EQ7 - is it worth it?
 

I have been thinking of getting the EQ7, but I have some doubts. I don't want to get it and find out that it
was just a pretty program, but not really useful.

Can you help me by giving your opinion? I don't know of anyone that has it, so I can't really get their opinion. Thanks!

Here's my take. I have seen members of this board do some beautiful things with EQ. It appears they can just whip things together very quickly. For me, I can not get to first base. I do not understand it at all - Have had it for a couple of years now. Even hitting the tutorials on the program do not give me a better understanding. I could have used it a million times if I just knew how!!

I'm not too good with visulizing color placement, so I like to drop the colors into a quilt to see what they are going to look like. You can actually scan your fabric, but I've found that their fabric library fits my needs. it's more like where the lights and darks will go. I have also designed a couple of quilts and hope to do more of that. I will say that I have a long background using various drawing programs. I find it easy to use.
I found that quilt-in-a day has the best price by far:

http://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponlin...ay.asp?i=28132

i got eq5 when it came out. i LOVE it! i don't buy any patterns... just draw my own. and like peperprincess, i love it for color placement. it takes just a minute to change your colorways. if eq7 is too pricey for you, try looking for a used eq5. i don't recommend eq6 as it has limited lives. also, our member Rhonda, has done tutorials here on the board on how to use each of them.

It was the same forme. I even did all the lessons, plus was pain in the b----- on my mac having to switch to windows. Finally gave up. Just use graph paper and pencil. May try the Mac program someday.

I love EQ7. Well, worth it in my opinion...but then I just like to fool with computer programs. For those that don't like to read manuals it might not be worth the money for them...or maybe it would but they'd be better off taking a class somewhere on how to use it. I will say they have some very fine how-to videos that are included in with your purchase.

I use it to drop in the blocks (over 4000) that are provided with the program to design my quilts. I also go online to find free blocks that are not in my program and draw them to add to my program.

I also create applique motifs and stencils. Although I've not quite figured out how to create those continuous line stencils yet...but will over time I'm sure.

Like I said...I love it and well worth the money.

My SIL is very confortable using it. She started with EQ5 then, kept upgrading with each new version. I am getting somewhat confortable with EQ7 that I purchased last year (I think) I like it although I don't know yet, all the possibilities that it offers. I use it to design my own quilt because I do not want to make the same block over and over and over and over. Scanning my own fabric, playing with the color placement etc, is very interesting.

I think you need to be confortable and ready to take the time to learn to use it as we have to with any new computer software. If you do not like to learn new computer program, you might get frustrated as it takes time to getting used to it

I love it, use it for almost every quilt that I make and lots more that I don't make. I started with EQ6 and upgraded to 7, will buy each new version as it comes out. I would not recommend getting an earlier version. Major improvements were made to the user interface with EQ6, and EQ7 eliminated the problem with moving from one computer to another. There are still features that I would like to see in the program, and maybe someday they will be added. But there are still features that I haven't explored yet.

Not for me. I did not use it enough. And everytime I had to change computers, I had to contact them to reinstate it for me. It seems it is only good for so long and only on one computer. I became very frustrated, everytime I wanted to use it there was some other issue. Not worth the hassel to me. Just my opinion.

I have had it since it was a DOS program on floppy disc. The book is much better for me then the videos in learning how to use it. It lists step by step what to do. One thing, if you don't use it often you won't get efficient using it and end up thinking it is not a good program. I use it at least once a week to draft a block or resize or see how my fabrics will look in a block. With EQ7 you can import thumbnails of fabric found online right into the fabric library. Connecting Threads has all their fabric lines ready to import all at once into EQ7. EQ website has many fabric line libraries to import. Many are older lines that I have in my stash. I use the import and trace feature a lot to make a quilt block. I never had a problem reinstalling EQ7 on a new computer. I have it on two computers. One I use at DDs house and on my laptop.

I have had EQ since version 4 - I use EQ7 for one reason or another on every quilt I make. Some times just to estimate the amount of fabric - or if I already have enough fabric for a particular layout. It does have a learning curve but it's fun learning too. Nowhere else can you experiment with multiple block/quilt sizes without actually cutting into your precious stash. Some days I spend more time with a "computer quilt" than the real thing but I'm always learning.

I prefer graph paper and color pencils. Yes, it is slower but it gives my inner child a chance to come play. Plus, I am a drafter so it is second nature to do it the old-fashioned way.

EQ7 is a wonderful program for those who can master it. Check this prior thread about it:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...m-t207054.html

I'm not sure that getting everyone else's opinions is going to help YOU make a decision about whether it will work for YOU. Do any of your quilting friends, guild members, or LQSs have one installed that you can play around on?

This was a problem with EQ6, but it is no longer the case with EQ7.

As with any software/tool/product, different people will feel differently about it. I personally love EQ7, but I also do not use it to its full extent. I use it to draft out quilt patterns, and to see if I like color placement. I haven't gotten into any of the advanced techniques at all, but I love that I have an entire library of blocks & layouts at my fingertips.

Make sure that the program is compatible with your computer - - -

I really like it!!!

Ditto! Someday I want to learn how to do more with it, but for now I just love how easily I can design a quilt and make changes to it.

Is there enough "improvement" or added features in EQ7 that would make it worth the upgrade from EQ6? I have EQ6 and it seems to do everything I need it to, but I am just wondering if there is something "special" about the upgrade that would make me just HAVE to have it. I do design a lot of quilts for classes and patterns for the shop, but I'm trying to justify upgrading. Thanks for any info to help me decide :)

Christine

Well, first of all, I'm not sure if you're aware that the upgrade price is not as expensive as the stand-alone price. Secondly, as someone else said, you can install it as many times as you want, but you can only have it active on 2 computers. This solves a LOT of the complaints that people had about EQ6.
Even though I own EQ6, I didn't use it very much, I got more involved after I bought 7. So I'm not the best person to compare and contrast.

it really depends on YOU---are you a person who is (apt) to sit on your computer & play with color/fabric/design? do you find yourself visiting the sites with some of these functions-playing on them?
i bought an eq program years ago---tried it- played a little bit--maybe an hour---then months later paid for a class to learn from an (expert) how to use it---left the class feeling as if i knew alot less after than i'd known before i went- i don't think i ever opened it- used it again- i am more apt to grab a piece of graph paper & a box of colored pencils---fabric swatches...for me it seems like i am wasting my time on the computer-when i could actually be doing something- so it's not for me- but i do see people who are more (tech advanced) love it & do great things with it. it's one of those things- if you buy & use computer programs...maybe you could visit a shop that sells it- would demo it for you- help you a bit before you invest---i wish i had done that-would have saved me alot of money.

As you can see, it's pretty much a love it or hate it response. If you've had experience with other types of graphics software (Photoshop Elements comes to mind) you'll probably do OK. A lot of the concepts are the same. But if you struggle with computers in general you'll probably have a hard time. Not much help but what it boils down to is you'll probably have to try it yourself before you know.

You might want to check out these three blogs. They are fabulous examples of what you can do in EQ, and there is tons of awesome, inspiring eye candy there.

http://patchworkmaniac.wordpress.com/
http://virtualquilter.wordpress.com/
http://waynekollingersquiltblog.blogspot.com/