Attaching a computer and guidance system to a longarm quilting machine opens up a whole new world of quilting possibilities.
Computer aided quilting is fast becoming the most popular form of quilting available. The longarm machine is attached to a computer, drive motors and belts. Positioning sensors tell the computer exactly where the needle is on the quilt at all times. The computer guides the longarm in a 360 degree range of motion to follow whichever design has been chosen to quilt. This precision allows repeatable stitching of extremely complex patterns. Such intricate patterns would be next to impossible to produce on a hand guided machine. Patterns can also be manipulated to fit a space of any size or shape.
Edge to edge designs can be accurately repeated across the quilt, row after row. Each row can be individually stretched or shrunk to follow irregularities in the quilt border. The result is a clean, sharp, professional looking pattern that will enhance the appearance of your quilt.
The possibilities are endless!
There are several advantages to computer vs hand guided quilting. The first is in the sheer number of patterns available. There are hundreds of designers with tens of thousands of patterns; more are being produced every day. Once the computer program is learned, any of these thousands of patterns can be utilized and manipulated: divided, combined, reversed, flipped, re-sized,or stitched vertically. Additionally, every repeat of the pattern will be the same as the one before and the one after it. All of the elements will have the same size, the same height to width ratio, and the same spacing. The result is a neat, tidy, professional looking quilt. Computerized quilting is also usually faster than hand guided, automatically speeding up or slowing down for points, curves and other tight places in the pattern. This generally produces a faster turn around time (less time waiting for your quilt to be finished).