Just my 2 cents, but I use a computerized quilting machine (Qbot with HQ16). I am so artistically challenged that I cannot free motion anything that would be acceptable. I have practiced - even drawing on a board to train my brain. No success. The Qbot allows me to quilt my own quilts. I do not enter contests and do not quilt for others. It is merely for my satisfaction and saves me money from sending them out to be quilted. As one member stated, I still have to select the design and place it on the quilt. That can be a challenge, too.

I'm one of those who has an embroidery machine. I have it because I am no good at hand embroidery. Tried it, it sucked. As far as hand quilting ormachine quilting, I agree with Candace that if our ancestors had had a choice, they probably would have chosen a machine because they had to get quilts done fast before the winter set in.

I also have embroidery machines and I love them. Look at my avatar - that quilt has the cutest Bunbonnet Sues, appliqued & embroidered by machine. I chose the designs, a good friend is a designer, they are hers and I'm so proud to sew them. I think this quilt is hand done. There isn't another one like it. It sprang from my brain - the design portion anyway. I had to learn to use the machine. I have spent years embroidery by machine and learning. Just like quilting.
I'd love to have a LA with computer. Bring it on!!!! lol
Judi in Ohio

Wow! Awesome!

Thanks for the info!

Any method that gets the "quilts" made is Quilting. As a quilting teacher for over 20 years, this discussion raises itself every so often. I have had beginner quilters be discouraged by the "purist" who say only if its hand pieced and hand quilted will it really be a quilt. Not so. Only a different method. We all have our strengths and we should follow that course. If you want to hand piece and hand quilt the heirloom, go ahead. If you want to make the quilt for a very special reason by machine piecing and quilting, go ahead, it too will be an heirloom. Just ask non quilters, they really do not know the difference. I always start a new group by stating that if our great-great grandparents had the technologies we now have, they WOULD have used them.
Can we please agree once and for all, Please.

If you do all the work leading up to final quilting stage, I don't think it is "cheating" if you use a computerized program to finish the quilt. I enjoy choosing colors, picking a pattern, cutting materials, and doing the quilt top, whether by hand or machine - you are doing the bulk of the work. I purchased a long arm quilter (non-computerized) but don't enjoy that aspect of quilting and will probably sell the machine+. But it is "my" work.......that leads up to the finished product. no cheating.

Hey - before we start argueing and get our nickers in a twist - remember - for most of us, quilting is a hobby. It's only 'cheating' if we SAY we've done it one way when we've really done it another way.

As far as I'm concerned, finishing is what it's all about. I LOVE hand quilting and wish I could still do it. But I can't, so I use my machine. And I bought an embroidery machine SPECIFICALLY so I could use the beautiful quilting patterns by Anita Gooddesign and John Deer. I don't pretend that I've guided the machine myself in those beautiful, intricate patterns, so I'm not 'cheating.' I'm getting the quilt finished!

And as for 'cheater' FABRICS - I prefer to call them 'smart' fabrics. I use them for baby quilts, and I tell the moms that they're made to USE not to SAVE. I occasionally make pieced baby quilts for really close friends. They are the ones that will probably be wall hangings (I put sleeves on them), because the receivers know how much work goes into them.

I say "Take me to the machine!" I didn't know there were machines that did that!!! As far as I can see, a lot of work goes into just getting the quilt sandwiched. I think that the thought, time and money that goes into making a quilt should be enough for it to be considered a "real quilt".

You are correct. The point to be made here in all this is that the quilt was "made by YOU" no matter the method. A lot of money, fabric, hours, and love was put into it and that is all that should count!

Do you use a rotary cutter rather than a pair of scissors? Need I say more?

I'm a real throw back use both but my preference honestly is scissors but there is nothing like that rotary for accuracy when cutting borders and strips. I'm just now getting comfortable with the rotary and glad it's finally happening but even so, I can count on one bad cut per session. I really have to pay attention to the markings on the ruler to avoid goofs and am pleased I'm finally getting better.

Isn't it the point to create more quilts in whatever manner? Here in Japan, most quilters are just learning to use sewing machines for certain quilting chores, but my great-grandmother used a sewing machine extensively. However, she still had a frame she dropped down from the living room ceiling and had friends over to quilt by hand. They did it for the companionship. And they surely got more quilts finished by working together.
If you begin to have problems with your neck, back, and hands, should you give up hand quilting? The point is you shouldn't have to stop creating just because the method changes.

Purest I guess will be the ones that will have a problem with machine vs hand and even their machine vs someone else's longarm; but,after looking at 5 quilt tops folded, hanging and just waiting on me, well another person with a longarm doing the job (with me paying her or not) just seems a whole lot nicer than those tops just collectiong dust and becoming UFO's. Excuse the runon etc. But I'm typing as I'm talking in my mind. Heck I may hand piece and then sew on the machine and then quilt by hand or try quilting on my machine all on the same quilt. What ever it takes as long as I'm not putting it in for some one to judge. Oh glory be, that thought puts the fear of God in me. I like my quilts and I really don't have to have them judged. Besides I'm already too hard on myself as it is. I sure don't need anyone else telling me everything I did wrong. I come from the addige that if you ask someone about the service, he/she will always find something negative. Worked there for over 40 years. I'm forced retirement. Guess this is the one good thing-no more negative answers to my service. LOL Beth

LOL I love this board, you never know what you will read next! I have so much fun reading all the comments, keeps me laughing even when I have had a terrible day!

Me too. The rotary cutter is quick, but oh so dangerous. I will never feel comfortable with it. The minute you do, goodbye finger.

LOL. We'll I've gotten the occasional nip from my very sharp scissors a but after 28 years of doing daycare, I'm a real good cutter so scissors are my preferred tool but I love how fast the rotary cutter is now that I'm no longer intimidated by it. The key for me was, you won't believe this - change the blade frequently. No wonder I was annoyed and frustrated. I won't tell how long it took me to realize the blade needed to be changed just like scissors need to be sharpened or replaced. Silly me.

Very interesting thread. I don't enter contests, so it doesn't matter. I machine piece, hand quilt, and am learning to machine quilt, so I can finish my UFOs. I think cheater fabrics are great to practice with, so anything goes!

Computer quilting isn't cheating, I work in a quilt shop and it makes it more afordable for some people, if you are having it machine quilted what differance does it make, you know what you are getting before you leave your top, and there is a lot more to it then just putting on and walking away and letting it do it on it's on, it never happens like that, we have both a regular longarm & a computer one and I love the computer one, but then I can't & didn't like to hand quilt, but I LOVE to piece tops, this way they they get finished.

I am like Eleanor Burns. I quilt with my credit card! For me, the creative part is making my quilt tops. I don't see myself ever hand quilting as it hurts my hand when I hand sew for long. I won't ever own a long arm and don't have room to spread out and try free motion quilting on my regular machine. I will stick to quilting small items. That is my speed.

I don't have a problem with computer quilting, but I don't know anyone who has one. They are an expensive add-on to a long arm. It would be about my luck to set it, leave it, and have it malfunction on the quilt. Yikes.

I am like Eleanor Burns. I quilt with my credit card! For me, the creative part is making my quilt tops. I don't see myself ever hand quilting as it hurts my hand when I hand sew for long. I won't ever own a long arm and don't have room to spread out and try free motion quilting on my regular machine. I will stick to quilting small items. That is my speed.

I don't have a problem with computer quilting, but I don't know anyone who has one. They are an expensive add-on to a long arm. It would be about my luck to set it, leave it, and have it malfunction on the quilt. Yikes.

My only problem with the computerized longarms is that I am competing with them if I enter a show.

I have to say that when I heard someone tell my guild that they set their baby monitor to 'listen' to the quilting and walked away to do other things, it took me aback. I don't think that would be my choice to quilt that way but when I've read about people with severe athritis etc. it made me think a little differently about things.

thank you, thats all some of can do

I have used cheater panels and don't consider that cheating so a machine that does the quilting for me isn't either. I bet that machine costs a bundle.