Help with making pattern from drawing?
 

Greetings! I traditionally do block pieced and appliqued quilts, but wanted to try something new. I have a paper design/picture that is not geometric, i.e., it is not easy to measure and rotary cut. It fits on an 8 1/2" by 11" piece of paper, and I want to scale it up to be a pattern for a quilt: not blocks, but one single image. I am not sure what the best way to accomplish this is; I thought it might be possible through Electric Quilt 7, but I don't seem to see an option to input a scan and scale it. Is simple geometry (measuring and proportionally increasing size of pieces) the best way to go or is there some trick to this of which I am not yet aware?

Many thanks in advance for your guidance!

it is probably doable in EQ. however, printing out the pattern would be difficult on 8 1/2x11 printer paper. you might want to use the grid method as explained here http://www.art-is-fun.com/grid-method.html

I'd just take it to Kinko's and have them enlarge it to what size you want. Just my thought. :)

Can't give much speific information without seeing a picture Otherwise just stagging at ideas. However, the suggestion of taking it and having it enlarged is a good one. Then just cut apart and add seam allowances.

you could use graph paper to scale it- i carry a pad of graph paper with me everywhere- helps me keep everything within size---back before i started (paying attention) i made some HUGE quilts- simply because i couldn't figure out how to make them stop growing---now i use graph paper first---so i know where the 'end' is :)

if the picture is complete, draw (you might want to do this on a copy) a grid on top of your picture. Use one inch squares...so it is best to do your design in even inches. then get gridded pattern paper, draw your squares on the paper as big as you need... a 2 x 2 grid would double the size of your pattern... a 4 x 4 would quadruple it... once you have your dark grid lines drawn on top of their light lines, you will take each single square on your little pattern and reproduce on the big grid.... it is not difficult to do...

My answer is attached to the wrong "quote". I was agreeing I'd go to Kinko's and get them to enlarge the pattern.

just to let you know...there is an 'edit' button on the 'reply' line for several minutes, i think 15....

Sounds like the easiest idea. What I'd do.

Great ideas...thanks! I have graph paper and use it a lot, and may try this with it. However, the Kinko's idea is a really good one, too. I don't know what sizes they have but I suspect I could find something that would work. Thank you so much!

I recently did a large applique quilt - 45" square. All I had was a pdf file to go from. I took it to Staples and they enlarged it and printed it out in black and white on 36" square paper. I was able to use it as a full size pattern. It was fantastic for lining things up as it had both a logo and lettering.

Can you lay out an old sheet and try to transfer the lines as closely as possible onto the bigger medium? Perhaps get help from a friend and use a 12 ft. metal ruler to make your marks. You might then be able to take pieces of newspaper paper and copy the individual pieces------------remembering to leave the seam allowances. At least that is how I'd approach the pattern making.

If you're using a paper piecing technique, you could even use that sheet for one of your foundation pieces.

I've been working on this for a long time, in between other projects and life! (Thanks for all of the suggestions...made paper pattern pieces and used those to decent effect.). I finally got it pieced and am working on the last pieces of appliqué. My next challenge is that I think the best way to handle the lettering and stars in the background is fabric paint. Is there a generally agreed-upon best paint for ease of use and permanence? Thanks!