EQ7 - advice, suggestions, information wanted

After shilly shallying for over a year now, I have decided to take the plunge and invest in EQ7.  My early birthday present to self order has been placed and it should be winging its way to me as we speak.  For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, EQ7 is THE computer programme for designing quilts, making quilt block patterns and templates, putting together computerised quilt mock-ups, writing quilt patterns etc.  Up until now, I have managed with old style pencil and paper but I've decided to move on.

So I would love to hear from any EQ7 users.  Any advice, tips, information, great tutorials.  What do you use yours for?  Designing blocks?  Printing templates?  Drafting patterns?  Making quilt mock-ups?  Did it take you long to get going with it?  Is the manual the best place to start?  All and any advice would be wonderful as I am quite the computer numpty.  

Comments

  1. you'll be opening your own pattern warehouse in no time now!! Sorry - have no advice as I don't have it.....

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  2. I mean I have no advice on EQ7 - I do have loads of advice on other things of course :-)

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  3. Sorry Lynne - don't have EQ7 but have EQ5 - other than the fact that I'm more of a free formish quilter now I found it an interesting and helpful programme - for me it was easy enough to use especially as I use drawing programmes every day at work - there were some super features in EQ5 which, no doubt they'll still have and probably expanded on. The PP design element is great as it loads a block into the separate sections allowing you to piece and build the block quite easily - have fun

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  4. Without EQ5/6 I could not have run my classes these past few years, it is brilliant - I can design quilts, re-colour, input fabric swatches,produce templates & patterns the list goes on........and I don't think I have even scratched the surface.I followed the manual "lessons" and keep the thicker one for reference. You will love it.

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  5. I used EQ7 and love it. Like any programme you need to read the manual, follow the tutorials, read the books and get online with user groups and the EQ blog site. I learn by trying make the most difficult blocks and settings.

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  6. I have used EQ products since the company began. First work all of the tutorials. The website and the e-mail list will prove to be a great resource. Using EQ7 can restrict your creativity, keep a general drawing program around for more complex designs or non-rectangular ones.

    I use EQ7 to record what I see. The photos and notecards in project sketchbooks are useful in recording quilts that I see on the internet or in books. I often use EQ7 experiment with coloring and alternative construction techniques for the same quilt.

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  7. I don't have EQ7- I use quilters graph paper for blocks but interested to see what others say-I do have a Go though! Came yesterday eve x

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  8. This is something I am very interested in. Hope all the advice/ reviews are of help.

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  9. I don't have EQ7 but I do have EQ6 and love it you do need to work through the tutorials in the manual, and keep at it, use the blog and their website as it has loads of tips and stuff to help :) OMG I daren't think where this will take you! Downloading the fabric swatches is a godsend, means you can see what your quilt will look like before you even cut anything!

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  10. I'm really excited to see what you'll do with EQ7 Lynne. I don't have it but I think I'd like it ... I think the whole fabric swatches thing is wonderful and it means that we will get fantastic previews of your latest confections ... yum!

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  11. I got EQ6 in January and was working through the tutorials but then started blogging so have not kept up with it - tutorials and videos are a good place to start!

    No doubt you will have it sussed in the first week!

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  12. I'm soooo glad you posted this -- because EQ7 is exactly what I requested for my own birthday at the end of this month!

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  13. I'll be watching and waiting to see what you do with this. I'm the old pencil and paper kind of gal.

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  14. I just bought it. I haven't gone through the tutorials like I should. I'm going to send myself through EQ school. I have a Microsoft brain which doesn't translate to EQ. So far I've used it to figure out how many/large my blocks should be. I love being able to rotate the blocks. It's like you have everything on your design wall before you even commit to fabric. I think it is well worth the investment.

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  15. My hubby gave me this software last Christmas. I'm embarrassed to say that I've only built one quilt block from it, and the resulting cutting directions were such wierd measurements (16ths of an inch? please!) that I just tossed them. I think you really have to play the role of student and work through all the tutorials - which I have not done. Happy Birthday to YOU!

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  16. I have no EQ experience but so far the reviews you have gotten are great. I bet with this program, as with anything, there will be a learning curve. It reminds me of something my mother in law would say about with her German trained dog. "He learned a new trick today!" Read between the lines, she learned a new German command and the dog demonstrated something he could do all along if asked. :-) Good luck!

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  17. I have EQ7 (and EQ6 and EQ5 before that), and I both love it and hate it. I love creating quilts and auditioning colors. I love designing blocks or using their huge selection of blocks. I hate that I spend more time playing with EQ7 than I do making actual quilts. I'm an instant gratification girl, I guess.

    EQ7 is MUCH easier to use than EQ5, and has some improvements over EQ6. The user manual is pretty good, and you can use it as a textbook to work through the program. Even better, there are a series of videos right in the program (click Video at the top of the screen). I'd actually start with the videos.

    Be sure to check out the Electric Quilt website, especially the Fun Stuff tab. They have a number of free lessons, free projects, and - my favorite - free fabric downloads. You can also import fabrics from some fabric company websites. Although you can't purchase from Connecting Threads, their fabrics are available in FAB files that import directly into EQ6 or EQ7. Moda offers JPGs of their lines that, with a little work, can be imported as well.

    I'd be happy to help if you have any questions!

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  18. I have the EQ6 and I do like it. There is a lot to learn with this program and I have only scratched the surface. Have fun!

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  19. I have wanted one for awhile. Hope you like it!

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  20. By the way - Shelley (#15) - there's a setting when you print rotary cutting instructions where you can select if you want to round it to the nearest 1/16th or nearest 1/8th. Be aware, though, that the slight difference can add up over complex blocks.

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  21. i was looking at this EQ7 the other night and thinking it would be nice to explore more options. I love that you can print the rotary instructions!!

    You will have to update us with what you learn from it when you get it:)

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  22. I got it a few months ago, because I take absolutely forever do do "quick" sketches and I hate quilt maths... I'd say that I'm pretty rubbish at using it so far, but I do love it. I've designed a few quilts on it (cant quilt fast enough..) and I've used it for blocks and printing patterns and working out cutting guides and stuff. Its pretty cool... I wish I could get proper lessons in using it though!
    You are going to have so much fun with it I'm sure - I cant wait to see where it takes you!

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  23. I have used EQ5,6 and now 7.
    I wouldn't be without it.
    I took some Quilt University classes which were great, and I know that Rio Designs sends out info about EQ teachers based in the UK.
    Deborah

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  24. Lynne I got it a year ago myself for my birthday and have really loved having it as a tool. I think that I need to read the big fat manual that comes with it more...have to find it though...and I've found the customer service pretty helpful. Lately I've been wanting to do more out of the box things and not finding that the program is as intuitive for that. I have definite questions that I have been meaning to find the answers to. But I definitely love having the program! We'll have to exchange tips on what we find works well!

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  25. I've been using EQ since v. 4 or so. Go thru the tutorials! The website has a ton of good stuff and help. They also have a club EQ and do a monthly challenge. I found it was a good way to help me really use the stuff I had learned and to pick up new tips & tricks.

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  26. I sure can't help you. I bought EQ5 and then upgraded to EQ6 and STILL haven't got a clue how to use it. :( I keep trying and just can't figure it out. I have always been awesome at figuring out all kinds of software and yet this one I have some sort of mental block about. I know many use and absolutely love it though.

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  27. Oh, I'll be interested to see how you get on with it. It's not compatible with a Mac (tragically) so I haven't been able to give into temptation, but I'm keen to learn a bit more about it.

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  28. I have it and use it, but let me disappoint you - it's pretty, extremely, difficult to design hexagon quilts with EQ7. It's the reason I bought it, and boy was I disappointed. I've found other uses but I wanted to create a quilt like candied hexagons but with my own fabrics, and couldn't do it.

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  29. I had EQ2 a billion years ago, does that help? I have the feeling some of the iPhone apps are more powerful and less cumbersome than it was, but this was back when we were all still getting used to windows, so for the time it was amazing. Have fun playing with your new toy!

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  30. I got it last christmas and love it! Definitely do all the tutorials, it will make life so much easier. I use it to design quilts and blocks 95% of the time and other times i just break out the pencil and graph paper.

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