bamamama

When choosing someone to quilt for you do you perfer someone who works freehand or do you perfer someone who uses a computerized Long Arm?

Michellesews

Great question...I will be watching this thead. I longarm for the public but am not computerized. I have heard people complain that computerized designs sometimes stitch over an area 3-4 times and this is unattractive....but if I had 12K doing nothing, I would be sorely tempted!!!
Michelle

tammy cosper

Is there not some kind of adjustment that can be put in when you load the computer quilting to be done, that would lesson the times it back tracks? So to speak?
Tammy

MiaA

I gravitate more towards contemporary style quilts so tend to like computerized, allover quilting better than FMQ. I am fascinated by the artistry of FMQ though and will have a couple of my more traditional tops FMQ'd (as soon as they leave the UFO stage)

Shelley

It's all in choice of design! If you want open designs, let your quilter know. When I'm working with a customer on a quilt, I enter the size of the quilt, then together we decide the design and the density of the design.

For quilts with an edge to edge design (pantos) the computer really does save our bodies for the more intensive custom work, and (at least with me) you get a choice of hundreds of designs, not the 30 I had on paper. The computer guided system also allows me to manipulate the fabric if I need to as the quilt is quilted, instead of looking at a laser dot on a piece of paper to guide the machine. I really do prefer to look at your quilts!

For those of you that want only hand guided work on your quilt, most of us with the computer guided system can quilt without the computer.

QuiltingGrannie

It is up to what the customer wants.

I don't notice the computer going over stitches any more than I would do it free motion.

The computer allows for each design to be perfect, to fit into each block or an overall design or a mixture of designs. It also makes it easier to remember what design was used in the beginning and make it exact in the end. This is helpful when there is a span of time between start and finishing of the quilt.

Computer designs can be adjusted to fit large areas or smaller areas and keep the design perfect. (Although some designs look better larger, some smaller). So you can have it quilted as open or as tight as you like.
I can also program my computer system to be on point or on square, and fit in any space the customer and I agree on.

There are so many designs available for the computer systems if you have an idea of what you would like on your quilt there is most likely a pattern for it.

Hope that helps.

Phyllis
aka
QuiltingGrannie
Quilter's Pantry

katiebear1

Well, I do all my quilting on my Pfaff . It has a ten inch throat and I can do a king size fairly easily. So of course mine is all FMQ. I really don't see myself sending a quil out to be quilted. I LIKE to do my own . I am getting better with the FMQ and my quilts stay at home or are gifted to family and they really don't care if there are some mistakes They add charecter SP? That's my story and I am sticking with it LOL

jaciqltznok

Free motion..as I do not care for TONS of quilting, micro anything, and designs like animals, etc...I like more traditional styled quilting!

Digitizingqueen

having a computerized long arm set up - you can pick designs that are more ope and pretty much depict anything you want from pictures to loops or leaves or even stipple, some designs stitch over themselves a lot others do not this depends on a lot sometimes it is the designer sometimes it is the specific designs you have lots of options and stuff can be blow up to an extent on the computer to make them more open...I personally dont care for really dense quilting but you can do all of that and more

Rose L

I don't have a computer set up..yet. I promised myself to learn FMQ first, ruler work next and then later I'll add the computer and learn that. I think it's best to be very versatile if your quilting for others, you never know what someone is going to ask you to do. I like the idea of a computer because the designs would be a lot more consistent in size and spacing and some people would want that. That said FMQ allows the true artist in you to come out and you can really play up how the quilt speaks to you as you work. I find that the most fun!