I am interested in purchasing EQ7. Is it worth $189? What do you do with it? Can you look at a pattern elsewhere and design your own with the software? Are there enough sample fabric pictures to get a really good idea of what a finished quilt will look like using similar fabrics? Do you absolutely love it, or just okay?

Where is the lowest price for it?

I got a pre-release price of $97, but have not seen it that cheap since. There are lots of fabrics, and new sets added to download at their site. I did not use earlier versions, so it is taking me a while to learn my way around, but I have been able to build blocks and design quilts on it. The library of blocks that comes with it is impressive. There are video tutorials that teach you how to navigate and get familiar with the basics.

I don't know but I am interested in getting this too. So, I will be reading the answers you get too. :-)

EQ7 is a very advanced quilting design program and a beginner program all in one. I have not bought a quilt pattern since I learned to draft and edit quilt blocks using EQ. I buy quilt books or patterns for the method of construction but not for the design and only then if I can't find a tutorial or how to on line. It takes time to learn how to use all the features but once you do it's simple to use. Lots of videos to watch how to do all applications of EQ.

I have had EQ for about a month and wow what that program can do! I found it user friendly, but do have some experience is desktop publishing. I am struggling with the Custom quilt section.
Just designed a "Harley" quilt using a specific number of precut squares. Was frustsrated trying to do a custom quilt and took out the old graph paper and calculator to figure how different size blocks would fit together. Then got a brainstorm and was able to put it in EQ. I was impressed with how quick that took and that I could tweak color placements etc.
With this quilt I learned how to import (scan) fabrics into the library. I did enough of the tutorials to get me started, and when I'm stumped I go to the help section or the manual which are very good.
Is it worth it? For me yes! and I did not get the preorder price with an older version.

You can actually scan in your own fabrics or download pictures of fabrics for sale to see how the quilt will really look like. It is not hard to design your own blocks on it. I like the fact that you can rotate blocks once they are colored to select the way you want the quilt to look like. It also allows you to print off the fabric amounts needed and paper templates you will use. Personally I love it and I never had any of the other versions.
Yes I feel it is worth it.

I paid $137 for mine at a local quilt shop when it was just released. I still need to learn how to use it.

I still have EQ5 and struggling to spend enough time to learn it thoroughly. If you have the time & the will/won't/power to sit & learn EQ7 inside & out I'm sure you would find it more than worth it's price.

It's absolutely worth the price! I have been using EQ since version 3, and I always make sure to get the newest version. Make a point of going through the tutorials in the user manual, with a little experience you can design whatever you want! The only thing EQ doesn't do is tell you how to construct the quilt, that's up to you. ;-)

I would suggest starting on an earlier version before you jump right in. I have EQ5 off of ebay. I have had a rough time and would be upset if I had paid the 189$ for $35 I can play around and if I really like it then I can save for the upgrade!!

Don't forget you do have to upgrade to each version before the next. Example EQ5 to EQ6 then to EQ7. You can also try Quilt wizard to see if you like computer designing quilts. It's only $20-30 and is available in the Joann Stores (use your 40% off coupons). It is very similar but with very limited designs and fabrics. EQ7 is alittle more complicated but still very similar and has so much more in it.

I have that version, but it is not for me. I do not do that much quilting. I would rather spend my money on fabric. The web site help people are GREAT!

It's a wonderful program and I've had it since EQ4. I can pretty much look at a quilt and tell what the pattern is and re-create it in EQ7 (if it's not TOO difficult). It has tons of blocks and fabrics and you can import your own fabrics, which I do all the time.

When I buy a fabric I get a picture of it on my screen from the website I bought it from, right click, and save into a folder on my PC called Fabrics. I can then import it. I love that Moda has downloads of their collections for EQ! Also, Connecting Threads has them for every collection plus a label that matches.

No, this is wrong. You can buy the EQ7 program by itself.

As for the person who recommends buying 5 or 6 off Ebay, just remember this: EQ restricts the number of activations of a product. And if the person bought the upgrade for 5 to 6 or for 6 to 7, then the copy of 5 or 6 will not be recognized as valid by EQ, as the product registration codes are required when installing the upgrade program. I know this because I bought the EQ 7 Upgrade for my EQ6.

That being said, I love EQ. I haven't scratched the surface of what this software can do, but I love it!

I would not recommend an earlier version, some of the enhancements in EQ7 make it more user friendly. There are some great on line tutorials for EQ 7 that may not be compatable with some of the early versions.
Shop around , and yes worth the money if yuo can spend a bit of time learning to use its great functions. Like any software it takes some getting guidance and getting familiar. I remember when the mouse came out for computers and even that took some getting use to it.

I pre-ordered it from EQ. I paid $152.00 which included shipping. It is the first EQ I've owned. It is not quite as user friendly as I'd hoped, but I am learning. I've scanned fabric and pictures and designed several quilts already. I think it will be well worth the money.

I love my EQ7 and should be using it more.

Sorry I was misunderstood - yes you can buy EQ7 by itself that is what I did too. Just wanted to let you know if you buy EQ5 you could not update directly to EQ7 you would have to buy EQ6 update as well as EQ7 update to get it up to date and like cattailsquilts stated if the person selling it used on ebay upgraded before selling it - the program may not work.
So buying an order version may cost you more in the long run if you really want EQ7.

Was that the price for an upgrade, or a complete new package?

Wow, it sounds really great. I'm not so concerned about the software being complicated. I'm a power computer user and taught classes for several years. Just wanted to know if all the things you can do with it justify the price.

Does anyone know if there is a site that sells the software for a less than the $189 list price? Our quilt stores sell it for $189, so I'm hoping some internet site will have it for less.

What do you mean when you say EQ doesn't tell you how to construct the quilt? Does it not give instructions on the order of what to sew to what?

Wow! The fabric downloads would be helpful!

Can you get EQ7 from Joanne's and use a coupon?

Last I looked they were selling it in the sewing machine area ( viking booth and only Eq6). If theyare still keeping it in the machine area , you can not use cuopons ( this area is leased space typically to a Viking Dealer ). Call or see if they have it on line.

Thanks Lori. I've seen EQ6 on their website, but not EQ7. Maybe they'll upgrade later.

I am following this thread with interest. I have long thought about buying EQ, but didn't know enough about it and couldn't swallow the price.

I have EQ 6 and I love it. I use it a lot. Great tool for designing blocks and quilts.

I know Joann's has Quilt Wizard in the stores but have never seen EQ7. Online I don't think it lets you use the coupon on softwear. In the store I was able to use a coupon for Quilt Wizard retail of $29.95, but this is a very simple computer quilting program. It does not have anything near the capabilities of EQ7.

here's a wacky question! if you import your fabric to a folder as you buy it, can eq7 easily help you with sorting/inventory of your stash? do you guys, for instance, add your newly purchased yellow fabric to an existing yellow folder in order to know exactly what yellows you have in your entire stash? or is this unreasonable? seems like you could plan your quilt online, then (this is for those tidy stashes we've seen photos of) pull yardage easily and go for it.

I have used EQ since version 5. I personally would not recommend starting out with EQ5 = EQ 6 was a wonderful improvement and much easier to understand. The only problem I ever had was that there is a limit to the number of computers/installations without having to purchase a new license (we had two computers die within a year!)

I have purchased EQ7 and absolutely love it. I am also sure if you search online, you should be able to find a better price and it will be worth every penny - just remember you have a learning curve with anything new!

Yes you can plan your entire quilt online then pull from your stash. As far as saving your fabric imports you can save it however you choose - by color, by mfg, by putting it all in one folder, etc. You can name it whatever you want too. I like to list wherever I bought it just in case I need more. ex- yellow floral(Joann)

Our loccal guild does the AQS for quilting books/cds and quite often when they have 6 orders you are able to order at the cheaper pric. Our meeting is today so will check how much it is thru there. They usually order when they have 6 total for an order and then split the cost of the shipping.
Judy

I got an early pre-order price of $68. I had EQ6 and upgraded. It does a lot of cool stuff, but you DO need to realize you will have to spend some time with it to learn the ins and outs, but I love it. There are loads of fabrics, hundreds of blocks and designs already in there. But you can design any block you can think of, set it in any way, there are constant fabric stash updates to download, and recently there have been 'webinars' to learn how to use the program. Do you HAVE to have it? No. You can certainly design with graph paper and colored pencils. But, I'M afraid I'll get left in the "technological dust", and if I resist the lastest computer program, that when I WANT to use it, it will have progressed to far for me to EVER catch up. Just like sewing machines. I talk to so many people who spent years resisting any kind of "computerized stitch selection" and are now so intimidated by the new machines, they are too afraid to even try. Just my thoughts.

I've been using it for about a month and I love it also. I have already used it to design 2 quilts, including one with a very fancy chained border. You can try many different variations with blocks and borders and see what it will look like. I'm now trying to figure out how to use the stencils part to simulate what the quilting will look like. I'm not finding that part very well explained.

If you're into printing pictures on fabrics (which I am not), it has very nice image editing function.

Just a thought -- EQ6 is aHUGE improvement over EQ5 -- and they do not charge full price to upgrade (at least they didn't) I have the original EQ and have upgraded as each came out -- each seems to take a big leap forward. You might investigate the cost of moving up at least to EQ6 -- much easier to learn and wonderful tutorials.
Mary

Thanks Judy, I greatly appreciate that!

I keep trying to put in the cheapest place I found EQ 7 online but for some reason, QB refuses to let me post it. Go to google and type in (all one word) I have a notion.

Does either EQ7 or Quilt wizard have the wreath maker function in them? The function where you can take any design, (like a teddy bear, for example), and the wreath maker tool will turn it into a circular (wreath) shaped design with multiples of that object...that is the one thing that I am most interested in getting in any program. Thank you..Donna

Hmmmm. I went to i have a-notion (all one word) web site and saw the EQ7, but they have it listed at retail price of $189.95. Did they have it leased for less earlier?