Sylvia Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Good Day Fellow Longarmers I have a couple of questions for you and they are..... 1. Do any of you design your own quilts and, if so, what computer program do you use? This is for designing the quilt, not the quilting. 2. Has anyone ever had a problem with sinus stuffiness from quilting? I have had this happen twice now, where I end up with a headache and what feels like a sinus infection after quilting. Answers will be truly appreciated. Sylvia from Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Question #1....yes I use EQ version 6 for that. Question #2....sometimes but its more of a thing with a smokey quilt...maybe the battings that they are using you are having a reaction to. Check to see what battings they are using and see if they are the same and go from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmoore1223 Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 I use EQ6 to do any designing that I want to do. No, Sylvia I've never had the sinus thing while quilting. Are you maybe allergic to something in the fabric like sizing for instance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraC Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 I find in the last couple of years I get a headache when the barometer is dropping. Could this be a problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hollyrw Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Hi Sylvia, 1) I use good old fashioned graph paper and pencils. I tried EQ but we didn't get along. I'm a computer programmer by profession so you would think EQ would be right up my alley. Instead, I found it very un-logical and frustrating. Oh well, paper and pencil work just fine. 2) I've never had that happen to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Sew Simple Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Sylvia from Up North, this is Sylvia from down south. I use EQ6 and I totally, totally love it. I use it allllll the time and it is very acurate. I even color my quilts, print them out and go to town to buy just that fabric (as close to it as I can). then it looks just like I planned! good luck with the sinus thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melora Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 I get bad asthma from warm and natural cotton, the dust it makes were killing me . I switched to a poly. Or I use a combo with the poly on top so it traps the dust. Using a air puriferier helps alot. Good luck Melora Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg_marsh Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Hi Sylvia, I use EQ6 I just have allergies in general so am on medication full time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeoldeforest Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 If the fabric on the quilt top hasn't been washed before piecing, a lot of chemicals could exist and get in the air causing allergies. (like Coleen said...) Whenever we unwrap new bolts of fabric, we tend to sneeze more and I can tell some people's allergies seem to flare from the fabric and bolts of batting that we have in the shoppe. I do need to take the air purifier to the shoppe - thanks for the suggestion and maybe that will help. Oh, I use MS Excel for designing quilts...guess it's the accounting nerd coming out in me. I make all of my columns and rows the same width and height then insert shapes with scanned fabric or fabric swatches from the internet if I'm designing with a specific fabric line or colors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koala-T Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 1. I use EQ6. I started off with the first version years ago and have kept upgrading. I LOVE it! I love it for designing and can spend hours tweeking a pattern. I will even take a pattern in a magazine or book and draw it in and then put in my fabric choices. 2. I have reactions to some unwashed fabrics, so my own stash is washed before taken to the sewing room whenever possible. I also have a problem with barometric pressure, so you might keep an eye on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcclannan Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 I use EQ6 too and the only time I get a headache is when I'm frogging. I think I must be allergic to frogs!:P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgene Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Are you perhaps using Pounce on the quilt? The first couple of times I used Pounce I got a horrific headache and felt like sinus infection that lasted for 2 days. Now I still use it, but I apply it with a foam brush, not the pounce pad, and I open all the windows or turn on the fan. Sometimes I leave the room for awhile after using it, just to let it all settle. I love the stuff, but I have to use it moderately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 I too use EQ to design. If you take a course in Adobe InDesign the program makes a whole lot more sense! I would guess it is the batting that is causing your problem. Do you change the types you use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sylvia Posted October 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 Thank you all so much! I will go ahead with an EQ purchase. I have my suspicions about batting and - Melora - the two quilts I just did had Warm and Natural in them. I'll keep track so I can specify which battings are OK. I myself use Hobbs 100 organic cotton and Hobbs 80/20 and occasionally Hobbs PolyDown . No problem there. Thanks again. I don't want to give this up but don't want to feel like this either. Happy Quilting Sylvia from Canada P.S. I am highly allergic to frogs, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigletaz Posted October 23, 2008 Report Share Posted October 23, 2008 I can't answer the first question, I'm not that talented. #2. Allergies. First, cotton is the MOST over treated crop on the planet. Cotton uses the most pesticides (except for organic cotton of course which is chemical free when they grow it). Then cotton is processed with chemicals, dyes, etc. Unwashed cotton has given me lots of sinus reactions, itchy watery eyes, skin and sneezing. I always wash before using otherwise I'm suffering. I have also found that if I use the new organic cotton/bamboo batting, I have no reaction to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newellyn Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 I use EQ5, kind of. I think the program is very frustrating most of the time. I do scan in fabric and use a general idea of what I want and color with the scanned fabrics to see if they are working out. I also use the program to print out cutting sizes for odd sized blocks I find a need for. Quite a bit of my designing is by the seat of my pants as I go along. Usually medallion type quilts that I decide on the each layer as I go along. Certainly not scientific but that's me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 A box of dust masks from the Health Supply store, or sometimes Walmart carries them, also helps with dusty things and sinus problems, also lung problems.. That would also let the customer choose the batt she/he wants, and help you get thru it. RitaR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtreusch Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 I use EQ for designing quilts and the quilting. When I want to design the quilting, I draw the quilt I am working on, print out multiple copies and start drawing on the copies until I am satisfied with the design. Debbi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faye Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 That happens to me also, but I can't figure out if its allergies to what's outside or the quilting bats or??? Since you are from Central Alberta (where) and I am from Sherwood Park, maybe its the same thing. I took Reactine for Sinus and that has helped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanri Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 I like quilt pro better than eq-- its much easier to make class handouts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busybee Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Hi It might be from the dyes in the fabric. I know I am sensitive to them. Are you in a basement? Are you in a humid area? Dust is the biggest allergy cause, next is mold and cat hair. Take some allergy over the counter and see if that helps you. It sure does help. When the wind blows I have more allergys acting up then when calm. Hope you find out whats up. Hope these things help spot what the cause is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busybee Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Hi It might be from the dyes in the fabric. I know I am sensitive to them. Are you in a basement? Are you in a humid area? Dust is the biggest allergy cause, next is mold and cat hair. Take some allergy over the counter and see if that helps you. It sure does help. When the wind blows I have more allergys acting up then when calm. Hope you find out whats up. Hope these things help spot what the cause is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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