Quilt design software
 

Hello,

There has been lots of discussion about various quilt softwares available, and EQ looks like the most comprehensive one, although its user interface leaves lots to be desired. For those of you who make your own patterns, which software do you use? I am looking for something that is going to give me the most freedom in creating my own patterns. Paper and pencil are great, but a computer program would be better. Thanks a lot.

I can only speak from my own experience and that is very limited. I bought EQ5 years ago and use it for everything from design, color choice, storing patterns I like and almost anything you can think of. The learning curve isn't steep, and Rhonda on this "Board", put together a series of lessons that really help with learning the program.

same goes for me. don't know what i'd do without my eq5

I also agree. It takes time and effort to learn any program but it is well worth it. Once you draw your block, you can do anything with the block: Paper Piece or print out rotary cutting instructions. In the quilt, you can turn the blocks, you can flip (reverse) the block or set it on point. You want to enlarge or decrease a block. SIMPLE.

You can buy a used program for about $25.00 then wait for a sale if you want to get EQ7. Eleanor Burns has it on sale and so did JAF during their Thanksgiving sale. I don't think a day goes by that I am not using the program. I have own this program since 1995.

The newer version of EQ has great video instructions. I have had EQ since 4 and love it; they used to have a book called' EQ Simplified' that went with it and was a great help.

I purchased EQ7 a few months ago and love it, love it, love it!
I watched all the videos and read parts of the book.
Now as I need or want to learn to do something new I research how and learn how to do it.
What I like most about EQ7 is that it is comprehensive. So far I far I have learned to design a quilt, change and view multiple colorations of the same quilt, add design my own block, make my own stencil, create applique templates, pixelate a photo for a photo quilt, and determine fabric requirements. Perhaps more—that is just what pops into my head this instant. Learn EQ7 and you won’t want any other program, I am sure.

I use EQ7 all the time. If I lost everything in my sewing room and on my computer, EQ7 would be one of the first things I would replace.

I have EQ7 and love it. it helps with so much. i would take photos of round robins that i was in and make the photo the center so i could pick a border/round that fit with it.

I started out several years ago and tested a few programs. Finally settled on EQ5 and have moved forward to EQ7. I love the program! Before I upgraded to EQ7 I checked to see where the other program I had previously purchased are to see if they have improved. None of them are around or if they are there have been no upgrades.

I just had to replace my laptop that was running on Vista. The EQ Tech Support has been wonderful. The same person worked with me through adding back all of my add on products and fabric stashes so now everything is working together. I have most of my old EQ 5 books and can still use many of the idea from them. IMHO it is the best program on the market for anything quilt related.

I'm finding more and more fun things that EQ7 does every time I play with it.

I just got a new computer last week and my EQ5 is still in the old one. Made a pattern this weekend with colored pencils and it took nearly an hour. Yikes. Cannot wait until Jim can transfer it. I LOVE my EQ5.

EQ 7 for Mac came out last week and I ordered it yesterday from my LQS. The reviews are excellent. Just got my Mac a few months ago and so glad I waited for the new program instead of getting the migration kit. Can't wait to get started learning and already have the tutorials on QB bookmarked.

I've had EQ since it was on floppy disc and only ran on MS DOS. It's simple enough for beginners and advanced enough for professionals.

I do a lot of sketching with graph paper and colored pencils to have for future ideas. I also have Quilt Wizard which I bought with a 50% off coupon at JAF. I think that brought the price down to $15.00. If you're not sure that you will like using computer software for designing a quilt, wait for a 50% JAF coupon and spend $15.00 for Quilt Wizard (or whatever it's called). If you absolutely hate using this program, you probably won't enjoy EQ either. It's a good starting point to play with and decide if you enjoy creating on your computer or prefer to go back to graph paper.

Where can I find these lessons? I have the 5 but need some help. Thank you.

There are lots of tutorials in the internet. Just google EQ5. I also find that many EQ7 lessons will work with EQ5 also. If you want to watch a lesson try You Tube and type in Electric Quilt in the search.

They are posted under Tutorials on this Board.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/tutoria...a-t195158.html

a lot of work went i to these! I , too, look forward to exploring them. I reloaded my EQ6 onto my note book PC since we are chatting about design software. I had to dust off my EQ6 manual! It had been forever since I played with it! I did have to perform an "update" from the Electric Quilt we site to get it to work on my newer PC. It works fine!

sandy

Jokir, the migration kit IS the full program. If you already had EQ7 for Windows, it's nothing more than a new license to use EQ on the Mac instead of windows. They were allowing current EQ7 users to upgrade to the Mac for a nominal fee, instead of having to buy a whole new program. EQ didn't want to charge current users the full price for the Mac version if they already owned EQ7.

Thank you ladies! I guess it is settled then. I want EQ7 for my birthday! Now I have to wait till September to get it :(

In other words, if you already own EQ7, you could have purchased the migration kit for $25 instead of the Mac version for $190. They are the same product.

EQ 7 all the way. I use it more than any other version. I think that the program has gotten easier with every upgrade. BI have owned EQ since at least 4, and wouldn't go back to any of those. 7 is much easier to work with and I even purchase the EQ Stitch program.
The programs and support are second to none.

I don't have EQ7 for windows Cindi. Only ever had eq5 and that can't be upgraded to Mac as I've read.

Sorry - that was unclear from your earlier posts.

I bet you're excited to have a version that works on Mac!! :thumbup: I have a Windows machine, but Cindi has Mac and was so happy the day they released the migration kit. :)

My experience with EQ7 is that it is not intuitive at all. It's useful for all the things mentioned throughout this thread, but it is difficult to learn. However, I bought it and designed two quilts using it, and will continue to use it when I need to. I do like being able to scan in fabrics and put them together in a sample quilt (even if it is not the quilt I plan to make with the fabrics) as it tells me if the colors/fabrics will work together. That's a real convenience for me as my Opthamologist tells me that I am more than a little color challenged.

My career background is computer science, system analysis, user screens and interface design, system testing, user guide writing, so figuring out EQ7 ought to be easy for me. I'm very logical so, of course, my assumption is that EQ7 is not! :D

You are not the first "computer geek" to state this. My conclusion is that the program is written more for people who do not have extensive computer education and/or experience. I think you nerds (said with affection) simply know of easier and faster ways of doing something! :)

There was a very extensive and enlightening thread somewhere on the internet recently, I can't remember if it was here or elsewhere. A computer geek/quilter was saying she refused to purchase EQ7 until they involved some sort of vectoring programming/algorithms, which would make it so much easier. I was fascinated by this and am wondering if that's anywhere on EQ's horizon....

I just bought it and well learning it all is not easy at all!! But I am encouraged by hearing all the above praises for the program.

Sorry, Jokir44 - the way your post read I thought you had EQ7, as only those who have version 7 could get the migration kit. My apologies!! I think you'll love the Mac version. It's SO much simpler to access now!!

I'm really looking forward to learning this. However when I read that it isn't so easy I'm becoming a bit concerned. I do have the tutorials here on QB marked and also on the EQ site so maybe with all that I won't have too big a problem. Looks as if not knowing a lot about computers may actually be an advantage this time as I've seen from some of the above posts. Who knew that dumb would be a good thing?

The EQ website offers great tips and lessons, too, along with links to others who have done tutorials. Plus, they have a forum of experts to help with any questions. Be sure to bookmark their site!

While they have a forum type web site it is very inactive unless you are looking for tech help. There is a yahoo email group but after 6 emails in like 10 minutes with all of the rules I decided it was not for me. I prefer a forum that is active and hope that the users here will help if I run into a problem. I know I am willing to help any users that ask for help if I can help them.

I was thinking back to when I learned to use the EQ, hope my experience may help some that are just starting the journey. I know that everyone learns in their own way but sitting down and reading the manual cover to cover just doesn't do it for me. My method was just to start by copying a quilt. One from a magazine works but can just as easily be a any simple design. By working my way through the process of "inputting" a quilt I learned the basics in a very short period of time. To this day I am still learning, but for me, actually accomplishing the first quilt made the learning painless. In addition, if you get stuck, just ask and someone will jump in and help. Success to all that are just learning.

I am really computer challenged....bought a used version of EQ5 after I retired, and even I have had success! Long way to go, but I'll get there! As mentioned previously, Rhonda has put together a wonderful resource here....on the Tutorial forum...and she seems to be available 24/7 to answer questions! Rhonda is so gracious with her time and talent! Jump in....you won't regret it! ;)

So, my IT proficiency may turn out to be an impediment of sort in mastering EQ7. I talked to a techie who own the EQ7 program and she is puzzled by its very cumbersome user interface.

I photograph blocks and then duplicate them in Photoshop to see how they'll look together. I also photograph fabric and use it to create borders and things. I find this gives the truest impression of the finished quilt.

I'm sure Photoshop Elements would work as well, but I happen to have the full package I purchased when I went back to college for awhile. Quite a few tutorials exist for using Photoshop Elements for quilting design.

Photoshop doesn't give fabric requirements, of course, but I can usually calculate that myself or use the Robert Kaufman app on my android tablet. I can draw foundation templates, but I'm not really a fan of foundation piecing (wasteful) so I don't typically do that.

I'm like Tashana. I'm from the high-tech world and didn't like EQ's interface either. I found it simple for doing basic things, but anytime at all difficult and it got really cumbersome and unintuitive and sometimes downright buggy. Of course, my EQ is quite a few versions old. I think that we techies have higher expectations from software than typical users do? We want to challenge it more?

I wish it was more intuitive. It is not.
sandy

My EQ 7 is in the trash can. The only thing it did for me is make me to never want another . My suggestion is find someone you know that has one and get them to demo for you. Before you ask - yes I am computer literate.