EasyDraw and PatchDraw are two different drawing types. In Easy Draw, you draw complete blocks. You do not have to draw the outside edge _ that is done for you. But you must connect a line to those outside edges. You cannot draw an unconnected shape in Easy Draw. In addition, your block will always be a block. You cannot remove the block outline to use the inside area of the block as an applique. You can in PatchDraw, however! In PatchDraw, you draw complete shapes, which is perfect for applique and stencils. If you just want to use the applique pieces as a motif to set on Layer 2, you can remove the outline of that outside edge. (For more information, see pages78 and 79 in the EQ5 Design Cookbook.)

In PatchDraw you cannot use the outer edge outline of the block as part of your drawing. If you have a shape that touches the edge outline of your block, you need to draw all four sides of the shape. For example, if you have a vine that goes across your block, you must draw all 4 edges of the vine (top, bottom, left side, right side.) You can't just draw two lines that go across the block and connect to the outer edge outlines as you can in Easy Draw. (However, you can always draw the edge of the block and connect shapes to it.) 

Keep in mind everything in PatchDraw has to be a closed shape. It is often easiest to use the closed shape tools on the right side of your screen to draw a basic shape, then use the bezier tool and the associated menu to Smooth out shapes, make a Corner, or Cusp a corner to be the tip of a point. Once you get your shape, you can rotate it, flip it, clone it, make a wreath out of it and more. Use the space bar to quickly toggle between the Line tool/ Bezier Edit Tool. If you loose your patchdraw tools while on the drawing board screen, click on the View menu and click on PatchDraw tools. Your tools will reappear on the right side of your screen.

Lines that cross, meet, and/or touch the sides of a block you have drawn form shapes. These shapes will have "nodes", little dots of attachment where the line curves or other lines intersect. If you draw a line near a node, it will "snap" to the node assuring you of a complete closed shape. If this doesn’t work, check to make sure you have Auto Join check in Preferences. You can unselect both Auto Join and Snap to Node in Preferences, too. You can also increase the size of the node to make it easier to see. To delete a node, right click on it with the Bezier Edit tool. Choose Delete from the Edit menu. To add a note, right click on the spot where you want it added with the Bezier Edit tool and choose Add from the Edit menu.

You can tell you have closed a shape because it will take color. To double check your block before you color it, click the Bezier Edit tool and point the mouse cursor (don't click it) at any node in your patch. You'll see a note describing it. Does it indicate "closed curve?" Then your patch is closed and will color. If it indicates "open curve", then your patch is still open. Read the rest of the message. It tells you which node is open. To close it, right_click on the open node and choose Edit from the pop_up menu. Then choose Join.

Don’t forget all shapes in PatchDraw must be closed. If you draw a circle, you cannot draw a line across the center and get two shapes. That line will only create one shape. The second shape will be an open curve. You will have to draw a second line to complete that shape. Remember to save early and save often!

If you draw a series of patches that disappear when you go to color them, it means your patch isn't connected at one or more of the nodes. Use your zoom tool and gently move each "connection spot" to see if the whole thing moves. When you find one that doesn't, that's where it's disconnected. Be sure to use the adjust tool to see if you can move the connected dots, not the select tool. Select will move the entire patch whether you are all connected or not. Otherwise, just zoom in right on the dots that are suspect. If a patch doesn't show up, all the dots in that patch are suspect until you find the one that isn't connected. If you have two nodes that just do not want to join, use the Bezier Edit tool, click on one node and hold down Shift while you click on the other node. Right click and choose Edit. On the Edit box, click the button for Join and the two nodes will pop together.

How do you delete just ONE line in a curved section?

In a closed patch, you can't delete a line, but only the whole patch. You can edit the line, but you can't delete it. To delete a line in a closed patch you must first break the patch at the nodes. Start by right clicking on the node you want to break with your Bezier Edit tool. Chose Break from the Edit Node menu. Do this for both ends of the line. Once your line is broken, you can click on the line you want to delete with the select tool, then press the delete button on your keyboard

How do I draw an applique block?

Start by drawing the outline of the block. Then create each shape in the order you would layer them on the fabric. If you make a mistake and draw them out of order, use cut-and-paste. Go to the PatchDraw worktable, cut the target patch, and paste it back. It will then appear on the top of the stack when you go to the Color tab. To use the Send to front or Send to back option, you need to be on the Color tab, not the PatchDraw tab. Select the patch there that you want to Send to front or back. Don't forget that the large outside square is also a patch, so you'll always want to send that behind all other patches.

How can I use a PatchDraw block?

A PatchDraw block can be used like any other in Layer One. In Layer Two, it lays on top of any block you have placed on Layer One, obscuring that block. If you don’t want that effect, you can remove the background block, thus creating a motif. This is useful for placing applique on top of pieced blocks, or for creating virtual borders such as scalloped edges or pointed edges on a tablerunner. To do this, click the Select tool, click the block outside square, to select it. Then press your keyboard Delete key. You'll be left with just your applique motifs. When you save it, it show up in the Sketchbook under the Motifs tab. EQ5 does not calculate yardage for motifs at all So for yardage calculations you would have to copy the motif to a new block and calculate the fabric requirements for that.(For more information, see p.100 of the EQ5 Design Cookbook.)

To create a scalloped edge, for example, first draw a curved edge as a motif in PatchDraw. In Layer 2, place this motif over the outside border of the quilt, overlaying the border. Now go to the Borders tab and delete the border, making a mental note of the size first. You may have to adjust your motif in layer 2.

Is there a way to take an EasyDraw block and change it to a PatchDraw block (or vice versa)?

The block usually needs to be redrawn. (Sometimes you can cut-and-paste, it depends on the block.)  You can either trace it as a bitmap or copy the contents of the EasyDraw worktable and paste them into the Pieced layer of a new Overlaid block. Then you would trace the same lines on the PatchDraw/Applique tab, and delete the contents of the EasyDraw/Pieced tab.

How do I rotate or flip a shape?

Once you have drawn the shape, use the select tool to select it. Hold down the "Ctrl" key and move your mouse pointer to the cross and click your mouse. You will see the nodes change around the design. Release the "Ctrl" key. Click on one of the nodes and rotate the design. If you hold down the Control key and click on the cross, you can use the mouse to click, hold, and drag any of the curved corner arrows to easily rotate the appliqué piece.

To flip the shape, use Ctrl+A to select all lines or patches. Right click on the worktable, then click on Symmetry in the context menu. Click on FlipH in the Symmetry menu to flip the design horizontally.

To copy the design, use the select tool to select the design. Go to Edit and click on copy, then click on Edit again and click on paste. A copy of the design will appear on top of the first. Drag it to its new location.

To clear the worktable of ghosts, click on the color tab and go back or use the Refresh Screen button. Save first.