This year we’re doing a Sew-Along!  If you’d like to sew along with us and get more details about the project, check them out here. One reason we decided to do the sew-along was to make sure everyone on staff knows how to quilt (since we’ve hired some new people recently). But, we also thought it’d be fun to post about so you can get to know us a little better! Each month, we’ll feature one staff member and their block in the quilt. This month we’re featuring Sara! Sara started working for EQ as a graphic design intern in 2003, then moved to full-time in May of 2004. So, quick (and easy ..read more

Don’t you love passing by a farm and spotting a barn quilt? Have you ever thought of using your EQ8 to design one? We all know we can design an actual quilt in EQ8, but did you know you can design your very own barn quilt in EQ8 too? It’s easy! Our friends at Quiltfolk have just announced their Barn Quilt Breakthrough that makes owning a beautiful barn quilt less time-consuming and more accessible: For the first time, Quiltfolk is offering custom Barn Quilts in a proprietary way—no painting required, with infinite colors and designs available! Two ways to order! Choose from pre-designed ..read more

Welcome to the EQ8 Block Spotlight! Each month we highlight a block from the EQ8 Block Library with a few design ideas. Then we want you to show us what you can do with the block. We hope these posts will inspire you to try something new and expand your EQ skills! This month’s block: Tangled Stars Where to find it: 01 Classic Pieced > Eccentrics Design ideas to spark your creativity My first quilt is a 3 x 3 horizontal layout. I alternated the Tangled Stars block with a pinwheel block I drew on the Block Worktable. I colored the pinwheel block to highlight the large star in the layout ..read more

   Join us at EQ Academy! In just 4 short weeks from today, we’ll be wrapping up our 3-day EQ Academy workshop. We are so excited for this year’s Academy because we have more students enrolled than ever before! To celebrate, we’ve rounded up lots of fabulous goodies from our generous sponsors—you should see the mountain of giveaways in our office! (Items pictured above barely scratch the surface.) Thank You Sponsors!   We cannot wait for students to arrive! We have quilters coming from all over the U.S. (26 states to be exact, indicated in blue). Enrollment is open for a coup ..read more

If you haven’t looked, go see all the amazing entries we received for March’s design challenge here! Thanks to all who participated! Winner One winner was selected randomly. Congratulations to…. Winner: Linda Christianson “I love stars and played with different types. I always forget to do the same with borders. I felt this border did not over power the stars. If you wish to make this block it is best to paper piece it. Thanks for the beautiful fabric from Barbara Brackman.” – Linda Christianson Honorable Mentions Don’t forget to look at all the beautiful submissions&nbs ..read more

Thank you to everyone who read and commented on our blog post! We’re so happy we could be part of such an inspirational and fun blog hop, including introducing some of you to EQ8 and how it can help you visualize your quilts! To see more of EQ8 in action, watch the EQ8-demo video! We had 332 people enter to win a copy of EQ8! One person was selected at random, and without further ado, congratulations goes to… PATIENCE B. After reading our post, here’s Patience’s comment, “Wow, this software is so cool. Being able to mock up the different fabrics and colors is so cool! Thank you for sharing ..read more

Hello Villa Rosa Designs followers! You’re here because today is our day to post in the Villa Rosa Blog Hop! Villa Rosa Designs creates “Fast & Fun” quilt patterns featuring pre-cuts like 1/2 yards, fat quarters, 10′′ squares, 5′′ squares, 2 1/2′′ strips, fat eighths, and fat sixths, as well as other fabric cuts, including panels. Tricia Maloney, known as the Orphan Quilter, who formats all of the Villa Rosa Designs, uses EQ8 for each one, and designs her own patterns in EQ8, too! EQ8 Giveaway AND other fabulous prizes! There are wonderful prizes available from the various sponsors for thi ..read more

I am desperate for spring to come.  I am tired of the gray and cold of winter.  Since I can’t change the weather, I will use my EQ8 to brighten my day by creating my spring quilt pillow design. Launch your EQ 8 program, make a new project, and name it ‘DESPERATE FOR SPRING’.  Click OK at the bottom of the box. Thinking ahead, I want to depict both the gray colors of winter with the bright first colors of spring flowers blooming.  I can accomplish this by using my EQ to create my fabric for the background and then adding applique fabrics to the foreground to show the contr ..read more

We’ve recently added some new employees and so we had a quilting class (taught by Jenny) to make sure we all know how to quilt! (And maybe infect some newbies with the quilting bug ) For even more fun we thought we’d make the blocks from our sewing class into a sew-along! If you’d like to sew along with us and get more details about the project, check them out here. Each month, we’ll feature one staff member and their block in the quilt. This month we’re featuring Ben! Ben writes code for improving EQ software products and he’s been here about three years.  Ben says he likes working at ..read more

Two classes are already full! Have you saved your seat at EQ Academy yet? If you’re new to EQ Academy, we can’t wait to meet you! Here’s what you can expect… 1. Learning! EQ8 classes are offered Thursday, May 2, Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4. You can come for one day, two days, or all three! There are half-day classes and full-day classes to choose from. Take a class that’s based on quilt style like, New York Beauty Quilts, Medallion Quilts, T-Shirt Quilts, and Non-Traditional Quilts.   Take a class based on a technique or feature like FPP Block Drawing, Design with EQ8 and AccuQui ..read more