EQ 6 ???
03-10-2009, 12:37 PM
#11
Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 83
hi Marcia,
I had EQ5 and upgraded to EQ6 in 8/07. I love it. Don't use it all the time, but do use it. In fact I'm about to go into it now. Looking for blocks for a puzzle quilt, found a few but need a couple more. I think the upgrade was worth it, the two new things I like most are, labels and adding a border or setting triangles to a block. I think it's well worth the money, my best suggestion is do the lessons, and then maybe months from now do them again. Also, the Tech support is subperb.
If you get it I hope you enjoy it
peel
I had EQ5 and upgraded to EQ6 in 8/07. I love it. Don't use it all the time, but do use it. In fact I'm about to go into it now. Looking for blocks for a puzzle quilt, found a few but need a couple more. I think the upgrade was worth it, the two new things I like most are, labels and adding a border or setting triangles to a block. I think it's well worth the money, my best suggestion is do the lessons, and then maybe months from now do them again. Also, the Tech support is subperb.
If you get it I hope you enjoy it
peel
03-10-2009, 01:29 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 401
I got it for Christmas and have to say I love it. I'm NOT a computer geek, yet the software is pretty easy to learn. It can do so much and I love the fact that you can download fabric collections right into the program and use it to design your quilts. Moda has a place on their web site for their collections, in addition to the ones that EQ puts on their web site. I have quite a few quilts designed and am currently working on my first "I designed it myself" quilt. If you buy it, you won't be sorry.
03-11-2009, 09:46 AM
#13
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 17,636
From reading all, I can tell that the EQ's are software that somehow helps you design your own quilts...that may say it all to somebody that knows more than me, but can somebody start from the beginning and tell me what these are? It sounds fascinating, but I am not very computer literate at all, so I would really need to make sure of what it was.
Right now, the way I do my designing is with graph paper and colored pencils. It is painstakingly slow and colors are not all that accurate, and no prints.
Right now, the way I do my designing is with graph paper and colored pencils. It is painstakingly slow and colors are not all that accurate, and no prints.
03-11-2009, 01:19 PM
#14
Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 83
hi quiltcrazy,
you say you're not very computer literate, so i'm going to make this very simple (you can always ask more questions). If i'm making it too simple i appologize, again ask more questions.
EQ6 (i think the newest version), you don't have to have earlier version, is a software for planning quilts. If you buy EQ6 make sure its the whole program (I think that's the way it comes) and not a upgrade. (it's a while since i bought mine so i'm not sure how it comes) when you open the software on the computer you will see a quilt with blank blocks. You can choose how many blocks you want in quilt and their size, you choose borders, how many and how wide or no borders. you can skip choosing blocks and borders and just use the quilt that's presented there. then there are "libraries" the block library has 100's of blocks and you choose which one/s you want in your quilt. there are pieced blocks, applique blocks and you can draw your own blocks. then you can change the colors/fabrics in the blocks and/or you can even scan in your own fabrics and make a quilt with exactly the fabrics you will use. The manual that comes with the software has lessons, i found them excellent and they will teach you what i've just mentioned above and more. You can also choose the type of layout you want, horizontal, on-point, horizontal strip, custom set and a couple of others. Of course along the way you have to save what you've got (the program usually says something like "do you want to close this without saving". There's much more. I'm sure there are things I will never use, and there are things I don't totally understand. But, I probably don't need to know them at this time.
Also, I have found the Tech support to be excellant, and they've explained things so i can do it. That's about all I'll say for now, of course the more you play with the software the better you get. And, it's easy to play with, i can sit down and threee hours later I say "oh my gosh have i been playing this long.
I rarely use paper and pencil any more, because it's probably doable on the software. Oh, I forgot printing, you can print blocks, quilts, rotary cutting charts, paperpiecing patterns, and templates. I've probably forgotten something else you can print. Oh yes, how much fabric you need.
Hope that answers some of your questions. Of course there's a lot more, in fact there are videos included in the software and you can look at them at any time.
peel
you say you're not very computer literate, so i'm going to make this very simple (you can always ask more questions). If i'm making it too simple i appologize, again ask more questions.
EQ6 (i think the newest version), you don't have to have earlier version, is a software for planning quilts. If you buy EQ6 make sure its the whole program (I think that's the way it comes) and not a upgrade. (it's a while since i bought mine so i'm not sure how it comes) when you open the software on the computer you will see a quilt with blank blocks. You can choose how many blocks you want in quilt and their size, you choose borders, how many and how wide or no borders. you can skip choosing blocks and borders and just use the quilt that's presented there. then there are "libraries" the block library has 100's of blocks and you choose which one/s you want in your quilt. there are pieced blocks, applique blocks and you can draw your own blocks. then you can change the colors/fabrics in the blocks and/or you can even scan in your own fabrics and make a quilt with exactly the fabrics you will use. The manual that comes with the software has lessons, i found them excellent and they will teach you what i've just mentioned above and more. You can also choose the type of layout you want, horizontal, on-point, horizontal strip, custom set and a couple of others. Of course along the way you have to save what you've got (the program usually says something like "do you want to close this without saving". There's much more. I'm sure there are things I will never use, and there are things I don't totally understand. But, I probably don't need to know them at this time.
Also, I have found the Tech support to be excellant, and they've explained things so i can do it. That's about all I'll say for now, of course the more you play with the software the better you get. And, it's easy to play with, i can sit down and threee hours later I say "oh my gosh have i been playing this long.
I rarely use paper and pencil any more, because it's probably doable on the software. Oh, I forgot printing, you can print blocks, quilts, rotary cutting charts, paperpiecing patterns, and templates. I've probably forgotten something else you can print. Oh yes, how much fabric you need.
Hope that answers some of your questions. Of course there's a lot more, in fact there are videos included in the software and you can look at them at any time.
peel
03-11-2009, 01:25 PM
#15
Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 83
quiltcrazy,
it's me again, i forgot something i really like. I can try out several different color combinations with the push of a couple of keys. Very easily replaces graph paper and colored pencils, etc. I use the fabrics that are in the software as an approximation of the color and shade i want i.e. light green, yellow green or dark green in a particular place.
You can see I love it. I've planned one quilt, and parts of several other quilts and am in the midst of planning another one now.
peel
it's me again, i forgot something i really like. I can try out several different color combinations with the push of a couple of keys. Very easily replaces graph paper and colored pencils, etc. I use the fabrics that are in the software as an approximation of the color and shade i want i.e. light green, yellow green or dark green in a particular place.
You can see I love it. I've planned one quilt, and parts of several other quilts and am in the midst of planning another one now.
peel
03-11-2009, 03:13 PM
#16
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 17,636
Originally Posted by peel
quiltcrazy,
it's me again, i forgot something i really like. I can try out several different color combinations with the push of a couple of keys. Very easily replaces graph paper and colored pencils, etc. I use the fabrics that are in the software as an approximation of the color and shade i want i.e. light green, yellow green or dark green in a particular place.
You can see I love it. I've planned one quilt, and parts of several other quilts and am in the midst of planning another one now.
peel
it's me again, i forgot something i really like. I can try out several different color combinations with the push of a couple of keys. Very easily replaces graph paper and colored pencils, etc. I use the fabrics that are in the software as an approximation of the color and shade i want i.e. light green, yellow green or dark green in a particular place.
You can see I love it. I've planned one quilt, and parts of several other quilts and am in the midst of planning another one now.
peel
I am very, very interested in this. If I had to buy it out right, what is a usual price. I don't buy kits, and so far, looks like I will be designing most of my stuff myself, or redoing somebody else's stuff. I am just wired that way...tweak it, until I love it, not just, sigh, like it.
There has to be love for me to make that much of a committment, lol!!!
Thanks big time for all your help, it's great. :D
03-14-2009, 06:58 PM
#17
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 17,636
I went to the Electric Quilt website for EQ6. The program there is 149.99. Is that an average price? Is this a patented program or are there other programs made by other companies, but go by a different name and just as good? (hope when someone reads this, you can understand that question).
I can see why ppl love it. I'm thinking I could use a lot of it, but my pc is not going to play the dvd's. I am a very visual learner. Maybe hubby will win lottery and I can get it and a new pc. Would like to know about average prices anyway. Who knows, maybe i'll use plastic.
I can see why ppl love it. I'm thinking I could use a lot of it, but my pc is not going to play the dvd's. I am a very visual learner. Maybe hubby will win lottery and I can get it and a new pc. Would like to know about average prices anyway. Who knows, maybe i'll use plastic.
03-14-2009, 08:38 PM
#18
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW Iowa
Posts: 32,855
I got my EQ6 a few days ago. Went through the lessons to learn to use it. Took a few days. Keep in mind I don't have much time in my day to do it. Sat here tonight and scanned in fabric for my DD coffee quilt and started planning it. It's fantastic. I have had so much fun with this. I can see what my quilt will look like with the fabric I will be using. I am doing this quilt free form ( not using the blocks available ) I can't say enough about this program. I love it.
03-15-2009, 02:36 AM
#19
Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 87
EQ-6 is a great program and you'll love it but you are going to pay Electric Quilt Companies price for it which is $149.00. They control the distribution of the software even down to the fact that you have to log into their website after you purchase the program on CD and install it, you have to log in to activate it. You' won't find a better deal anywhere and if you do you can be sure it's pirated software.
You will find that the learning curve on EQ-6 is fast. If you follow the lessons that come with the program you'll be up and designing quilts within hours. Once loaded the software comes with a great video lesson package, that's always installed and doesn't play from a cd or dvd but it's always installed on the hard drive so always available. As a whole the program is very well thought out and has some nice add ins like the Stash add in and the quilting patterns add ins, and the program actually comes with a paper owners manual, imagine that.
You will find that the learning curve on EQ-6 is fast. If you follow the lessons that come with the program you'll be up and designing quilts within hours. Once loaded the software comes with a great video lesson package, that's always installed and doesn't play from a cd or dvd but it's always installed on the hard drive so always available. As a whole the program is very well thought out and has some nice add ins like the Stash add in and the quilting patterns add ins, and the program actually comes with a paper owners manual, imagine that.
