September 17, 2010

Why Don't I EQ?


When I'm roaming around reading blogs I frequently see this little logo. It reminds me that I have Electric Quilt and even the newest update EQ7. I hate seeing this little reminder! Guilt overwhelms me. Guilt that I have EQ7 installed on my computer, but have yet to even open it and look at it. Even more guilt that I see so many other quilters designing beautiful quilt tops with it. I don't know why I have Electric Quilt. In all the years I've owned it, and upgraded from the very first edition, I have yet to use it to design a quilt! I feel terrible about this.

I make new resolutions to myself about how I should learn this program and use it each time I see the EQ logo on my computer screen, and I look at the stack of EQ books sitting in my sewing room book shelf. But, that is about as far as it goes.

I guess basically I have too many other projects going on to consider designing a quilt, like actually sewing one from the hundreds of websites like this one: free quilt patterns or of the dozens of books stacked in my bookshelf (omg!), along with the magazines (more quilt patterns)--- and oddles of quilt pattern packets I've accumulated. I won't even mention the quilt kits I've purchased. (yikes)

Do you EQ? and if so what is the compelling reason that makes you EQ? What am I missing? It must be something wonderful as so many quilters EQ. Why would I EQ? As a quilt creative person I find the fact that have this program and am not attracted to using it more than puzzling, disturbing at times and I am oh- so guilt ridden.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah.... will it make you feel better if I tell you that I've had EQ since V2, and have owned every versions since, but didn't use it either until V6?

I think with V6, it suddenly became much more user friendly. Also, my skill level had increased enough by then, that I understood the construction process of a quilt, which made designing my own much easier.

But mostly, I think it's because I finally reached the point where I wanted what I created to be ALL MINE... from the design, to the piecing, right down to the quilting. Plus, I can do whatever I want with those patterns. Sell them, share them, they're mine!

onlymehere said...

I don't use it but I probably would learn how to use it if I had it. I'm just newly starting to design quilts and I'm using the old pencil, ruler, and graph paper, lol! Yeah, I'm a dinosaur in the quilting world! I've thought about buying it but finances are limited for now so it will have to wait....someday maybe. :)
Cindy

SandyQuilts said...

Hey I'm like CJ except none of my versions are even loaded. Actually they're still sealed, never opened.

So I'm still a 'none EQ user'.

I'm even considering giving them away on my blog. LOL

Shelley: the Dread Pirate Rodgers said...

I like using EQ (and have since version 2? maybe) because 1) I can reproduce quilts I see in magazines and get the proportions right or alter to suit my taste and 2) create a quilt with blocks that I have but don't know what to do with them (example: all those equilateral triangle blocks) and 3) try to flesh out an idea in my head without the hassle of pencils and lots of erasers. :-)

For all the time that I've had and used EQ, I am STILL a very novice user. I learn enough to do what I want to do. I've only scratched the surface of what can be done.

The version I used the most (I think) was #5. I put off installing v6 because of the draconian installation restrictions but have done so now because I also have the v7 upgrade. I probably ought to get around to actually *installing* v7. :-)

Having said that, if you really, *really*, REALLY don't feel inclined to use it, then DON'T. Give it away, sell it, whatever. Get it out of your house and you won't feel guilty any longer. Kinda like purging fabric, UFOs/WIPs, magazines & patterns that you no longer want. Frees up your house, your storage space and your mind. :-)

Deb said...

Angie..you are not alone..I will be interested to see what the anwers are and whether it will give us incentive to launch this program and fiddle with it.
I honestly bought it so that I could be more creative in my sashings and boarders...

Queen of the Unfinished Project said...

I bought version 5, I think. And I have played with it a few times. But... it is not currently loaded onto any of the computers we own. This is because I never could use it without swearing up a storm. I am not very technologically gifted. Computers don't really like me much, and that's pretty mutual. Every time I would try to do something, I would get about halfway there and then everything would get totally messed up. So, no, I really don't EQ. I wish I did. I suppose with enough patience &/or a class, I could learn the software. But I just haven't taken the time to bother. I won't be buying any other versions until I do.

Ms. Jan said...

Hi Angie,
I've been EQing since it was still primarily a DOS program and it has come a long way! As Pirate said, I can duplicate quilts from pictures, which is fun and good practice. I've designed my own paper pieced blocks there as well. Since I am a total loser as an artist, I draft Round Robin and Row Robin projects into EQ to audition whatever I will do to add on.

One of my favorite things to use it the light box feature. I can import a picture, piece of clip art, photograph, whatever and draw it using the EQ draw tools. I've had more fun with this than most other aspects of EQ and have even done entire fonts for using in applique.

I love EQ, and while I'm definitely not a pro, I'm learning all the time.