Hello everyone

Can you tell me if the program is of value to purchase or should I simply continue doing my quilts the way that I have been, either by patterns from the web, through this board or through classes? I mean it only takes 3 classes to cover the cost of the program.

Thanks for your valuable input!

TreeFrog

I haven't had much time to spend with it but LOVE it, you can color and recolor to try different combinations, you can try different blocks together to see if you like them in a quilt , you can make you own applique designs and on and on. i say YES! it's well worth it

You should try and identify what kind of quilter you are first. If you primarily like to do quilts from patterns exactly like they are, then EQ would be of limited benefit I think. However, if you look at a pattern and think that it would look better if this were here and that was there or if it were different dimensions, colors, etc. etc. then EQ is great for that. If you are a piecer rather than into applique or photo-realistic quilts, you might want to go for the earlier version EQ6 or even 5. The downside to 6 is the limited number of installs.

I've used it since ver4 and am happy both with the program and the customer service, but have never actually designed a full quilt. I mainly use it to test ideas out.

Diana

Tree Frog I had EQ6 and just updated to EQ7 and I absolutely love it. I love all the features that it has and I think it is well worth the investment. JMHO!!

Can some one say what EQ7 is?

I love it. it's great for designing a quilt and you can scan in your fabrics and see exactly how they are going to look.

EQ7 is Electric Quilt 7. it's a designing software that you can purchase.

I have EG6 and 7 but have not had the time to learn how to use them. They offer alot of help within the program but I am very computer illiterate. I will keep on plugging awawy and maybe someday I will get the hang of it.

There is a user-defined topic list for EQ on this board. A great place to ask any and all questions.

Diana

Similar software for free:
go to www.cosman.nl/forum. There is a free software called Quilt Assistant that is very similar to EQ.

I'm taking a class right now for EQ7. It's on the Quilt University site. I think the next on starts in May. The price is around $35.00 and it's the best money I've spent in a long time. I knew nothing about the program and now after two (there's 4) lessons I can make blocks, set quilt layouts, change colors etc. There's a forum for questions and the teacher, Fran, answers them quickly. Check it out, it's fun.

We have some quilters in our guild that use the EQ. They all seem to love the program as a matter of fact one lady was telling me she just got through not to long ago taking a class on EQ6 on quilt university.

I've been thinking about getting it EQ7 and taking the class when it starts again.

I have to say, I have been using EQ since version 4 and I wouldn't want to do with out...I like that I can create patterns easily, or take an orginal pattern, draw up the blocks and have the ability to scan in the material I want to use for that quilt and actually get to see if the colors I picked will work, or being able to show people what their quilt will look like with the material they picked...the possiblities are endless and there is sooooo much help out there to learn this program, there is even a yahoo group...Go to the Electric Quilt site and view the videos that are available that shows the capabilities of EQ
http://www.electricquilt.com/
they have videos to view for version 5,6 and 7....

Hi

EQ7 is Electronic Quilting (version)7, it is a quilting software which is used to create and design different quilts and blocks. It costs approx $190 plus tax and whatever else can be thrown in.

TreeFrog

btiny

Thank you so much, I am at that site right now, and am looking it over! I am going to speak to my husband about it and tell him that I want it! lol I am sure that I will get it!

TreeFrog

Clsuz
Well, that sounds like a good thing to say about it! I think that I am turning from a maybe to a yes, I need it! lol

TreeFrog

Peacebypiece

Thank you so much, I am on my way there right now!

TreeFrog

I have also used EQ since ver 4. I got EQ7 and designed my latest project in it. One of the features I love the most is the ability to be able to scan your fabrics into the program. I can honestly say that the project turned out looking exactly as I had designed it with the fabrics being scanned into the computer. This way I knew exactly how much of each fabric I would need to finish the project and for a few of the pieces that was crucial as I only had small pieces of a few of them. I love the program. Takes all the guesswork out of the finished project. Ann in TN

I just received an e-mail from EQ. They are discounting the EQ7 upgrade for people who own EQ6. Also there's a special offer for EQ5 owners "They want you back" as the ad says.

I have been wanting the EQ7, but don't want to spend that kind of money. I recently bought the Quilt Wizard which is made by Electric Quilt. I really like it and imagine I would have loved the EQ7. But I only paid 16.97 for this one on Ebay and I am very happy with it.

I bought Quilt Wizard but it didn't do what I needed it to do, so I finally plunged and bought EQ6. I LOVE this program!

I upgraded to EQ7 as soon as it was available and I have added a few programs to it - Blockbase, Dear Jane, Baltimore Album and a few volumes of Quilting Designs.

I love being able to see what my quilt will look like in my fabrics - I can move colors, rotate the blocks differently, try different border treatments, fussy cut, recolor individual patches or all patches of a type...

The ability to print rotary cutting charts, templates, placement diagrams, quilt diagrams, yardage charts with swatches... it's as much fun as quilting, itself! :)

ncredbird

Thank you for your information, I am seriously thinking of getting the program.

Thanks again,
TreeFrog

Susanwilley

And what is Quilt Wizard? What does it do?

TreeFrog

TreeFrog

I started with Quilt Design Wizard (made by the same co. as EQ but very limited) and then got EQ5 and now have EQ7. I love it.

I read wonderful things about EQ7 on the board and I bought it. I've had it for about 6 months and I've never really used it. I don't seem to have the time to learn it. I'm sure if I took a class I would get a lot more use out of it.

Here is a link. http://www.quiltdesignwizard.com/qdw/default.asp
Check it out. I am very new to quilting so it does just what I need it do for now. I just love it. I have designed three quilts and have had it for about a week. It's really easy to use.

I bought it and like everything else, it's still in the box lol

I bought over a year ago and I love it I have designed over 10 quilts with it so far. I love that you can add your own stash to the program so you can see your quilt before you cut everything out, it has helped me a lot and well worth the price. It is very user friendly.

I have it and love it! Being able to print out your own pattern alone is well worth the $ to me!

Wow it seems everyone but me understands these things. My hubby bought me EQ6 and I have never been able to figure out how to use it! I even checked the local quilt shops to see if there was a class on how to use it but found nothing. I am really bad with computers but would still love to learn to use it.It might be hopeless I have been trying to learn to get the pic off the camera and onto the computer without help for over 3 years! I am very chalanged when it comes to this type of thing. But I think if you are able to understand it it would be a wonderful thing to have I have seen so many beautiful quilts designed with it.

did you look into the online courses through Quilting University? There seem to be a few that are designed to help you learn the software. Online courses are normally pretty good.

I've just bought it and tried it for a couple small projects. It's great fun and not hard to use if you can sit through the videos that come with it. I LOVE playing with the fabrics and blocks and layouts and uploading my own fabrics.

My son has been asking me when I'm going to make the new placements I have been dithering over (trying to match my new stoneware colors) and I printed him my latest EQ7 design for a 4-color placemat on 11x17 paper and plopped it on the dinner table. No-sew. Maybe I should laminate it LOL

Of course, I am a born fiddler. I can't do anything the same way twice, and if I don't hurry up and finish a project, it somehow morphs into something else or something I don't like. And I'm only on my 3rd project! :) :)

I have both EQ7 and Quilt Pro version 6. Maybe it is because I have had Quilt Pro since version 1, but I like that program much better for design and creating class handouts.
EQ7 graphics are superior, but I find it very difficult to work with so I give up and go back to Quilt Pro.

I have to admit that EQ is not one of the easiest programs I've ever used. I should have signed up for one of the online classes or even the one at my LQS.

I can just about run Paint Shop Pro in my sleep. Same with MS Publisher. EQ is not the most intuitive thing in the world.

But, even though I occasionally feel like tearing my hair out, the rewards of being able to lay out my own quilts are worth the trouble. Figuring yardage, changing block sizes, changing layouts - and all the calculations done for you.

Just one example - I'm following the Barbara Brackman Civil War BOW and the blocks are 8" finished. A lot of traditional block patterns don't lend themselves to an 8" block, but if you open the block in EQ and set the size to 8", you can print rotary cutting instructions, templates for each patch, or foundation piecing patterns, whichever you want. No more struggling with 7/16" measurements.

If you already have EQ and don't use it, take a class! :) Or just jump in and design a quilt, using the help files and videos that are included in the program. Yep, video tutorials right on the disk - very cool!

You will be amazed at what you can do and how it simplifies so many things for you.

if anyone has brought their eq6 or 7 for less than $150.00, please let me know where. thanks!!

You can possibly find eq6 for that on ebay. Or if anyone is selling a used copy of eq7. I believe stores aren't allowed to discount it until a certain amount of time has passed after its release.

I have had EQ7 for over a year and very happy with the purchase. I also took a class on Quilt University for around $36 to learn how to use the program. It was well worth the time and money for the class it gave me a better understanding how to use the program. The class showed me all the possibilities the program offers.

Many that say it's a waste seems to me are the ones that don't try to learn how to use it. I can adapt any quilt pattern or design a pattern in less time then it takes to search online for a pattern.

Some critics have said if you don't line up the metal piece with the last fabric cut your next cut is off. Some folks also complained that it was to heavy and you really need a dedicated place for it. I was very very close to buying one, I will be going to another quilt show in Sept if someone is there selling them again I might make the purchase. Just a lot of money to spend if folks don't think it is worth the money.

I have EQ5 and the best advantage that I find is that it can calculate the yardage needed for each colour etc, without you having to work it all out yourself. It basically saves time with drafting and calculating, for me. I haven't bothered to update it because it cost me $250 and I don't have the $$$ to be forking it out every couple of years.