Way back when I first started quilting, everyone did hand quilting. There were a few brave souls who would attempt to do machine quilting on their domestic sewing machine. Trying to move all those layers of fabrics through that little machine was a true test of patience! Now, I have a longarm quilting machine. What this means is that the throat space is a lot larger and the machine head moves intead of the fabric. Aaahh, life is good.

IntelliQuilter is an after-market add-on for the long-arm and mid-arm quilting machines. The Intelliquilter is a state of the art computer that sits on the head of the longarm machine and allows the quilter to program pattern size, size of the block, stitches per inch, repetitions of the pattern along with many other computer art options.

• Patterns are precise in every stitch, and can be accurately and uniformly repeated.
• Each pattern can be modified or customized to make each creation one-of-a-kind.
• Intricate patterns such as those that might be used for heirloom work can be stitched beautifully even by a beginner.
• The computer can automatically resize or modify digitized designs to stretch or maintain proportions.
• Patterns can be rotated to fit any direction in the quilt.
• Designs can be positioned by the center, corners, start of pattern, etc.
• Designs can be tested first by “sewing” with the needle off and using a laser light to see exactly where the design will go.
• With a pen attached to the back, the machine can be set to draw a pattern on tissue paper; the drawing can be placed over a quilt to help in decisions about pattern design and placement.
• Drive Belts can easily be disconnected to still allow hand guiding when desired.
• New designs can be digitized and existing designs can be modified using Auto Sketch software, and then a design may be easily tested before use.

• How will the quilt be used: functional, utilitarian, decorative, heirloom, etc.
• Who will the end user be? (a child, nursing home, college dorm, guest room)?
• Scale of piecing: large, medium, small
• Motifs or designs in the fabric
• How "busy" is the quilt
• Theme or Style

• How will the quilt be used? For show, as a wall hanging, by a baby or child, by a family with pets, or as a home decor item versus a “blanket,”
• Is it likely to need frequent washing?
• How much puffiness and what kind of drape versus stiffness will you want the quilt to have?
• Do you need a flame retardant fiber as one might for a baby or child’s quilt?
• Do you need a natural fiber such as cotton, bamboo, wool, or silk?
• How warm will the quilt need to be? (Southern states do not need as much warmth as up north!)
• What color/s are your quilt top and backing? Black Batting is sugggested when using predominantly black fabrics on top and backing.

The backing should be the same type of fabric as the predominant fabric in the top. If the top is primarily made of 100% cotton, please use a 100% cotton for the backing to avoid puckering.

We have used fleece, Minkee and other stretchy fabrics with success, however, although every precaution is taken, tucks or puckering may occur during quilting. (Mounting stretchy fabrics with the selvage edge perpendicular to the pick-up roller on the machine will help reduce stretching, so plan accordingly if the back requires seams to make it large enough.)