I love to machine piece, I also quilt using a computer set up using my sewing machine. I'm not taking a test, so who am I cheating?
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
I love to machine piece, I also quilt using a computer set up using my sewing machine. I'm not taking a test, so who am I cheating?
Chris
Whoa, this notion of 'cheating' seems misplaced to me.
It reminds me of when I tried to order some windows from a manufacturer out in the dairy country. I wanted to know why they couldn't make a proper historical style true-divided-lite window. The sales rep scoffed at me and said "You know, we used to make butter with a churn!" She couldn't stop laughing.
I just paper-pieced a zillion HST for my Sue Garman Washington Monument quilt. It was insanely easy and my 1 1/2" HST came together in lovely 16-HST blocks with very minimal tweaking, trimming, etc. when doing the rows and the HST had NO BIAS on the outside of the piecesIt was so much easier than the other piecing methods for making HST that I FELT like I MUST**** be cheating! Gotta love it!!!
If I put the Monument in a quilt show, will I have to tell them it was paper-pieced in part? How much of this technique stuff is simply means and methods?
SueSew
"If it's messy, eat it over the sink!" Mom
The whole idea of "cheating" really confuses me also. I am using a tool to get the result I want. My machine is a tool but I am still the one making the design decisions! Sometimes those decisions are not so good other times the are great. It would be the same if I decided to use another method or tool to do the job. So who am I cheating if I select one method or tool over another. Does the person I give the quilt to care? I haven't found one that did! If I use my computer on my longarm or my sewing machine it is not "just push the button and it goes" kind of thing! Even if it was who really cares? Other quilters? I create quilts for my own pleasure and creative process and each one is special to me. That is all that counts.
I prefer to make my own soap from scratch but that doesn't mean I am better than someone that buys theirs from the store! So if you don't like computerized quilting that is fine but I will never feel like it is cheating! I have worked hard to make the most out of it and it has took me a long time to get good at it! I still have lots to learn.
Also it is cracking me up that there are so many people who believe they can tell the difference between a computerized quilted quilt and one that was done free motion. Talking to other longarmers they get their quilting labled as computerized all the time when it is not. I have had people ask me if mine was when it wasn't. I am a longarmer and I can't even tell! Most quilts will have a combination of freehand and computer driven quilting anyway. The only way to really know is to ask me the quilter. There are people that quilt that good!
i really admire those who do everything by hand my first quilt was by hand and then i started machine piecing. that way i get done. i can understand how some may think the machine does all the work, but if that pleases someone and they enjoy computer type of work that is good to. we all create something lovely
Create something beautiful from scraps.
Well perhaps my comment will be construed as throwing gas on a fire but I do want to comment.
It is personal choice. Also, there seems to be agreement that there should be a separate category for computerized quilting. I completely agree. Additionally if I were quilting for a livelihood I think having one machine to crank out pantos by computer would be a good time saver.
Where I take issue are the posts about how hard it is to use the computerized systems. I get it. I am sure that it is a lot of work. IMHO it does not compare to someone who has learned to free motion, has practiced and learned to draw motifs, someone who is constantly trying new fills or designs and figuring out the path to do it in a continuous motion as much as possible.
I have learned to use a word processing program but that does not make me a writer.
Another point I take issue with is people who are complaining that it is like comparing paper piecing to regular patchwork. No, it isn’t. Your sewing machine doesn’t have a stitch that robotically follows your instructions and paper pieces in quantities after you set it to go.
Aren't there enough people in the world belittling what we do in this life, without it happening in our own craft? I'm not coming to your house yanking your quilt from your hands to "heaven forbid" computerize quilt it. I provide a quality service at a reasonable price to those who desire it and for myself. I love working with clients to select just the right pattern and threads that will result in the artistic picture they have in their minds of their finished quilt. When I have time I do charity quilts for free. I am not "cheating" and I am just as artistic as any other quilter in my chosen methods of quilting. It hurts when people say it's cheating or not as authentic as freehand quilting. Why are we hurting each other with this when people are being beheaded in other countries for doing what they feel is right. Let's start encouraging and enjoying our creative freedom in all its forms.
Last edited by Silver Needle; 11-12-2014 at 08:53 PM.
When you use a computerized quilting machine it can involve all the things Pagzz mention above. It depends again on the skill of the operator. it also depends on if it is custom quilting or an edge to edge. So it is not an apples to apples comparison but there are people that are better at it then others. Having a computer on your longarm or sewing machine doesn't instantly make you successful or good at doing it. it is still a learning process that is easier for some and harder for others. And like anything else, you get better with practice. So the part I have issue with is that it doesn't involve learning and skill. I wish! I might pay more for that feature.
Even doing an edge to edge is a learning process. Thread breaks, things happen and you have to learn what to do and how to fix it. Over time you get better at it.
I do both free motion quilting and use my computer. Most of the time it is easier depending on the design to just do it by hand. So practicing drawing and learning new designs is still part of my process, but if a quilter is only doing quilting using their computer I think that is awesome!
I agree with Cheryl, why are we always putting down others for how they do stuff. It has happened in every art form that I have done. I quilt for pleasure. I like looking at others quilts no matter the technique or skill level. Everything we do takes practice and skill to learn to do well. Why is one thing labeled "better" than another.
I have tried teaching people to use the computerized quilting machine and it is just not that easy. Like everything else, it is easier over time, but it does allow you to get ahead start and be successful sooner.
I admire those that are really good at free motion quilting and I equally admire those that are really good at using their computer to quilt. I don't feel that I am really good at either of those.
We have a longarm quilter in town that only use her machine to do computerized designs. She has done some beautiful custom quilting on it. One quilt took her 25 hours to do. I can't do that. I would be frustrated before it was over. But I sure do admire her talent for being able to do it!
Also I think an edge to edge with a computer or free hand is equally beautiful! But I personally don't desire to do an edge to edge free motion I paid good money for my computer to do it!
Regardless of anyone’s opinion I am not trying to engage in a “put down”. I am expressing my opinion. There are some givens in that all machine quilters have to load a quilt carefully, remove stitches at times, deal with tension issues etc. Many quilters do charity quilts. Many quilters can rival computer-aided quilters in their expertise and vice a versa.
Many of the comments in this thread are from people defending their use of computers, am I supposed to interpret that as a put down of me?
An acquaintance of mine bought a longarm with Statler Stitcher about 6 months after I purchased my longarm. She and I had a few discussions about this as I have always maintained that I wanted to “master” this on my own and didn’t want a computerized system. I know she was quilting for others and doing a good job within 2 weeks of setting up her system. Reading machine quilting forums it is obvious that some people start without a computer then later added it.
All three of the above scenarios are people who love quilting and produce quality work. So leaving out any feelings of being “put down” do you who own a computerized system feel that your work should be judged in shows as a separate category such as “computer-aided” or not?
Sorry Pagzz I didn't mean to upset you. Forgive me. I didn't think that you were putting us down. It was a general statement. It was not directed at anyone in particular. That is the problem with writing sometimes, it doesn't always get the message across right.
No I don't think they should be judged in the same category. By the way, many of us that have computers on our machines felt the same way as others about them before we got them. You just don't know until you try something new and if you don't want to that is fine to.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote