Speaking of EQ5

Lynne, I did have 5 and now have 6. Was away from it for a few years and, like you, didn't find it at all intuitive. Took the basic class online at Quilt University and made a huge and useful start. I do plan on taking the following classes there at some time, but am able to put the software now to good use.

--Heidi

Lynne,

I can't speak for ver. 5, but I design on EQ6. I agree that it was not terribly intuitive in the beginning, but it was still light years ahead of trying to design on Powerpoint and/or Excel. To it's credit, there are over 30 how-to videos available right from the main menu bar, message boards for tech support and design issues on their website that are excellent for most users, and a third-party book or two that (I've heard) are very good. Many LQSs have courses on using EQ that will get you up to speed all the quicker (though I found I've become proficient enough on my own without one.)

Like a lot of "new" things, I think it's just a learning curve issue. Once I got past that, I began to amaze myself with what I could do with it. It's not perfect, but what is? They seem to be open to customer dialog and suggestions. I still think it's a great tool and was definitely worth the effort to learn.

I understand there are competing products available, but I know nothing about them either way.

Doc

I've had EQ since version 4. EQ6 is great - they corrected most of the fabric calculation errors and added some drawing tools, etc. You really need to do the step-by-step lessons to start.

I have both EQ5 and 6. Love them. Guess I am strange because after going through some of the basic beginning tutorial much of it does seem to be fairly intuitive. Or perhaps it is just learning to play with the program. The more you play the easier it gets. I also have Blockbase, Dear Jane, Quilted Diamonds (both 1 and 2), Karen Stone, AnglePlay, and the 3 applique collections which are linked to EQ. Don't use all the features, yet. But do find it very useful. I am even beginning to use the "Export" feature to put block/quilt diagrams into Word Perfect docs.

EQ6 has a lot of improvements over 5, but there are also some limitations. I agree with Doc, check out the EQ Forum on Planet Patchwork to get some answers. Check the features and such in the EQ6 info, and try to find someone that has the program and will let you play a bit.

Have fun, Pati, > Who has it? =A0How is it? (apart from fabric calculations)

Oops. Forgot to mention that my single biggest use for it is trying color combinations and placements. It's worth it for that alone. (And that I've been doing for a long time--I think my first EQ fabric tryout is still in my 2004 webshots album!

--Heidi

Hi Lynne,

I understand your comment about EQ (version 5 in my case) not being intuitive to use. However, through scrupulous reading of the book and asking for help here on RTCQ, I've used it to design several quilts, which are all in various stages of progress. Really helps me to "visualize" my ideas.

So I guess, it's usefulness depends on how much effort you want to put into learning the program and whether it fulfills some quilting need that you can't do any other way.

Best regards, Michelle in Nevada, USA

I QuiltPro instead of EQ, but that is my biggest use for QuiltPro, too. QuiltPro's yardages aren't always real accurate either. I usually re-calculate to verify.

Julia > Oops. Forgot to mention that my single biggest use for it is trying

By the way, for Mac users, EQ6 works perfectly using Fusion, Parallels or Boot Camp.

Actually, that was how I used v 4, when I used it, and despite my frustrations, liked that it enabled me to audition fabrics/colours without cutting strips/blocks and hanging them on the wall.I designed a couple of qulolts using it, and the quilts turned out fine. I just couldn't stand how long it took to do anything and how much back tracking there was.

And, I really MEANT V 6, not 5, in my original question. Silly me!

Thanks for all your input.

LIT

Like everyone else, I did not find EQ3-5 very intuitive, but would keep plugging away. I still don't have the ability to do all I see others do with it, but for playing with colors, layouts and blocks, it's terrific. I would bring my computer with me on trips, or places that I could not bring real fabric, and found it was great fun to play around with when I had the "spare" time. That was how I eventually got it to work for me, without taking hours to get a project together.

Nancy

Hi

I have EQ5 and Blockbase. What I like it for is planning. I check overall color combinations ahead of cutting and check to see how different blocks will work together. I also like that the program does the work for making various sized blocks. I don't play with it all that much, however what I do with it saves me a lot of time and headache.

-***Debbie***

lynne in toronto wrote in news:bd5e8465-ccf5-45f5- snipped-for-privacy@f16g2000vbf.googlegroups.com:

I first bought EQ3; and continued to upgrade.

The first version I really used was EQ5, mainly because of the tracing capability. I'm using it (and now EQ6) fairly regularly. In addition to tracing, I use it to test color combinations for the few rare "pieced" quilts I make. It's also good to test out a composition to see if it really will work. It eliminates drafting, because you can design the block or motif on an arbitrary "size", but always print it use the "size from quilt" and get nice applique patterns.

Susan K see my quilts: members.cox.net/kratersge