I think I may need an intervention. LOL This is addictive.

THREE SIZES!

There is at least one way to use all three Rose Dream sizes in a bed quilt.

This setting uses 4.5, 6, and 9 inch units in 9, 12, and 18 inch blocks.

Same quilt, different colors. . .

. . . and the same again.

I want to color the squares to be more prominent.

Q. How will I know when to stop?

I’m going to have another look at the Storm At Sea, Drunkard’s Path, and Winding Ways layouts which use two or more sizes to see what else would work for Rose Dream.

However, Rose Dream is a special case. For the design to be symmetrical, Rose Dream requires an even number of units.

It’s a complicating factor.

Of course, I could use Rose Dream 6 inch units with any other 6 inch blocks (list on the website), or 12 inch Sunflower, or . . .

Help! I’ve fallen into EQ5 and I can’t get out!**

Electric Quilt Project File for You

You can play with Rose Dream in Electric Quilt too, and create quilts that are better than mine.

• Click to download the EQ5 file with Rose Dream blocks and quilts.
• Play with settings and colors and fabric from the libraries.
• Enter a quilt in the EQ/Inklingo Love the Lines Contest!
• Win! (See the prizes!)

More Ideas

We don’t want to leave anyone out. Rose Dream is amazing even if you don’t have Electric Quilt because there are worksheets included in the Inklingo shape collections. There is a gallery of sample layouts on the website too.

Best of all, you know that any design you create with these shapes will be easy to cut and sew with Inklingo.

Hooray!

Linda & Monkey

** “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” Quilters outside North America might not recognize this common ad slogan for a security bracelet for people who live alone. It has slipped [pun intended] <groan> into common use in comedy routines. Canadians like to be thought of as exporters of humor/humour.

New to Inklingo? Order and download free shapes and start sewing in the next few minutes. Quick Start (Always FREE.) There are triangles, diamonds, and squares in the free collection—great for dozens of different blocks.

Inklingo for Beginners

Inklingo Quiz – Just for Fun!

3 SIZES ! ! !

There are new Inklingo Shape Collections today!

You have a choice of 3 sizes of Rose Dream.

This design is sometimes called True Lover’s Knot, Lover’s Knot, or Endless Chain.

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name
would smell as sweet.” (Shakespeare, of course.)

There are infinite, rosy possibilities with 4 simple shapes!

This design has Rose Dream blocks set in the traditional manner in horizontal rows.

When the Rose Dream blocks are set on point like this, Quarter Square Triangles are required around the edges. They are available in the Inklingo On-Point Shape Collections for 4.5 and 6 inch blocks (not 9 inch yet).

Inklingo Log Cabin Shape Collections (0.75 inch and 1.0 inch) can be used for sashing and cornerstones on 4.5 and 6 inch Rose Dream blocks. You may prefer to rotary cut the squares and rectangles without printing.

Some of the worksheets use 4.5 and 9 inch Rose Dream together.

This one uses half petals.

If you decide on a curvy edge, my famous instructions for a scalloped binding will help. They are free on the website.

Worksheets

There are more than a dozen different worksheets in the shape collections, including all of the designs above.

The Shapes to Print on Fabric

Shapes for 4.5 inch units. See the website for the other sizes.

Machine Piecing

I recommend sewing Rose Dream by machine, but of course you can hand piece if you need a portable project.

The collections include illustrated instructions for sewing curves and insets by machine. With Inklingo’s matching marks and crosshairs, you can be confident that everything will fit together beautifully!

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.**

3 Roses and a Nose

Beauty AND a nose for value!

The special prices are for the first week only, okay? Click here!

Enjoy!

Linda & Monkey

**A Thing of Beauty (Endymion, John Keats)

New to Inklingo? Order and download free shapes and start sewing in the next few minutes. Quick Start (Always FREE.) There are triangles, diamonds, and squares in the free collection—great for dozens of different blocks.

Inklingo for Beginners

Inklingo Quiz – Just for Fun!

1. Ronda at Momma Made This downloaded the Inklingo Smart Shopper’s Idea Book (free PDF download) last November.
2. Rose Dream caught her eye.
   (Also called True Lover’s Knot)
3. At 2:37 AM that night she sent me 6 pictures of Rose Dream variations she had drawn in Electric Quilt software.

I was gobsmacked.

© Ronda Jemtegaard 2011 (Used with Permission)

Isn’t it beautiful? If you click on the quilt, it will take you to Momma Made This.

© Ronda Jemtegaard 2011 (Used with Permission)

Dream or Nightmare?

Ronda’s timing was cruel because I was stuck working on dreadfully dull behind-the-scenes stuff to make Inklingo even better, and I wanted to drop everything. Just. Stop. And. Sew.

It was a nightmare. Rose Dream shot up to the top of my list.

All this from a few petals that caught Ronda’s eye—and Electric Quilt, of course.

 Coming Soon

This picture of Rose Dream in the Idea Book kept Ronda awake in the wee small hours of the morning.

COMING SOON!

Other publishers and authors tell you months and months in advance what they have planned.

Inklingo is different. We’re digital. I’m giving you a few days’ notice at most—sometimes none.

I bet you’d like to know the sizes and what else you can do with these shapes. Maybe an EQ5 file to play with? More designs? Some tips?

We have more to say on this tomorrow. <grin>

In the meantime. . . 

While you’re waiting, Monkey recommends the Smart Shopper’s Idea Book but I’m not sure it’s a good idea. After all, look what happened last time.

If you don’t want to be tempted, skip the Idea Book!

Other ways to pass the time:

• Design a quilt with Inklingo shapes in Electric Quilt for the Love the Lines Contest.
  (February 14 deadline, no purchase necessary)
• Clear your agenda and prepare to amaze yourself.
• Visit Ronda’s blog and listen to Louis Armstrong while you look at Ronda’s other designs and Inklingo-able patterns.

Yes, it’s a wonderful world.

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.**

Will you be dreaming or designing with the colors of the rainbow at 2:37 AM in the dark sacred night?

Linda & Monkey

**Music and lyrics by George David Weiss, George Douglas, Bob Thiele

New to Inklingo? Order and download free shapes and start sewing in the next few minutes. Quick Start (Always FREE.) There are triangles, diamonds, and squares in the free collection—great for dozens of different blocks.

Inklingo for Beginners

Inklingo Quiz – Just for Fun!

Click on the image for a PDF with the step-by-step for this quilt with the free shapes. We used EQ5 this time.

Or, click here.

The long rectangles in the inner border are not Inklingo-able, but everything else is, so it would be a good quilt for the contest. The EQ/Inklingo Contest Rules are here.

The PDF should help you no matter which shapes you want to use. If you don’t have EQ (yet), it will show you how simple the software is to use.

PRINTING?

If you want to print the PDF (8 pages), it might only work if you use the print icon which appears when you hover near the bottom of the window (instead of using File >Print). You can also save the PDF on your computer.

STAY TUNED

Next time, we’ll share the EQ5 file. If you subscribe for email alerts (right sidebar), you won’t miss anything. There are other messages about the contest too, if you scroll down.

We’ll be back soon, okay? In the meantime, you can get busy with your own designs!

Linda & Monkey

New to Inklingo? Order and download free shapes and start sewing in the next few minutes. Quick Start (Always FREE.) There are triangles, diamonds, and squares in the free collection—great for dozens of different blocks.

Inklingo for Beginners

Tilde’s 15 Minute Challenge

Monkey and I have more tips to help you design Inklingo quilts in Electric Quilt for the Love the Lines Contest.

Ready? Let’s go.

MY MISTAKE—A BIG BOO-BOO

First, I have a confession. I made a mistake when I named the free shape collection “LeMoyne Star 4.5 inch.”

Bad choice—too limiting! You can make sooo much more than LeMoyne Star!

The name is now Diamond/Triangle/Square. Oh dear. I’m not sure it is any better. I find it very hard to name the shape collections because they are so versatile. (It’s a good problem to have!)

ABOUT THE WEIRD SIZES

The 4.5 inch star is the same size as a block in Dear Jane® by Brenda Papadakis. It is a block which is traditionally made with templates because the measurements are odd.

To make this   

You need 8 diamonds, 4 squares, and 4 QST, like this:

Don’t worry! With Inklingo, you do not need to measure 1.32 or 1.86 inches!

A block like this shows just how precise and simple it is when you print the shapes on fabric—no matter how weird the measurements!

The triangles are Quarter Square Triangles (QST) because they have straight grain on the long side. (Quilters always prefer to have straight grain on the outside edges!)

BONUS SHAPE

I also included a Half Square Triangle (HST, straight grain on the short sides) in the free shape collection because it makes even more block variations possible.

MORE SQUARES AND RECTANGLES TOO

For the LTL Contest, it is important to get the sizes right in EQ, so the quilt is actually Inklingo-able. However, Inklingoists sometimes use simple non-Inklingo shapes with Inklingo shapes, so we made an exception. You can use rectangles and squares too, if you wish, and your entry will be accepted.

NOT JUST LEMOYNE STAR 

There are detailed design notes and sewing instructions included in the free Diamond/Triangle/Square shape collection, but it is easy to underestimate what you can do with these simple shapes.

FREE PDF

To get your creative juices flowing, I have prepared a new reference with a few of the many blocks you can make with diamonds, triangles, and squares.

  Free PDF

Download PDF HERE (3 pages)

The PDF does not include every possible block, but it will get you started.

DESIGNING WITH THE FREE SHAPES

There is no purchase necessary to enter the contest, but the free shape collection is a great place to start because the shapes are so versatile.

MORE TO COME

The best is yet to come!

What’s in Part 2 and Part 3?

• a new EQ5 project file!
• a PDF with a sample quilt you can sew with the free shapes,
  including step-by-step instructions for designing it in EQ5

Part 1, 2, and 3 will show you how easy it is to create your own design for the contest, whether you use the free shapes or any of the others.

We think you will be gobsmacked by how easy it is to design with 1.32 inch squares and 1.86 inch triangles! Who’d a thunk, eh?

You can trust Monkey and EQ Mouse on this one.

A NOTE ABOUT EQ5

The new EQ5 project file can be opened with EQ5, EQ6, or EQ7.

I used EQ5 this time in order to include more quilters. I hope  you appreciate it <LOL> because it was hard to go back to the olde tools.  I have been spoiled by EQ7.

Electric Quilt has come a long, long way since EQ5 was released 10 years ago.

ARE YOU TEN YEARS OUT OF DATE?

A couple of quilters have told me that they only have EQ5 and can’t upgrade right now. Oh! No! The contest rules require EQ6 or EQ7. Don’t worry, there’s still hope.

If you design a quilt in EQ5 and want to enter it in the contest, all you need to do is find a friend who has EQ6 or EQ7, email the project file to her and have her open it and save it in EQ6 or EQ7 format. She can then email it back to you, so you can email it to me for the contest. You won’t be able to edit it or open it in the newer format, but you could win the top prize!

STAY TUNED

I hope you will come back for Part 2 and Part 3. If you subscribe for email alerts (right sidebar), you won’t miss anything. There are other messages about the contest too, if you scroll down. The rules are here.

See you soon, okay?

Linda & Monkey

New to Inklingo? Order and download free shapes and start sewing in the next few minutes. Quick Start (Always FREE.) There are triangles, diamonds, and squares in the free collection—great for dozens of different blocks.

Inklingo for Beginners

Tilde’s 15 Minute Challenge

This is so pretty! I love the kaleidoscope effect.

Monkey and I think you might want to use this technique in Electric Quilt for the Love the Lines Contest, but the instructions and tips apply even if you don’t have EQ.

Whether you call it kaleidoscope, One Block Wonder, Stack-n-Whack ®, or just fussy cutting, we want to show you how easy it is with Inklingo!

FABRIC

This fabric has been in my stash for at least 10 years. I think it has great potential for a kaleidoscope effect.

I want my kaleidoscope fabric to have:

• pretty colors
• a variety of shapes
• no “background”
• lots of movement and swirls
• size of design appropriate to the size of the shapes

Is the size of the design right for 2 inch 60° Diamonds?

TIP!  I printed a page of diamonds from Inklingo on ordinary paper to make a window template and placed it printed-side-down to see what the diamonds would be like.

The size of the shapes in the fabric seems to suit, don’t you think?

  (Click for larger view.)

The  page in the Catalogue of Shapes for Diamond Layout A gives me suggested custom page sizes for 6 or 12 diamonds at a time.

There are 4 different layouts for diamonds (A, B, C, D)  in the Inklingo 60° Diamond – 2 inch shape collection. All of them are suitable for this method.

PRINTING

I decided to start by printing 6 diamonds at a time, so I cut the freezer paper (FP) 5 x 9.5 inches.

Fussy cutting always wastes some fabric, but this doesn’t look too bad.

I need to print 6 sheets to have enough identical diamonds for each star.

If there seemed to be excessive waste, I would try another Inklingo diamond layout or another size of FP to see if it worked better with the repeat of the design in this particular fabric.

(When I print the rest, I will cut the FP 7.25 x 9.5 for 9 diamonds per sheet because there will be less waste with this particular fabric. Live and learn. Also, there would be less waste if I printed strips of 60° Triangles to make hexagons.)

Notice where to position the corners on the design.

Iron each sheet of FP in position, making sure the design in the fabric is the same where the corners of each FP sheet are positioned.

I cut with scissors at the ironing board (tips in an earlier message).

TIP!  Don’t cut around the first sheet until you have ironed the next one in position. That way, the first one is a handy reference to make sure the second one is positioned identically on the design.

Use a hot, dry iron. No steam!

TIP!  Most jams are caused by the freezer paper separating from the fabric in the printer. Jams should be very rare if you wash the fabric to remove the sizing and use a HOT, dry iron.

Press on the fabric side and the FP side to get a good bond.

With the right amount of heat, you can avoid jams—and the freezer paper should peel off neatly, so you can use it over and over again.

Six identical sheets all ready to print, each with 6 diamonds!

TIP!  I must make sure that each sheet is printed identically, so I put a mark on each sheet of FP indicating which end should feed into the printer first.

  Click to see the perfect lines!

Printed! Ultra-fine lines. No templates! No measuring!

6 sheets of 6 diamonds for 6 stars

Every diamond is printed perfectly with cutting lines, stitching lines, matching marks, and precision corners, so there is no measuring, and the diamonds line up perfectly.

CUT AND SEW

Remove the freezer paper, use a rotary cutter or scissors to cut the diamonds apart, and stack them in 6 identical piles.

There are tips for rotary cutting several layers at a time in an earlier blog post, including video.

No machine has as many advantages as cutting with Inklingo:

• Every shape is perfect without measuring.
• You can use scissors if you want a portable project.
• Every diamond has precision corners.
• There are stitching lines and matching marks on every diamond!
• You can sew by machine or by hand because of the lines on the fabric.
• Use the tools and printer you already have!

Sort 6 identical diamonds into 6 piles and start playing with the shapes!

Arrange a set of 6 diamonds in the star shape. There are two options for the center, depending on which way the diamonds are turned.

I can hardly wait to see how these will look! This step is fun.

WHICH IS BETTER?

Here’s a good example of the surprising effects.

The star on the left has the diamonds positioned with the pink end toward the center. The star on the right has the same pieces of fabric turned so the pink end is toward the outside.

Isn’t it amazing how different they look?

I like to try both ways before deciding which point of the diamond looks best in the center.

Sometimes it is very hard to decide—because they both look fabulous!

TIP!  You may find that a digital photo of each option will help you make up your mind.

When you decide, pin each set of 6 together.

TIP!  I insert the head of the pin closest to the point I have decided to place at the center of the stars (above).

Machine piece or hand piece?

I was not in the mood to get the machine out, so I hand pieced while I watched TV with Russ. Hand piecing helps me relax—especially when I know everything fits so perfectly!

If I felt like machine piecing, of course I could, and everything would line up because every shape is perfect and there are precision corners and matching marks on every diamond.

 Click for a larger view!

PRESS

These press perfectly!

All of the seam allowances in this star are pressed counterclockwise around the center.

Notice how this eliminates the bulk in the intersections! Your stars will look their best and be easier to quilt.

TIP!  If you press all of the stars identically (all clockwise or all counterclockwise around the center), when you add the rest of the diamonds, the pressing will be perfect over the entire quilt top.

This method works with One Block Wonders by Maxine Rosenthal.

However, I probably don’t have enough fabric and it says 1999 in the selvage, so there is no hope of getting more. I can make a bigger quilt by adding the gold background fabric to set the stars as Seven Sisters.

Note to Self:  When you love a fabric, buy the bolt because you never know. . .

I love the way this is turning out!

OTHER SHAPES

There are several other Inklingo shapes which would work just as well as these diamonds.

• 60° Diamonds 3 inch
• 60° Triangles 3 inch  (perfect for One Block Wonders!)
• Dresden Plate Blades (pieced or appliqué)
• Orange Peel
• Yin Yang
• and more!!

By the way, there are 8 other messages on the blog related to  fussy cutting. (Select Category in right sidebar.)

EQ HINT FOR THE CONTEST

Seven Sisters could be your choice for the Love the lines Contest because there are many sizes of Inklingo 60° Diamonds.

TIP!  Monkey suggests that you start with the  Baby Blocks Quilt Layout and take the Fussy Cut tool for a spin! The Fussy Cut Tool is a Quilt Worktable tool in EQ6 and EQ7, but it is not in the toolbar by default. To add it, click the Customize Toolbars button > Add/Remove Buttons > add the check mark. Click away from the list to close it—and prepare to have some fun!

YOUR PHOTOS

Every fabric is completely different when it is used this way. I would love to see photos of your kaleidoscope blocks, so please share them on your blog and let me know, okay?  If you don’t have your own blog, you can share photos on the Inklingo Projects Blog and in the Inklingo Yahoo Group.

I can’t get enough of these!  Don’t you just love playing with fabric?

Linda & Monkey

New to Inklingo? Order and download free shapes and start sewing in the next few minutes. Quick Start (Always FREE.) There are triangles, diamonds, and squares in the free collection—great for dozens of different blocks.

Inklingo for Beginners

Tilde’s 15 Minute Challenge