What is a Long Arm Quilting Machine?

Long arm quilting machines are an alternative way to produce quilts. These machines sew quilts more accurately and efficiently than home sewing machines. These are a great way for quilters to produce quilts at a faster pace, while taking some of the hassle out of the process.

A long arm quilting machine is a sewing machine made specifically for quilters. It is mostly used by professional quilters. Long arm quilting machines are mounted to a table with wheels. The machine has a pair of bars beside the wheels in which the top quilt fabric is placed on one bar and bottom quilt fabric and batting is placed on the other. After these have been stretched into place, the machine begins to sew the pieces together by moving back and forth over it. These types of machines are sold online, sewing shops and sometimes at quilt shows by a number of manufacturers.

The long arm machines also come with features such as stitch regulators, bobbin regulators or thread cutters. The more expensive long arm machines have more features than less expensive models. Although a long arm machine can make stitching a quilt easier, it does not allow the quilter to examine the quilt as close as he or she could with a regular sewing machine.

The machines vary in size, which plays a role in the price of the machine. Long arm quilting machines are more expensive than regular quilting sewing machines. Long arm machines have a starting price in the thousands and can go up to cost as much as $18,000. Although these machines speed the production of quilts and sew them more accurately, an occasional quilter may not be willing to spend that amount of money on a long arm machine.