I have EQ 6. Never upgraded to 7, because it didn't seem to offer very much in the way of new features I would use. I wonder now if 8 would be a good step up for me. Usability isn't an issue for me with EQ6 (ie EQ8 is going to frustrate me somewhat simply because it changes the way things I already understand work - but I can live with that if I get a bonus from it). I am out of installs for EQ6, so likely have to upgrade before I update my computer again anyway.

So, questions. This is what I find difficult/impossible in EQ6 -can I do it in EQ8?

1. designing an "alternate gridwork" quilt - where the blocks don't necessarily fall into rows or columns.
2. "one block" quilts - like hexagons and diamonds in particular. EQ6 doesn't let me rotate my diamonds freely - so I could not figure out how to design a baby block quilt, without using triangles and colouring my diamonds in 2 parts
3. a pieced lemoyne (8-pointed) star. EQ6 seems to force me to be in the template mode, rather than easydraw to work with a star grid in my block design.

Okay, I have a question about borders in EQ7. I am putting this chain link quilt into my EQ7 (the one hanging in the background):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msotUmzL-90

I had no trouble creating the blocks and layout. I added 3 borders. What I haven't figured out is how to add the square blocks in the middle border.

On a different note, I'm pretty sure there is a "randomize" option somewhere that will color all the pieces in the quilt scrappy. Or am I imagining this?

I would love to know if we have this!

I did find a "randomize" button for both EQ7 and EQ8, but it doesn't work the way I thought it would. Here is a link that describes it: http://doyoueq.com/blog/2015/03/tool...-recolor-tool/

And apparently there is no way to generate a scrappy look, at least as of 2014:
http://doyoueq.com/forum/viewtopic.p...t=scappy#p7806
I don't understand why this would be so difficult. The program could assign numbers to a set of fabrics or colors, then use a random number generator to distribute them through the quilt. Undoubtedly, this is harder to do than I am imagining.....

I think I did figure out how to add blocks to the middle border of my quilt above. The chain link blocks are 7x7. I will just make a block that is 7x1, color alternate squares in it, and then set it into the middle border. Maybe tonight.....

Edit: Nope. Just tried the 7x1 idea. Looks like I will have to make a block that is 1 x (7 x # of blocks in quilt) to fill in the entire border. Guess that wouldn't be too hard to do.....

Why would you not just make the center border "blocks" (that's an option in EQ6, anyway). You set the width of the border you want, and the number of squares. Then colour each one in the alternating colourway.

Prism99, would the tile square option work for what you are doing?

Are you in EQ7 or EQ8? I think I understand what you are looking for - hopefully this is it!

In both, on the Border tab, there is an option for "Spaced Squares" With some quick calculations you can determine how many squares you need. In 7, the option is a drop down on the right while in 8, it is on the top tab

Eparys, thanks!!! Spaced squares worked and was a lot less work than my idea. I tried blocks and tiled squares, but couldn't get them to work quite right. Tiles added a spacer border to make it fit. Blocks I have to fool around with more to figure out what exactly it is doing. Spaced squares worked right away.

I thought I had tried all the options, but I did not realize there were additional options with some of them. Another hurdle behind me!

:)

:thumbup: EQ I know - lol! Glad I could help. There are still lots of specialized things I am not great at but the usual blocks, borders and such I use all the time. Love the quilt you gave the link to - can not wait to see it worked up!

just about everything is different in EQ8. i wouldn't say it's not good. i will only say i don't particularly enjoy it compared to 6 or 7.
i still have 7 installed as well because EQStitch does not work with EQ 8. Really? :thumbdown: [mumble, mumble, words not fit for polite company.]

if you are out of installs for EQ6, call EQ tech support. they can help with that and almost certainly will.