|
The ideas used: Use a line tool to draw the shape and then the lines are joined
to create a new single shape/patch that can be filled with a paint tool. Also
try the tutorial techniques working with a Square, Rectangle and Triangle shapes.
Quilt-Pro 2 and 3 have a drawing tool that just makes lines and
a Join function under the Effects Menu that work similar to what you are seeing
in the Geometer Sketchpad tutorial and would be the program that works the most
like the tutorial example. - Do not set this block in Quilt-Pro's traditional
quilt layout, build the block repeats for the quilt manually on the block screen
using copy and paste.
The following Quilting Software: Creative
Impulse, Electric Quilt, QuiltSOFT, PCQuilt and VQuilt have a Block frame
setup to draw the patches for the block. When saving the block, the outline of
the frame and everything inside the frame becomes part of the block. This makes
creating a single-stand-alone-irregular patch block impossible to create without
a work around. Don't despair, I will give you the work around next. Instead
of thinking of this limitation as a defect, think of the the outside of the block
drawing frame as the "tessellation lattice" using a square instead of
parallelogram. - Create two identical block using only the right
side and bottom transformations shown in the tutorial. See below example A on
this page. (Make the frame below smaller if need to see my examples.)
- Color
each block components to create the second half of the first block. See below
example B.
- Set these blocks together using the quilt layout in an alternating
block quilt layout with NO sashes to create the complete visual transformation.
When you look at 4 blocks together in example C below, the coloring allows you
to ignore the frame lines.
- PCQuilt and Creative Impulse 2000 will
allow the user to see the block in the quilt as it is being created.
- Quilt-Pro
has the option to have two windows open at the time allowing you to view the block
and quilt screens at the same, the drawing does not automatically appear in the
quilt, you must layout each time, but if you want to make changes the two reference
windows are nice.
- EQ, QuiltSOFT and VQuilt's Quilt Layout Screen
are one their own screen and you will see the tessellation when you create an
"alternate block quilt layout."
HINT: To see different variations
of the block setting, select an on-point variation using rectangle blocks. Try
several different block size variations. In EQ there is an additional setting
called Baby Blocks that creates 3-D like variations. Also try different color
variations. HINT: Okay, now you have the idea of how to approach
a workaround transformation from a Square. What about other shapes? Create your
block using rectangle measurements like 6" x 10 1/2" block. Experiment
with a rectangle block created from half square triangles to get diamonds and
triangles. Then add transformation for interest. FYI: The ideas
and information in Barb Vlack's book, EQ4 Magic, could easily be applied
to other quilting software, excluding the specific step-by-step instructions.
EQ4 Magic, chapter 2 covers creating quilts that could be used for tessellation
ideas like a Thousand Pyramids Quilt, Hexagon Stars, Doodle Quilt and other quilt
designs. If you do not have this book yet and want to learn more about pushing
the EQ4 or your quilt software capabilities for creating tessellation blocks and
quilts and much more, it is well the purchase because the book helps you think
past the obvious. (We have
the book in our Electric Quilt Product line at a discount price if you are interested
in ordering it. )
"Transform"
a Square "Tessellation Lattice" using freeform curves as the edges.
Develop a quilt using variation by transforming a block.
Sound a bit familiar? Remember THINK transformation? The following tutorial
is a variation of the previous exercise. The ideas shown in this
tutorial can be applied or adapted to work in our quilting software. "Freeform
tessellation created in Claris Works" by Suzanne
Alejandre at the Math Forum. For
the beginner user of Claris Works, Suzanne includes a get started tutorial to
help you. - Click
on the following underlined links to open in the frame below. Beginner user of Claris Works.
NOTE:
If the link page does not show in the frame below, OR for those without Frames
OR to open the the tutorial link in a NEW window for easier printouts, click on
the next underlined link. FYI: Netscape new browser window remains the same size
and cover this page. Resize the Browser Frame and you will see my tutorial behind
it. Beginner user of Claris Works.
The tutorial
uses a Lasso Tool to carve away the block sides. - The lasso tool
is available in most of the quality graphic programs and could be used like the
tutorial outlines.
- Unfortunately none of the Quilting programs have the
same type of cutting tool. So I suggest the same workaround outline above is the
way to go. See Example A, Example B, and Example C above.
In Quilting
Software, careful use of some of the drawing tools found in the software "may"
and the operative word here is "may" produce similar results. Here are
some ideas of what to expect in tools in the quilting software. The drawing tool
that will replicate a similar look and feel of small indented curves is different
for each program. - VQuilt has a freehand pencil that is simple
to use and will quickly create the same look and feel.
- Quilt-Pro 2
and 3 have a freeform curve tool used in conjunction with the Join function
under the Effect Menu or the multipoint polygon tool that allows up to 50 points
per patch and can be used to create a similar look. Nodes (black dots along the
curve line) are editable for tweaking if necessary. Sometimes it will be easier
to draw a larger than needed line or shape and resize down to fit the shape.
- In
Electric Quilt 3 and 4 the look is harder to reproduce in EQ but here are
some ideas on how to try. You can select the curve tool and draw the segments
of the curve in large scale and resize down to smaller. Another ideas would be
to set drawing board setup for your snap-to divisions very close and use the zoom
tool when drawing to make sure that each node is touching the last node or the
patch will not complete and it is really a pain to have to go back and check every
node, especially on a patch like this one that will have many many nodes. Nodes
(black dots on the curve or line ends) may be tweaked individually if necessary.
- For the circle patterning on the design, use the idea of applique,
in Quilt-Pro 3 and Electric Quilt, use the applique layer and create small
circles across the surface of the design, or find a favorite fabric to fill the
patch.
- This type of curve drawing will not be possible in QuiltSOFT,
Creative Impulse or the current version of PCQuilt (I have not seen the NEW
upgrade coming up for PCQuilt, so I am not sure about it yet, will keep you posted)
"Transform"
a tessellation using Black and White coloring. Also known as positive negative.The
below tutorial has a wonderful face example that really impressed me! This is
a variation of the previous exercise. Remember, repetition is the key to learning!
The following ideas can be adapted to our quilting software. These
images are created in a tutorial for HyperCard by Suzanne
Alejandre at the Math Forum. - Click
on the following underlined links to open in the frame below. Tutorial for HyperCard by Suzanne Alejandre
at the Math Forum. NOTE:
If the link page
does not show in the frame below, OR for those without Frames OR to open the the
tutorial link in a NEW window for easier printouts, click on the next underlined
link. FYI: Netscape new browser window remains the same size and cover this page.
Resize the Browser Frame and you will see my tutorial behind it. Tutorial for HyperCard by Suzanne Alejandre
at the Math Forum.
If you have HyperCard, here
is are tips to getting started in the program by Suzanne
Alejandre at the Math Forum. - Click
on the following underlined links to open in the frame below. Tips by Suzanne Alejandre
at the Math Forum. NOTE:
If the link page
does not show in the frame below, OR for those without Frames OR to open the the
tutorial link in a NEW window for easier printouts, click on the next underlined
link. FYI: Netscape new browser window remains the same size and cover this page.
Resize the Browser Frame and you will see my tutorial behind it. Tips by Suzanne Alejandre
at the Math Forum.
This tutorial also uses
a Lasso Tool to carve away the block sides. - The lasso tool is
available in most of the quality graphic programs and could be used like the tutorial
outlines.
- Unfortunately none of the Quilting programs have the same type
of cutting tool. So I suggest the same workaround outlined in the above exercise
as the way to go. See Example A, Example B, and Example C above. Also use the
tool information included above for freeform tessellation designs.
NOTE
about little patterning details on the face: The only quilting software that
will allow you to add lines or curves that are not connected is Quilt Pro 1,
2 and 3. All the other quilting software will require a closed patch of some
sort (the small circles will be easy) but the hair, ear and mouth will be tricky
to simulate unless you add them later with a pencil or pen to the printout. NOTE:
This example could also be completed using straight line shapes that are available
in all the quilting software programs.
|
Table
of contents for this issue 
