Longarm machines has a large throat, sits on wheels which glides up and down on tracks. With my A1 machine I can quilt a 17 inch wide area in one pass - and up to over 4 meters wide quilts!
The quilt top and backing are pinned to separate rollers, carefully rolled up, then pulled forward and joined together on "the front roller", with the batting sandwiched in the middle.
With the "quilt sandwich" secured on the rollers, stretched out with a wee bit of tension, you can now easily quilt the layers together.
When quilting by longarm, backing and batting will need to be about at least 3 inch wider - all around - than your quilt top.
You either quilt "free-hand motion" from the front of the machine - using the machine as a drawing pen - sewing out the patterns and designs as you please. - Or you can work from the back of the machine, with a laser light or pointer following a "line design" (called a pantograph). These pantograph's comes in many different sizes and patterns.
When you have decided to get your special quilt longarm quilted, you will need to consider:
- Backing - One piece of extra wide fabric - or several joined together?
- Batting - Poly or Cotton, Low or High Loft?
- Thread - Poly or Cotton, same colour on top and back?
- Quilt Designs - All over, or special fitted to complement the design of your quilt-top?
- Quilt Density - Dense or not ? - Depends of use of quilt, washing frequency etc.
- Stitch Length - Short or Long?
I suggest for you to give us a phone call, or pop out for a cup of coffee and a chat, and we can discuss the options you have in mind.
