Features and Description

PCQ Designer is a 3rd party visual layout and digitizing package for Quilting Technologies' PC Quilter. It makes laying out your quilt tops with the "perfect" patterns a snap, and is easy to use, yet extremely powerful. The program is so feature-rich, it is not possible to cover it in one page, so for convenience, we have divided the features into some major categories! Here are some of the basics:

  • Help is a mouse or keyclick away! Use F1 for a popup hotkey menu, F2 to get a list of decimal to fraction conversions (to help you mark a quilt) or click on the "?" symbol for interactive help.
  • Add patterns to your quilt from any drive or folder your computer has access to.
  • Choose the type of workspace you want - a whole quilt, a single block, a single row... EVEN works "on point".
  • Visually fit patterns to spaces - with or without repeats.
  • "Instant" digitizing from continuous poly-line DXF files (vector based graphics) - Go from DXF to PC Quilter pattern file in seconds!
  • Combine patterns and edit them to make them continuous.
  • Create multiple workspaces with all your patterns and defaults pre-loaded.
  • Digitize patterns from any True Type Font on your computer.
  • Generate and print a chart that tells you how to mark your quilt for pattern placement.
  • Generate and print an overview for visual reference.
  • Calculates the number of inches of thread used, jumps required and potential for draw-in.
  • Edit pattern files with ease - remove unwanted portions or smooth a "bump" EVEN AFTER THE PATTERN IS DIGITIZED!
  • See your pattern "commands" exactly as they will sew! Supports, FLIP, MIRROR, CREATE, resizing and much more!
  • More digitizing options for bitmaps including an "outline" feature that traces silhouettes.
  • Create original patterns by drawing on the screen in Bridge Mode.
  • Layout patterns on your actual quilt with our light table feature or trace an image to digitize it.
  • Lay out anywhere from 1 - 99 passes for efficient quilting.
  • Full size printing options for individual passes or patterns OR the WHOLE QUILT!
  • AND MUCH, MUCH MORE.

PCQ Designer is written by Peter Wolsley and Quilting Mouse Technology. Peter and his wife are both quilters. Peter has also written the Digitizing portion of QT Menu.