Jean Sticha is using the long arm sewing machine to quilt a design on her quilt top and backing. (Photo by Debora Witten)
Debora Witten
SaddleBrooke Ranch has a long arm sewing machine in its quilting room in the Arts and Crafts Building. This is a sewing machine used to sew together a quilt top, quilt batting, and quilt backing into a finished quilt. This machine here at the Ranch puts our quilting residents at an advantage. Here the quilters do not need to send their quilts out to be finished. With the long arm sewing machine, a quilter must merely schedule an open time with it, and they can complete the quilt here by themselves. This computer-guided machine head is hooked up to a computer system that allows the quilter to select the chosen design to be sewn onto the fabrics. Training on the machine is provided.