Information on Long Arm Quilting

Longarm quilting is a sewing method used to quilt together a quilt top, batting layer and fabric backing. Longarm quilting is a skill developed with significant amounts of practice and a dedication to learning new techniques.

Facts

Longarm quilting allows the quilter to guide a longarm sewing machine by hand or computer program, moving it over a wide area of the quilt top to create a pattern.

Function

Longarm quilters often provide quilting services for other quilters who are unable to quilt full-sized sewing projects on their home machines.

Features

Longarm quilting is accomplished through the use of a sewing machine with a "long arm," or extended sewing surface area, attached to a frame (called "rails") that typically is 12 feet long.

Types

Longarm quilting machines vary in size of quilting area, speed control and stitch regulators. Longarm quilting can be almost fully computer guided or require the operator to direct the machine in pattern creation.

Considerations

Longarm quilting machines frequently cost $10,000 or more. In addition, there are other costs associated with longarm quilting, including thread and patterns.

References

• Longarm University
• Quilting Machine Model Comparison
• Quilting Machine Model Features Comparison