Finally jumped for EQ6

I just bought EQ6 about 3 weeks ago....did the lessons up to 5 in the book and got a firm grasp on how to use it for the way I needed it.

Does anyone use it often, and if so, have you sewn any projects from the designs you made? Was your main goal to get a visual or to have implementable patterns? I am still too new to the program and I am just converting my drawings to the program which in itself is tedious. I have no repeat blocks so every block needs to be drawn. I have it about 1/4 finished and already my vision is taking shape. It even looks better on the screen than on paper.

I have had EQ since version 3. I always upgrade to the newest version so I got EQ6 when it first came out a couple of years ago! I love it and use it all the time. I have designed my own quilts. I have taken the blocks from a BOM and either drawn them or found them in the Block Library to place in a quilt then used the Quilt Layouts to "audition" different layouts before making my quilt. I can't picture things in my head very well so I need the visual reinforcement of seeing what it will look like ahead of time. EQ does that for me. I have used EQ for "auditioning" colors for both blocks and quilts, for trying out different borders. I have even used EQ for some non-quilt related projects like figuring out the design I wanted for the tile in my shower.
The best advice I have for you with EQ is to use it a lot so that you become very familiar with it. If you are a person that likes to take a class on some things...check out Quilt University (www.quiltuniversity.com). They have classes on EQ that are excellent! It is just like being in a real classroom. You can ask questions and get help from Fran Gonzolez (I recommend starting with her classes). These lessons can be worked at your convenience over a 3 or 4 week time period (and you can print them off so if you want to go back to them later you can).

OH...and don't forget to go to the EQ website and sign up for the newsletter...it is one of a few that I get. The EQ website is great...with a forum for questions, mystery quilts, and best of all you can download palettes of fabrics for free to use with EQ

If I can be of any help...let me know.

I'm a newer user to EQ and have used it...still need to finish the lesson plan, I have trouble with the drawing tools and have all but given up on them. I have one big quilt plotted out in it. It helped greatly with the math which is something I struggle with. I of cours have not finished this quilt yet...but the blocks sure look perdy on my design wall : )

oh!!! Just excellent BearFoot!!! I appreciate the info.....

Since Chris has it and she and I are still fairly new to it.....perhaps we can pass back and forth files to share. I mean....we the beginners to the more experienced users of course...no sense letting the blind lead the blind...lol

I am thinking that if you see what we are doing....you can suggest ways to faciltate doing the designing better....I do plan to do the rest of the lessons though and perhaps that will answer some of my own dilemmas. I have a quilt I designed out on paper that will all be 2 inch finished squares but with in the limitations of the program I can only do a limit of 48 blocks :( seeing how I need to make at least 56 across I am miffed and moved onto a 16 patch design for speed...so I am stuck with what I have until someone recommends a different way.

You are right about testing the colors though...I am fascinated with that aspect of the prog. BTW....love the BOM idea too....I think we shall become fast friends...lol

Kim

kisuhnz wrote:

oh!!! Just excellent BearFoot!!! I appreciate the info.....

but with in the limitations of the program I can only do a limit of 48 blocks :( seeing how I need to make at least 56 across I am miffed and moved onto a 16 patch design for speed...so I am stuck with what I have until someone recommends a different way. Kim

You can change the settings on the number of blocks by going to Quilt>>Options>>Layout Options
The default is 24 but you can change it to 100 if you want.
Is this what you meant?

I'm confused, EQ does't have a limitation of 48 sq. across...are you speaking of another program? I just did a quickie on EQ6 56 across/56 down

HOLY COW....I LOVE YOU!!!!!!! I am going back to play with the pprogram again!!!! TYTYTY

Just today was thinking EQ would be a great thing for me to ask put on my birthday list.

I am making a mariner's compass quilt for my son's fiance. Okay so the deadline is next April. I bought a pattern of a paper pieced compass on www.equiltpatterns.com I liked the pattern because it is not round. It's oval, so the completed quilt will be rectangular. The pattern is 23 by 28. I'm planning to build blocks around it. With EQ, I could audition the additions better and also know how much fabric to buy for the extra blocks.

FYI...you can get downloads for real time fabrics from the major manufacturers as well as Connecting threads (i think).
I found your pattern....its a great idea having it oval!

Bear Foot,

Please know I have finally found what you told me to look for...I was getting punchy there the other night. I was fretting about not finding it only to realize I opened eq4 ...lol...I am such a ditz sometimes....I am jumping for joy over this and you truly saved my life here.

Thanks again for the "quick tip" and I hope you don't mind should I bombard you with questions later on. Good STUFF I tell you!

Kim

kisuhnz wrote:

Bear Foot,
Thanks again for the "quick tip" and I hope you don't mind should I bombard you with questions later on. Good STUFF I tell you!

Kim

Question away! I never mind helping out or answering questions whenever I can!

ok....I got one....and maybe I should refer to the book....but......

I saw an applique pattern online and there would be a few things I would change on it but I do love the butterflies in the pattern....I have seen "drawing" on a tv show recently on EQ6 and was wondering.....does the program offer the ability to overlay a picture into applique....or if I want to do a wall quilt with my dog...can it convert a picture to work applique? I can try photoshopping the pic and turn it to watercolor and then maybe use that as a map for the applique....any ideas...have you done it?

BTW Chris...I did find the D/L's you were referring to....I appreciate the info....I must have just overlooked the links before and I was pleasantly surprised to actually utilize the D/L's now....thanks again for the tip!

kisuhnz wrote:

ok....I got one....and maybe I should refer to the book....but......

I saw an applique pattern online and there would be a few things I would change on it but I do love the butterflies in the pattern....I have seen "drawing" on a tv show recently on EQ6 and was wondering.....does the program offer the ability to overlay a picture into applique....or if I want to do a wall quilt with my dog...can it convert a picture to work applique? I can try photoshopping the pic and turn it to watercolor and then maybe use that as a map for the applique....any ideas...have you done it?

You can import a picture into EQ and then using the drawing tools you can "trace" (sort of) the picture. Becoming familiar with the drawing tools takes a little work. Once you know how to use them, creating an applique is fairly simple. For beginners the drawing tools can be a bit frustrating though. If you are used to using a drawing program like Corel Draw or something like that, then the tools in EQ seem a bit simplistic, but you don't need many of the advanced drawing tools in a program like Corel Draw. The best thing to learn the drawing tools is practice and try to not get too frustrated! :D

Luvsquilting, One of the really nice things about a computer based quilt drawing program is that you really can see what you will get ahead of time as well as get the yardage requirements. I loved doing the distorted MC quarters for my eagle quilt on Quiltpro.

One of these days I really have to break down and get EQ.

I've got a lot more practicing before my tracings become more than kindergarten scribble.

I'm pretty dumb here, but what is EQ? I went to the site that was posted and loved a lot of the patterns you could buy. Do you need a special sewing machine for EQ?


memaw4

EQ6 is the latest software for designing quilts. I am still learning it but seem to be having a great deal more success with the help of ppl hear....

I had one question that turned out to open door for me in the program that have expanded upon my creativity more than I thought would happen :)

My opinion?...try it...you really might like it :)

Go to a LQS and see if someone can show you the basics on what you can do....you may walk out with a new purchase :)

I checked this out and decided it just isn't for me. At least not now. I have bought so many different designs to trace, so I better use them for now.


memaw4

I have just started EQ6 training from Quilt University...her information and attentive in the class is amazing.. this is with Fran Gonsalves.. won't be on here much so that I can practice my EQ6 to become a pro..I hope..

Learning is always fun. Enjoy it Betweens and I have no doubt at all that you will soon be a professional. Shoot, you are a professional now, you don't even need EQ.

LOL Tx Mary you have just boosted my ego 100%.. It sure made me giggle here at 430 am.. getting ready for a conference this week but will be practicing on Thursday...

I am hoping to be able to make some good block placements with the swap blocks that I have done for the last couple of years...they are such wonderful blocks and I want to make a quilt that would compliment them..
Plus I am Special Projects Host for our 300member guild and I want to make a sampler of different blocks so that it will give others ideas on what they can do for placement for different size blocks...

Thanks so much for the vote of confidence... do you EQ??

No EQ for me. After I am done with homeschooling and 4-H I may pick up a copy but no time now to practice. :)

kisuhnz how are you getting along with EQ6 by now...I have been thinking of getting it. I lost EQ5 in the new computer transition so thought a newer version would be good. I did design on quilt on 5 and it seemed confusing tome but I was a new to computers then. Maybe I will get along better now.
Bearfoot those classes sound like a good idea.

I went in to the LQS and she will give me EQ6 for and discounted price and lessons to boot. I said order one..I kinda know some things but to have lessons is fantastic