Tag Archives: EQ8 classes

EQ8 Classes for 2026

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I am happy to share my lineup of EQ8 classes for 2026. EQ8 is Quilt design software that allows you to design beautiful quilts and quilt blocks.

I use EQ8 myself to design all of my quilts. It is the leading quilt design software in the world. As a full-featured software, it lets you see your quilt on the screen before you even cut a piece of fabric. You can swap and rotate blocks, add borders, and play with different colorways and fabrics.

EQ8 is perfect for beginner or professional quilters with computer skills of all levels and is available for PC and Mac.

If you have your software, but have not cracked it open or just need an in person class to pick up those skills, these classes are for you!  I specialize in my beginner class that will help you navigate the software and build confidence to design on your own. I hope you can join me.

I have a full array of classes at the following shows and dates.  Full descriptions of the classes follow below.

EQ Academy 2026
Perrysburg, OH
March 26 – 28

  • March 28 AM Adding Fabrics and Photos to EQ8
  • March 28 PM Fabulous Framing Borders and Sashing

Above are the classes that I am teaching at EQ Academy, but there is a whole 3 days of EQ8 classes to choose from, including beginner classes and more to check out!

AQS Paducah 2026
Schroeder Expo Center, Paducah, KY
April 22 – 25

  • April 22 EQ8 Start at the Beginning
  • April 23 EQ8 I want to Learn More
  • April 24 EQ8 Fun with Fabrics (Adding Fabrics and Photos to EQ8)
  • April 24 EQ8 Fabulous Framing (Borders and Sashing)
  • April 25 EQ8 KickStart Mini Beginner

AQS Columbus 2026
Schroeder Expo Center, Paducah, KY
September 23-26

  • September 23 EQ8 Start at the Beginning
  • September 24 EQ8 I want to Learn More
  • September 25 To be Determined
  • September 25 To be Determined
  • September 26 EQ8 KickStart Mini Beginner

Class Descriptions

EQ8 Start at the Beginning

Build your EQ confidence! Tour the workspace and begin designing a variety of beautiful quilt styles. Search the EQ8 libraries for the perfect block or fabric to turn your quilt designs into reality. You can even add fabrics from your own stash. Learn how to print yardage estimates, rotary cutting charts, and more. Nicely paced and encouraging workshop for those who want to understand and practice the basics. Windows and Mac users welcome

EQ8 I want to Learn More

Take the next step learning EQ8. Learn to draw or edit your own blocks to place in your quilt creations. Explore appliqué and stencils to better understand the three layers of the quilt in EQ8. Take a deep dive into borders and Auto Borders. Create personal libraries, use text and photos, and explore free-form quilt settings. By the end of the workshop, you will have the confidence to design your own beautiful blocks and quilts. Windows and Mac users welcome.

Design with EQ8 and AccuQuilt GO!

In this class, we will combine the power of EQ8 quilt design with the ease of fabric die cutting. The AccuQuilt GO! Qube system is made up of building blocks in a four-patch design grid that make up some of the most common blocks already available in Electric Quilt. Use those blocks to design beautiful quilts, try colors and fabrics and then when you are ready, use your AccuQuilt GO! Cutter to cut your fabric.  The new AccuQuilt add-ons are not required for this class. The concepts covered in class will make working with EQ8 and AccuQuilt easier, with or without the add-on products.

Please note: This class will focus on the EQ8 design process for compatible blocks and quilts. No die cutters will be used.

EQ8 Fun with Fabrics

This half-day class will show you how simple it is to add your own fabrics and panels to EQ8. Learn how to import fabrics, straighten, scale, crop, and add the fabrics to your Favorites library! Discover the differences between fabrics and panels and how to edit them for your design.

Using photos in your quilt is very similar to how you would use fabrics. Learn the difference between photos and fabrics, import photos for use in a photo quilt, and discover new ways to use photos that you may not have even imagined.

EQ8 Fabulous Framing (Borders and Sashing

Are your borders simply boring? Do you just slap on strips of fabric to add length and width to your quilt? Is your sashing simple? Take your borders from blah to beautiful and your sashing from sad to stunning with the built-in tools in EQ8. This fun workshop explores a variety of borders and border styles from pieced, Flying Geese, appliqué, checkerboard, and more. Use borders to jazz up a panel or medallion quilt. Discover creative sashing with pieced blocks and clever design ideas. Your quilts are limited only by your imagination. NOTE: This workshop moves at a faster pace than beginner EQ8 workshops. PC and Mac Users welcome.

EQ8 KickStart Mini Beginner

Are you brand new to EQ8? This is the perfect workshop to get to know your exciting new quilt design software. This workshop will go over the basics for beginner EQ8 users needing an overview of the EQ experience. Take an in-depth tour through the software to get a better understanding of the three worktables, the Project Sketchbook, and how to navigate the entire workspace. We will start designing quilts right away using EQ8 as your virtual design wall. Study the many pattern-printing options available and learn how to find yardage estimates. The best way to learn is by doing! This workshop is nicely paced for beginners. Windows and Mac users welcome. Please note, this workshop is designed for brand new EQ8 users and is focused on EQ8 basics. If you have taken the full day beginner workshop, this workshop covers similar topics.

I am looking forward to seeing you in class!

I am Teaching EQ8!

Posted in EQ8 by

Hello Quilty Friends! 

If you have been wanting to design your own quilts and are ready for the next step, you will want to consider learning EQ8 Quilt Design Software.  If you are looking for an in person class to take, I wanted to share that I am teaching EQ8 in person in September at the AQS Des Moines Quilt Show and in October/November at the Houston Quilt Festival.

Shop ElectricQuilt.com

If you are not familiar, EQ8 is my design tool of choice to make and create beautiful quilts.  It is quilt design software available for the PC and the MAC.  It allows you to ditch the pencils and graph paper and design all kinds and styles of quilts using your computer.

If you have never seen it, check out this brilliant demo from The Electric Quilt Company for a great overview.

Watch a demo of EQ8!

Teaching Schedule and Classes

AQS Des Moines EQ8 Classes

September 27 – 30th

Des Moines, Iowa Events Center.

I am teaching a full slate of classes and there is still room to join me.

EQ8 Start at the Beginning, #59101w

Build your EQ8 confidence! Tour the workspace and begin designing a variety of beautiful quilt styles. Search the EQ8 libraries for the perfect block or fabric to turn your quilt designs into reality. Or add fabrics from your own stash. Learn how to print yardage estimates, rotary cutting charts, and more. Nicely paced and encouraging class for those who want to understand and practice the basics. Windows and Mac users welcome. Registration for this class includes show admission for Wednesday.

EQ8: I Want to Learn More, #59102t

Take the next step learning EQ8. Learn to draw or edit your own blocks to place in your quilt creations. Explore appliqué and stencils and understand the three layers of the quilt in EQ8. Take a deep dive into borders and Auto Borders. Create personal libraries, use text, photos, and explore free-form quilt settings. By the end of the class, you will have the confidence to design your own beautiful blocks and quilts. Windows and Mac users welcome. This is a great followup to the EQ8 Beginner class. 

EQ8: Design for AccuQuilt Qube, #59503

Combine the power of EQ8 quilt design software with the ease of fabric die cutting. The AccuQuilt GO! Qube system is made of building blocks to create a four patch quilt block. Discover EQ8 compatible blocks, draw your own blocks, try different fabrics, and create your own block library. Your design will be ready to cut with the AccuQuilt GO! Cutter. Learn tips and tricks to use the best features of both EQ8 and AccuQuilt. Class based on the 8” Qube, with help to accommodate other sizes. Please note: This is an EQ8 software design class. No die cutters will be used. Completion of a beginner EQ8 class is helpful.

EQ8: Borders and Sashings, #59504

Are your Borders simply boring? Do you just slap on strips of fabric to add length and width to your quilt? Is your sashing simple? Take your borders from blah to beautiful and your sashing from sad to stunning with the built-in tools in EQ8. This fun class will explore a variety of borders and border styles from pieced, flying geese, appliqué, checkerboard, and more. Use borders to jazz up a panel or medallion quilt. Discover creative sashing with pieced blocks and clever design ideas. Your quilts are limited only by your imagination. NOTE: This class moves at a faster pace than Beginner EQ8 classes. PC and Mac Users welcome.

EQ8: Adding Fabrics, #59505

Grow your EQ8 skills! Learn how easy it is to add your own fabrics, panels, and photos to EQ8. Import fabrics, straighten, scale, crop and add them to your Favorites library! Add current manufacturer fabric lines to use in your quilt designs. Discover how you can scan or photograph your own stash to use in your creations. Include fabric panels to creatively design one-of-a-kind quilts. This is the perfect follow-up to any Beginner EQ8 class. Windows and Mac Users welcome.

Houston International Quilt Festival EQ8 Classes

October 30th – November 5th

George R Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX

I am teaching the whole week and there are still a few seats left for my classes in Houston.

108   EQ8 Lets Start at the Beginning

220   EQ8: I Want to Learn More

348   EQ8: Design for AccuQuilt Qube

367   EQ8: Adding Fabrics and Photos

425   EQ8: Lets Start at the Beginning

533   EQ8: Kick Start

Are you brand new to EQ8? This is the perfect class to get to know your exciting new quilt design software. Explore the workspace and start designing quilts right away! EQ8 is your virtual design wall. Use it to try out exciting color combinations, estimate fabric yardage quickly, and print blocks and rotary cutting charts to get started right away. Class nicely paced for beginners. Windows and Mac users welcome. Please note: This class is designed for brand new EQ8 users and is focused on EQ8 basics. If you have taken the full-day beginner class, this class covers similar topics. 

569   EQ8: Adding Fabrics and Photos

More Ways to Learn EQ8

If you can’t attend an in person class, The Electric Quilt Company also offers online courses and books for purchase to help you learn the quilt design program.

Learn EQ at Home

Check out the Online classes

EQ8 Lesson Books

Use EQ8 Lesson Books to master the software!

EQ8 Tutorials

Check out my EQ8 Lessons with Lori on the EQ Blog

EQ8 Lessons with Lori

I am a self-professed EQ8 Superfan, Pattern Designer and Quilter.  Head over to my shop to find my stunning Quilt patterns and EQ8 Block libraries for AccuQuilt.

Shop Here

New GO! Friendly Pattern – Honey Bee Hive

Posted in accuquilt, Finished Projects, Patterns for Sale by
Honey Bee Hive by Lori Miller Designs

Introducing Honey Bee Hive, this pattern has been all of the buzz. This is an AccuQuilt GO! Friendly pattern. It uses the Storm at Sea Block on Board Die and several strip dies.

Honey Bee Block by Lori Miller Designs

This little quilt has a special place in my heart. My Dad was a beekeeper for over 50 years. I used to go and help him work the bees and take off the honey. The honey was so delicious.

Honey Bee Hive – Baby or Wall Hanging by Lori Miller Designs

I designed my quilt using Electric Quilt Design software. Honey Bee Hive comes in three sizes, Baby or Wall hanging, Throw Size and Queen, of course.

This pattern only comes with AccuQuilt GO! Cutter instructions. You will need the following dies:

  • GO Storm at Sea Die (9” Finished) (55221)
  • GO! Strip Cutter 3 ½” (3” Finished Strip Die (55032)
  • GO! Strip Cutter – 1 ½” (1” Finished) (55024) OR GO! Strip Cutter – 2 ½” (2” Finished) (55017) depending on Quilt size.

I love the accurately cut pieces which makes string piecing go quickly.

A closeup of the little Bee Skep Beehive in the center. So Cute!

Thanks for stopping by to see my new Pattern Design.

Available now in my Etsy Shop!

Shop Now

Check out these other AccuQuilt GO! Friendly patterns in my shop.

Visit Shop

I love to teach EQ8!

Posted in EQ8 by

A wonderful thing happened about five years ago.  I discovered a fabulous software program that has changed my life and took me in surprising and fun directions.  Electric Quilt was a computer software program to design quilts.  It was perfect.

Me at age 11

Let’s take a step back.  I decided to retire early in 2012 and do something with all my creative energy.  I had been a sewist since age 11 and had sewn clothing, home decor, halloween costumes and most recently quilts and small quilty gifts.  I was designing with pencil and graph paper.  I wanted to design more quilts and had an idea to submit to quilt magazines.  I needed something more efficient.  I found Electric Quilt 7 quilt design software.

I bought the software, I tried to use it, it was a comprehensive program.  I was squeaking out a few things when I discovered what turned out to be the first EQ Academy in Ohio.  I lived in Michigan, not a bad drive from where I lived so I invested in myself and attended classes.  So truth be told, it was a perfect match.  I started my career as a computer programmer and ended up as a Director of Information Technology in the Automotive industry.  Mixing my technical background with my love for quilting made Electric Quilt the perfect choice.

I was off and running after those first classes, I was designing my own original patterns.  I made beautiful quilts for friends and family.  I submitted designs from EQ8 to magazines with success and started my own independent pattern business.

I loved it so much, I started to teach the software to others.  I started out teaching my husband, he is so supportive and was my first student.  I began to teach at a local quilt shop and to teach at local quilt events.

I had a wonderful opportunity come up a few years ago to teach for Electric Quilt at one of their EQ Academies.  I really enjoyed it.  I especially enjoy teaching beginners, it is so rewarding to see the light bulbs come on and to have them get excited about designing that perfect quilt they have been thinking about.

It is rewarding to help others be able to design and be creative using this unique, comprehensive software.

I continue to build my knowledge and teach others.  This year I will be teaching a lot of new users, maybe you will be one of my students and learn the joys of designing in EQ8.

Here is my current EQ8 2020 Teaching Schedule:

Postponed to a future date  March 26-28    Decorative Stitch Quilt Shop, Shelby Township, MI

CANCELLED  See you in the Fall  April 2-5    Sprng EQ Academy, Perrysburg, OH

Sep 17-19        Decorative Stitch Quilt Shop, Shelby Township, MI

Oct 1-3             Fall EQ Academy, Perrysburg, OH

I hope you can join me for one of those dates.  Invest in yourself and take a class, you will learn so much.

I also travel to teach at shows, guilds and shops.  Check out my Classes page for my current offerings.

Happy Designing!