CONTENTS: Announcements -  Ask EQ -  Free Stuff -  Works For Me -  Show & Tell -  Quilter Community -  Quilt University -  A Quilt for Sean -  Club EQ -  Make it Simpler Paper Piecing -  EQ Mac Users Group -  Let's Make Marshmallows -  EQ & HP Sponsor Computer Labs -  Coming Soon from EQ -  Our Booth in Houston

• EQ5 WreathMaker Symmetries
  
• EQ5 Tracing Tactics
  
• EQ5 Advanced Drawing
  

Click here to see samples of what Patti's students have done in her EQ classes on advanced drawing, tracing tactics and labels.

Fran Gonzalez, author of our beginner's favorite EQ5 Simplified, teaches these Quilt University classes:

• EQ5 Basics
  
• EQ5 Ease into EasyDraw
  
• EQ5 Libraries and Layouts
  
• EQ5 Color Tools
  
• EQ5 PatchDraw
  
• EQ5 Custom Set
  

Fran Gonzalez classes:

Easy Draw - February 21

EQ5 Color Tools - March 20

EQ5 Patchdraw - April 17

EQ5 Layouts and Borders - May 22

EQ5 Custom Set - July 3

EQ5 Color Tools - July 17

Patti Anderson Classes

You need to be comfortable with basic EQ operations and familiar with basic aspects of the PatchDraw program. These two classes explore more advanced PatchDraw functions.

EQ Wreathmaker - 2/14

To sign up for these classes, visit Quilt University.

"I have taken a number of classes at Quilt University. The EQ classes were with Fran and were superb. I took "Ease into Easy Draw" and "Libraries and Layouts". The lessons were accurate. All of the links worked. Fran provided bonus info in the lessons and in the forum area. She answered questions promptly.

Instructing a class via the Internet is not the easiest class to do. The instructor cannot see the students eyes or body English. They cannot use their voice for inflection or emphasis on important notes. However, some of the QU instructors are very good at creating interest in their class. Fran is one of them.

I am not an intensive user of EQ but I learned enough in Fran's class to draw quilts electronically. Also, I am using them as "what if" before I start the quilt."

"I am taking the EQ4 class with Fran Gonzalez now at Quilt University and I love it. I find her instructions very clear and easy to understand. She takes the time and effort to explain each step with graphics.

I love taking online classes because they let me work at my own pace and my own time which is usually 2am. I have taken many online classes from different colleges and I will rate Quilt University's classes equal to any of those."

"I took Ease into EasyDraw with Fran Gonzalez. I would like to add that I take classes at quilt shops in my area two or three times a year. I derived more benefit from Fran's "online" class than I have EVER gotten from another class, online or not. I have used EQ 4.1 for laying out my quilts, and often draw the blocks. I learned so many new and nifty things with this class that it has greatly expanded my experience with EQ4. Fran absolutely left nothing to guesswork. When you printed out the lesson, she guided you step by step, accurately and with a communicative ability bar none."

"I have taken classes from both Fran and Patti at Quilt University. They are both wonderful teachers. You feel like you are in the classroom with them. They answer the discussion questions in record time. I have recommended their classes to many of my quilting friends."

"I recently took the Patchdraw class with Fran Gonzalez online at Quilt U. and I thought it was wonderful. She started out with very basic stuff, but quickly went on to drawing shapes and editing Bezier curves, and even did a little work with Wreathmaker and with importing and tracing bitmaps. It was an information packed course and covered all the things I'd wanted to know but just had never quite figured out on my own. Her lessons were clear and well-organized; she was very helpful with questions; and it was helpful to me to have the "deadlines" of a new class coming out each week to encourage me to keep working at it. I couldn't have been happier with the class."

"I have taken Tracing Tactics, Wreathmaker Symmetries with Patti. I enjoyed and learned a lot and actually had the opportunity to do some tracing for my guild. If I had not taken the tracing class I would not have known how to do this properly.

I take any class that is offered by Fran. She is a wonderful teacher and very thorough. I have taken EQ Libraries and Layouts, Ease into Easy Draw, and Patchdraw. The knowledge I have gained from taking these courses can not be measured. I am so very comfortable working with EQ and now use all the tools.

Taking a course online is very nice. I can work on my homework at anytime of the day or night. I don't have to take a sewing machine out to a class. I can sit at my computer and drink my coffee and learn. If I have a question I email the teacher and if need be I send a photo of the problem I am having. The teachers are very prompt in getting back to me with an answer. I will continue to take courses offered by Quilt U, because I am becoming a better quilter having taken the classes. I am looking forward to the class that Fran will be teaching in the new year about teaching EQ. My guild is waiting for me to teach them all about EQ."

"I recently took "Ease into EasyDraw" with Fran Gonzalez. I had been using EQ4 for more than 1 1/2 years and was not sure if that class would be too easy for me but then decided to start from scratch. There were three lessons, and the first lesson covered what I already knew from working with the program. During the following lessons I was very surprised about what I didn't know about "easy" EasyDraw. Fran was very helpful and answered every question as soon as we posted it. I would really recommend it."

I took a Fran Gonzalez class "Ease into EasyDraw." I like very much the online class. Fran was fantastic. She always answers very quickly. For me it is important because with the difference of clock I need a day to read answers. Moreover, my english is not very good and Fran and the other students help me to better understand the lessons and the commands.

The lessons were clear and with a good explanation with pattern very nice and beautiful drawn. I am sure that you will understand me if I tell you that illustration, photo and pattern are very important for me, because they help me where my english doesn't help me."

"I have taken Ease into EasyDraw, EQ Color Concepts, and Libraries and Layouts with Fran.

I cannot rave enough about QU or Fran. I had worked through some of the EQ books and wondered if I really needed the classes, but they are inexpensive and you can work at your own leisure, so I signed up. Fran's classes, in particular, are extremely well thought out and clear, and she delivers much, much more than promised in the course descriptions. In addition to clearly explaining the major attributes of EQ that were under discussion, Fran pointed out lots of ways to use the program's tools that I had not picked up from the basic book(s). The capabilities of EQ seem unlimited under Fran's tutelage.

The advantage to taking the online class compared to just working through the exercises in the book is that if you have a question, you can just ask it in the discussion forum and the teacher is right there to help you. You can get the personal attention as though you were in a classroom setting, but the classtime is at your own discretion. The thing about Fran's classes, though, is that they are so clear that I never had a question for her! I will follow Fran anywhere!"

"I took Fran's class the last time she offered it and I loved it. I learned so much. I have her book and had gone through it twice but still did not feel comfortable with Patchdraw. As I went through the classes each week, I became more and more comfortable with each of the features in Patchdraw. Her clear and concise instructions are easy to follow and not too fast for a beginner to catch on. Having the discussion panel to ask questions and to give and receive praise from gallery submissions is wonderful. Most of the time, Fran was right there with an answer within a few minutes of any question posted.

The on-line form of class was very interesting. I wasn't sure if I would like it but it turned out to be very easy. I could work at my own pace and do it anytime I wanted, even in the middle of the night sometimes. The instructions she had available for print out were so clear there wasn't much room for trouble. In closing, I can't say enough for Fran's kind and precise manner of teaching."

"I've taken QU classes from both Patti and Fran and enjoyed every minute. I did learn a whole lot more than I got by going through the books. Fran and Patti are both very good about responding to student's questions and giving helpful tips to make things easier.

I am a certified QU junkie for over a year now, and am about to self publish a Hawaiian BOM. I was having trouble with the 1/8th design required for cutwork applique, and Fran got some information for me from Patti that came from Suzanne Sanger about how to clone, rotate, etc. with this type of drawing. If they hadn't helped me, I'd still be struggling with it. QU's on-line classes are great!"

"I have taken 3 classes from Fran: EQ Basics, Libraries and Layouts, and Ease into EasyDraw. I also took Foundation-Piecing from Patti. These classes were the most wonderful experience! All of the classes from Quilt U are the best buy around, in my opinion. Fran's classes are so detailed and full of helpful information. I now have a file for every class with vital information in each file. I can go back and review the classes and repeat anything over and over and over, ad infinitum. This is a very good reference to have. If ever I had a question, Fran answered almost immediately, it seemed.

The absolutely BEST class I have ever taken from anyone has got to be the Ease into EasyDraw. I learned so much about using EQ to draw blocks and I know that I will use that way into the future. I only wish she offered an advanced version of this class because I would love to play more with this. An on-line class is the best of all worlds. You have the teacher's undivided attention about specific things she is having you do and she answers so quickly and then re-explains and adds some other tidbit of information along the way. The class from Patti was not quite as detailed, but very good and well organized. I didn't have time to play around a lot when the class was up, but I know I will do so in the future. I intend to take another class from Patti after the new year on some of the more advanced features of EQ and I am greatly looking forward to it."

"These classes were an excellent source for me. Fran's classes made me finally commit real time to learn EQ and what it is capable of doing. Fran is organized and always available. If you have a problem she and others in the class will "talk" to you until you have overcome your difficulty. The discussion forum and the gallery make for wonderful sharing and inspiration.

Patti's class was just as organized; she is also available all the time. Learning to integrate EQ with other programs was great fun. I felt very "accomplished" when I could print out a creative label at the end.

At first I was hesitant to use cyber-learning but the low cost factor made it easy to give it a try. Computer learning seem especially appropriate and a natural way to learn about a computer program and its uses. Now I cannot wait until after the holidays to see what I can take next."

"I print out the lessons, and save any additional helpful hints in YesUCan. I have already refered back to them several times. I have owned EQ since its first inception, have both EQ Magic and EQ Simplified, and a long distance phone bill to BG spreading over a number of years when I was still stumped. Everyone on the phone has always been more than helpful, but I have never liked the manual which came with the program because the indexing was such that I could never find the directions to do what I wanted to accomplish. That lesson format didn't work for me. I might add that I am not in the least computer savvy. I have learned much of what I know from everyone at Info EQ. I am still a very basic user of EQ but I am very glad to know what can be done, when I get around to it. I never would have understood any of these things without Fran and Quilt U. The discussion area is a very vital part of this class. I also find it very helpul that the class stays up for two weeks after closing, with support. Sometimes, I am busier than anticipated by the time class week comes around."

"All of these classes were excellent! -- in content, presentation, and as learning tools for using EQ to it's full potential! Both instructors were very knowledgeable of their subject and were always more than helpful in answering students questions and helping us to learn how to use the program in each particular area that the class covered. (I know Patti even went the extra "mile" (or two or three) to help us master our Word processing programs in the Label class!)

I liked taking the classes because they targeted specific areas of the program or things to do with the program. I found that even though I thought I was comfortable in using the program, it was like getting a different perspective on how to use the tools. Often, I learned a shorter or a different way to approach a technique, or in many cases, learned just what I could do with some of the tools. For example, in Wreathmaker Symmetries, I found out about using the mouse to rotate figures--up to this point, I had just been rotating by right clicking and using the degrees or symmetries methods. It is these little details that seem to come to light when you take a course like those offered by Quilt University.

The nice thing about on-line courses is that you can do them at your own pace and when you have time during the day (or night). I copied the lessons for my own resource and I could work at them when I had time. I could go ahead or stay on one area for as long as I needed. The pictures and examples were great to follow. And they will be a good resource to go back to refresh from time to time.

I would highly recommend the EQ Quilt University courses as an additional learning tool for EQ users! Patti and Fran are excellent teachers!"

"I took Fran's Layout's class this past summer. My previous EQ experience had been self taught, with some help from the Benni Harper lessons on the EQ sites. Most of my quilts were horizontal layouts with plain borders! I learned a lot from the class and found it easy to print off the lessons and work at my own pace. Some of the tips, like clearing the fabric palette and picking our own fabrics, made a big difference right away in my attitude toward what I was trying to do.

The answers to posted questions were prompt and appropriate. I did not do any chat room stuff, but did enjoy the e-mail exchanges."

"I have taken four classes at QU. My experiences have all been good ones. The first was Fran's EQ4 Basics. I really liked the class because it helped me increase my knowledge of EQ4 while not making me feel like a total dummy. Actually, I realized I knew more about how to use the program than I thought I did.

The second class I took was Patti's Tracing Tactics which was a little more difficult. This class gave me an opportunity to actually learn how to import a bitmap and use the necessary tools to turn it into a real picture. I won't say I have it completely mastered but at least I'm comfortable with the process.

The next class was Patti's advanced drawing. Again, after the class was over, I had acquired enough skills to sit down and draw something a little more complicated without having to look everything up in the EQ help file. And that brings me to what I truly like about QU - if I'm not in the mood to work on the day the lesson is available, I can just print out the lesson and tackle it at my leisure. It's actually very liberating to take a class in your jammies.

Another and probably the most important element about QU is that by using the Class Discussion forum, I found out that I was not the only person taking the class who was having the same problem I was having with a lesson. Sometimes, it is possible to find the answer to your question just by reading the answers given to others in the class, kind of like having your question answered before you even ask it. And all of the teachers have been really fast about getting back to the students with answers.

And finally there is the gallery feature where we all share our work. It's really helpful to see what other people are doing with EQ4 and with the lesson directions. Again, I found that I was just about on the same level with the majority of students in the class, and that's helpful to know."

"Do yourself a favor and sign up for the EQ4 classes offered at Quilt University. They are fun, easy, inexpensive, and you learn so much. You attend class in the comfort of your own home at any hour of the day or night...no lugging all those supplies to class. You work at your own pace. The teacher is always available for questions and answers. The discussion forum is wonderful. And you can "hang" your creations in the Gallery to be admired by your fellow classmates. I've taken three classes already: EQ4 Basics; Easy Into EasyDraw; Libraries and Layouts... all taught by Fran Gonzalez (an excellent teacher). Today I start EQ4 Advanced Drawing with Patti Anderson.

I admit I was hesitant as first. It's hard to take that first step. But I'm so happy I did. I'm amazed at what I've learned. I have the manuals, books, etc., but there is something about these classes that makes it all "click" and come together."

CONTENTS: Announcements -  Ask EQ -  Free Stuff -  Works For Me -  Show & Tell -  Quilter Community -  Quilt University -  A Quilt for Sean -  Club EQ -  Make it Simpler Paper Piecing -  EQ Mac Users Group -  Let's Make Marshmallows -  EQ & HP Sponsor Computer Labs -  Coming Soon from EQ -  Our Booth in Houston