NEW! Now EQ Can Sew! Introducing, EQStitch
Posted 02-19-2013 by Sarah | Posted in: EQ Company News EQ News and Press
29 Comments
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02-20-2013
1:49 am
I’m so excited about EQStitch. This is going to be a great software application for those interested in creating their own machine embroidery designs, or making modifications to existing designs, while using easy to use EQ7 software with this new add-on. Very exciting.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
02-20-2013
12:13 pm
I just want people to be clear about editing designs in EQStitch. People often download free designs from the internet and want to edit them slightly for their own person use. They may also have created a stitch design in another program they may all ready own. EQStitch is a digitizing program and you can only edit designs that you created within that program. Stitch files from an outside source can be viewed as an image in the embellishment function of EQStitch but you can not edit it at all in the program.
Yvonne Menear
ycjm@shaw.ca
EQ7/EQStitch educator
Author EQStitch companion book
02-20-2013
9:21 am
Sounds like a great addition to EQ. Exciting indeed.
02-20-2013
1:02 pm
Where can I view the designs contained in EQStitch? I am most interested in the quilting designs. Are the designs in the Quiltmaker products digitized and available in this program?
How does the automatic digitizing function perform the correct pathing of quilting/redwork designs so there are no thread breaks or jump stitches?
Thank you.
02-20-2013
3:29 pm
The designs built into the program and you will see them in the Stitchings library of the program. You can see some of the designs in the videos on the EQ webpage introducing the EQStitch program. Depending on which tools you use to create a quilting design, there may or may not be jump stitches. If you draw an individual element and use the wreathmaker tool to create a circular design, then it is auto digitized and may have jumps from element to element. If you use the freehand drawing tool and create a continuous drawing, then there would be no jumps in the path. A great feature of the EQStitch program is that you can set the start/exit point of each element so they align with each other therefore decreasing the jump stitches of adjacent elements. This is all covered in the EQStitch companion book that is coming out soon.
Yvonne Menear
ycjm@shaw.ca
EQ7/EQStitch educator
Author EQStitch companion book
02-20-2013
3:48 pm
Hello this book “the EQStitch companion book ” also a e-book?
sorry for my bath english.
Greetings AnneMarie from the Netherlands.
02-20-2013
6:03 pm
NO it is not an e-book. It is a hard cover book that will be sold through the Electric Quilt website in the next few weeks. Watch for it there.
Yvonne Menear
EQ7/EQStitch educator
Author EQStitch companion book
ycjm@shaw.ca
02-20-2013
8:18 pm
Great idea for the add on but disappointed Bernina embroidery format was not included. EQ7 is a wonderful program I hope they will include Bernina exp or art format in the future.
02-20-2013
9:02 pm
The newer Bernina machines can read .exp files and those are indeed included in this new software. The older models of Bernina machines can only read .art files. Bernina has an exclusive software that is the only one that produces .art files. No other programs can write an .art file or convert an existing file to .art. This is a Bernina decision. Believe me, a lot of digitizers would love to write .art files for you. If you upgrade your machine to a newer model of Bernina, then this program would work for you.
Yvonne Menear
ycjm@shaw.ca
EQ7/EQStitch educator
Author EQStitch companion book
02-20-2013
8:23 pm
So sorry I missed the Bernina exp last night in my rush to read everything.
Looks like this will be a fun add on . Now to learn everything about drawing!!!
02-20-2013
9:05 pm
If you can draw applique blocks in EQ7 all ready, you don’t have to learn anything different to make them into an EQStitch file. If you don’t want to draw at all, you can use the Stitching files in the program or you can convert the Applique motif files all ready in the program. This program is so flexible there is something for everyone!
Yvonne Menear
ycjm@shaw.ca
EQ7/EQStitch educator
Author EQStitch companion book
02-21-2013
10:29 am
For those of us who have never digitized, will there be instructions on the proper way to put underlay and density or do we need additional books/instructions on how to do this? (Maybe it’s a trial and error?) Looks like a fun add-on to play with.
02-21-2013
11:15 am
EQStitch will come with information on how to use the software program. The EQStitch companion book will talk about creating designs with the unique stitches and underlay along with application of those stitches to projects. The size of the companion book was limited due to production costs so I imagine there will be a more indepth book in the future. There will be classes for EQStitch at Houston IQA show in November and there is a retreat for learning EQ7/EQStitch in British Columbia in June. Check and see if there is an embroidery club in your area where you can learn more about all the finer points of placing machine embroidery into your projects.
Yvonne Menear
ycjm@shaw.ca
EQ7/EQStitch educator
Author EQStitch companion book
02-21-2013
9:03 pm
Congrats — looks like a great addition to EQ7!
02-22-2013
1:09 am
Can you tell me how long it will be available for the introductory price?
02-22-2013
9:33 am
That’s a good question. Here’s what I know: A deadline on the sale price has not been set. It will last for several weeks. We will announce the end of the sale several days before it actually ends. Hope this helps.
Jenny @ EQ
02-28-2013
9:00 am
Is the “introductory” (or “sale”) price the price für new EQStitch program including EQ7 in it or the price für UPGRADE of EQ7 (as in eq-info letter from Penny “You are no longer able to install a normal copy of EQ7 after you upgrade your EQ7 to EQStitch.”) Will EQ7 in future be upgraded separate from EQStitch (for ex. with new appliquee functions) or only EQStitch will be upgraded (for example for advanced digitizer)? What if one beginner notice that this “Plug-in” is not for her/him – will be possible to “go back” to the own EQ7?
03-01-2013
9:57 am
Regarding Danka’s questions:
The introductory price for EQStitch is for the plug-in ONLY. You must already own EQ7 in order to install and use EQStitch.
Once you install EQStitch, your EQ7 becomes EQStitch and you can no longer install the regular version of EQ7.
EQStitch adds the Stitching worktable and tools to EQ7, but does not change how anything else in the program works. So if someone were to decide the plug-in was not for them, they could merely ignore the Stitching worktable. The rest of EQ7 will work just as it always has.
02-22-2013
12:40 pm
I couldn’t wait. I ordered it today. The hype and the videos made me do it.
02-22-2013
3:42 pm
I am sure you will love it when it arrives. I have been looking at other programs that have some functions of adding embroidery to a quilt block, but nothing matches the price point of this new EQStitch program. The learning curve for this program is so simple you will be digitizing for your quilts in no time at all.
Yvonne Menear
ycjm@shaw.ca
EQ7/EQStitch educator
Author EQStitch companion book
02-22-2013
3:54 pm
Thanks Jenny! I have been given the green light from the husband to order it, but I have to wait until next week. Just wanted to make sure I’d be able to get it for the lower price!
02-23-2013
7:38 pm
Cannot tell for sure, once I design a quilt in EQ7, can I design over the block to quilt all three layer together? I have been waiting for something to quilt over the blocks to better match the block styles I use.
Karen
02-23-2013
8:38 pm
This program is perfect for that very reason. You know the size of the block you designed so make your stitch design the same size. Hoop the block area of your quilt in the hoop and open your stitch design on the machine and stitch away. You will have the perfect desing to enhance the block you created.
Yvonne Menear
EQ7/EQStitch educator
Author EQStitch companion book
02-23-2013
7:42 pm
I have a Bernina Aurora 440 QE and I have seen that it can read .exp so I think I can buy EQ stitch. Do you think is it true? It’s a long time that I wanted to buy a digitizing software but they were too expensive for me. In this way I can have some functions for digitizing. Thank you EQ.
02-23-2013
8:34 pm
Absolutely! If you can take .exp then you can design stitch files and export them as an .exp for your machine. Then stitch away with your own unique machine embroidery designs.
Yvonne Menear
EQ7/EQStitch educator
Author EQStitch companion book
02-27-2013
11:38 am
I also have the Aurora 440 QE & for the past few days I have been researching to see if I will be able to use EQ Stitch. It has been awhile since I’ve used my embroidery unit but I do know that when I did, I was able to open other embroidery formats (not just .art). When I initially purchased my 440, I had planned to purchase a ‘magic box’ but was told by the Bernina people that I did not need one because I could open other formats with my 440. I’m assuming that I will be able to save a design in a different format (like .exp) & will be able to use EQ Stitch. I plan to order it ASAP!!!! How exciting! I’m just hoping that there will be instructions on how to do this.
02-28-2013
9:54 am
Yes the 440QE will indeed work with the EQStitch software. You can export your fils as an .exp and your machine will read it.
Yvonne Menear
Educator EQ7/EQStitch
Author EQStitch companion book
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EQStitch/
02-27-2013
12:04 pm
There is now a EQStitch yahoo group dedicated to the discussions and questions about the program. Everyone is welcome to join.
Yvonne Menear
EQ7/EQStitch educator
Author EQStitch companion book
EQStitch@yahoogroups.com
www.yvonnemenear.com
02-27-2013
12:27 pm
Oh no, I posted the wrong connection for the EQStitch yahoo group. Try this instead to connect to the group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EQStitch/
Yvonne Menear
ycjm@shaw.ca
EQ7/EQStitch educator
EQStitch companion book author
www.yvonnemenear.com