Why would I need an EQ7?
 

My husband has asked me what I want for my BD and I thought of that, but I'm not sure if I really would make use of it or not.

I don't make that many quilts...maybe 2 a year and some wall hangings/table runners...

What are the advantages?

And, can you ever pick them up second hand?

Watson

I bought my copy used for $100 on eBay. I have had a version since 1995. I use it almost every day. I drew up a Double Irish chain for a member named Don. I got inspired to do a quad Irish chain hoping to make it with watercolor purple fabrics. It is terrific to be able to scan your fabric and use them in the design, then you know what your quilt would look like. Also, it is so easy to resize any block with the click of a mouse. There is a learning curve to it. You might want to go and check out their website. It also prints any pattern instantly as PPing. They have a terrific technical support.

I love my EQ and use it all the time. it depends on if you want to design your own quilts. I play on mine all the time. I also use it to put ideas on it for later. When I see something i want to go back to I recreate it on my EQ so I can find it later and explore the possibilities.

You can import pictures and designs right into your EQ and use them in a quilt. I love to change colors and see what different looks I can get. You can import your own fabrics into EQ and then use them in your quilt design so you can see waht it would look like before you use the fabric.

If you'd like to see what it looks like you can see my free tutorials here - http://www.quiltingboard.com/tags/electric+quilt.html

I think it depends on what kind of quilter you are. If you like to plan out a quilt, audition fabric for place, and go out and just buy fabric that you need for the quilt you've designed, then maybe you could benefit by having it. On the other hand, I did buy EQ at one time. But I discovered that when I got to the fabric store, I'd fall in love with and be inspired by a particular fabric that had no relation to the quilt I had "planned" to make. Then I'd make a quilt and not even use a pattern I'd done on EQ. So, I've never used it since, never made a quilt using it, and found it boring.

If you are not sure about EQ7, you might want to check out Quilt Design Wizard. It might be something that you would use more than the pricer EQ7. It might suit your needs much better.

Pat

I have it and honestly don't remember the last time I used it. I am not into "designing my own quilts"......too many in books, mags or even individual patterns that I can follow.....that being said, I am not really into computers that much generally, so that's probably why.

I have it and I love it - I design dozens and dozens of quilts on it. Some I make, some are just ideas - doodles, copies of things I saw and wanted to work out how it was laid out, quilts based on photos I've taken of various things (hotel fabrics are great for quilt inspirations - often very graphic)... I really enjoy the design/drawing aspect of quilt making and it lets me play with all SORTS of ideas that I don't have time to actually create in quilt form. And then I can click around and twist it into new shapes and see what happens...often it's ugly but sometimes there are some fun surprises.

Before I had EQ7, I drew my quilts on graph paper, and I still do that too.

If that all sounds like a crashing bore, EQ7 is probably not your thing. :)

I know lots of people who make many more digital quilts than they do actual real quilts, you might really enjoy that part of "quilting"!

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

I love it for the way you can use it to design quilts with a variety of block sizes--a huge help when doing t-shirt quilts for customers. And trying out different color placements before I start cutting is a big help. And using it to try out different settings for those quilts like log cabins, etc where there are so many ways to lay them out. And using it to try out quilting on the top layer. so, do I like it? Yes, even though I'm still learning the in/outs. a group of us get together about every month to share what we've learned to do that month, ask questions,etc. That and the non-manual books on Quilt Design and Quilt Block Drawing have been super helpful.

I have EQ5 and have not felt a need to upgrade...although I may have to just from a computer operating system standpoint. I'm not much of a 'quilt designer' either but I really do like the easy way to 'adapt' patterns with it from those I see elsewhere. EQ has a tendency to be a bit 'generous' with their fabric requirements and some of their cutting instructions can be a bit wasteful because of the way it lays out cuts within the fabric. I don't really mind as I tend to over-buy anyhow in case of booboos. As long as it's not going to 'break the bank', frankly I would go for it. You may find it very helpful as well as enjoyable.

I've had EQ since is was on floppy disc and ran on MS Dos. I remember when the designer of EQ said he would never use Windows. LOL. The ones that see the potential of the program will get the most out of it and will want to learn all it can do. When I hear someone questioning the value of EQ then I suggest they don't buy as they will always think it was money wasted.

I paid the money for Quilt Design Wizard and am so glad I did. I had wanted EQ since about edition 4 but never spent the money. When I found out I could get QDW for very little money and try it out, that's what I did. And I found out I would not have had the patience for the huge learning curve for EQ. Spend the $20 or whatever for QDW first.

It really depends on your individual needs as a quilter. EQ7 has a ***huge*** learning curve for most people so, if you are not into spending a lot of hours at the computer, EQ7 may be a waste of money for you. Be sure to do a "search" here on the QB to find older threads about EQ7. Personal experiences with it vary widely -- from indispensable for some quilters to totally frustrating for other quilters. I would advise you to be realistic about what you enjoy. Possibly because I have spent so much time working on computers over the years, I prefer actually sewing and quilting with fabric. I also prefer seeing a quilt evolve as I work on it, rather than planning it all out ahead of time. For me, that is the more creative process. Maybe someday I'll want to master EQ, but not today! :)

EQ, for me, falls into the category of a must have. Prism99 is correct however - it depends on what you need as a quilter. I enjoy the ability to change the block settings, play with sashing, build borders that look proportionally correct, resize blocks and the last biggie for me is to be able to turn just about any pieced block into paper pieced.

That being said, some have said that it was difficult to learn. I myself did not have much of a problem and I use it all the time - but even with the frequency of use, I still only utilize about 50% of what is available in the program. I am always learning.

It is a pricey item and there are some less expensive options out there. If you are able to attend either a sewing or quilt expo often they have demos of these types of quilting programs and you could see first hand what each of these products do can compare them first hand. Also - is a quick google check - there is even and online quilt design
program you can subscribe to for $9.99 a year

I have EQ5 that my sister gave me. I love playing with the thing even if l don't actually make very many of the patterns that I make up. My sister has EQ7 and she hardly touches it. If you feel that you would not really make use of it, have him take you to the LQS and let you pick out some nice yardage.