How to Do Easy Edge to Edge Quilting with QCT 6

Edge-to-Edge Quilting has gotten a lot of attention lately with embroidery machine quilters wanting to get a "longarm quilted look" using their embroidery machine. Unfortunately embroidery machine hoops are just not designed to handle the weight and drag of even throw sized quilt. It's time to learn an easier method!

In this post, you'll learn about Quilter's Creative Touch 6 (QCT 6), quilting software that comes with over 100 edge to edge quilting designs included. Using QCT 6 with a compatible quilting frame and machine, there are no limits on the size of your quilt. The software has a built-in advancing system that keeps the edge to edge design rows straight and evenly spaced.

Concepts you will learn from this post:

1. See all the edge-to-edge quilting designs included with QCT 6
2. Watch a video with all the steps to quilting edge to edge on a small Hoop Frame
3. How QCT 6 is different from edge to edge embroidery machine quilting
4. Find a list of all machines compatible with QCT 6

Quilting with your embroidery machine has become very popular recently and many quilters have seen this as a way to finish quilts simply without having to use a longarm quilting service.

Embroidery machines are steadily growing in size (and price) to accommodate this demand. The problem with this is embroidery machine quilting has many limitations:

1. Embroidery machines are designed to EMBROIDER - stitching through stabilizer and fabrics clamped into an embroidery hoop. To handle a quilt with batting in the middle, you have to purchase additional magnetic hoops that have the power to grip the quilt and hold it stable.
2. Even with a magnetic hoop, bigger quilts are heavy and will pull on the embroidery hoop. It's not recommend to quilt projects bigger than 60 inches square with an embroidery machine.
3. Embroidery machines do not offer any hardware to manage your quilt. You'll need to get extra clamps or table blocks to keep the quilt on the table. If a heavy quilt slips off your sewing table while it's being stitched - watch out!
4. Embroidery machines usually come with embroidery designs included, not the special continuous line quilting designs needed for this style of quilting.
5. You also don't get any design alignment help with most embroidery machines. This means aligning the edge-to-edge quilting design and keeping the rows continuous is up to you and your hooping ability.

Before you drop your credit card for the latest and greatest embroidery machine, make sure to compare it to our Affordable Computerized Quilting Machine. This quilting system features a Little Rebel sewing machine, Cutie Breeze Quilting Frame, and QCT 6. With this machine and quilting frame you can:

1. Quilt any size quilt - yes, even king sized quilts. The quilting frame will manage the bulk and weight of the quilt, holding it securely in place with clamps designed for quilts.
2. With this machine and frame combo, your "hoop" will be a 10 x 32-inch size. Embroidery machines may be big, but I don't know if any with a hoop space that large, or the ability to quilt a king sized quilt!
3. Using QCT 6, you can pick a design, adjust the size easily, and adjust the spacing, all within the software. 
4. Over 100 designs are included with QCT 6 so don't have to shop for the right type of design.
5. If you don't hoop your quilt just right, that's okay. The software can compensate for issues and will keep your design straight and evenly spaced!

Our Affordable Computerized Quilting Machine is very affordable when compared to the largest embroidery machines being made for edge-to-edge quilting. The only catch? Setting up a quilting system involves a lot more steps:

1. Assemble your quilting frame.
2. Unbox the Little Rebel machine.
3. Add the QCT 6 hardware to the frame.
4. Install the software on your tablet.
5. Set the machine on the frame and plug everything in.

If assembling this sounds daunting, and you only like to make small quilts, it might be a better fit to quilt with your embroidery machine. Remember - there is no right or wrong, just what works to help you make the quilts you want to make!

The #1 question quilters have about QCT 6 is what the edge-to-edge quilting designs are included. Here are 6 beautiful designs perfect for quilting a fall-themed quilt:

QCT 6 is designed for basic, edge-to-edge quilting. It will help you pick a design, pick a size, pick a spacing, and then quilt continuous line rows across your quilt. There are a lot more features within Quilter's Creative Touch, but to access them, you must upgrade your software. Here's a list of awesome features and the software level required to access them:

1. Import designs (QCT 6 Plus feature)
2. More quilting designs for blocks, triangles, borders, or corners (QCT 6 Plus feature)
3. Select and Sew feature to fit the designs into a specific space on the quilt (QCT 6 Plus feature)
4. Marking tool to mark or quilt lines on the quilt (QCT 6 Plus feature)
5. Quilt a design specifically in the border of a quilt (QCT 6 Plus feature)
6. Record yourself quilting and save it as a new design (QCT 6 PRO feature)
7. Edit or design your own unique quilting designs (QCT 6 PRO feature)
8. Plan and design quilt layouts (QCT 6 PRO feature)
9. Clip out the design around shapes on the quilt (QCT 6 PRO + Gold feature)
10. Pace multiple designs at a time (QCT 6 PRO + Gold feature)
11. Design your own border corners (QCT 6 PRO + Gold feature)
12. Plan and fit border designs perfectly, even in borders of different widths (QCT 6 PRO + Gold feature)
13. Get new designs quilting designs monthly (QCT 6 PRO + Gold feature)