The Electric Quilt Company is 30!
We’re celebrating 30 years! Since the pearl is the traditional symbol for 30 years, we’re sharing EQ Pearls of Wisdom from our friends starting June 1! Check back each week for a new “pearl!”
Plus, each post includes a free project download or giveaway! 
We hope you enjoy the tips and tricks you learn along the way and discover some new quilters or catch up with your favorites! Also, we’d love to hear about YOUR journey with EQ so feel free to tell us your story in the comments on any post! A big THANK YOU to all our customers for your support over the years. We’re looking forward to many more!
How it all began…
The Electric Quilt Company started as Dean Neumann, then a math professor at Bowling Green State University, married Penny McMorris, a corporate art curator and producer/host of several PBS series on quilting. Both loved quilts, and Dean had an idea he hoped might help quiltmakers develop their design ideas on-screen. So as Penny worked on a new television series, Dean spent spare time teaching himself programming, then developed the first Electric Quilt software program.
Dean’s program debuted on a segment of Penny’s “Great American Quilt” program (WBGU-TV) in 1991 (shown in the video below!). Viewers from across the country called the television station. Penny and Dean collected their names. And The Electric Quilt Company was born.
Today, The Electric Quilt Company is the leading quilt design software company in the world. Since 1991, it has produced several software editions, published numerous books, and developed dozens of quilt, block, and fabric add-ons.
Equally important is education and customer support. The company offers hands-on EQ education in Perrysburg, Ohio at EQ Academy, each year. Electric Quilt places a special emphasis on offering customer service. Penny & Dean both agree, “We are immensely proud of the people behind our company: how hard they work, how smart they are, how eagerly they tackle new assignments, and as importantly, how kind they are to users who contact us for help.”
Have you experienced our support? Let us know how we did!
Thank you again for your continued support of The Electric Quilt Company and its products. We’d love to hear about how you got started using EQ and your experience over the years. Share your story in the comments below!
A look back…
Recognize some of these software boxes, trade show booths, or EQ employees?
05-25-2021
11:15 am
Congratulations on 30 years! I have been using EQ since EQ5 or maybe EQ4. Prior to that I designed with graph paper. EQ has made my life and my designs so much better. My grandkids can even design on EQ8 it is so intuitive to those with tech skills. Thank you! I wish you many more years of success.
05-25-2021
11:18 am
Gosh, I remember watching Penny’s TV series in the early 1990′s. That was really my first foray into quilting. I believe I even sent for the book that was available through the series….I have it somewhere! I was a stay at home mom of 3 who worked selling my own artwork and that program was such a delight for me to be able to access. Now I have EQ installed on my computer! Thank you for all your past work in the quilting field!
05-25-2021
11:36 am
Congratulations! I’ve had my EQ8 for less than a year and I just love it!! A quilt can be designed very quickly and the possibilities as truly endless.
05-25-2021
11:45 am
Thank you for the development and innovation of Electric Quilt. I have been a longtime user, and constant learner.
Cheers to another 30 years of EQ
05-25-2021
11:48 am
WOW!! Congrats on a great program–have been upgrading since version 3 and followed your quilt show too (have a book from 1981 on the tv show too!). Your software has been absolutely invaluable in both my personal work and also teaching. Thank you so much for your dedication.
05-25-2021
11:49 am
Happy anniversary!
I started with EQ7 and was so very, very confused. Decided to bite the bullet with an EQ8 upgrade and am so very glad I did. I have spent many hours just being content to color my dream quilts. They may never make it to the fabric stage, but I still consider them my quilts! Thanks for making my dream quilts come to life.
05-25-2021
11:51 am
Congratulations
05-25-2021
12:00 pm
I love EQ8 and all the support I have had in the past three years. It has made my quilt world even more special; for I can plan, design and just have fun coming up with color and pattern layouts. I am learning everyday. Thanks
05-25-2021
12:07 pm
Congratulations for sticking with your endeavor to make quilt designing easy and fun for us Quilter’s!
I’ve had EQ since the 3rd or 4th program. I’m sure you could tell me!
Even the grands like to color my quilts in the program and it’s endless hours of fun!
05-25-2021
12:08 pm
Wow! These pictures brought back wonderful memories. Dean and Penny sure created a wonderful thing! So many people worldwide are reaping the benefits of their works. I have enjoyed being able to work with the company over the years. I look forward to many more events with EQ in the future!
05-25-2021
12:20 pm
Congratulations everyone. In our busy world today I’m realizing not only how important the product is that I want to buy but the Service that comes it. In the end if I can’t use the product as intended then it becomes a paperweight. So to the Team behind the product they are as valuable, or more, as the product itself. The support behind your product is A+. As for EQ, it speaks for itself, truly a game changer and such an inspiration for creativity. Well done Dean and Penny for leading the way.
05-25-2021
12:22 pm
Congratulations. I have been using EQ since the first version. It’s been wonderful to use each new version and watch EQ grow over the years. The program has allowed me to be more creative and make original designs. I don’t make a quilt without it. Thank you so much for creating this program and for all the improvements over the years and support when I needed it.
05-25-2021
12:53 pm
I am new to the quilting world and found EQ through the recommendation of my LQS owner and my own curiosity about B. Brackman’s new Encyclopedia edition. Here I am a few months later trying to learn how to use both EQ8 and BB Plus. The tutorials are great and I am enjoying this journey. Thanks for being there!
Congratulations on 30 years of great products and the service.
05-25-2021
1:01 pm
Congratulations! Long time quilter, new to EQ. I had been looking at the software for awhile but was undecided about the investment. Recently made a new friend and we started talking quilting and she told me how much she liked the program so I made the leap. I have not used it yet as I have 4 projects that I have to finish but hope to get started on it in the next couple of weeks.
05-25-2021
1:09 pm
I am the 2021 BOM chairperson for my guild. I was drawing blocks out on graph paper to build my collection when it dawned on my to investigate EQ 8. Total game changer!!! Now I can import my focus fabrics and get a good look at the block and the whole quilt! I love EQ 8!
05-25-2021
1:19 pm
Thank you for creating such a wonderful quilting software. I have had EQ since version 1. While I still use pencil and graph paper to jot down ideas I use EQ extensively to fine tune complex block and quilt designs. What I like most about EQ is that it allows me to easily create templates for unusual size and shapes. It also makes planning colors and values a breeze.
05-25-2021
1:31 pm
I first saw the Electric Quilt software in 1991 on those shows with Laura and Diane, and recorded them every Saturday morning on my local PBS station. I waited till the end of the show when the credits ran, so I could get the name and location of the company that produced the software. I wrote it down, handed it to my husband, and told him, “Find this!” He did, and I’ve been an almost daily user of EQ since that very first incarnation, before it had a number. I was pregnant with baby #4, and I designed my quilt for him with EQ. Since that time, I’ve designed 1000′s of quilts in EQ, (and actually made 100′s of them). Congratulations to you all, and a huge Thank You for making my prolific quilting life so much easier!
05-25-2021
1:44 pm
EQ user since version 3 now own EQ8 and BBPlus
Congratulations on 30 years
Always learn new things with EQ
Block base plus is excellent
05-25-2021
2:09 pm
Congratulations!!! I Love EQ!!!
05-25-2021
2:11 pm
Happy Anniversary. I have been using EQ since EQ4. Even did the mystery quilt Starry Night as a small group BOM and have redone the blocks in each version update to try newer features. Also, did several EQ classes on Quilt University. EQ classes continue to be a favorite on virtual quilt shows and fill up very quickly. Thanks for your books as I still am able to use them and the EQ website videos and instructions are the best as shipping costs make books very costly in Canada. Cheers
05-25-2021
3:11 pm
It’s amazing how fast the last thirty years have gone by. Congratulations. I started with EQ2. From the very beginning, the customer service at EQ has been the best. They worked and worked with me to get my EQ2 designs printed on our dot matrix printer, to no avail. So I skipped EQ3. With EQ4, I was back, and have had every version since, and many of the add-ons and books. I keep thinking they can’t make it any better, but somehow, they always come up with new ideas. I absolutely don’t use all the features, and probably could get by with one of the older versions, but I always find something I love about the latest one. Thanks Penny and Dean and all the EQ staff and educators.
05-25-2021
3:40 pm
Congrats! Having started with EQ 3, I have always upgraded with new additions! Am excited for you for all your (and our) successes!
05-25-2021
4:25 pm
I have been an EQ fan for many years now. Congrats on making a program that has weathered the test of time. I love the versatility and ease of use, plus I especially appreciate the Mac version when I switched over. Thanks for a great product! And here’s to many more wonderful years!!
05-25-2021
5:27 pm
While your product is great, for me the real value is in your support and service. A piece of software is only as good as the instructions, manuals and help line is that explains it to the user so that the full benefit can be reaped. Bravo on a wonderful first 30 years fine-tuning a product that always gets better. Thank you for online lessons and hints — invaluable to me.
05-25-2021
7:58 pm
Congratulations on the anniversary! I’ve only been using EQ for a few years but I love the program. I am constantly amazed and surprised by the versatility and complexity of the software. The software has helping me become a better quilt designer and may even help me reach my dream of being published someday. Thanks for giving us such a great tool to work with and the amazing support to make us succeed with it!
05-26-2021
12:46 am
I got EQ3 accidentally, it was on a used laptop I got in 90′s. It was so fun to play! I bought EQ5 and loved learning it with the “Design cook book” and “EQ5 Getting Started Lessons”. Then I got BlockBase2 and I really fell in love with making quilts! With EQ7 wowza – what a leap, and that’s when I turned to Electric Quilt Support at every turn, I dug in! I learned a lot from the Blog, especially the monthly feature by Barb Vlack, and with your support I transitioned to EQ8. Congratulations on 30 years, Electric Quilt Company really is solid, the best support anywhere!
05-26-2021
8:13 am
I started my EQ journey with EQ6, and moved on through EQ7, EQ Stitch, and now EQ8 and BB. I have taken classes with several of your amazing teachers. There is always something new to learn. Help and support is always available.
Congratulations on 30 years, and here’s to many more!
05-26-2021
9:42 am
I started using EQ with EQ7 — I was a brand new quilter, and had an idea for a quilt. My stepmom heard me going on about it, saw my sketches and drawings, and said “You need this software.” I had no idea what it was, but that was my Christmas gift that year (roughly 2010 or so…?) and I’ve been using it ever since. The quilt the started it off took me 6 more years to gain the skill level (although I drew it in EQ that first year) to actually make and is hanging on my wall now; every other quilt I’ve ever designed (and I design most of my own) has been done using EQ (now up to EQ8), starting with bed quilts for my children, graduation quilts, memory quilts for loved ones, etc. I love that EQ takes the math out of designing for me, so I can dream up anything and then with a click of a button, there are the cutting instructions, templates, yardage requirements, etc. I can’t imagine quilting without it!
05-26-2021
12:32 pm
Thank you to the geniuses who developed and designed the EQ programs. When I purchased the program, you had already reached EQ8. Although I have been a student of Kari Schell’s for over a year, I find there is so much to learn. Something tells me that there will ALWAYS be something to learn. Another thing is true….it is impossible to get bored with this system…..it certainly is everything and more than I thought it would be. From the time I first laid eyes on it I wanted the program; and my only regret is that I had not done it sooner. I look forward to expanding my knowledge of EQ8. Thank you again for the hours of creativity you have given me.
05-26-2021
1:22 pm
I’ve been with EQ since the very first one. Saw an AD in a quilting magazine and have been a happy EQ’er every since. I loved the Floppy Gazette! I’d forgotten about that. The support is fantastic. The few times I’ve needed help, I have been greeted like a favorite aunt and the problem was quickly resolved. Congrats on 30 years and thank you for keeping EQ a friendly, caring company.
05-26-2021
3:17 pm
Congrats!
I love EQ. Your company is the BEST.
05-26-2021
5:27 pm
Congratulations to you EQ on 30 years of helping quilters design and make quilts. I love this program and have been using it for 10+ years – The program was very instrumental in the design of my first grandson’s quilt and several others for special occasions. I call it my computer game for quilters! Thank you again.
05-26-2021
9:05 pm
Congratulations on 30 years!!!! I bought EQ1 from Penny that first year, possibly in Paducah, KY or another show. I now have EQ8 and enjoy building new patterns for charity quilts.
I took an EQ7 class at an MQX show in Springfield, IL and liked it so much I decided to upgrade to EQ8.
Love the emails! Keep up the good work.
Cheri’
05-27-2021
3:47 pm
I used EQ 4 or 5, and then didn’t have time to quilt anymore. Now that I’m retired, here I am back with EQ8! Happy anniversary!
Lucy
05-28-2021
2:19 pm
I starting using EQ with v7 about 4 years ago and immediately fell in love with it. I really like the flexibility and the ability to play with a lot of different ideas and ways to layout quilts and build blocks. The addition of the BlockBase + software has been very exciting and I’m really grateful that this was created and made available to the quilting community. Sometimes being able to be creative in the software when you don’t have the time to do the actual quilt at the moment really helps with getting some creative time in. Well done and Happy Anniversary!
06-01-2021
8:30 am
Congratulations on 30 wonderful quilty years! I started with EQ7 and joined the first EQ Academy in Ohio. I loved the versatility and possibilities in the software. Your support is top notch with a friendly person is always ready to help. Thanks Penny and Dean for a great partnership and awesome vision of a tool to help quilters be even more creative
06-03-2021
12:47 pm
I’ve had EQ5, EQ6, EQ7 and now EQ8..still need to get really learned about them all! I’m sorry…need lots of help on how to use each section, and more.
06-08-2021
6:26 pm
Congratulations!!! I would like to thank Penny and Dean and all EQ-Team since EQ4 up to EQ8 for my personal 20 years of fun, create, teaching and meeting many EQ-enthusiastic follower and artists. And despite my experience – I always heavy used your software – I still can learn a lot from you and your users. CHEERS!
06-15-2021
12:27 pm
Congratulations on 30 years, Penny, Dean and everyone at EQ. I have used every version of EQ since the original and still am learning new ways to use the program. You have been a blessing to my quilting life. I love everything about EQ!
06-23-2021
6:05 pm
Congratulations!
I bought my first computer 30 years ago, and tried a couple of other quilting programs early on … one appeared to be develpoed by a quilter who didn’t know what a computer was capable of, the other by a computer expert who didn’t know what quilting was about. Electric quilt has the perfect marriage of a quilter and a computer expert, and does everything except cut out the fabric and sew it together.
I started with EQ5, and will keep updating as new version are released.
06-25-2021
10:49 am
désolée je comprend l’anglais mais ne peux l’écrire. je suis en retard pour vous souhaitez un merveilleux anniversaire de 30 ans de bonheur que vous avez donnés aux inconditionnelles du patch. J’ai commencer avec EQ4 et j’ai suivi toute l’évolution jusqu’à EQ8 de ce super programme de création de patchwork. merci à vous et aussi à votre équipe sans oublier aux professeurs qui nous donnent de si bon conseils.
07-09-2021
10:10 pm
HAPPY 30th ANNIVERSARY Penny, Dean, and all the early EQ staff and user-volunteers. I watched Penny on PBS, and have two spiral-bound books of related info from the series.
The first version of EQ I used was 2 as I recall – back in the dos days! Thank you for your innovative contributions to quilters and designers world-wide.
08-22-2021
12:34 pm
My husband got me EQ7 for my birthday a couple of years ago. I honestly had a hard time figuring out how to use it. That same year the upgrade for EQ8 came out. I took all of the free lessons and asked tons of questions in customer support. Now I love it! Most of the time I use easydraw to start my blocks. I love being able to scan and upload my fabrics so I can get an idea of what my quilt will look like when it’s finished. My dream has been to make a quilt with every step of the process be mine. Design, make, longarm, etc. With EQ8 I can do it. Thank you for such a great program.
08-28-2021
8:20 pm
30 years is quite an accomplishment. Here is to 30 more.
09-30-2021
4:51 pm
Congratulations! What a great success story to go along with the best software program EVER!
10-22-2021
7:03 am
Congratulations! I am new to EQ8. Just learning and enjoy all so far but have not gotten the nerve to make something yet! I learned to quilt from my mother and I hate trying to match fabric and trying to make templates and etc.
This has cut a lot of the stress and I extremely love being able view my project with samples of my own choice of fabrics.
The cost of EQ is well worth it. Greatly appreciate!! and thank you again and CONGRATULATIONS!!!
10-26-2021
9:08 am
I have the EQ8 and I am still trying to learn it. Congratulations on your 30 years.
10-27-2021
3:40 pm
Happy 30th!!! Im learning your program and love love love it!! thank you so much for all your support.
11-23-2021
9:22 pm
I first saw EQ at the NQA show in Bowling Green but there was such a crowd around the booth that I just picked up a pamphlet and when I read it was pretty sure I wanted the program even though I didn’t own a computer. I called Penny and made arrangements for a demo. I was so impressed that I bought the program and the next day ordered my first computer. Long story short, I also started doing vender booths, guild demos, etc for EQ in the west Michigan area for about three years. I would have continued but computers, monitors and printers were very heavy then and back issues made it necessary to stop though I have continued to spread the word as to how great the programs are. I have owned all of the EQ versions plus Blockbase and Dear Jane. Almost all of my quilts were designed with EQ. I am so grateful I went to that NQA show and was introduced to EQ. Did you newer users know that the first version did not have a number?
12-28-2021
11:52 am
Started with EQ7 and didn’t get very far. EQ8 was a totally different experience and I felt much more intuitive. I have always been incredibly timid about color and pattern selections for quilts. Now I can preview these and head out to buy confidently. Each and every time I use EQ8 it seems I make new discoveries of its capabilities.
12-31-2021
9:16 am
I’ve used and owned EQ from the beginning. I still have the binder and a few floppy discs or maybe 3.5 in my things. Used regularly and have enjoyed all of my design time with your products.
Thank you for a wonderful product and customer support over the years.
10-16-2023
11:40 am
I love EQ. I have had it since EQ3 and used it lots on and off for all of the 30 years. I love the support offered by the company. Even today Heidi was so pleasant and completely helpful with my issue. I do remember when Penny was the one answering the phone. Congratulations on a job well done.