Maybe this is a stupid question but I only hand quilt however I was wondering can you machine quilt on a sewing machine or do you neeed a long arm. If you can do it on a regular sewing machine do you need any specials attachments? How is it done? Any info would be helpful. thanks

You can machine quilt on a regular sewing machine. That's what most of us do. You can do it as (1) regular stitching, usually with a walking foot. This is straight lines or gently curving lines. Stitch-in-the-ditch is done this way. (2) Free motion. Feed dogs are usually dropped for this, and you use a darning foot. Quilter moves the quilt as desired while the needle goes up and down.

Long arm machines are different in that the quilt stays static and you move the machine head.

Oh, and it's not a stupid question at all. If you've never seen it done, how would you know? There must be videos on Youtube that demonstrate quilting on a regular machine. It would be helpful to see it in action.

I machine quilt on a regular machine. I've made several full sized and queen sized quilts this way. In the past, I just stitched in the ditch - stitching a straight line along the seems of the blocks. I've recently undertaken free motion quilting.

The hardest part, for me at least, is supporting the weight of a large quilt while trying to get the fabric roll through the regular sized arm and keep it from pulling on the opposite side. There are a few things that can make it easier. An extended quilting arm is great. Lots of manufacturer's sell these or include them with the machine.

You can also buy them custom made for your particular model.
Here' s a link for custom tables: http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp03522.html

Another way to get great support is to have your machine in a sewing cabinet so that the arm is level with the top of the table. This way the entire table acts as an arm to your machine.

There's also a way to make your own extension table out of foam board.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAS25v3ZTk0

Having a good pair of quilting gloves and clips to keep the roll together help lots, too.

Trupeach, this is what my DH made for me, as I always had issues trying to quilt: http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/24223.page, and I just use my regular old machine with it. If you scroll down, there's more pictures, also of me using it.
I have my feed dogs down, use a darning foot, and do the free motion quilting with it. There's lots of videos on utube, where you can see someone doing the free motion. I hadn't ever heard of it before, so it was really helpful seeing someone do it!

Before using this I always had puckers, etc, in my backing. This seems to really help hold it all tight. This does up to 4' wide, and he's getting longer pvc pipes for it, for when I do my 3 sons quilts, which will be wider.

And I've also asked this very same question on here!! :D :D
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And just looked up my post on it - http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/19608.page
Hope this helps. It was all totally foreign to me, until I started hearing what all everyone else did, and being able to actually see it.
:D :D

The link to what your hubby made for you is unavailable. Maybe if you can post those pictures again or host them on a different site, it would be great. I would like to see them. Thanks!

Delete the comma at the end of the link and then it works.

Am posting the link again, without the comma! lol!!!!
http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/24223.page
:D

Thank you trupeach for your NOT so stupid question. :D I really learned a lot and want to make a flat sewing table with the blue foam insulating. That seems to be a great idea. I don't as yet machine quilt, but printed off Diana's pictures of her quilting frame too. Thank everone for answering questions and giving all of us such great information. This is my favorite place on the net! :D Thanks again.

That's not a stupid question at all. I quilt using my regular machine. Generally, I use the SID (stitch in the ditch) method with a standard sewing foot.

I don't have a long arm. I would LOVE one, but for the moment no room in my sewing room for one. I do machine quilt on my domestic machine and it does great!