Behind the Mouse: The Electric Quilt Blog

Here are some things we recommend users look at, so they get the most out of their program: Watch the Videos 1. Open EQ7 2. Click Close to close the Tip of the Day. 3. Click Cancel at the next [Open/New] box. 4. Click VIDEOS on the top menu bar and choose a video to watch. Learn from the Lessons 1. Click HELP > EQ Lessons (PDFs). 2. Under QUILTS > print and do each lesson. 3. Under PRINTING > print and do each lesson. We recommend saving other lessons until you’re ready to draw or work with photos. Look at the  other How-To Instructions You’ll find steps for making Quilt Labels, Bargello Quilts, Drawing New York Beauty Blocks and lots more. 1. Click HELP > How do I?… Check these fun steps out. They answer many often-asked “how-to” questions. Use Dynamic Help 1. Click on the tool with the

Sometimes I need to clear my head and try not  to think of anything at the moment.  This is why adult coloring books are so popular.  The new Zentangle drawing process is another way of just enjoying drawing nothing in particular and creating something spectacular in the process. I often open my software program and choose a tool or two and just start doodling.  Adding to the shapes by using the wreathmaker (my favorite) tool and using the clone tool can start to create something special.  Using the other functions of flipping, rotating, re-sizing, and changing the background color all adds to the design.  Sometimes I am so satisfied with the doodling that I actually stop and stitch it out to use in a project down the road.  If I don’t have time to stitch it, I can always export the image and print it onto fabric to sew later.

EQ7 saves your projects as “.PJ7″ files on a folder on your computer. Unless you’ve specified somewhere else, all your projects will be in the PJ7 folder, found here: (My) Documents > My EQ7 > PJ7 Why is this important? If you want to send a project to a friend, transfer projects to a new computer or backup your files you’ll need to know where they are located. It’s also a good idea to compress the files first, so that they are smaller. Open your project in EQ7. Click File > Compress Project File Size… Choose either Delete unused blocks, fabrics, embellishment, pictures and thread or Delete unused fabrics only Click OK Your file is now compressed. If you want to email an EQ7 project to a friend… Navigate to (My) Documents > My EQ7 > PJ7 and then attach it to your email If you want to transfer files

Do you listen to the American Patchwork & Quilting podcast with Pat Sloan? I was a guest on her last show! Listen in to hear all about EQ and our 25th Anniversary giveaways! There are also other great guests on her show with helpful tips and fun interviews! Tune in on Mondays for the live show or listen all her shows here! For more information about our 25th Anniversary and giveaways, click here!

Ever notice there are not a lot of embroidery designs that are dedicated to boys/men?  Most are of pretty things like flowers.  Embroidered designs for males seem to be more text than pictures.  You can create your own series of designs for men and create a  library of designs for men in the EQStitch program. Open your EQStitch program. Click on the work on stitching worktable icon. Click on LIBRARIES>Stitching Libraries Click on the My Library Heading at the top of the Stitching Library box. Click on add library and then type in a new name for your library. Click on the OK to have the library added to your My Library . Click on the style 1 subheading and right click> modify style to change the name. Type in a new name for the style.   Click OK to set the new name for the style. I named mine

Happy Valentine’s Day weekend Here’s a free project download from EQ user, Pamela B. of Pamelaquilts.blogspot.com! Pamela was nice enough to tell us about this project. Where did the idea come from? “I created the first Modern Love Mug Rug in 2015 for an exchange between members of the team I belong to on Etsy – Quiltsy Team. My swap partner didn’t have any preferences, so I decided to create a fun valentine’s day project for her. I had just finished a snowball table runner and had a nice stash of small red and white triangles left from that, so sewed them together and started to design. Designing in EQ7: The Modern Love Mug rug was a quick and easy little project in EQ7. I knew I had a dozen little triangles to work with, so I just set the layout tab for a quilt of 3 horizontal rows with

Contest is closed. Congratulations to the winner: Pamela Gillespie! Our next contest starts March 10th featuring Moda Fabrics! Welcome to the second of ELEVEN giveaways we’re hosting on our blog this year. Each contest will open on the 10th of every month and feature one of our 25th Anniversary sponsors. February’s Featured Sponsor: Fat Quarter Shop!  They’ve provided a $100 gift certificate for one lucky winner on our blog! To enter, answer this question by commenting below: What are your favorite fabric themes (batiks, reproductions, florals, etc.) and who are your favorite fabric designers? Wait, there’s more! Win an EQ7 on Fat Quarter Shop’s Blog! EQ 25th Anniversary blog contests close at 9am ET on the 25th of every month. Winner announced on the 25th of every month. Participation in each monthly EQ contest counts as one entry toward the grand prize giveaways thus allowing for up to 11 entries