Hi,

I'm new to quilting and very excited to learn a new "skill"/craft/art form. My real interest is automated equipment for Long Arm (or for that matter) just about any machine type(s) related to quilting. After looking high and low for a software package to design and output digitized patterns to computerized (2 axis CNC) quilting equipment I settled on Art & Stitch. A perfect match for designing and out putting high quality machine control files. So I'll be reading and learning about all the nuance of quilting while designing and running our Long Arm quilter. Ask any questions you like about computer control and I'll probably ask some quilting related questions!!!

welcome!

Welcome from England

Welcome from Nebraska! Ask all the questions you'd like to. This is a very friendly group.

Hello and welcome from Ontario.

Welcome from Porter,OK

Welcome from CA! How is the Art & Stitch program? I've heard of other programs used ie. Coral Draw. Just wondering how time consuming it is to develope a pattern? I have a computer for my LA.
Darby

Hello from Western Maryland !!

Welcome from Ohio!

We are more than happy to assist, if possible. You find a wonderful site here, with wonderful caring people.

Well since I'm just starting out (literally) I haven't really had a chance to try all the features but I did look at a lot of programs including: Pro-Q Designer, EQ7 and Pre-Design StudioIII. Every program had it's strengths and weaknesses and the reason I ended up with Art & Stitch was it is the most complete design software package among the group (for me) and it handled virtually every file format I needed, including the ability to import a substantial variety of formats and import DXF files (very important). Since this software is my front-end to the computer driven Innova Long Arm I wanted an end to end solution. I'll have a better feel for all the features in a few months. Here's a link to a youtube video of our automated Innova
take a look http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWmdZi4BODM

Is your Long Arm computer controlled?

I have no idea if I'm replying correctly, but I did reply on the thread.......you can use lot of different design programs including Corel Draw. One of my favorite "free" really!!! design programs is paint.net......awesome software...for free!!!!

Hello from North Carolina

Welcome from Ireland

Welcome from Michigan.

Depends upon how computer savvy you are and whether or not you know anyone who can do some mechanical assembly and electronics wiring. If you watch this video on youtube it's our Innova Pro 26" machine that I automated myself. It's not really that difficult to do but you really have to know something about stepping motors and the associated electronics. Everything is commercially available online. I built the retrofit in 10 days...watch the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWmdZi4BODM

Can be done relatively inexpensively.

Welcome from Virginia

Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!

Welcome from Idaho!

Hello, and welcome from Michigan!

welcome from se TX

I use the Quilt Sew Clever with my Viking 18x8. It works out nicely, it can read any file. You can also do FMQ and record it and use the file over and over. I'm not very good at FMQ that's why I bought a LA w/computer to finish my quilts. I only quilt for myself so my setup works for me. I am practicing FMQ more and more, I'm a little of a perfectionist so I'll still use my computer to do most of the designs for me. I did try a Innova at the Road to Ca show and was impressed with it.
Darby

welcome from Illinois

Waving from Montana Welcome aboard:)

Hello and Welcome from San Gabriel, California

Welcome from Indiana!

we have a compuquilt dealer here in my little town, I don't know much about them but we have a gammel with a computer on it at the quilt shop where I work and I love it

I'm a novice (quilting) but have extensive experience on computer driven equipment. I was able to fully computerize our 26" Innova for a fraction of the factory cost. I really am anxious to do some designing and quilting with it. Certainly a long arm machine without automation is an incredible tool in the hands of a competent quilter but add the automation and it adds an entirely new dimension in capability. My wife is the quilter.....we can design intricate machine quilted patterns with Art & Stitch and let the computer do the quilting and she can enhance the design with her FMQ.....I love it!

hello and welcome from Michigan

welcome to the board from denver

Welcome!

welcome from mo

Hello and Welcome to the board :D:D:D

I checked out your quilting video. Very interesting that a system like yours can be put together so inexpensively. I wish I had the talent! I noticed other videos on the side bar for all kinds of mechanical equip. run by a similar system for routing, plasma cutting etc. Now I really wish I had the talent...we need all of these systems and boy is the cost prohibitive. Congrats on meeting the challenge and happy quilting.

Rose