idea of paper piecing without sewing through the paper….do check it out if you have never done it! I may also need that RBG sister….I do have a few of those to make – so be sure to check them out.

Paper-piecing without Sewing through the Paper
Baby Steps Into Computerized Custom Quilting
Foundation Paper Piecing + Needle Turn Appliqué: The Notorious R.B.G. is Ready
Setting Triangle Sizes
Get the Bleed Out!
Hanging Sleeve by Machine
24 DIY Christmas Ornaments

To find past tips see:
Tips and Tutorials Menu on this blog
OR
Pinterest Tips and Tutorials Board.

Coming Up on the Blog:
2020 Monthly Color Block Finish
Punch Needle UFO
My Stitching Resolution 12/30
Best of 2020
#2021PlanningParty

Linking Up:

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