EQ - Is it worth it? Do you love it?
 

With many thanks to thepolyparrot who helped me select a design with EQ ... I'm now so very tempted to buy it myself. (Or wait until my son gifts me with it!)

So, what are the benefits?

Do what about all the extras?

Is it like one of those tools that requires you to buy more and more add ons?

I took a class on the New York Beauty block and the instructor gave us paper piecing bits that she did on EQ. So ... can I paper piece everything?

It really is a great program. I'm teaching my mom how to use it and she reproduced a great quilt from a pattern she had (so she could play with fabrics) the first time! Including making up her own blocks, as they were not in the palette.

No add-ons necessary unless you want to. I have a couple of the fmq ones, but find that I don't use them very often. You can pretty much get what you need from the internet.

I have the EQ6 ... a friend has EQ4. We both think it was well worth it.

For me it is easier than using colored pencils and graph paper. I can scan in my fabrics or use what I find in EQ to see what the colors I want will look like. I even had programmed in a quilt I was teaching so those beginning quilters could see how changing color does change the quilt.

You can change a layout from regular to on pointe and more.

You can figure out what size you want to make and how to go about that.

Yes, I'd love to update my EQ ... but right now isn't the time for me to do that.

ali

I absolutely LOVE my EQ. I don't think I could quilt without it. I have had mine since EQ5 and have not found a need to upgrade. Yes, EQ7 has a few more bells and whistles, but I've been able to do anything I need with EQ5. If price is an issue, look for a used copy of EQ5. Try not to get EQ6 as it is limited to 2 computer installations. You can look at either version as a price saver as you will not have to buy many patterns when you can design your own. And it estimates yardage for you, as well.

So, you can scan your fabrics? Fabulous?
What about paper piecing?

yes, you can print out the blocks as pp/foundation, rotary, templates.

The most important change in EQ7, for me at least, is the ability to adjust/smooth your fabric scans right in the program. I always forgot to adjust them (or take out the measuring tape lines from on-line copies of fabric).

Wow! That sounds terrific!

I have EQ5,6 and 7 but don't think I will ever upgrade if they come out with another one as what I have will do almost everything I think I will ever need. Love it for figuring out yardage and placing blocks or colors in to see what they will look like.

ThePolyParrot tempted me to get it also!

:-)

Its a great program and very user friendly. If you need help Quilt University has great class as well

Oh no! Don't tell me I'd have to take classes!!!

the eq site has great tutorials and other help. i haven't felt the need to take a class.

Good to know.

I have EQ5 and I've never been tempted to upgrade it. I really do like it and I'm glad I have it, but truthfully, I'm far more likely to grab my graph paper, a ruler and colored pencils when the mood strikes to create a pattern or graph one from a picture of a quilt I like. But when I do take the time to pull up EQ5, I really enjoy it and will spend quite a while playing around with it! :)

Rhonda has very helpful Tutorials on this board.

I have EQ6 and I really like it. I don't like that it only came with two installations, but I've only used one so far, and I hope to eventually upgrade to EQ7 where I am glad to hear that the number of installations you get won't be a problem. It is very easy to use and I didn't have to take any classes or anything to figure it out. I really like how it estimates fabric yardage and also that I can print off my own templates and sketches whenever I want. Since I really like to design my own quilts, I use it all the time.

i just bought eq7 but have not loaded it yet. can't wait to use it.

Yes, it is worth it. Yes, I LOVE it. Freezer Paper paper piecing is my favorite piecing method (Judy Matheson's method). EQ is great for PP! I joined the Dear Jane group on this Quilt Board and bought that software also. An advantage of EQ is that you can easily make a quilt the size YOU want it by increasing/decreasing border width, block size - or - add/delete borders, rows, columns, etc.. I enjoy customizing my quilts. The Dear Jane's I am making has 5 inch blocks rather than 4.5". EQ makes that a snap to make that change and discover the final size of the quilt. And then it is also a snap to print out the foundation pattern that is in that 5" finished size. What a time saver when customizing the design. It is just plain fun to play with too! BUY YOUR'S TODAY! (I just had to do that HSN selling phrase! LOL)

I have it but don't use it as much as I thought I would. It does take some of that wonderful anticipation out of the project. I guess sometimes I just want the suspense of the quilt revealing itself as I work on it.

My EQ is extremely helpful in getting my quilts exactly the size I need them to be. You can tweak blocks and borders endlessly till you get everything right. I've made quilts in the past and not really been that happy with color or block combinations and with EQ you have a better chance of making something you end up liking. I've had mine for several years, and haven't needed to buy anything to go with it.

I haven't either. I just play with it and when something confuses me, I search "help" and/or "tutorial videos". Very user friendly.

OK. I'm convinced. It is on my wish list for Valentine's Day, my birthday or mother's day. I just downloaded the free My EQ Boutique today with two free patterns. Haven't played with it yet. Has anyone else?

In addition to everything that has already been mentioned I like being able to create my own designs. I LOVE the fact that I can scan in the fabrics I am planning on using and audition them prior to cutting the pieces for the quilt. This way you don't decide part way through construction that you don't like it and then put it in the UFO file. The last time I did this I actually decided to opt for a different fabric completely as I didn't feel there was enough contrast for the design I wanted to accent. The finished project looks exactly the way I anticipated using it this way. Lots and lots of great features if you just take the time to learn what you can do with it. Ann in TN

I've had it for 5 or 6 years and never used it

I have had EQ back to, I think, 1971 - remember that because of the Northridge Earthquake...had to get a new computer and the EQ people were so helpful with getting me new software which had been crunched in falling debris. I love the program. I love the Customer Service. I am not particularily good at it after all this time but am able to produce what I want. I did take a class at a local quilt show weekend a couple of years ago but did not really learn anything new (plus the instructor was much more interested in promoting herself then teaching...always such a shame when one ends up in that type of class). Someone earlier in the thread said they would not be inclined to upgrade again, felt they had everything they needed on the version they had, and I agree. I am really happy with EQ