More New Features in EQ7
Jul 7th, 2010 | Category: Computer Aided Quilting
I have a confession to make. As I’ve been investigating EQ7, the latest version of the popular quilt design software from The Electric Quilt Company, I have discovered features in EQ6 I never knew were there. In fact, some of the tools that I was most excited to tell you about have been in EQ6 all along! How embarrassing is that? Never mind, I’m still excited about them and here are some more all new (I’m sure) features to be found in EQ7.
Swath Tool
This tool is found on the Appliqué tab in the Block Worktable. Here’s how it works. You draw a path…
and then EQ7 fills in the path with either diamonds…
or flying geese! Pretty cool, right?
I read an article about curved flying geese that stated they were quite easy to construct using paper foundation piecing. Paper foundations are available from the Print Menu, so I checked to see how EQ7 would handle this curved flying geese unit. Beautiful!
Serendipity Tools
These tools are found in the Block Menu. EQ6 included three serendipity tools (which I may have noticed before, but just forgot): Frame Block, Tilt Block, and Merge Blocks. EQ7 adds four more and they’re pretty fun.
Click & Flip Blocks
This tool takes the top left corner of a block and flips it around to create new combinations. Watch what it does with this Maltese Cross block.
Shrink & Flip Blocks
This tool shrinks a block to one quarter and uses that to create new combinations. Here’s what happens with an Hourglass block.
Kaleidoscope Blocks
This one is very cool. It uses a triangular portion of a block to create new combinations. Here’s our Maltese Cross block again, followed by an Orange Peel block. Amazing!
Fancy Star Blocks
This tool fits a block into a diamond shape, and uses those diamonds to create a star. You can choose how many points in the star – between 5 and 10. Here are the same two blocks in an eight-pointed star.
There’s a lot more to see and do in EQ7 – these are just a few highlights. If you would like to learn how to use this amazing quilt design software, watch for my fall schedule and two EQ7 classes coming soon.
Hi Donna,
The contours of the swath itself can be edited using the Shape tool. Once you convert the swath to a patch (select the swath using the Pick tool, click “Convert to Patch” or from menu choose Block>Convert to Patch), each individual patch can be edited using the Shape tool.
Kathy
How do I manipulate the points, after using the swath tool?
Essentially, I want to change the one side, so it is not uniform with the other side, (that is, not symmetrical). And, I also want to change where the triangles start and finish… so that I have 60 degree points instead of 90 degree points.
How do I do this?
You’re welcome! My best advice is to keep playing with the software. The manual is great, but you’ll remember it best if you try it out for yourself. Have fun!
New to quilting and EQ7. I’m reading the manual and trying to learn how to use it, so the information you’ve given has really been helpful. THANK YOU!!