With all the computerized systems out there nowadays I was wondering what most quilters really think about having their quilt tops quilted by a computer program or by a real person doing the custom quilting free hand. Please feel free to give me your honest opinions on both.

Thanks for the help,

Sherryl
Candlequilter

It wouldn't matter to me either way, as long as the quality was good :D:D:D

I agree with Amma. Doesn't matter how it's done so long as I love it when it's done.

I strongely prefer free hand and especially not big on all over patterns generated by computer quilting.

For personal use I agree, but I feel strongly that they should be judged differently in shows, as they utilize different skill sets.

i love to look at some of the quilts quilted by computer generated design but at the same time i prefer hand-guided quilting. because to me it seems for (personal) like someone actually did it...the computer generated ones look good but at the same time....look machine made....manufactured...it seems like you get something that could be the same on 6 different quilts...when the quilting is hand guided no one else is going to have one the same. it is always unique.
just my 2cents.

I hope no one gets offended by my answer as I certainly do not mean to offend. This is just my opinion and since you asked.... I, personally, place little value on a computer generated, computer guided quilting design. What skill is needed for that? You need to know how to load the quilt on the rack, line up the needle so it starts quilting in the right spot then flip a switch. Following a panto or stencil takes more skill. While the finished product does look lovely I feel there is no talent or atristry involved and there is no singular uniqueness to the quilt. I suppose there is some talent involved in designing the quilted pattern but once it is designed no skill other then those I mentioned above is needed. I prefer free hand or hand guided.

I respectfully disagree. I have just been a recipient of a Longarm with a computer program (another long story) and have found that setting up and programming that darn computer is HARD. Getting it to do what I WANT it to do is harder than you think. Getting the 4 corners to match in size is harder than you think. Getting the 4 borders to match in size is harder than you think. I recently did a quilt with the computer program ("I have a dream" quilt posted in pictures) and I designed the stars. Getting them set in, angled just right, set in the right place and the right size took me WAY too long to ever want to do that again. Getting the triangles to look right was a downright nightmare. And using the computer still involves planning a design. I AM going to be taking classes on freestyle quilting....hoping I can accomplish a quilt that's good enough to show, but I DO feel that using the computer aspect is harder than people know. I know I was shocked how hard it is! Oh -- and I used to teach computers in my career and I used to do designs on the computer....so I felt I was about 5 steps ahead of the normal user....HAH, that dang thing had me in tears more often than not!

I respect the difficulty of making any computer behave because I don't speak the language so I have to stick to simple tasks, but I agree with felinefantic that I prefer the uniqueness of a real person making the not exactly perfect design.

I really appreciate everyones responses here. I have just spent 3 days of training in advanced free motion and custom quilting. I had been thinking about going to the Statler Stitchery in a year or so but found out that once I do that then I wouldn't be able to do any free hand quilting at all. I don't think I want to give that option up. Plus I am battling with how much of the creativity would still be me if I used the computerized programs. Plus I wasn't sure how potential customers might feel on these options. I agree for shows they need to be judged totally separately. Again I really appreciate any of your comments and I am sure that everyone will keep an open mind to the different opinions being expressed here without being offended. I am really confused on which way to go with this.

Thanks,
Sherryl
Candlequilter