I've been looking at long arms for just about a year. I decided not to get one. Space is the biggest issue, and then there is a huge learning curve, and then there is the huge cost.
My domestic sewing machine is a Babylock Ellisimo and I do love it. I bought it about 5 years ago and at the time was looking for one that I could quilt with and was told this would be an absolute dream to use quilting my quilts. I think the truth was stretched a little (or a lot). Also I did not have any knowledge about what an embroidery machine was or what could be done with one. I wanted a good machine and though I was very gullible I was extremely lucky that everything turned out ok. Since then I have learned a whole lotta stuff!
I have pieced and quilted my quilts, mostly outline or stitch in the ditch, some fmq but I'm not very good at it, and have learned to use embroidery as the quilting of the quilt.
I have a love hate relationship with sandwiching the quilt, and thus my search for a long arm. And then there is the handling of the quilt in the harp of the machine and I do large quilts. So I kept looking for a better way.
I have discovered the ShortE! It is a remarkable quilt frame that works with the weight and largeness of all that fabric that I find I wrestle with while trying to fmq. Here is the website if you are interested in taking a look at it. http://www.shop.dzgns.com/products/shorte .
I'm very happy that I waited before spending another large amount of money to help me with my hobby. It does cost a little bit but it's fractions of what a long arm is. And I can use my Ellisimo and feel I've finally got to the place where I can do what I want to do. Sew and quilt and enjoy the process without a lot of frustration.
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Originally Posted by QuiltnNan
