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Progress of Squared Up Stars Pattern

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Update:  It’s finished!!!!   I have testers testing it as I type this!  How exciting.  The release date will be November 30th, so save the date!

I’ve been working on my first  pattern for a few weeks now.  Thank you for being so patient with me.  I am itching to get this site going with lots and lots of patterns, but learning 3 programs at once and trying to write cohesively is not for the faint of heart.  The course I’m taking includes EQ8, Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Indesign.  While I was familiar with EQ8, I was not that proficient in Illustrator.  Years ago I use to use Corel (dating myself) for my digitized patterns that are on the market for longarm machines.  I even taught a few classes back in the day on digitizing with Corel so  I felt like it would be an easy transition from Corel to Illustrator.  Boy was I wrong…   

Since first switching  to AI years ago, I have managed to work itfor simple tasks.  Never did I think I could create quilt pattern diagrams with it, but here I am doing just that.  There is a lot on the internet about using AI, but there’s not much geared for simple shapes that need manipulating in a way to create a quilt block.  The pattern writing course I’m involved with is teaching this very thing.  

EQ8 is a great program.  While a lot of people design quilts with pen and graph paper, I’ve always been a computer nerd.  I’ve had EQ since the first version.  In the past, whenever I wanted to make a quilt, I would head for my EQ8 program and start designing.  I could quickly come up with yardage for whatever I wanted to make and I’d head to the store with my list.  EQ has always been my go to for designing quilts. Did you know that EQ8 and AI work wonderfully together?  I had no idea.  There are certain things EQ8 cannot do.  While they have tons of different layouts, some things in my mind could not be constructed with EQ8.  When I learned how to bring in EQ8 quilts into AI I realized the sky is the limit now with design.

I hope to show some tips on how to work with both programs in the future.  Even if you never write patterns, it’s always good to have tools to let your imagination run wild.

The writing process is being done in Adobe Indesign.  While many designers still write in other programs, I’m realizing ID is the industry standard when it comes to pattern writing now.  I could write it in AI, but the features in ID make it so much easier to format.

So as you can see I’m off to a slow start.  Learning these tools will be invaluable once I get rolling, so taking the time now to do so is where I need to be.  My first pattern Squared up Stars will have to go through a few steps before it’s released.  First it will go to a tech editor (to make sure it makes sense), then onto quilt testers and then the final launch date.  I hope to be launching in late November, but who knows.  

Hope this isn’t too much geek talk for quilters.  Just wanted to give you a little inside look at what all goes into getting a pattern to market.  🙂

Until next time, happy quilting,

patterndesign

Pattern Design with EQ8 and Adobe Illustrator

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Quilt Design in Illustrator

 

Well now… I sure didn’t know how easy some tasks were in Illustrator.  It’s amazing once one puts their mind to learning this program.  I’ve dabbled in AI quite a bit for doing some minor things.  In the past, I’ve designed ads, logos, forms and other items for my other business, but it was always mind boggling to be able to do certain things.  I really have never used it for quilt design, but boy oh boy was I missing out.

I’ve had EQ8 since the first version.  I’ve always used it to design my own quilts.  It is very easy to use.  On the fly, one can design a quilt very quickly and now I’m finding it’s a great tool to use in conjunction with AI.  I had no idea I could bring my EQ8 blocks into AI as vector images.  Well, there’s a few steps to make that happen, but once done, the sky is the limit as to placement of those blocks.  

This is a sample of what AI is capable of creating.  The log cabin block was brought into AI.  I then quickly distributed the blocks on rotation and added these shapes to make it easier to piece.  The main block now will be the log cabin block looking like it’s on-point, but it’s actually a long cabin square in a square.  By making it a square in a square, the piecer will have an easier time assembling the quilt with no Y seams.  I had a hard time trying to do this in EQ8.  They do have a layout similar to what I’ve just created, but it would have created Y seams and I really want my patterns to be easy and Y seams are NOT my idea of a fun time.  This design is in it’s infancy, but I’m loving what the possibilities are with these two programs talking to each-other. 

Now back to the writing process with some other designs.  Until next time…. happy quilting!

Linda