Q-Bot

Hey all you quilters! There is the coolest new gadget in town called Q-Bot. Your intrepid reporter attended a demonstration at Knecht's Sewing Machines (they are located on Bridge St. by Trillium no matter what the phone book says). Nadine Knecht was demonstrating this wonder.

This is a computer program and communication device that hooks into your wider harp straight stitch sewing machine on a frame that accommodates free motion/long arm quilting. The device plugs into your sew machine and sits atop the frame. You may pick from a preprogrammed design (design and number are on a sheet of paper in a binder) or create your own design (either on the computer and added to the program --I expect there is a usb or sim card that holds saved designs). You can even free -motion a design and save it. I apologize for my lack of correct quilting terms. You can use this on quilts or on clothing, bags --wherever you'd like to put a quilted embellishment.

Once you have selected a preprogrammed design you push some buttons to let it know you want to start a block. Taking the freemotion handles, you show the computer how large your block is by pressing the button at two diagonal corners . Then you let down the foot and press "go". The device (Q-bot) stitches out the specified design to the exact dimensions of your block. Look Mom, No hands!

It really must be seen to be believed. Give Nadine a call or stop by Knecht's to get the skinny (and hopefully see it in action!). This will also be demonstrated at the Quilting Consortium this June.