Monday, June 14, 2010

Pattern Writing with EQ and Word

I enjoy designing my own quilts in EQ and then once I make the quilt, I like to write the pattern to share with others that might want to make it too.  I have always been so frustrated trying to get a pattern that looks professionally done, or at least "neat" drawings.  I have tried taking pictures of the process and using those in my pattern, but I am not that great a photographer. 

So I posed the question to EQ, and got the best response from Penny McMorris of EQ - and I will say a very prompt response at that.  She explained how to create a metafile of the block in EQ and download this to WORD.  Once in WORD you can do all kinds of neat things with the block.  I still have a lot to learn, but I though I would show you a before and after of what I have learned. 

(If you would like a copy of the  question I posed to EQ and the answer I got, just let me know and I will forward the email to you.)

I am writing a pattern for my Klosje wall hanging that you can see on my post before this one.  I wanted to be able to print multiple copies of the paper foundation pieces on one page, to run off on card stock. The only solution I came up with was to print copies from EQ, cut out the patterns and tape them on a piece of paper and then make copies of that.  The problem being, first - you can't include that in an electronic pattern write-up as scanning distorts the size, second - I could not add the text I wanted to in EQ and third - it just looks kind of tacky.

So following Penny's instructions, I created the metafile, copied it to WORD, separated the parts of the block and then arranged them on the page.  I added text boxes to label the pieces.  Woohoo..this is just what I wanted.   Here you see the before (left) and after (right).  [I didn't really need to tell you which was the before and which was the after, did I?]

This is just so neat and I am excited about writing the pattern now.  If only I could sew the klosje and write the pattern at the same time - I just love making these cute little blocks.



 Monday Mystery - I finished my Owl block. One more to go and the final explanation of what we are making. I am looking forward to that.  I think I will outline my petals and center in a purple. 

Thanks for dropping by.
Teresa
19129

12 comments:

Cathi said...

I would love a copy of that e-mail! I have written a few patterns and have struggled much the same way. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Purple Pam said...

Glad you are having success with your EQ pattern making. Isn't it great when we discover how to do something on the computer? I am amazed when this happens to me (which is not very often for me). I like all the flittering you have been doing. What fun!

Jackie's Stitches said...

I love learning new things! It always seems to be such a struggle to figure out something that eventually ends up taking a few minutes.

FlourishingPalms said...

This is wonderful! As a pattern-writer myself, I can appreciate how nice it is to be able to translate from EQ to Word. Being a Mac-owner, unfortunately that's not an option for me. But hurrah for you! Thanks for sharing.

Shakerwood said...

Boy, does that pattern look better than what we got last Saturday! I'm so tickled that you found a way to make it work.

Cyndi loves to stitch said...

we are definitely going to have to swap notes......you should have seen what i had to do yo get the snowball in pattern form, started it it on EQ finished it on publisher because I couldn't get iy to do what i wanted.

Thimbleanna said...

Wow -- that's really cool. Your pattern looks great Teresa!

Joanna said...

That is amazing! Add my name to the list for a copy of the email ;) OK I don't know if you are really sending out the info, but the difference is amazing. Awesome job!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Teresa, I too would love a copy...patterns can be hard to draw at times....looking forward to seeing how your BOM turns out...hugs lyn

*karendianne. said...

What you've learned here (and are continuing to learn) is really really neat! Beyond neat. I can completely imagine how addicitive this would be. Then I'd be saying "can I please have another 3 hours in the day?"

Ellen J said...

Mom, I love your new layout!! It looks great. :)

Talk with you tomorrow, and see you next weekend!! love you!!!!

em's scrapbag said...

I would love a copy of the email. Thanks for sharing what you did.