This quilt was designed in an applique block design workshop with my guild. I drew each block in EQ by taking a photo of each block, importing the photo into EQ, and tracing the shapes using PatchDraw. The border design was created as a “Motif” a floating applique design that can be added and moved around the quilt without regard for blocks and borders.
Motifs are found on the block worktable in EQ.
Motifs are designed much like a block, however, there is no background created for the block, so the applique elements “float”. Motifs can only be added on Layer 2 of the quilt, which means that in real life you will need to piece the quilt before adding these applique motifs to the quilt.
Notice that the four corners of the applique are all exactly the same design. I measured the size of one corner design and made my applique corner motif that exact size.
You only need to draw the corner once. Now, on Layer 2, copy and rotate each of the four Motifs to repeat the design on all four corners of the quilt.
This is the only way to allow the applique to flow over seam lines. I love having my applique elements escape the borders and overlap some of the quilt blocks.
I make my applique borders this way even if I don’t have the applique crossing over the seams. By using Motifs, you can change the quilt size under the motif and not have to change anything else. Here is the quilt with a 6″ border and another with a 9″ border. Compare this quilt to the one above. Do you see how the border applique motifs are not overlapping the blocks as much and there is now a bit of space between the corner designs? This gives the quilt a little more negative space for your eye to rest.
The top quilt is 85″ square. The bottom quilt is 92″. Which design do you like better and which size do you prefer?
You will notice I recolored the quilt with Tula’s True Colors fabric line. More about that in the next post!
Leave a comment below if you have a suggestion for a name! Let me know which size is better for you. Do you like the look of the 6″ or the 9″ borders? I would love your feedback and your input into this pattern. It could be the next Quilt Along!
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My suggestions for titles are more than one.
Spring Greeting; Summer Greeting;
Floral Concerto; purple floral symphony; floral welcome. I like both of them but may prefer the larger with more space to set off the flower applique. Thanks Sue!
Thank you Annette! I love the names Floral Concerto and Floral Symphony! My mother was a music teacher so these two speak to me!I am so sorry I had to ask you to get off the meeting yesterday. There was too much background sound and it was very difficult to hear. Thank you for your understanding! Sue