I really think it is :D:D:D
However, if you consider the amount of enjoyment and entertainment you can get out of this program, it is very comparable to a game box and game :wink:

Maybe try ebay and look for EQ5, it will do all that you are mentioning above and is much more reasonable than EQ6 or EQ7. I have seen EQ5 for $50 on ebay before :D:D:D

I have it and use it a lot. For something less expensive try Quilt Design Wizard. It's a scaled back version of EQ but does the yardage and templates. It would be a good place to start and is under $50. Use a coupon at Joann's and get an even better deal.

I bought EQ and have hardly used it. However I have not tried designing my own patterns, yet. I do plan on spending some time here this summer figuring out how to actually really use the program
It sounds like you like to design you own patterns and it may be just the thing you need.

YES!! Love it play with it all the time. Here's 2 places for $169.00. I know its a lot of money, but even if you find eq6 and then upgrade to 7 it'll cost you more.

http://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/tacony-eq7.php

http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp25482.html

While I've never used it, Quilt Pro has a "lighter" version of it's main software ($140) 1-2-3 Quilt for only $45. Sort of like Photoshop Elements instead of the mothership program.

http://quiltpro.com/page/productMain

It should be able to do simple quilts and print out templates for you.

There is a version of EQ5 on ebay now for $75/free shipping.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Electric-Quilt-5...item588d61958b

I think using 5.0 would be great - I used it for years, and probably could have gotten away with NOT upgrading to 6.
But it would most certainly meet your most basic needs.

You could try posting an ISO request in the Classified section. I've seen them before but as the business is conducted via PM, I don't know how successful the buyers were.

But they do come up on eBay every now and then. Keep checking.

I love mine. you still have to figure out some of the math but it really helps.

OH YES you want to get EQ!! I have done as many as 40 different designs/layouts to accomplish one quilt (that I never was disappointed with!). I had nearly as much fun doing the design as I did making the quilt! I agree with someone that EQ5 is sufficient for your needs. I also agree that the scaled down version like Quilt Pro would be fun for you too. There are no surprises when you have done all the prep work in EQ. Let me show you an example: I only had a 1 1/2 yd remnant to make a quilt. I've shown this quilt before on this forum, since I painted the center to match the remnant fabric. I could not have managed this without first doing it in EQ to assure enough fabric.

Believe me, they will still be there in a week and a half. Maybe not the same offers, but new ones. I miss my EQ 5. It was ruined along with other software and my CP while it had to sit in storage for two years; yes I was just sick about it. I will be buying at least EQ 5 and upgrade as soon as possible to EQ7.

ISO is short for In Search Of Used in the Classified section mostly.

ISO = In Search Of

ISO mean "in search of." If you post an ISO request in the FOR SALE section of the board, someone who wants to sell theirs might see it and offer you a good price.

I LOVE EQ. I use it all the time to keep track of my inspirations. I haven't come close to using all the capabilities of the program, either, but I think it's well worth every penny I spent on it (EQ6 then upgraded to 7).

My only complaint (and this is user error) is that I cannot get my scanned fabrics to be the correct scale in the program. Eventually I'll get it figured out, but for most of what I'm doing right now, scale is not a huge factor.

I haven't bought a quilt pattern since I've been using EQ. I really like the picture tracing feature. EQ can be used for beginners to very advanced designers so it's not a program that you will get bored with.

Yeah, but that is some $$difference$$. ;-)

If you do bid on a version of EQ6 , make sure you ask how many activations (lifetime max of 4*) have been used and if that particular license has already been upgraded to EQ7.

And make sure it's the standalone version of EQ6, not the upgrade version.

Both versions are really the same but the upgrade requires the serial number of the EQ5 version. I can't remember but I don't think EQ5 actually needed to be installed at the time of upgrade.


*This was a royal PITA with this version of the software, and EQ took a lot of flak for it. HD crashes, computer upgrades, etc. - 4 installs ain't that much. I went through 3 just through HD crashes and an laptop upgrade. Thankfully, they changed it for EQ7.

I wanted a design program, but not one that was so advanced it would be over my head and stressful to learn. So I bought the Quilt Wizard for $20 - I found it at amazon.com and I love it. I can make a new design in a short time - there are more than enough fabric/color/block combinations to keep me happy. It will create templates and figure yardage, too. I may upgrade to the EQ someday, but I don't think I need to --- I'm happy with Quilt Wizard.

Be aware, You can only download EQ6 a few times and then you have to pay more money for more :wink:
EQ5 and EQ7 do not have the same restrictions. :D:D:D

Good point too on watching it is the stand alone version and not the upgrade :D

I brought EQ5 when it was new...and it just didn't click for me. I tried on a few different occasions to read the books and try the practice stuff.

I paid $180 or something outrageous like that only to have it collect dust. I recently sold it to someone on the board...so maybe if there is someone out there that had the same dumb luck as me and just didn't like it, you might be able to get it for $50 or so.

I glad I was able to get a few dollars out of it and pass it on to someone who wanted to use it.

I have Mac computers. Is there a good designing software for the MAC? I read about something you can get to make EQ work, but it seemed too complicated. I would love to have a program that would help with planning projects and playing with fabric combinations. I am sold on Mac computers, though. No PC's for me.

Quilt Pro has a MAC version.
http://quiltpro.com/go.php?id=QP5_mainpage_Mac
You can run EQ on the MAC if you have an Intel processor, but you'd have to set up a Windows partition and buy a copy of Windows, which is, I believe, almost akin to heresy.

Yeah, yeah, I got that. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Jilliane asked this question a few weeks ago on this thread (and received responses from many Mac users):
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-105223-1.htm

I, too, love my EQ. I have the EQ6 as couldn't justify the cost of the EQ7 at the time it went on sale. Darn.

I use it a lot for others as well as for myself. It is on my notebook so when I travel I can draw on paper any design I see and then later work it out in EQ and save it.

ali

You could also google 123Quilt version 2 online and start there. Then google quilt calculator and get a free one to help with the yardage.

I didn't get on very well with EQ6 but, since upgrading to EQ7, have found it fantastic, particularly its foundation piecing capabilities and ability to import and resize photos. It's worth every penny!

I just purchased EQ7 a few weeks ago. I am retired and on a budget, but I am an "Intermediate" level quilter. It comes with quite a number of designs and you can create your own and make it any size quilt that you would like. You don't have to calculate the yardage of material. You can use templates, rotary cutting and "paper-pieced" It gives directions and comes with a handbook. It is well worth it. I purchased mine at www.connectingthreads.com. I didn't have to pay shipping...so that helped.
I hope this information helped. It could be possible to create your own designs and sell them. That would help in getting your money back.

Well it sounds like I should unwrap my EQ7 and see if I can figure out how to use it. Why do we buy all this stuff and not even try it? I really think I'm certifiable!!!

I have EQ 7 and love it. I started with one of the lesser versions years ago. I didn't use it much, but when the time came to upgrade, I did just in case. I'm glad I did. Just so you know that if you buy a used version on eBay of say 5 or 6 I don't know if you can upgrade them. I think you have to be the first owner of the software to get the code to upgrade. I may be wrong here, but if you plan to do that, you might want to check into that.
It is well worth the money.
I still don't use it as much as I should, but I do use it for Round Robins all the time.

I HAVE THE EQ5,6,7.I DO THE BLOCK OF THE MONTH FOR OUR QUILT GUILD. I FIND A BLOCK I LIKE, CHANGE IT UP A LITTLE TO MAKE IT EASY TO USE SO THE NEW QUILTERS AND THE MORE EXPERENCED QUILTER CAN DO IT.ITS A GREAT PROGRAM.

Just an FYI...Joanns coupons rarely apply to software. But you will love EQ, regardless of the version you get. I'm working now on a TREE OF LIFE pattern with a cross quilting design. I'm able to get it all planned on the computer and then when (or if) I have to purchase extra fabric, I don't have to overspend on that. And it's true that you can spend just as many hours on EQ as any game and have much prettier results. EQ has an agreement with their retailers about not cutting the price. It keeps the playing field level for all who offer the program for retail sale.

If you like to design your own quilts, or just want to put another quilt design in to be able to enlarge it to a larger size, you can't beat EQ7. EQ6 would work for most quilters, but the hardcore designers need EQ7.

In other areas, such as embroidery digitizing, with the exception of Embird, $160 is jsut a down payment.

If you just want to try it out to see if you like it, and have someone to teach you the basics, EQ6 is great.

Lanny

I have EQ7 and love it. I have gone on line for a fabric I like that our LQS has and put it in EQ7 and then I can design a quilt any kind of quilt. I am now doing a log cabin with some fabric and am going to go to my LQS and get the material I need. It is a fantastic tool. Once you get the hang of it - it is wonderful. It is not hard to use and there are times I have a brain freeze but I love it.

If you get EQ7 and have questions as to how to do something if you call EQ Penny McMorris is very helpful in helping you through the steps.

This is exactly what I would say. There are some groups in my area that meet monthly. I'm thinking of joining one.

Thank you for those links. I have been wanting to visit the first shop for a month now (an hour away) so i think it's the time now :)

I have EQ 6 and found it has a learn curve, but once you figure it out, it's great.
I see them all the time for sale at
[email protected]

I have the same issues you do with figuring yardage, size of blocks etc. I went to the Quilt Design Wizard website and love what I saw. It is $29.95! I have been very frustrated and have gotten some help from LQS and my husband but I would prefer doing it on my own. I also love the idea of seeing the finished product on paper BEFORE buying and cutting the fabric. I am not a professional but enjoy making quilts for family and friends and just can't jutify the EQ price. Thanks for asking this question.
Liz

I think it is. I bought mine from Amazon for 119.00. No shipping charges. Mine is a EQ 6. Have fun.

Pat Thompson

Don't know if this is what you are talking about but I have EQ and when I scan I change the output resolution (ppi). On my scanner the smallest I can go is 75ppi. The EQ manuel says to change to 50ppi. however it works for me at 75.

I hope this helps.

I was lucky enough to find EQ5 at a yard sale for $5. I literally ran back to my car after I paid for the software and drove home. I haven't been disappointed since. I've even designed some really cool scrappy quilts using just equilateral triangles.