Is it worth the money?
/EQ8 review.
I bought EQ8 because I like designing my own blocks/quilts and wanted to start doing it easier and on a more professional level.
I had tried an earlier version of EQ but it did not do everything I wanted.
I have a friend who has EQ8 but she mainly uses it to audition fabrics, that she scans into the program, to see exactly how her finished quilt will look. But as I said I wanted it so I could design blocks and quilts.
So I purchased EQ8 and have not regretted it one bit.
I have an idea for a block, I open EQ8 and within minutes the block, templates and quilt layout are a reality. I can draw, the block, with straight lines, curves, arcs, I can flip blocks and clone parts of a block ( great when designing applique).
If I have drawn my block as a eg 6x6” but decide I would like it to be 8x8’ or 6x12” I just change the dimensions, at the top of the grid and presto the block is resized.
Once I am happy with my block ie size and design I can then put it into a quilt template, choosing exactly how many blocks horizontally and vertically and therefore how big the quilt will be. There are several quilt top templates eg horizontal, on point, baby block, horizontal and vertical strips. I can print the quilt top ready to play with colouring in ( example figure 1) OR I can “colour” in the block using fabric from the fabric library then put it into the quilt to see how it looks. Figure 1
Once I have the block in the quilt I can rotate the blocks either individually or all at the same time. There is also a “symmetry” function that will rotate the blocks in the quilt giving you all possible layout. Figure 2 and 3 are examples of the same block, as used in figure 1, but in different layout. Figure 2
Figure 3
If I am happy with the block and quilt I can then print the templates for the block, with or without seam allowances OR I can print a foundation pattern, if applicable OR rotary cutting instructions, if when you are using one fabric for the background throughout the quilt. No more buying too little fabric or way too much fabric.
There are tools within EQ8 that I do not use very often but the tools I do use I use all the time so I have definitely got more than my money’s worth out of EQ8. I can see myself using it for many years to come.
If you have any question re how I use EQ8 or if there is something you would like to do in EQ8 but are not sure if it is possible please do not hesitate to ask. If I don’t know the answer I will endeavour to find out for you. EQ8 are also very quick at responding to any questions.
I hope this has been helpful if you have been thinking “is it worth the money?”
Margaret
