i use my long-arm but it doesn't do it for me! i have to work! there are a few machines out there with a computer attachment (the statler sticher) that you can program your design into and quilt a quilt but i think most of us have to free-hand, use stensils or pantographs. the statler sticher costs more than my car new so i probably will never have that capability but i do ok just free hand machine quilting. you of course can accomplish great designs hand quilting...doing the stitching by hand allows you to make any design you want, where it may be difficult to do with a machine...like too many starts and stops, by hand it can be wonderful! that stitching is THE QUILTING,,,people say, 'it's not a quilt until it's quilted' that is what they are talking about...quilt the quilt, bind it, label it and it's done :)(not everyone quilts them, lots of people make their quilt top, buy backing then send it out to a long-arm quilter to quilt)