I am considering buying some quilting software and would like to know if any of you have EQ 6 (or any of the EQs) or any other software. Do you use and like what you have? Would you recommend it to others?

I would like to be able to plan around with different blocks and "design" my own quilts. I have a decent amount of computer knowledge and think I could master whatever I purchase.

Would love to hear your thoughts, please....thanks

I would definetly recommend it to others. I'm somewhat of a computer geek anyways and this just fit into what i like to do. I also have Embird, Embird Studio, FE, Iconizer, PSP 6, 7, and 10. All of these can be used in EQ 6 one way or another but drawing your own things...

You'll love it once you get it!

:wink: I have eq5 and Just got e6 and I do LOVE it!!! It's wonderful!!!

Yes it is worth the money.

Even when I can't sew, I love to design different quilts. I have tons of them now. It's fun.

I too have EQ6.....it is very nice I don't use it as much as I thought I would only cause I don't have the time....but you can do all kinds of cool things with it and it seems to be fairly easy to operate.......good luck ...on what you do ....hope this helped ya......:-)

Thanks everyone--this is just what I wanted to hear. My in-laws are giving me a gift certificate to my favorite LQS and I am going to put it towards EQ6. Just wanted to make sure I would be happy with my purchase and now I know I will be.....

I have EQ 5 and am wondering if it is worth the upgrade to EQ 6?

Rose Hall

I think mine is coming today or tomorrow. I'll let you know what I think. I'm so excited.

It's here. I will be on the computer all day tomorrow with it. Just the little I have done I can tell I will love it.

Hi Marcia, I just got the EQ6 as a valentine's day gift and I'm in love with it. I've been using it daily, going thru the lessons. It's a terrific buy, I'd recommend it!

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 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.

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.

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

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

wow, this sounds great. I can't buy the software right now, but until I can, is there a website you reccommend so I can get more of a visual idea. Your explanation is very good. I just want to be sure, that not only is it not going to be too complex for me, but my computer, believe it or not, bought it over the phone from the company that made my last computer. Was talking to tech support and we decided it had bit the dust. My brother is a computer wizard and was here. he thought this computer sounded good so I ordered it. It did not come with speakers and does not have a place to hook them up. No joke. So most videos will not play even visual for me.
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

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 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.

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.

thanks, littlehud and cookn.
This is very good information. I really want one. I just have to come up with a plan. I may have to be a little patient, but my mind is already reeling with possibilities. :D

Thank you peel. That was helpful. Am thinking about purchasing this myself, as I am getting tired of 'doodling' my ideas on scrap paper!

gee, I hope I remembered to thank you also. You gave great info. I am so excited about this, but have to reign it in. I can't have this right this minute. It could expand my little quilting world so much...I have visions of quilts dancing in my head like sugarplums, lol! :wink:

I have EQ6. I have played with it a bit, but would have liked to have more time to play with it more. I know it has Sooooooooooooo much stuff and there is alot you can do with it. Not to mention lots of additions to your fabric library and blocks!

I recommend it for sure!

woohoo! I got to scour my brain for a way to come up with the cabbage. If my pc won't play videos, can i still use it?
didn't come with speakers and even computer whiz brother can't find a hookup for them. I have been getting a message for found new hardware though.

I have EQ5 and it is my most used tool. I love it! You can scan your own fabric into the library section and then you can see your quilt with the fabrics you plan to use. It gives me a chance to audition and play around with color combinations. I also like to use the turn the block feature and I get designs I never would have thought of. I probably have 2 or 3 thousand designs on mine. I will never make them all but I love playing with the color and ideas it presents. You can draw your own blocks and that is the best feature for me as I do things a little differant than most and it lets me be creative and if Ihave an idea I can see if it will work without having to cut and sew fabric. I love mine. I have debated on getting the EQ6 but I might wait now til the next one comes out.
I have called the company a couple of times for help and they are very nice and helpful! Highly recommend EQ!! :D
I also use it to record a block or quilt idea that I want to try out. I just go in and recreate the block that I saw so I willl have it to go by.

Rhonda, does your computer have to be able to play videos?

I'm not very knowledgable about computers so I just know what I have and mine does play videos but I think it is a seperate program from what downloads my EQ. Can you download things onto your computer? You could check with anyone who sells computer stuff and tell them what kind of computer you have and they can probably tell you if it will work for you or not. Sorry to not be more help!!

I got an email the other day and hadn't checked it out til now but it looks like a good one. Try www.Mywebquilter.com I took a look and you can choose differant quilt blocks and put in what size and color you want the sashing and borders. Up to 5 borders. looks good to use til you can get an EQ6 I didn't try alot on it but it might help for anyone who has to wait to afford the EQ. It is a free site!!

thanks for the site info, Rhonda. It might suffice until I can form a plan, lol. I am going to ask my brother to have a look at the Eq6 site and tell me if he thinks it will work for me. going to go have a gander now, thanks again. :D

I hope you can work it out to get an EQ I wouldn't want to be without mine now that I depend on it so much!! Some of my grandkids enjoy designing on it too! My 6 yr old Rachel and her brohter Joey 10 love it. It gives them something to do when they are here and they are very creative!

I don't have a scanner. Will I still be able to use it?

I have a new question---

I currently have EQ 5. I love it and don't have time to learn new software that's why I haven't upgraded, but...

My only complaint with EQ5 is when you print the fabric yardage it gives it to you estimating your borders with big long pieces (I forget the actual wording). This can result in me or my client buying several more yards of fabric necessary (SP??). I often piece my borders out of the same fabric to save $$$.

all this to ask...In EQ6, does it give you an option to turn that off? and give yardage estimates without long pieces of fabric?

I hope this question makes sense--I am home today from work with bronchitis and a sick 2 year old. I just want some sleep!!!

:cry:

Rose Hall

quiltncrazy....check out the system requirements for EQ6 on this link.
http://www.electricquilt.com/Shop/EQ6/EQ6SR.asp

I have EQ6 but no scanner yet and can use it. The scanner is to scan your fabrics and save them to the library so you can design with your own fabrics. The most I've done is design a couple of quilts but I can't get the yardage estimates because I guess you need a printer??? I'm going to get an all in one printer/scanner/copy sometime next month, I hope. I still have a lot to learn.

You can use this without a printer. Say you want to print it, but hit the preview button. It will show you on the screen what it wants to print.

crafty, i don't know much about the different types of s, c, printers, but I have an hp, and I'm very happy with it, except one kind of important thing, for me,...my last plain old printer, had options to control how dark your printing was, saved a lot on ink. This hp does not have that and uses a lot of ink, and as you probably already know, ink ain't cheap. just a heads up on that before you buy.

thanks, auntluc, I will have a look at that, should really help me trememdously. :wink:
this is a great thread everybody. Before, I didn't really know what electric quilting was. I love to draw, but sooo time consuming and limiting. :D

Hi littlehud, thanks for the tip but unfortunately I get this message when I click on print then fabric yardage: “Before you can perform printer related tasks such as page setup or printing a document, you need to install a printer. Do you want to install a printer now? Yes or No“. When I click no, nothing happens. Unless I'm missing something??? I don't have a printer setup on the laptop because I just fixed it so I can get the EQ6. The desktop has a printer on there but I don't want to use up activation codes in case I really need to. Say if the laptop breaks then I'll have to switch to a desktop or get a new one...

Oh well, printer/scanner is definitely on the budget for next month. Until then, I’m going to keep on designing and finish up on a couple wip’s.

I hear ya on that, ink is expensive! What kind of HP do you have if you don't mind me asking? I've research HP, Kodak (the one that has ink for cheap), Epson, Lexmark, etc... I'm sorta leaning to Kodak but the reviews don't seem promising. We have an HP scanner, printer, copier but the scanner and copier doesn't work. I've also looked into just a scanner but they are so expensive. I'll keep looking around waiting for sales until next month. I really want to scan my fabrics on there.... I did take pictures of all the fabrics, downloaded them, cropped it to 200x200 like it says in the maual, imported to my library. I thought that would be it but the fabrics pretty much look nothing like what I have.... So that's why I think a scanner will work best. Hopefully???

I have an Hp deskjet printer F380. oh yeah, forgot to mention, my colors on copies don't always match pc either. wonder why I said i like it so much? It's the first 3 in 1 I have ever had, but next time I would like to try a different brand. A friend had Epsom and told me he didn't like that.
Consumer Digest has a lot of good info. hope you get one that you really like. if it's good, let us know, okay? :D

i get the EQ e-newsletter (I have EQ5) and there are always free fabrics (from the top companies) to download and save in your library...also with EQ6, Connection Threads has made all of their fabrics available for download to save in your fabric library...it is really cool!

I use EQ5 to plan out the borders I am doing for the Round Robin plus I have made a few of my own quilts on it. My gf and I designed her first quilt on it and she was able to figure out yardages and all that from the program.

I would love to one day upgrade to EQ6 but maybe I'll wait for the EQ7??