TYLER (KYTX) - Did you ever think quilting and technology would be used in the same sentence? Well, it's a reality and for many quilters it's taking quilting to a whole new level. CBS 19's Amanda Roberson got to check out this new technology.
What started out as a necessity to keep warm on cold nights has now become a 21st century crafting fad. All you need is the right sewing machine, a framing station, and like anything else these days, a tablet. Creativity and patterns taking new shapes with new technology.
The rhythm of a machine pulling thread sounds the same, but this isn't your grandmothers way of quilting.
MS "All these new tools really have caused our creative juices just to flow and run wild," said Mendy Slone of Longview. She's created more than 90 quilts over the last 10 years and is in awe of cutting edge quilting technology. "Using the computer to actually do your drawing and figuring out the spacing and configurations saves you a ton of time."
Slone and a dozen other women watched and learned how technology can make even the most intricate design hands-free.
"This is a lot easier on your body than sitting and tensing up, this is a lot easier on your shoulders and hands to do it this way," Explained Bernina instructor and trainer Nina McVeigh. "Now what is a quilt? It can change from that bed quilt to that artistic piece on a wall."
And none of these women think automated, robotic system for quilting is cheating.
"There's nothing more beautiful than hand quilting," McVeigh added. "But that's just not the way of our world right now. We all want to get done as much as we can get done."
No matter where technology takes quilting, Slone said it will be a timeless gift. "When they pick that up and snuggle up in it you know they think about you and it's just really giving a part of yourself to someone and I think that's a really fantastic gift."
Threading her and those she loves.
McVeigh also said more kids are taking an interest in quilting because they love the technology, and even men are getting into the framing and design side of quilting!
That automated quilting machine is on display at the 'Nimble Thimble' sewing shop in Tyler.
