Pro-Q Designer Cookbook #1 – Version 1.

58 Chapter 1 – Introduction & Glossary

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – Introduction & Glossary ........................................................................................................................... 11
MUST DO!!! ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
What is This Book All About? ............................................................................................................................................................................. 11
How to Use This Book ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
The Glossary ................................................................................................................................................................................. 14
Chapter 2 – Main Layout Screen Basics – Part 1 ...................................................................................................... 33
General Questions ........................................................................................................................................................................ 33
Should I design my quilt in a specific order? ..................................................................................................................................................... 33
Why is 0,0 the lower left if I am quilting from the upper left?........................................................................................................................... 33
Opening, Adding, Saving & Loading ........................................................................................................................................... 33
How do I start with a new workspace? ............................................................................................................................................................... 33

INTRODUCTION & GLOSSARY

How do I change my default settings? ................................................................................................................................................................ 33
How do I save all my current work? ................................................................................................................................................................... 34
How do I retrieve (LOAD) a workspace (.PQD) file? ........................................................................................................................................ 34
How do I ADD a pattern so that it is available for use? .................................................................................................................................... 34
How do I get rid of patterns in the workspace that I no longer want to use?.................................................................................................... 34
How do I save a pattern? ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Customizing your Workspace...................................................................................................................................................... 36
How can I make the gridlines more visible?....................................................................................................................................................... 36
What do the settings on the Set-up & Options tab mean?.................................................................................................................................. 36
What measurement should I use for the SIZE OF THE AREA TO QUILT? .................................................................................................. 36
How do I setup guidelines? ................................................................................................................................................................................. 36
How can I use settings to make it easier to do the center of the quilt, with separate borders? ........................................................................ 37
How can I define double borders PLUS the center of the quilt – there aren’t enough guidelines? ................................................................ 37
What is the difference between GRID and GRID SNAP ................................................................................................................................... 37
Single Pass Basics ....................................................................................................................................................................... 38

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 Chapter 1 – Introduction and Glossary Pro-Q Designer Cookbook #1 – Version 1.58

How do I know which pass I’m on?.................................................................................................................................................................... 38

How do I DELETE a pass/all passes?(2 methods) ............................................................................................................................................. 38
How do I know I am in Pass or Pattern Mode? ................................................................................................................................................. 39
How do move a Pass?(3 methods) ....................................................................................................................................................................... 39
How do center a Pass?......................................................................................................................................................................................... 40
How do rotate a Pass? (2 methods) ..................................................................................................................................................................... 40
How do I resize a Pass? ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 41
How do I fit a Pass to the workspace? ................................................................................................................................................................ 43
How do I flip a Pass on the workspace? ............................................................................................................................................................. 43
How do I change the direction of sewing in a Pass?.......................................................................................................................................... 43
How do I see whether or not there are any jumps/no sew lines in a Pass? ....................................................................................................... 43
How can I give a pass a new name in the program so I can recognize it? ........................................................................................................ 44
Single Pattern Basics................................................................................................................................................................... 44
How do I know which pattern I have selected? .................................................................................................................................................. 44
INTRODUCTION & GLOSSARY

How do I select a pattern in a pass? (2 methods) ............................................................................................................................................... 44

How do I move a pattern in a pass? (3 methods)................................................................................................................................................ 45
How do I rotate an individual Pattern? (2 methods) .......................................................................................................................................... 46
How can I flip a pattern that is part of a pass (from Layout Mode)? ................................................................................................................ 46
How can I give a pattern that IS NOT part of a pass a new name in the program so I can recognize it? ....................................................... 47
How can I give a pattern that IS part of a pass a new name in the program so I can recognize it? ................................................................ 47
Multiple Pattern (in the same pass) Basics ................................................................................................................................ 48
How do I line up a row of patterns in a pass? .................................................................................................................................................... 48
How do I evenly space patterns in a pass?.......................................................................................................................................................... 48
How do I evenly space and line up patterns in a pass that runs top to bottom?................................................................................................ 48
How can I reorder sewing order of motifs in a pass (UNMERGED pass only)?.............................................................................................. 50
How can I “fix” a MERGED PASS so that I can work on the individual patterns again BUT keep them in the same pass? ....................... 50
Preview and Templates................................................................................................................................................................ 51
How do I tell whether I have jumps/no sew lines in my pass? ........................................................................................................................... 51

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Pro-Q Designer Cookbook #1 – Version 1.58 Chapter 1 – Introduction & Glossary

How can I see how my pass or pattern will sew? (two methods) ....................................................................................................................... 51
How do I create a tracing pass AND how do I use it? (three methods)............................................................................................................. 52
How can I accurately place passes that are unusually shaped? ........................................................................................................................ 54
How do I use templates?...................................................................................................................................................................................... 54
How accurate are templates? .............................................................................................................................................................................. 54
Chapter 3 – Edge to Edge Perfection............................................................................................................................ 55
Summary .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 55
Notes on Sewing Edge to Edge Patterns .................................................................................................................................... 55
The Most Common Mistakes ............................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Fabric Grain of Backing ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 55
What is the maximum height to sew an edge to edge pattern effectively?......................................................................................................... 56
Laying out a Simple Edge to Edge Quilt ..................................................................................................................................... 56
How do I fit ALL the passes to the quilting area? .............................................................................................................................................. 56
How do I make an “edge to edge” pattern less dense on the quilt after I have finished resizing ALL the passes to the quilting area? ........ 56

INTRODUCTION & GLOSSARY

How do I layout a SIMPLE edge to edge quilt? ................................................................................................................................................. 57
How do I setup where to place my needle on the quilt for sewing an edge to edge design? (3 methods)......................................................... 59
How do I create visual interest/variety in a non-interlocking edge to edge design? ......................................................................................... 61
How do I layout and sew a design that is deeply interlocking? (Using Repeat Pass) ....................................................................................... 62
How do I calculate a fixed index for the Compuquilter? ................................................................................................................................... 64
How do I layout a design has a stagger/50% offset (alternating passes)? ........................................................................................................ 64
How do I layout design that is interlocking and has a non-standard stagger/offset?....................................................................................... 64
How do I keep my edge to edge patterns from shifting to one side or the other on the quilt (splitting passes)? ............................................. 65
How can I sew two rows at once – one left to right and then the next right to left? ......................................................................................... 67
Chapter 4 – Motif Magic, Fun Frames & Terrific Triangles .................................................................................. 69
Summary .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 69
Motifs ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 69
How do I insert and line up and evenly space multiple motifs in a single pass? .............................................................................................. 69
How do I insert a MOVE (PC Quilter only)? ..................................................................................................................................................... 70

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 Chapter 1 – Introduction and Glossary Pro-Q Designer Cookbook #1 – Version 1.58

How can I string motifs together in a single pattern yet make sure they will all line up with the center of their respective blocks? ............. 70
How to Use “jumptest” ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 73
How can I split a motif to sew it in two halves? ................................................................................................................................................. 73
How do I move the location of the first pattern point on a closed motif?.......................................................................................................... 74
How can I set up a motif to do roll/reroll? ......................................................................................................................................................... 74
How do I create a setting triangle from a motif?................................................................................................................................................ 75
How do I create a corner triangle from a ‘square’ motif? ................................................................................................................................. 76
How do I create a Closed Motif if I get a message about sewing direction when I try to select the segment on the Edit Jumps tab? ........... 77
How do I combine motifs to create a continuously sewn block? (Automated method) .................................................................................... 77
How can I create a continuously sewn border from a motif or motifs? (Two methods) ................................................................................... 78
How can I use the WREATH function to create stunning motifs from simple ones? ...................................................................................... 80
How can I use the echo to make the motif more interesting? ............................................................................................................................ 81
Frames .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 81
How do I create a simple polygon frame? .......................................................................................................................................................... 81
INTRODUCTION & GLOSSARY

How do I create a polygon frame from a pattern? ............................................................................................................................................. 82

How do I create a circular frame made up of motifs? ....................................................................................................................................... 83
How do I create a simple circle frame? .............................................................................................................................................................. 83
How do I create a circular frame from a pattern? ............................................................................................................................................. 84
How do I create a simple frame to fit a block from triangles or corners?......................................................................................................... 84
How do I accurately clip the center of a motif to create a frame around an object? ........................................................................................ 85
How do I create a frame that can easily be adjusted for differently shaped objects? ....................................................................................... 85
Dealing with Triangles ................................................................................................................................................................. 85
The Basic Problem – Measuring a Triangle ...................................................................................................................................................... 85
How do I measure and create SETTING triangles to fit ‘perfectly’ in a block?............................................................................................... 86
How do I measure and create a CORNER triangle to fit ‘perfectly’ in a block? .............................................................................................. 87
How do I draw a triangle to use in a complex layout? ....................................................................................................................................... 89
Chapter 5 – Borders: Basics and Beyond ................................................................................................................... 91
Summary .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 91

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Pro-Q Designer Cookbook #1 – Version 1.58 Chapter 1 – Introduction & Glossary

Orientation vs. Chunking .................................................................................................................................................................................... 91

Basic Border Types – Pluses and Minuses ................................................................................................................................ 92
Butted Border....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 92
Cornerstone Borders (plus Terminators and Bridges) ....................................................................................................................................... 92
Continuous Border .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 93
Mitered Border..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 93
Floating Borders (and Corners and Bridges) ..................................................................................................................................................... 94
Important Terms ........................................................................................................................................................................... 94
Border Components/Concepts .................................................................................................................................................... 95
Setting up Your Workspace to Create a Border ................................................................................................................................................. 95
Measure and Measure Again .............................................................................................................................................................................. 95
If You Want it Centered - SEW FROM THE CENTER .................................................................................................................................... 95
When NOT to Chunk........................................................................................................................................................................................... 95
Splitting and Merging (Chunking) – the Basics................................................................................................................................................. 96

INTRODUCTION & GLOSSARY

Using Orientation and Turning Your Quilt........................................................................................................................................................ 96
Mirroring a Pattern ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 97
Better Border Basics .................................................................................................................................................................... 97
Working with Floating Elements ........................................................................................................................................................................ 98
Super Simple #1 – Butted Borders ...................................................................................................................................................................... 98
Super Simple #2 – Cornerstone Borders (with Terminators) ............................................................................................................................ 98
Super Simple #3 – Butted Borders with Half Repeats (Faux Mirroring) ......................................................................................................... 99
Super Simple #4 – Fixing a Pattern to Help Make a Better Border (Terminators on the Fly) ........................................................................ 99
Super Simple #5 – Faux Mitered Corners Using Butted Borders and Half Repeats ........................................................................................ 99
Super Simple #6 – Borders Using Patterns with Special Terminators .............................................................................................................. 99
Modifying Patterns to Create Simple Connecting Corners.............................................................................................................................. 100
Sewing a Continuous, Connecting Border ....................................................................................................................................................... 100
Mirroring Borders – With Connected Bridges ................................................................................................................................................. 101
Mirroring Borders – With Floating Bridges and Corners ............................................................................................................................... 101

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 Chapter 1 – Introduction and Glossary Pro-Q Designer Cookbook #1 – Version 1.58

Mirroring Borders – Without a Bridge ............................................................................................................................................................. 101

Mitering Corners – Simple ................................................................................................................................................................................ 101
Mitering Corners – creating a New Pattern (e.g. a generic corner) ................................................................................................................ 103
Using Templates and Other Fitting Tools ........................................................................................................................................................ 103
Working with Triangles ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 104
SUPER Border Tricks................................................................................................................................................................. 105
Asymmetrical Border Layouts ........................................................................................................................................................................... 105
Making it Easier to Sew..................................................................................................................................................................................... 106
Chapter 6 – ‘Tweaking” Patterns and Passes: the Editor & More ................................................................... 107
NEW Key Feature – DOUBLE “S” .................................................................................................................................................................. 107
Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 107
Exercise in Editing Points – Part 1 ................................................................................................................................................................... 107
Exercise in Point Editing – Part 2 .................................................................................................................................................................... 108
Pass & Pattern Manipulation ..................................................................................................................................................... 112
INTRODUCTION & GLOSSARY

How can I change the PASS numbers so they are numbered in the order I want to sew them? ................................................................... 112
How can I adjust spacing between passes I have already placed on the workspace without necessarily resizing the passes? ..................... 113
How do I delete only SOME pattern points? .................................................................................................................................................... 114
I am having problems selecting a specific segment in the editor. Why? And how do I do it? ....................................................................... 114
How do I move an individual pattern point? .................................................................................................................................................... 114
How do I move a group of selected pattern points?.......................................................................................................................................... 114
How do I ADD points when there aren’t enough? ....................................................................................................................................... 114
How can I reverse sewing only a section of a pattern – I get a gap because lines don’t cross? ..................................................................... 115
How can I check the size of OR resize a pattern or pass in the Editor? .......................................................................................................... 115
How can I resize PART of a pattern or pass in the Editor? ............................................................................................................................. 115
How can I create a “snippet” of PART of a pattern or pass in the Editor that I can reuse later? ................................................................. 116
How can I Cut and Paste PART of a Pass? ...................................................................................................................................................... 116
How can I flip or rotate PART of a pattern or pass in the Editor? ................................................................................................................. 116
How can I add something I drew (or another pattern) to the Middle of a Pass? ............................................................................................ 116

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Pro-Q Designer Cookbook #1 – Version 1.58 Chapter 1 – Introduction & Glossary

How do I create PERFECT overstitching without dragging ONE point at a time? ....................................................................................... 117
How do I create a corner from a border? ......................................................................................................................................................... 117
How do I decide WHERE to put a start point, courtesy jump or registration jump? ..................................................................................... 117
How can I smooth, trim or automatically add pauses to PART of a pass? ..................................................................................................... 118
Why should I use AutoPAUSE even though my system doesn’t support it? ................................................................................................... 118
How much smoothing should I do (what do the settings mean)? .................................................................................................................... 118
How much trimming should I do (what do the settings mean)? ...................................................................................................................... 118
Remembering Scale ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 118
How can I tell if I have the right number of points? ........................................................................................................................................ 119
How do I use the skew feature? ........................................................................................................................................................................ 119
Using Arcs – Curved Text and Passes (the Wrap Pass Wizard) .............................................................................................. 119
Using Arcs with Text ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 119
Advanced Technique - Using Arcs with Text – Part 2 ..................................................................................................................................... 120
Using Arcs with Other Types of Passes ............................................................................................................................................................ 120

INTRODUCTION & GLOSSARY

Chapter 7 –Manipulating Jumps & Clipping ........................................................................................................... 121
Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 121
JUMP BASICS ............................................................................................................................................................................. 121
Closed vs. Open Objects and Jumps.................................................................................................................................................................. 121
The Behavior of Closed Objects When Eliminating Jumps............................................................................................................................. 122
JUMP PRACTICE ........................................................................................................................................................................ 122
Eliminating jumps in CLOSED OBJECTS Automatically .............................................................................................................................. 122
Eliminating jumps in CLOSED OBJECTS Manually ..................................................................................................................................... 123
Eliminating jumps in OPEN OBJECTS Automatically................................................................................................................................... 123
Eliminating jumps in OPEN OBJECTS Manually .......................................................................................................................................... 123
Why can’t I eliminate those last couple of jumps? ........................................................................................................................................... 123
How do I clean up after jumps? What points do I remove?............................................................................................................................. 123
Jump Techniques: Creating a previously disconnected “star” (open objects) with perfect overstitching. .................................................... 124
Jump Techniques - ADVANCED VIDEO – replacing overstitching in a pattern. ......................................................................................... 125

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 Chapter 1 – Introduction and Glossary Pro-Q Designer Cookbook #1 – Version 1.58

Using Clip ................................................................................................................................................................................... 125

How do I clip a hole when the hole spans multiple passes? ............................................................................................................................ 125
How do I make a clipped pattern easier to edit to get rid of extra jumps? ...................................................................................................... 127
How do I accurately clip a hole to go around appliqué or embroidery? ......................................................................................................... 127
How do I use the new ADVANCED clipping features? ................................................................................................................................... 128
Chapter 8 – Exploring Complex Layouts ................................................................................................................. 129
Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 129
Overview of Recommended Techniques .................................................................................................................................. 129
Multi-colored Designs ................................................................................................................................................................ 130
Multi-Color Basics – Statler Stitcher ................................................................................................................................................................ 130
Systems that require user interaction before jumping ..................................................................................................................................... 131
Systems that support Courtesy/registration jumps but always “auto jump” ................................................................................................... 132
How can I make the lines more accurate for color changes, things always seem a bit off? .......................................................................... 133
Basic Techniques for Complex Quilts ...................................................................................................................................... 133
INTRODUCTION & GLOSSARY

How do I RESIZE a WHOLE quilt so all the patterns are adjusted to fit?..................................................................................................... 133
Wholecloth Layout Techniques................................................................................................................................................. 134
Batting and Basting ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 134
A Note on Trapunto ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 134
Types of Wholecloth Quilts ............................................................................................................................................................................... 134
The Planning stage ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 135
Preparing for layout – Readying the workspace 0807 ............................................................................................................................. 136
How do I setup, design, and execute a Repetitive wholecloth quilt? 0808 ................................................................................................ 136
How do I setup, layout and execute a Border Based wholecloth? ................................................................................................................... 138
How do I setup, layout and execute Medallion Based wholecloth?................................................................................................................. 138
How can I see how it looks AS I am designing (there are too many lines on the screen)? 0809 ............................................................. 140
How do I do crosshatching? 0810 .............................................................................................................................................................. 140
How do I do micro-stippling and other fills? 0811 .................................................................................................................................... 140
Chapter 9 – Catalogs, Customer & Billing Basics .................................................................................................. 141

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Pro-Q Designer Cookbook #1 – Version 1.58 Chapter 1 – Introduction & Glossary

Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 141

What is your recommendation for billing customers? - The customer experience. 0901 ........................................................................ 141
How can I e-mail a customer a layout? 0902 ............................................................................................................................................. 141
How can I SORT my designs? .......................................................................................................................................................................... 142
How can I make it REAL easy to find a design I own? 0903 .................................................................................................................... 142
How can I print a catalog of the designs I own (or send a customer a selection of patterns)? ...................................................................... 143
What it the thumbs.pq file and why is it in all my folders?.......................................................................................................................... 143
How can I use the Thumbnail browser more efficiently? ................................................................................................................................ 143
Why does it take so long for Thumbnails to load? ........................................................................................................................................... 143
What is your recommendation for storing projects? ........................................................................................................................................ 144
Chapter 10 – The Light Table and Drawing ........................................................................................................... 145
Light Table Basics ...................................................................................................................................................................... 145
What type of images can the Light Table use? ................................................................................................................................................. 145
My Light Table Image comes in the wrong color, how can I fix it? (Changing formats) 1001............................................................. 145

INTRODUCTION & GLOSSARY

Changing the image to grayscale for the Light Table? 1002................................................................................................................... 145
What SIZE should the image be for the Light Table? 1003 .................................................................................................................... 146
How should I photograph a quilt for the Light Table? .................................................................................................................................... 146
How should I photograph PART of a quilt for the Light Table? .................................................................................................................... 146
What method creates the BEST Light Table images quilts or parts of quilts? ............................................................................................... 147
How do I adjust the Light Table Image in Pro-Q? 1004 ......................................................................................................................... 147
How can I fix a Light Table Image that has too much white space or “junk” in it? 1003 .................................................................... 147
How do I get rid of the Light Table image? 1004 .................................................................................................................................... 147
How do I use my Light Table image for doing work around an appliqué or other odd shaped area? 0420 ......................................... 147
Drawing Basics ........................................................................................................................................................................... 148
How do I draw a straight line? .......................................................................................................................................................................... 148
How do make a sharp turn when drawing?...................................................................................................................................................... 148
How do I prevent the little squiggle of points I get at the end of EVERY drawing? ....................................................................................... 148
How do I add a jump to a drawing? .................................................................................................................................................................. 148

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 Chapter 1 – Introduction and Glossary Pro-Q Designer Cookbook #1 – Version 1.58

How do I save in the middle of drawing? ......................................................................................................................................................... 148

How do I change passes when I am in the middle of drawing so I can put the new pattern in the right pass? ............................................ 148
Chapter 11– Not Just Quilting: Unusual Techniques ........................................................................................... 149
Quilting Garments and Shaped Objects,........................................................................................................................................................... 149
Chenille Techniques .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 149
Strip Piecing Techniques................................................................................................................................................................................... 150
Lace Techniques ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 150
Half Square and Quarter Square Triangle Techniques................................................................................................................................... 151
Chapter 12 – Common Problems and Questions .................................................................................................. 153
Circles aren’t round and things are squished, what’s wrong? 1201 ....................................................................................................... 153
What is the hotkey for __________? 1202 ............................................................................................................................................... 153
Why can’t I get the Pattern Popup Menu to open when I right click? 1203........................................................................................... 153
Why when I insert a continuous pattern in a pass does it insert on top of another one? 1204 .............................................................. 153
INTRODUCTION & GLOSSARY

How can I put a pattern in a NEW pass? 1205 ........................................................................................................................................ 153

Why do some of the patterns ‘stick’ and attach themselves and others ‘float’ and require me to click to place them? 1206 .............. 154
Why won’t echo work properly on a pattern? 1207 .................................................................................................................................... 154
Why are buttons grayed out on the Edit Jumps tab when I have something selected? 1208 ................................................................. 154
Why do I see the green dots for jumps sometimes on the main page, and other times I don’t? ..................................................................... 154
When should I use a drawing program and when should I use Pro-Q for editing and designing? ............................................................... 154
How can I improve stitching sequence to eliminate jumps, backtracking, etc? .............................................................................................. 155
My Thumbnail Browser isn’t updating and showing a change in a pattern or new patterns I have added. 1209 ................................ 155
I am having trouble selecting points in the Editor, or the wrong points are moving! .................................................................................... 155
I have been working for HOURS on a project and Pro-Q just shut down. I lost ALL my work. Is this a bug? ......................................... 155
Other Pro-Q Shutdown Issues........................................................................................................................................................................... 156
Appendix A – Video List ................................................................................................................................................ 157

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