Quilt design on a Mac

EQ8 on a Mac: design quilts in your browser with QuiltLab

If you design quilts on a Mac, QuiltLab gives you a quilt designer that runs in your web browser, with nothing to install and no Windows needed.

Already have EQ8 projects, perhaps from a Windows PC? Copy the .pj8 files to your Mac and import them on the Maker plan.

Import a .pj8 file See plans and pricing

Does EQ8 run on a Mac?

Electric Quilt publishes EQ8's installation help and requirements on its own support site; check there for your version of macOS. This page covers the other route: designing in a browser and bringing your EQ8 files with you.

Electric Quilt support

Why a browser app suits a Mac

  • Nothing to download or install: QuiltLab is web-based and opens in a modern browser.
  • Your designs are saved to your QuiltLab account in the cloud, so you can open them from another computer.
  • Because it runs in the browser, there is no separate Intel or Apple silicon version to choose.
  • Use a desktop or laptop for the editors; they are designed for a larger screen.

Moving EQ8 projects from Windows to a Mac

Each EQ8 project is a single .pj8 file. Copy it to your Mac (by cloud drive, email or USB stick), then import it into QuiltLab from the browser. QuiltLab's importer has been tested with project files saved by the Windows version of EQ8.

What the importer brings across

  • Fabrics

    Each fabric image in the project becomes a private swatch, up to 256 per file. Swatches are numbered (EQ8 Fabric 001 and so on); EQ8's fabric names are not kept.

  • Pieced blocks

    Straight-edge blocks become editable blocks with every patch as its own shape. Patches painted with a project fabric show that fabric; solid patches keep EQ8's colour. Blocks keep their EQ8 names and arrive at 12 in.

  • Straight-set quilts

    Each horizontal (straight-set) quilt keeps its rows, columns, block size and block placements. Quilts are numbered (EQ8 Quilt 1 and so on).

  • Borders

    Each EQ8 border becomes its own border layer at its EQ8 width, in placeholder greys with square corners.

  • A contact-sheet Canvas

    One Canvas links everything from the file, and every item is tagged eq8-import plus the file name so the import can be found together.

What stays in EQ8

  • Curved piecing, applique and motifs

    Curved blocks, applique blocks and motifs are skipped, as are threads.

  • Other quilt layouts

    Strip and custom-set quilts are not imported. On-point and the remaining EQ8 layout styles have not been tested.

  • Border detail, sashing and cornerstones

    Border colours, fabrics, styles and blocks set into borders are not read. Sashing and cornerstones are not carried over.

  • Quilt-level colouring

    Blocks in an imported quilt show the block's own fabrics, not the fabrics assigned on the quilt in EQ8.

  • Layers 2 and 3

    Applique on the quilt, quilting stencils, embroidery, photos and text.

  • Names and notes

    Fabric names, quilt names and notecards.

  • EQ8 printouts

    Yardage, rotary cutting, templates and foundation patterns are not imported.

How to import a .pj8 file

  1. Sign in to QuiltLab on the Maker plan and open Import EQ8 file.
  2. Drop your .pj8 file on the page, or click to choose it. QuiltLab reads it and shows how many fabrics, blocks and quilts it found, with any warnings.
  3. Select Import EQ8 file. The file (up to 64 MB) is uploaded and your fabrics, blocks and quilts are saved to your personal library.
  4. Open the imported swatches, blocks, quilts or the contact-sheet Canvas from the links on the page, and check each design against EQ8.
  5. If an import stops partway, open it from Import runs, choose Resume and select the same file; designs already saved are not duplicated.

Limits and privacy

  • .pj8 files only, not earlier Electric Quilt formats.
  • Each file can be up to 64 MB. If a larger project will not import, email support@quiltlab.co.
  • Importing needs a QuiltLab account on the Maker plan. The Free plan does not include EQ8 import.
  • Your browser reads the file first and shows what it found. On import, the file is uploaded to private storage and decoded on QuiltLab's servers.
  • The original file is kept as a private source archive that only you can download or delete. It counts toward your storage.
  • The import is a starting point to review, not an exact copy. There is no export back to EQ8.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Windows, Parallels or Boot Camp to use QuiltLab?

No. QuiltLab runs in a web browser on your Mac.

Can I open EQ8 files on a Mac without EQ8?

You can import them into QuiltLab on the Maker plan: fabrics, straight-edge pieced blocks, straight-set quilts and borders come across. Other content stays in the .pj8 file.

Does QuiltLab work on an iPad?

You can browse QuiltLab on a tablet, but the editors are designed for a desktop or laptop browser.

Is QuiltLab free on a Mac?

QuiltLab has a Free plan on any computer. EQ8 import needs the Maker plan.