This specific quilting technique employs a specialized longarm quilting machine equipped for automated quilting. It involves stitching a predefined pattern onto a quilt’s three layersquilt top, batting, and backingusing a computerized system. The “sixteen” likely refers to a specific attribute of the machine or its process, potentially related to the number of needles or a measurement related to the quilting area. An example would be a continuous geometric design quilted across the entire surface of a bedspread.
Automated quilting offers several advantages over hand-guided or domestic machine quilting. It provides precise stitching, consistent patterns, and significantly reduces the time required to finish a quilt. This technology allows quilters to create intricate designs previously difficult or impossible to achieve manually. Historically, the development of automated quilting machines revolutionized quiltmaking, expanding both the creative potential and efficiency of the craft.