Several fabric companies offer free ZIP files of the fabric swatches on their websites. These ZIP files must be downloaded, then extracted (Windows only) before being imported into EQ8. Follow the steps below. For an illustrated set of steps, check out the Importing Fabric from Zip Files article.

  1. Go to the fabric manufacturer’s website (see the list below), find a fabric line you want to use.
  2. Click the button to download the ZIP file of JPG images. (All websites are different – see below.)
  3. If given the option, choose to Save the file. The file will save into your Downloads folder.
  4. Open File Explorer (Window) or Finder (Mac) and navigate to the Downloads folder.
  5. Windows only: Extract the files by double-clicking on the ZIP file, click Extract, then Extract All. Let the folder extract the files into the Downloads folder. Click OK (or Extract).
    Extract
  6. If the folder does not automatically open, open the folder to view all of the JPG files.______
    OPTIONAL STEPS:
  7. Select all the files by pressing CTRL+A (or Command+A on a Mac) or select individual files by using CTRL+click (or Command+click on a Mac) on the files you want.
  8. Copy the files. Right-click and choose Copy, or simply use CTRL+C (Command+C).
  9. Navigate to your My EQ8 folder. In Images, create a new folder and name it the name of the fabric line. For example, “Northcott Sleepy Sloth”. The directory will be My EQ8 > Images > {Folder name}.
  10. Paste the files into this folder. Right-click and choose Paste, or simply use CTRL+V (Command+V).If you do no do steps 7-10 just make a note of where your images are on your computer.

 

Andover

ZIP file containing JPG files

  1. Andoverfabrics.com > Collections
    (this link will take you directly there)> {choose fabric line} > Quilts and Downloads tab > Download button
  2. Extract the ZIP file
  3. Import the images into EQ8

Art Gallery Fabrics

ZIP file containing JPG files

  1. Artgalleryfabrics.com > Inspiration >  Fabrics > Cotton
    (this link will take you directly there)> {choose fabric line} > Download JPG Swatches
  2. Extract the ZIP file
  3. Import the images into EQ8

Moda

ZIP file containing JPG files

  1. My.modafabrics.com > Inspiration + Resources > Fabric Downloads
    (this link will take you directly there) > {choose fabric line}  JPG images icon
    moda
  2. Extract the ZIP file
  3. Import the images into EQ8

Northcott

ZIP file containing JPG files

  1. Northcott.com > Products
    (this link will take you directly there) > {choose fabric line} > Download fabrics for EQ button or Download Fabric Files button.
  2. Extract the ZIP file
  3. Import the images into EQ8

Note: Northcott provides nice fabrics that are typically at 100% scale. However, some are large 24″ x 24″ images. We highly recommend you import them individually to the Image Worktable, use the Crop tool to crop to a smaller size (find the repeat if possible), then Add as Fabric. Importing several of these large images via the Fabric Library will make your EQ8 run very slowly. 

Connecting Threads

Some lines on Connecting Threads site have special Electric Quilt Downloads.
CT1
Here is how to install these special downloads.

  1. ConnectingThreads.com > Fabric
    (this link will take you directly there)> {choose a fabric line} > Downloads > Electric Quilt Download
  2. Extract the ZIP file
  3. Navigate to your My EQ8 folder.
    On a Windows computer it is located in (My) Documents > My EQ8
    Read about where to find the My EQ8 folder on a Mac.
  4. Open the Add-on Libraries folder.
  5. Create a new folder and name it the manufacturer’s name (Connecting Threads).
  6. Move the .FAB file into the new folder (Connecting Threads).
  7. Open EQ8 > Fabric Library to use the fabrics

Other lines on Connecting Threads site do not have the special Electric Quilt Downloads. If you do not see the Electric Quilt Download option listed then follow the directions below.

Other Fabric Companies

For manufacturers not listed above, you can often still right-click on a fabric swatch and from the pop-up menu click Save Image As.
SaveImageAs

You can save it to your My EQ8 > Images folder (or wherever you prefer), then import it into EQ8.

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