When choosing someone to quilt for you do you perfer someone who works freehand or do you perfer someone who uses a computerized Long Arm?

Great question...I will be watching this thead. I longarm for the public but am not computerized. I have heard people complain that computerized designs sometimes stitch over an area 3-4 times and this is unattractive....but if I had 12K doing nothing, I would be sorely tempted!!!
Michelle

Is there not some kind of adjustment that can be put in when you load the computer quilting to be done, that would lesson the times it back tracks? So to speak?
Tammy

I gravitate more towards contemporary style quilts so tend to like computerized, allover quilting better than FMQ. I am fascinated by the artistry of FMQ though and will have a couple of my more traditional tops FMQ'd (as soon as they leave the UFO stage)

It's all in choice of design! If you want open designs, let your quilter know. When I'm working with a customer on a quilt, I enter the size of the quilt, then together we decide the design and the density of the design.

For quilts with an edge to edge design (pantos) the computer really does save our bodies for the more intensive custom work, and (at least with me) you get a choice of hundreds of designs, not the 30 I had on paper. The computer guided system also allows me to manipulate the fabric if I need to as the quilt is quilted, instead of looking at a laser dot on a piece of paper to guide the machine. I really do prefer to look at your quilts!

For those of you that want only hand guided work on your quilt, most of us with the computer guided system can quilt without the computer.

It is up to what the customer wants.

I don't notice the computer going over stitches any more than I would do it free motion.

The computer allows for each design to be perfect, to fit into each block or an overall design or a mixture of designs. It also makes it easier to remember what design was used in the beginning and make it exact in the end. This is helpful when there is a span of time between start and finishing of the quilt.

Computer designs can be adjusted to fit large areas or smaller areas and keep the design perfect. (Although some designs look better larger, some smaller). So you can have it quilted as open or as tight as you like.
I can also program my computer system to be on point or on square, and fit in any space the customer and I agree on.

There are so many designs available for the computer systems if you have an idea of what you would like on your quilt there is most likely a pattern for it.

Hope that helps.

Phyllis
aka
QuiltingGrannie
Quilter's Pantry

Well, I do all my quilting on my Pfaff . It has a ten inch throat and I can do a king size fairly easily. So of course mine is all FMQ. I really don't see myself sending a quil out to be quilted. I LIKE to do my own . I am getting better with the FMQ and my quilts stay at home or are gifted to family and they really don't care if there are some mistakes They add charecter SP? That's my story and I am sticking with it LOL

Free motion..as I do not care for TONS of quilting, micro anything, and designs like animals, etc...I like more traditional styled quilting!

having a computerized long arm set up - you can pick designs that are more ope and pretty much depict anything you want from pictures to loops or leaves or even stipple, some designs stitch over themselves a lot others do not this depends on a lot sometimes it is the designer sometimes it is the specific designs you have lots of options and stuff can be blow up to an extent on the computer to make them more open...I personally dont care for really dense quilting but you can do all of that and more

I don't have a computer set up..yet. I promised myself to learn FMQ first, ruler work next and then later I'll add the computer and learn that. I think it's best to be very versatile if your quilting for others, you never know what someone is going to ask you to do. I like the idea of a computer because the designs would be a lot more consistent in size and spacing and some people would want that. That said FMQ allows the true artist in you to come out and you can really play up how the quilt speaks to you as you work. I find that the most fun!

I don't have anything against computers, but Charisma of this board does the most AMAZING work, free hand. She's a true artistic genius, so that's where my quilts will go until I get a LOT better at FMQ, unless I have the time to hand quilt, or if it's all straight lines.

I cross lines and backtrack alot more often while doing free-motion than I do when using the PC Quilter. I can digitize meanders & loop de loops but it's easier to just load the frame & go at it than to figure out the math and tell the computer to do it & I can make snap decisions on the fly. The PC quilter just does what it's told and nothing else so I use both and am very happy.

I don't know much about the computer quilted quilts. I have one, quilt that is. When I look at it - it's to perfect. I like seeing the little variations of the FMQing. I would love to be as good a Charisma - oh heck - I'd be thrilled to be 1/2 as good as her. I think I'll stick with FMQ. I feel it brings the artist out in me. BUT I would like to see how the computer ones are set up.
Now this is just my opinion. Last time I voiced my opinion I was reamed royaly for it. So if I have offended anyone I sure didn't mean to.

I like it all....I do my own meandering....I have two friend..one gets my larger quilts and it is computerized...the 2nd friend get those I just do not want to do usually singles and does her own designs...i prefer the personal touch and design...I do not like it real close as I think it takes away from the beauty of everything put into it. just my opinion.

I hate to sound really stupid, but where does pantograph quilting fall on this spectrum, free motion, or computer?

Pantos are hand-guided following a pattern or can be computerized. They are not free motion.

I will watch to see who responds to this as well............. I would think free motion, you are following the pattern not the computer doing the work!!

I've never sent in a quilt to be quilted by a long-armer and most likely never will. But looking at the pictures here on the forum I prefer the slight irregularity of FMQ to the computerized or pantograph designs. It looks more real and lively to my eyes.

QKO..Pantograph pre drawn pattern and is followed by a laser light...I do not particularly like it. I have a hard time following...rather do my own design..

I love both free motion and computer quilting! As well as ruler work and templates or pantographs. I think they're all fun ways to complete a quilt on my LA.

It depends on the quilt. I like both.

I know of 3-4 long arm quilters within couple towns and one runs it like a real business and has the computerized one. I have yet to see any of her quilts as you mention here. I'm thinking it's the operator of the machine and how they set it up that messes it and not the computerized program. After all a computerized program will only do what you tell it to do. The other gals have the non-computerized one and there work is also very nice.

I think both have their place. I have a longarm but no computer, and I love doing custom quilting. I get bored doing E2E and I hate doing pantos so I just don't do them, so in a perfect world, I would have 2 longarms, one set up without a computer system and one with a computer, so I could do both at the same time.

While here in Florida, a wonderful quilty friend let me use her Proto with IQ on a 14" frame to quilt a 130"x130" quilt that would not fit on my 12" frame. I got to learn how to use the IQ while doing this quilt and really liked how user-friendly it was. It was really cool to have the IQ quilting a row while I sat at my sewing machine and pieced another quilt!

There is definitely a different skill set needed for computerized quilting as opposed to hand-guided LA quilting, but it is great for getting the pattern perfect every time - of course, placement is an issue for computerized quilting that is not a problem when I am guiding the LA - I can easily adjust to the size of the block, takes a bit more to do individual blocks with a computerized system. I will always take it as a complement if someone thinks my quilting was done by a computerized system :thumbup:

I personally don't care for the computerized look. I think of quilting as "art" and think the non-perfect part of quilting gives more interest to the eye.

I know what panto's are, and how they work, and have even tried them out.

I just wanted opinions as to whether you considered them to be closer to free motion or more like computerized quilting.

I let mine do her own thing and it has always turned out great!

I do freemotion -- because I can't afford the computer yet. I WAS babysitting a friend's computerized longarm. It had a program where I could create designs. I COULD adjust a design so it didn't go over a line more than 2 times (let's say) but you would lose the design!!!! There's a reason for it backtracking a lot. You simply can't get from here to there without backtracking a lot on some designs. And, I too, do a lot of backtracking. in some cases....more than I should. :)

I've noticed that people that use strictly computer or pantos tend to use the same patterns over and over and over. I like free motion for 2 reasons: 1) each block is looked at individually and I quilt for that quilt - not just because I have a certain pattern and 2) I get bored as heck watching the machine work and I'm having to stand there! My shop is in an outbuilding on our property....I can't do anything else but stay with it.

Both bring a lot of great quilting to the quilt. As far as cost goes, free-hand doesn't involve extra equipmemt at around $10,000 to $15,000.

Overall I prefer the freehand quilter, who brings special talent to the job.

Lanny

Questions? I am very new to quilting anything myself. What book do you have that you feel taught you the most as a beginner? What machine do you have (and does it have curise control)? There is noting FREE about my motion yet, but I know it is practice, practice, practice.

IMHO if there is an abundence of backtracking it is a problem with the (poor)design and how it was digitized not the fault of the computer

I, too, like both. It just depends on the quilt. I don't like dense quilting and don't have to have it with either method. Designs can be made bigger to lessen the density of the quilting with the computer. But I also like it when the long armer does it free motion.

I prefer the non-computerized and use pantos as well as FM.

I, too, prefer the free motion. I don't like dense quilting. I want the piecing to show not the quilting. I've tried panto and couldn't seem to get the hang of it. Recently I've been using groovy boards and I really love them.

I don't think it matters. Just pick the one that does the best work.

I think it depends on the design you want on the quilt.

Tammy, I think it has more to do with how the designs are made. It's like when you use an embroidery software that just takes a clipart and makes it an embroidery design...you don't get a true digitized design...you rarely get a solid underlay, etc. in embroidery traced designs.

I can take software, pull in a design (coloring book page even) & tell the software to make it a quilt design..it does it, but it will decide on the path to take itself...sometimes going over a line 4 or 5 times.

It then takes hours to delete the extra lines and get the path straight. I prefer to do the lines myself. I draw out the design...scan it into my computer...and then pull it up as an image in the software...I then follow the lines to do the design, rarely do I have to go over a line more than once.
Feathers are the same as when you freehand them...you HAVE to go over the lines...sometimes more than once.

[quote=Is there not some kind of adjustment that can be put in when you load the computer quilting to be done, that would lesson the times it back tracks? So to speak?
Tammy[/quote]

Also, you can do the same designs on the computerized machines that you do using a panto or groovy boards. It just depends on the design your quilter decides to use.

I am new to the quilting world, and when I found out quilting was done by computers, I was really surprised. Then I was twice as shocked to find out that quilts that are FMQ'd compete with quilts that are computer quilted? Why is that? It seems as thought they are apples and oranges, almost like it is not fair to the person?

Can anyone explain why this is? Thank you for information,
Nancy

Nancylee,

In quilting competitions where the quilting is the focus of the judging, hand guided and computer guided quilts are in separate categories. this includes shows like MQX, Innovations, MQS, QWM...

In other quilt shows, usually the categories are separated by one person (one person pieces and quilt and quilts it) or two people (quilter is hired).

Hi Shelley,
Thank you for clearing that up!! That makes more sense to me. I have to get to a quilt show soon!!
Nancy