new quilter question about long arm machines

Donna, there are indeed machines that do just about all of the "magic" for you. However, for those who don't own one of those, the answer is practice, practice, practice! ;)

There is one that allows you to program a design and press the magic button. I'll never own one of those either, not unless I win the lottery. (I'd need not only the machine cost, but also a bigger house!)

As for skill, practice for about 30 hours and you'll have it! That's only an hour every day for a month.

The Karen MacTavish book has a DVD, so much fun to watch her do it. The DVD also shows somebody quilt>I've been watching videos on Youtube showing long arm quilters

Donna, I think all the long arm brands can now be bought with or retrofitted with computerized design software - I haven't investigated it myself because it's pretty costly to go that route, but those who use it have said the learning curve is fairly easy. My guess is that most long arm quilters are still free-handing it, and as has been said previously, it takes practice, practice, practice. That being said, there are some really terrific quilters out there who have taken long arm quilting to a level that some of us will forever aspire to! I don't think there are enough practice hours for me to ever achieve the expertise to create the beautiful work they do!

As the others have said, PPP: practice, practice practice. (I'm never gonna get there, either.) There are some less expensive computerized solutions. I think the original was PCQuilter, which I had for several years. Now there are a few more. These also work on mid-arm, 9-17", machines, such as the Juki, Babylock QCPro, Brother 1500, Bailey 13" and 15", etc. I've gone from the Babylock with PCQuilter to a non-computer assisted HandiQuilter16, so am learning freehanding for the first time. It's a totally different feel from sit-down quilting. The best analogy I've heard is that quilting on a frame is like moving a pencil on paper, while sit-down is like moving the paper under a pencil. On the other hand, it's a pretty hefty pencil and, if the system is smooth enough, it's a little daunting at first. It's *really "free" motion.

--Heidi

That's kind of what I thought before I quilted on a Handiquilter machine. It's still very time-consuming (I'm sure with practice that gets better) And I still don't have enough confidence to freehand. The easiest and most idiot-proof method are the "groovy boards" where you just push a stylus down a grooved board. Next easiest is probably the Pantograph (sp?) way, where you follow a design on paper with a laser dot. There are paper patterns you can follow, then tear the paper away. But! A lady I know *does* have a computerized machine that once you program it and set it, it pretty much does the work. Amazing, looks very complicated, and was probably extremely expensive.

Sherry

yup, whatever one else has already said and probably help a lot if ya have a brownie or a toke beforehand, just to let those creative juices flow free. j.

"dealer83" wrote... I've been watching videos on Youtube showing long arm quilters magically doing the most amazing designs. I also found two old magazines from Fons and Porter (I think that's the name) and there are lots of ads showing them. My question is, is all this sewing freehand? Do they make a machine that, once you get the quilt stretched, you push the 'magic button' and the machines does the stitch automatically?

Now, I'll never own one due to money and the room for it but, if the sewing is all done free hand, how does a person reach that level of skill? Donna