Abstract: A quilting machine for quilting mattress, bedspreads, comforters, and the like comprises a carriage on which an article to be quilted is held stretched. The carriage is guided by horizontal rails along which it is moved back-and-forth by a drive unit. Said carriage is overlaid by another carriage which is guided in an orthogonal direction to that of said first-mentioned carriage and carries one or more sewing heads. The latter carriage is driven by a unit which determines, in cooperation with the drive unit of said first-mentioned carriage, the relative movement of the sewing heads and cloth in accordance with a preset pattern for the seam line.