Welcome to EQ Mini Friday Fun, a blog series devoted to sharing, teaching, and informing you about the new scaled down, simpler version of EQ7 quilt design software. This program was created for quilters who are just getting started using software for quilt design. EQ Mini will help you create, edit, share, and print patterns and yardage for your quilt designs.
My name is Lori Miller and I will be your host as we explore EQ Mini software. A little about myself. I am a life long sewist and quilter. My home base is Troy, Michigan where I design, stitch, and sew quilts and quilty things. In 2012, I started a new career sewing and designing quilts and quilty gifts. I started to submit my designs and patterns to magazines and I wanted a tool to help me more quickly document my ideas, try different color paths, and provide color snapshots to submit to editors.
I purchased Electric Quilt 7 and attended the very first Electric Quilt Academy in Perrysburg, Ohio. (If you have not been, it is so worthwhile, excellent hands on classes to learn your software.) I was hooked with the endless possibilities of the software. This past year I decided to attend again and I took a class on EQ Stitch, the embroidery add-on to Electric Quilt 7. It is the perfect tool to create simple embroidery designs and appliqué.
I was introduced to EQ Mini when I volunteered to beta test the software before it was released. I was so impressed with the easy flow and friendly beginner aspects of the software. I love the colored step by step tabs that let you easily work to create and edit a design. And even though it is a Mini version of the Electric Quilt 7 software, it is still robust enough to offer a ton of design possibilities. It contains a block library of 300 pieced and appliqué blocks that can be set in 4 layout styles, there are 8 different border styles and a fabric library of over 3500 scanned fabrics to use to make your designs exactly how you want them. There are a slew of add on blocks you can purchase as well as fabric stash libraries to add even more options for your software.
This blog is for YOU to help you learn your EQ Mini software and to design beautiful things. I plan to share tips and techniques, tutorials, design project skill builders, and maybe even a little show and tell of what I am working on in my studio. I welcome your ideas and suggestions as well so that this journey can be fun, educational and helpful. Just leave a comment and let me know what you want to learn about EQ Mini.
Lori J. Miller lives in Troy, Michigan, where she designs, stitches and sews quilts and quilty things. She loves experimenting with fun colors and designs to make playful and clever products for the modern stitcher. Sewing since age 11, Lori has deep roots in sewing and quilting traditions that add a unique dimension to her designs. She loves designing using Electric Quilt 7, Electric Quilt Mini and EQ Stitch. You can follow her quilting adventures on her blog at lorimillerdesigns.com or on instagram @lorimillerdesigns
10-07-2016
11:27 am
Good to see you here Lori! I look forward to following your posts! Hope to see you in April at EQAcademy. Email me privately if you won’t be in Ohio in April and maybe we can connect in Michigan while I am there visiting my family.
10-07-2016
11:16 pm
Yvonne, good to hear from you! I will drop you a note, I did just sign up for the Academy in April.
10-07-2016
11:35 am
I have EQ7 Would following this help me with getting better with it? I have not taken any EQ workshops but have done the lessons with the program. Donna
10-07-2016
11:45 pm
Donna,
I think you could learn the basics and become more familiar with the flow of EQ7 reviewing the steps for EQ Mini projects and tips. However, EQ Mini uses some step by step tabs to walk you through creating a quilt which EQ7 does not have. You would need to find the corresponding steps in EQ7. (I think that would be doable and the search feature could really help if you get stuck.) For example, there is a tab in EQ Mini called Start New Quilt which has layouts like Horizontal layout to choose from. In EQ7, you would go to the Quilt tab > New Quilt > Horizontal layout for the same thing. The Adjust Layout tab in EQ Mini corresponds to the Layout tab at the bottom of the quilt layout design in EQ7. The Edit Borders tab in EQ Mini corresponds to the Borders tab at the bottom of the quilt layout design in EQ7. and so on. When I share a project, I will walk you step by step and you should be able to follow along. I am starting with beginner projects, you could certainly try it and let me know if it is doable or makes sense to you. I am glad to hear that you are using the lessons. The online resources and tutorials as well as the built in help are extremely useful and very thorough. Please try and give me feedback.
10-07-2016
7:52 pm
Same question as Donna
10-07-2016
11:47 pm
Donna,
I hope my answer helped, but everyone learns differently, so I would appreciate it if you would try and see if it makes sense and give me feedback when the projects and tips come out. Thanks!
10-07-2016
11:48 pm
Sorry SUSAN!, I misstyped your name.
10-10-2016
5:42 pm
Thank you! I look forward to your future posts!
10-13-2016
8:42 pm
Hi,
If I purchase the EQ mini can I upgrade it to the EQ7
When I am ready? Or will I have to purchase the EQ7?
10-15-2016
9:23 pm
Tasha,
Yes, you can easily upgrade from EQ mini to EQ 7 from right within your program. There is an upgrade price that is very reasonable. So when you are ready, you can just pay for the upgrade. I think starting with EQ Mini is a great way to get a good handle on how to use the software program before you go to the full EQ 7. Thanks, Lori
10-19-2016
2:10 am
I have an older Macbook Pro which does not have the system requirements that the EQmini needs. I thought that maybe I could get a new notebook or ipad. Will the EQmini or EQ7 work on a notebook or ipad or does it have to be a regular computer? Thanks!
10-21-2016
11:02 am
Becky, You will need a regular computer or MAC for the software to work properly, it is not optimized for smaller systems. IPads are not set up with the system requirements to run EQ Mini. EQMini for Mac requires OS X. The iPad uses iOS which is an operating system for Apple’s portable devices. iOS is optimized for small touch screens and apps. Our quilt design software is not feasible on these smaller hand-held devices. Please reference the system requirements included on the software shopping pages of the electric quilt website for more information.
10-24-2016
12:39 am
Thanks so much for the blog about eqmini. From what time I have had to play I really like it. I am sure it will not be long and I will move on up. I decided this was a great way to learn the software and program without being overwhelmed. Looking forward to Friday’s to red the blog. Wendy.