Quilt Path: Pantographs in EZ Mode

After reading a post on the APQS forum, I looked through my post to grab one that I thought might help with a question.  What became apparent is that I have never covered how to set up a pantograph.  More then likely this is the first thing a new user wants to do.  Most of us are buying these systems for them to help us make money.  The quickest way to get Quilt Path to pay for itself, is to use it to pantograph quilt.  So, this Sunday you are getting a bonus.  We are going to go through the steps that I do to complete an edge to edge design on a quilt.  

First off, I measure the quilt.  I do both the length and the width and I do it in a couple places.  Both edges and across the middle.  I also take the time to look for problems.  Is it pretty flat and square?  Are there any seams that have popped or applique that my hopping foot might get caught on?  A little wonky is usually OK.  But if I think there is anything that I might get my foot caught I either have to be standing there to control the situation, or I might decide to freehand that quilt.  

For our practice, we are going to say that we have a top that is roughly 60" X 80".  I will measure the width in three places and use the largest measurement as my width.  I will do the same for the length.  I use the largest measurement because quilting that stops short of the edge is not the look what I want.  I like the quilting to go all the way off the edge so that it just kind of disappears under the binding when it is applied.  I just use the largest measurements.  On the videos, they add a little fudge room in, but I have found that I have not needed to do that.  For this quilt my largest measurements are 60 and 80.  

Then I load the backing, batting and quilt top.  I used to tack baste the quilt top on to the batting, but since using Quilt Path I know sew it down.  I do this so that my foot can't get caught on the edge of the quilt if I quilt completely off the top and then back onto it.  I always sew the sides from my belly bar to my leveler bar so that I am keeping any excess fabric where it should be.  

Now I am ready to set up Quilt Path.  I usually go into Design and Create - Pantographs.  I do this because I also normally use Basic method.  When you go into the Design and Create option the first thing it ask you is to set your Safe Area.  Then I can click on the Mode button and change to Basic.  Then Select the design I want to use.  When you go into Select and Sew the first thing it ask is what pattern you want to use.  Then when I click the mode button I have to go back in a select my pattern again.  I just don't like doing things twice.  Either will work and you can chose the one you like the best.  I use Basic often, because many of the digital designs that I use undulate or need partial rows at the top and bottom of the quilt.    In this case, I am going to use Aztec that came with my system and it is a straight set square spiral, so I will be using EZ mode.  

Notice above that my length is set to 80 and my width is set to 60.  I am in EZ mode.  Tap on Select Pattern and chose Aztec.

When it brings the design into the screen it shows a sign pattern   We actually wan repeats so I clicked on the Pattern height and entered 10. which gave me 8 rows. 

Then I clicked on the Nesting button once and it added additional patterns. I want a little space between my rows so that I can see the full design so I clicked several times on the re-size smaller button.

If  did not want the patterns to line up one under another.  I could chose to stagger the rows.  If I stagger the Odd Rows, it offsets them. 

When I get the design the way I want it to quilt, I would click on Quilt as Rows.  

Now let me show you a panto that I would not quilt using EZ mode and explain why.  

See the areas circled at the top and bottom of the quilt.  Those areas of the quilt would not be quilting.  This panto is a nesting panto and EZ mode does not let me do partial rows at the top and bottom.  To do this I would use Basic mode.