Behind the Mouse: The Electric Quilt Blog

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing our top 10 favorite features in EQ8. Subscribe to this blog and follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram with #EQ8Top10) to see all 10! See the complete list of features on our website. #6 – Quick Quilt Projects for Quilt Labels and T-Shirt Quilts If you owned previous versions of EQ, you may recall the pre-designed Quick Quilt projects available from the Project Helper window. These are theme-based projects that you can start with and edit to make them your own. The EQ8 Quick Quilts have been updated with new projects that will really jump-start your designing! You can find the projects by clicking File > Open Quick Quilt Project. Here are a few of our favorite projects! See the complete list of features on the Electric Quilt website.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing our top 10 favorite features in EQ8. Subscribe to this blog and follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram with #EQ8Top10) to see all 10! See the complete list of features on our website. #7 – Open library from palette and edit a block to the worktable These features are game changers and will save you so much time! Now you can access the libraries RIGHT FROM THE PALETTE using this nifty button: You’ll find this button in the Block Worktable, Quilt Worktable and the Image Worktable.  Easily add blocks, fabrics, threads, photos and embroidery from the libraries directly to your palettes! While you’re in the Block, Layout and Photo Library, you’ll notice a new button called Edit to Worktable. This button will automatically open the selected block, layout or photo directly to its worktable! You can also edit a block

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing our top 10 favorite features in EQ8. Subscribe to this blog and follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram with #EQ8Top10) to see all 10! See the complete list of features on our website. #8 – Hide Patch Outlines in Quilt In EQ8, we’ve added a button on the main toolbar so you can quickly view your quilt with the patch lines turned off! This makes your quilt come to life with a click of the mouse! To be completely transparent, this isn’t a new feature at all. You could do this in previous versions too! However, many of you may not have known because it was hidden in a menu. Now that the tool has been added, it’s become one of the hottest updates to EQ8! Our beta testers were thrilled when they found this. See the complete list of

Sometimes the simplest designs have the highest impact on a quilt.  Consider the modern quilt movement.  Very little print on the fabric and very few design elements on the quilt allow the quilter to showcase the stitches themselves.  Why not make a simple applique a focal point on a rather plain quilt and highlight that applique with some embroidery stitches.  Applying the applique to a whole cloth background as an embroidery element can bring the quilt to life. Click on your EQStitch icon on the desktop to launch the program. Click on the stitch worktable icon. Click on STITCHING>New Design>Machine Applique. Click on the drawing board options icon on the project bar at the top of the screen. In the options box, click on the machine applique setting and select and ‘E’ stitch with the following properties.  Be sure to click on the ‘OK’ in the bottom of the box

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing our top 10 favorite features in EQ8. Subscribe to this blog and follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram with #EQ8Top10) to see all 10! See the complete list of features on our website. #9 – New and Updated Printing Features Get Estimates for Fat Quarters! We love that the fabric estimates now include fat quarter calculations! If there are patches that are larger than a fat quarter, EQ will use a $ symbol to make you aware. And don’t forget, the SKU number is included so you can easily take your printout with you when you’re shopping for your fabric! If you’re calculating based on fabric width instead of fat quarters, the printout now displays the width of fabric that is being calculated. Mirror Templates for Fusible Applique That’s right! You can now mirror your template patterns! Turn the seam

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing our top 10 favorite new features in EQ8. Subscribe to this blog and follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram with #EQ8Top10) to see all 10! See the complete list of features on our website. #10 – Updated Libraries Block Library The Block Library has a total of 6,779 blocks. That’s over 1,000 blocks MORE than EQ7! The majority of the additions have been added to the Foundation Pieced and Contemporary Applique libraries. Plus, the block colorings got a bit of a makeover to they look more modern and fresh! Fabric Library The Fabric Library has 6,278 new fabrics ready to be used in your design! Each fabric was carefully scanned and notecarded with the manufacturer’s name, designer’s name and SKU number. Photo Library The Photo Library has 233 photos. Play around with these photos, (or import your own!) by adding filters,

Smart, Simple, Sophisticated… …and enhanced! This version was redesigned for faster learning and more complete designing. Its friendly new look introduces large interface elements, creating the most intuitive version yet! Electric Quilt is the industry’s go-to computer software for quilt designing and quilt block creation. From professionals, to the everyday quilter, EQ8 has all the right tools and features for each and every quilt designer. Get a sneak peek at the new version Click the image below to watch the video. October 23rd: Upgrades and Books These products will be available starting October 23rd. Upgrade pricing is available for EQ6, EQ Mini and EQ7 owners. Additional discounted pricing is available for the two books shown below, and for EQ7 owners upgrading to EQ8. This special pricing ends November 6th. November: Look what’s coming! New to EQ? Start with EQ8! If you do not have any version or Electric Quilt software