Hi friends!
When I lecture or teach, one question I often get asked is how do I design my quilts? Do I use graph paper or a computer program? And while I occasionally use graph paper to start, I always use Electric Quilt (AKA EQ8) to finalize the quilt design.
Post contains an affiliate link where, if you decide to purchase, I will earn a very small commission at no extra charge to you.
What is EQ8?
EQ8 is the leading quilt design software. You can create all sorts of quilts using the program and you can even upload images of fabrics to see how they will look in your quilt!
And if the idea of creating quilts sounds fun but maybe a computer program seems intimidating, well EQ has something new just for you!
A brand new EQ for You Starter Box!
What’s in the Starter Box?
- Electric Quilt 8 (EQ8) Software – The company’s complete quilt-design software, providing robust features for creating blocks, quilt layouts, fabric color ways, and custom designs.
- EQ8 Lessons for Beginners Book – A best-selling, fully illustrated, spiral-bound lesson book that offers clear, step-by-step guidance to help users learn the software at their own pace.
- Simple Starts Add-On for EQ – A download for EQ8 software that includes beginner-friendly projects for design inspiration.
- 1-Year Membership Voucher – Access to free fabric downloads for EQ8, exclusive member discounts, free yearly gifts, and other member-only perks.
- Instructional Videos and Printed Guides- Easy-to-follow visual and written instructions to help users get started designing right away.
- EQ Mouse Pad & Sticker- Trendy and fun extras that will brighten your sewing room or computer workspace.
Why I like EQ8
I use EQ8 to design all my quilts. What I really like is, if I am just playing around and I am not really sure where I’m headed with a quilt, I have the ability to play with a classic block, remake it, recolor it, try it in a variety of settings, or create my own block. If I don’t like what I made, no harm, no foul! I am not playing with fabric, just playing in the computer!
There are just so many possibilities with EQ8 – from uploading images of my fabrics (or other fabric company fabrics), to creating my own blocks and custom layouts, to using preset layouts and blocks… pieced quilts, appliqué quilt, paper pieced quilts… all are possible!
As some of you know, I now design fabric. I had NO idea HOW to design fabric so I took a few classes on how to create repeat designs. And in every class I heard the same theme; make a lot of designs. A lot of it may be bad. That’s OK. Save the good ones.
It’s the same with designing quilts; not all the designs you create will be good. But EQ8 gives you a platform to practice, to play, to try, to try again and to tweak again and again until you have the design the way you want!
(Isn’t there also a saying about kissing a lot of frogs until you find your prince? Same idea!)
Want a chance to make design your own quilts???
Giveaway!!
EQ is SO very generous. The EQ for You starter Box is a $336.80 value for only $276.95! And I have 1 to giveaway to 1 lucky quilter!!! What an amazing giveaway!
For a chance to win an EQ for You Starter Box for your own, just leave a comment on this blog post.
NOTE: Comments must be left on this post. To leave a comment, scroll to the bottom of the post, then go past About Kate and Related Posts and you will see Leave A Comment. Enter your comment into the box and when done, click on Post Comment!
Giveaway will be open from Wednesday April 22 and will close at 9pm on Saturday May 2nd. So don’t delay- leave a comment now!
Giveaway is closed! Thanks to all who entered!
I will draw 1 random name from all the comments and then I will email the winners. PLEASE be sure to check your email on May 3rd (including your spam folder). I will email the winner but if I don’t hear from that winner within 48 hours, I will draw a new name. If you respond after that, you forfeit your win. NOTE: EQ for You Starter Box will ship from the Electric Quilt Company so I will share the winner’s mailing address with them.
Happy quilting and Good Luck!!
Kate
If you want to see my unboxing video, head on over to Instagram (link will open in a new window)!
Want to know more about the software? Click here and use my affiliate link to open a new window and go to the Electric Quilt website and learn more!
Ready to design quilts without fear (or fabric waste!)—EQ8 sounds like a total game changer! 🤞
I design my quilts using lots of graph paper. This starter box sounds like it would be so much easier and fun to use! I wouldn’t have to re-draw everything to change colors etc. I would be exciting.
What a great way to experience a newer mode of quilting. Expanding your knowledge is never a bad thing! Would love to win this!
Thank you for this post. I’ve wondered about EQ for years. What a fun give away! Thank you and thank you to EQ!
wow, what a great way to get from a few blocks to a whole quilt!! I think my quilting hangup is not seeing the final results without a million ripping out and resewing hours. Thanks for the promo!
I have never been able to think abstractly. iwould love to be able to design a quilt and see it brought to life. thank you for this chance.
I love your fabrics and patterns. Thank you for the opportunity to win EQ8!
I love your patterns and fabrics. Thank for the chance to win EQ8!
What a wonderful giveaway! Thanks so much to you and EQ. Would love the software to help design my own quilts. 🙂
Love your quilts.
I have used an older version of EQ in the past but never got the hang of it. This looks like it would be a tremendous help!
I love Kates designs! I would love to try to create my own.
Doing some research on EQ8 and trying to decide to purchase or not. Would be so very fun and exciting to win the program! Thank you!
I love the idea of a give EQ away. Thank you
Just reading your blog and looking at tour website. So interesting. Great ideas. Will keep looking at your blog. Thank you.
Thanks for the chance to win!
I would love an EQ8 software box. What a new challenge that would be.
Best giveaway ever! I don’t need more fabric, I need ideas and inspiration and how-to design my own quilts.
Very interesting!!
I have loved Electric Quilt since version 5. I stopped using it at version 7, but need to get started with it again. I have heard great things about version 8.
Thank you. I would love a chance to win this program. I would love a chance to have an idea for a block and find a way to increase the quilting process. I make quilts for friends and family and that makes me happy.
This is an amazing giveaway. I would love to have EQ8 for work, but I haven’t been able to justify the expense. Fingers & toes crossed!
This is a super cool thing to win. I have a pattern in mind that I would like to make and I’m thinking this could be a great way to get started.
Thanks for the generous giveaway.
Your quilts are amazing. I have often contemplated getting this system as I usually adapt a pattern to suit me better.
Well done you
This is a wonderful insight into quilt designing!
I’m totally hooked on the creative side to modern quilting.
Thank you!
What a great giveaway! Good luck everyone!
This is a fantastic giveaway! I love the fact that it comes with the lesson book, instructional videos and 1 yr membership, Thanks so much for the chance to win!
I have always thought about making my own patterns.Would love to win this and be able to get started.
Awesome giveaway! I have always wanted to try a design program!!@
What a wonderful prize, Kate. Hope to win!!
This is such a wonderful prize. I need to check out the braid class. I have been sewing for about 65 years, but I am just no interested in starting to quilt.
Kate you are so generous with your finds. Thanks you for all your great patterns and giveaways🩷
Wow! This would be a great way to start designing. I have scraps of paper with pics and dimensions written all over them. This would be a wonderful tool to have.
I have often thought of investing in EQ but have put it off. This would be amazing to be able to design a quilt in minutes versus drawing it out on graph paper and doing all the math calculation. Kate I have followed your designs and love your fresh color choices.
I would love to win an EQ! I’ve been looking for something where I could test my fabrics in patterns and decide if I really like them or want to go another way. This sounds perfect for that.
I’ve always wished for a better way to design my own creations. Usually I’m inspired by some fabric and I start sketching on graph paper. But that sometimes leaves me frustrated. Maybe I’m ready for EQ8.
It would be so great to design quilts without graph paper!!
I have been looking at EQ for quite some time. It would have helped me greatly with my designs of 2 baby quilts that I just finished for our new granddaughter.
What a generous giveaway! I’ve been toying with buying this software for years now, but never feel ready to bite the bullet. I am sure it would be worthwhile, but I think is just be designing for myself so probably fine to stick with graph paper😅 However…. If I could win my own that would be amazing!
Great blog.
I love those braids! It is on my list to learn to make! Thank you for a fabulous giveaway! My sister and I would love to give this a try! Fun!! Thank you again!
Oh my, would love this! I really, really want to use it but am afraid to spend the money and not be able to figure it out!! I mainly design my own quilts. Thank you for the chance!
How exciting it would be to get to play with EQ8. Thank you for chance to win.
I’ve tried making “braids” before, but they always looked very wonky. I’ll try again ☺️ and again and perhaps again.
Love your blog!
I am currently working on the large braided summer tote bag. Can’t wait to see it finished. Just taking my time. Love doing the braids!
I love Kate’s blog, her ideas and her delivery of ideas too!
Looks like a great addition to my learning to quilt journey.
When I get a burst of quilt creativity, EQ8 would be a get tool to use. It would help to make the entire quilt design process quicker and easier from my head to the completed quilt.
I think I could have fun with EQ8. I have used graph paper to design a few things but I mostly use patterns from others. It would be fun to try different color schemes for a quilt.
I am a graph paper designer and I’d be thrilled to have this program! Thank you for this opportunity.
This would be a very fun opportunity to try something new and interesting! Would love to win this!!
Kate, your new online braid class sounds terrific! I have been thinking of making a braid quilt because I love how they look. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway opportunity.
What an incredible giveaway. I have always been a pencil-and-graph-paper girl, but I would gladly give that up for a chance to try EQ8! Thanks for the sharing!
I would love to have this quilt designing software. I have modified some quilt patterns I have found in the past, but would love to be able to do it and see it with colors, rather than white and pencil shading.
I love to quilt and currently I design things with pencil and paper. The EQ8 would be a tremendous time saver for me. I hope I win!!!
Wow Kate this is so generous of you. What a wonderful to let our creative juices flow. Love your designs.
I have wanted to design quilts for myself, but have been intimidated by the software. This package sounds like a great place to start!
What an amazing giveaway… would love an opportunity to win.
computer programming is intimidating to me but this starter pack makes it sound doable. thanks for the chance to win.
What an opportunity! Thank you! And your course looks fabulous!
I’ve always wanted to try this. I’m currently designing on graph paper. Many thanks for the giveway.
EQ8 looks like an amazing tool! I would love to design my own quilts using this tool rather than the graph paper and “winging it” that I have be doing! lol The design capabilities of EQ8 would unleash the creativity that lurks inside me- paper piecing, landscapes and so much more! Thank you Kate and EQ8 for this amazing opportunity!
I’d love to try EQ8! Thanks for the giveaway
This is such an amazing program, I’ve seen it used by many and would love to put my creativity to use through it! Thank you for hosting such an awesome giveaway!
HI! I made your Koffee Kup Mug Rugs and gave them out for shower favors. My guests loved them and people are asking for more! Its a great way to use up scraps and they are so useful.
I am at the point where I want to try to design quilts. I think EQ would be so awesome to use for this.
Diane
This is an amazing giveaway! I’ve seen so many designers use this software and I’d love to try it too! Always been in my bucket list of quilting wants. Thank you Kate and EQ for offering this prize!
Hi Kate,
I would love to win the EQ8 program, I’m still using graph paper.
Thanks
Love playing around with quilt designs
absolutely awesome giveaway. This has been on my dream list for along time. Very anxious to start the free quilt as well. Thank you so much for all you do for the quilting community.
Good Morning, I would love to win this! Looks so cool to try. Fingers crossed, smiles.
I have been trying to design Quilt‘s using other graphic software so winning the EQ8 package would be absolutely amazing! Thank you, Kate!
Thank you for this opportunity. I would love to try designing,. I don’t think I will ever be as good as you though.
I’ve heard so much about EQ and this is a great opportunity to learn. Thanks!!
I’d love to win an EQ for You starter Box. I love piecing and EQ would make it so quick/easy to see how various blocks/colors would impact a design.
I would love to own this software. I am so intrigued by designing patterns, but can’t afford to purchase this now. I love your braid quilt. It sparks so many ideas.
Winning the EQ prize box would be fantastic!
What an amazing prize!
Looks like a fun product! I would love to dive in and learn about design in my leisure. Fingerscrossed.
I’ve always been intrigued with this software and the design possibilities!
Loved your class when I took it at the Quilted Ewe in East Hartford. Follow you all the time online. I would love to have EQ8. It would definitely add a new dimension to my quilting. Here’s good luck to me.
I hear so much about the EQ products, I would love to learn and make it work for my design, it would be a lot faster & easier than the hand drawing I am doing right now, and most probably it would give me more design possibilities.
How fun!! The software would be just another element in this amazing quilting journey I am on🌺
What a great prize. Thank you for the opportunity to win it. I have been using graph paper for years and as Arthur has come to visit often I have learned to other means in drafting and sewing. Have a great day!
I have visited the EQ8 site and thought how wonderful it would be to have it at my finger tips! I definitely have sat with my seam ripper to undo what looked so great in my head just didn’t work out. Good luck to all!
I have visited the EQ8 site and thought how wonderful it would be to have it at my finger tips! I definitely have sat with my seam ripper to undo what looked so great in my head just didn’t work out. Good luck to all!
It would be soo exciting to use EQ8 to design with!
This looks amazing. I’m a beginner and would love to win….the designs are endless!
EQ sounds like something that will really help me. I love to fool around trying new quilt designs.
What an exciting giveaway! I was taking a class for kaleidoscope quilts and this would have made it so much easier than me having to color 4 of the same pattern on paper. I have a long list of quilt ideas in my head and this would make them so much easier to get into real life.
I have a friend who uses and teaches EQ8. I would love to own the software myself. I own the Braid book (not the stash busting one) and rulers. I am not good at trying to design on graph paper so this would be such a great giveaway for me.
I have many quilts in my head. I just spent two days trying to figure a simple quilt pattern out using graph paper. This would have made it so much easier! Thanks for the chance to win!
What a great giveaway! I have used graph paper and pencils for decades. It would be fun to try designing on the computer.
I would love to play around with this program. Years ago I had a copy of EQ5 and it wasn’t very user friendly. They have probably greatly improved it since then.
I am signed up for your Sunday Class at the Genesee Valley quilt fest. I am looking forward to attending this. Thanks for mentioning it on your blog.
This is an amazing giveaway. What an opportunity to win this. Always been in my bucket list of quilting wants. Thank you
What great advice to try a lot of designs and keep the good ones! Thanks for the chance to win.
Would LOVE to win this!
Thank you for sharing useful information with the quilting community and for a chance at this giveaway! I would love to learn to use this software.
Hi Kate. Thanks for the opportunity to try this software. I always wanted to try this software.
I just started getting your newsletter and I find it inspiring. Thank you
This is amazing. I’ve wanted to try using software like this, but haven’t yet. Thank you for the chance to win a box!
I would love to try to design using the EQ software. Love reading your blog
Such a great giveaway – the gift of creativity! Fingers crossed for a win.
What a dream this would be to win this EQ Starter Box! I’ve seen so many designers use this software and I’d love to try it too! Thank you Kate and EQ for offering this prize!
I’ve been wanting to try EQ! It looks so fun!