Electric Quilt 4 Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I click to select a patch?
If you are having difficulty selecting a patch, make sure you are clicking directly on one of the segments making up the patch. Don't try clicking in the center of the patch.
How do I change the layering order of my patches?
Like sheets of paper stacked on a desk, patches in PatchDraw blocks form layers on your block. You can choose the stacking order of the patches in your block when you color it. Use the Select tool to select the patches you want to change. Choose Send to Front or Send to Back from the Block menu. Click on Save in Sketchbook. A new block with the new layering order will be saved to the Sketchbook.
Why does my block appear blank when I go to the color tab?
The square background patch for your block is sitting on top of all the other patches. Select the background patch with the Select tool and choose Send to Back from the Block menu.
Why are some of my patches missing?
Either you have larger patches covering them so you need to change the layering order, or the patch was not a closed curve. Go back to the PatchDraw tab and check to make sure the curve is closed.
I've put my PatchDraw block in a quilt. Why can't I color some of the patches?
When you put an applique style block on layer 1 of a quilt, you need to make sure that the block has a square background patch. If the block does not, then the patches won't color because there is no patch to color in the first place.
How can I draw squares and rectangles with perfect horizontal and vertical lines?
Hold down the Ctrl key while you are dragging out the patch. This will force the patch to jump in 15 degree increments. This is a great help in making the patches perfectly straight.
Why can't I see my new tool when I drop it on the PatchDraw toolbar?
When you are adding a new tool to the toolbar, you must see a wide horizontal line on the toolbar before you drop the tool. If you do not see this line, EQ will not drop the tool because it does not know where to put it.
How do I check my patches to make sure they are closed?
Using the Bezier Edit tool, place the mouse cursor over one of the nodes. A tooltip bubble will appear and tell you if the patch is closed or not. It will also tell the type of node and the number of segments making up the patch. Note: If you cannot get the tooltip to appear, make sure the Edit Node pop-up menu is closed. Then you will be able to get the tooltips.
Why does my applique motif block always print smaller than I expect?
Remember that the whole drawing board gets saved when you are drawing motifs. If you draw a small apple in the center of the drawing board, all of the white space surrounding it gets saved with the block. For greater control of the motif size when printing, draw the motifs as large as possible inside the drawing board.
Why does the rectangular block I drew look square in the Sketchbook?
The Sketchbook will always display blocks as squares. When you place the block in the border, it will display as you intended.
Can I rotate a patch using the mouse?
Yes. With the patch selected with the Select tool, hold down the Ctrl key to enter rotate mode. Then use the mouse on the corner handles to rotate at random.
Can I delete a one line in a patch?
Yes. How you do it depends on whether the line is joined to others, or is not. To delete a line that is not joined to others:
- Click the Select tool.
- Click the line. It selects.
- Press your keyboard Delete key.
To delete a line that is joined to others (e.g. a closed patch) you must break the line apart from the others at the nodes, then select it and delete it.
- Click the Edit tool.
- Click on one of the nodes. [Note: You must click the nodes, not the line, since you are telling EQ4 you want to break the nodes apart.]
- Right-click and select Edit.
- Click Break.
- Repeat steps 2-4 to select and break the other node. The line will now be separated from the patch.
- Click the Select tool.
- Click the line, to select it.
- Press your keyboard Delete key to delete the line.
