Thread: Computer quilting

I LAQ with a computerized system. I echo what's been said, it is a different skill, it does take ample time, it's not just push a button and go. One has to build the sandwich, pick the design(s), threads, make sure everything is correct.
It's still a machine and you have to get to 'common grounds' with that machine to work flawlessly. I have spent as much as 40 quilting hours on LAQ'ing on one quilt. I could go on but you get the jest.
That said - I think every quilt show should differentiate in Computerized quilting (including those that computerize their embroidery work for the quilting process) vs hand guided LAQ vs FMQ on a DSM vs hand quilting. They each require their own skill set. And any comparison of those types to each other are clearly not equal.

So let me toss this to you, only because I am curious - when you see embroidery work, do you dismiss that that has been done by a sewing / embroidery machine?

Originally Posted by WTxRed

I LAQ with a computerized system. I echo what's been said, it is a different skill, it does take ample time, it's not just push a button and go. One has to build the sandwich, pick the design(s), threads, make sure everything is correct.
It's still a machine and you have to get to 'common grounds' with that machine to work flawlessly. I have spent as much as 40 quilting hours on LAQ'ing on one quilt. I could go on but you get the jest.
That said - I think every quilt show should differentiate in Computerized quilting (including those that computerize their embroidery work for the quilting process) vs hand guided LAQ vs FMQ on a DSM vs hand quilting. They each require their own skill set. And any comparison of those types to each other are clearly not equal.

So let me toss this to you, only because I am curious - when you see embroidery work, do you dismiss that that has been done by a sewing / embroidery machine?

I see from the responses that computer quilting is a different skill. I also don't "dismiss" embroidery work done by a machine, because I know from watching some videos that it takes a skill to get it set up. But, it is different than hand embroidery. With all these techniques, everybody gets to do what they want and we can all enjoy our process.

Originally Posted by KwiltyKahy

I agree with all this. It is a different skill set and not to be dismissed out of hand. For some of us this may be the only way we get any done. A seperate category at a quilt show sounds appropriate to me, just as one for hand or machine pieced and individual or group quilts.

or,Better judges that know the difference,IMHO,,,,,,,,,,HUGS

Since I do machine applique ALL my quilts must be custom quilted. With the computerized quilting the prices are a bit better than they used to be! As a side note I had a judge question if my 96 X 86 appliqued quilt was "embroidered"? I never realized that was even possible!

This argument could go back to hand piecing vs.machine piecing. Is it not a quilt if it is machine quilted? How many of us would be quilting if we didn't have our wonderful machines? If an artist draws on a computer is it not art? If you don't like a certain technique then pass on it. But others may like it just fine. IMHO it is all beautiful.

I don't care to get into computer quilting myself but I understand many enjoy doing it.
Just like some people hand quilt instead of machine quilt. Also, some people think "real" quilts have to be hand-pieced not machine pieced.