anewchapter

I am trying to decide between 2 machines.. a 13inch or a 15 inch. Can, anyone tell me if there is a dramatic difference in the 2 inches, or would the 13 inch give me enough quilting space. I am a home quilter and only do as a hobby. The price difference is pretty great, so I am trying to find out if it is worth the money for the extra two inches.
Thanks, Danielle

bjeriann

I would get the largest throat you can afford. What brands are you looking at? I have heard that Bailey has a good 17 or 18 in. for a good price.

sgardner

I think once you get a long arm (or midarm, as you are looking at), you FIND, even invent, projects to do on it! I have an Avante- 18 inch, and have discovered I love thread painting.

So, I agree, buy the most space you can afford.

grann of 6

Well, I am a newbie to longarm quilting, having gotten my LA in April. I got a Viking 18/8, meaning you have an 18" area under the long arm to quilt at a time and the 8" means there is 8" clearance between the quilt and the height of the throat space. If you are doing a large quilt this comes in handy when you have the quilt nearly finished and rolled up on the takeup roller (or whatever it is called). As far as I am concerned the larger the quilting area the better and faster to completion. I know that I would not have been satisfied with a midarm, which is what you are considering, I believe. When I buy a new machine, be it a sewing machine or anything else, I try to buy a step or two up from what I think I want because I know I would wish later that I had gotten something better. Cheaper is not always better. Just make sure you do lots of homework. It is a large purchase, and not one that you want to regret.

anewchapter

Thanks for your response. Bailey's is the one I was looking at as a matter of fact. lol The 13 or 15 are the only two I could afford though...

anewchapter

I have only looked at the WOW and the Baily's. Are there anymore out there that are in that price range?? I only have about 2500 to spend... which is far too little for what I really want. lol

Justquilting

Get the biggest a throat space that you can afford. ( for some reason this doesn't sound right ) lol
It's better than finding out your not happy with it 7 should have gone the extra.
Then you roll a good size quilt on the roller the space you can quilt in gets smaller. 2" doesn't sound like much but it does make a difference.
Good luck. I'm sure you'll enjoy whatever you get.

quiltinghere

I agree with buying the most you can - for what you can afford - even if that means saving for a while longer to get what you want and need.

No sense spending say $1200 on something because you don't want to spend $2800 (even though you reallllly want and will use the $2800 one).

I know I'd regret it. That's why I'm still saving for the big longarm. Won't be too much longer...I hope!

DeeBooper

Definitely the largest throat you can afford...you won't be sorry!!!

kathy

I have a bailey 15", at the end of a queen with low loft cotton batt the most i can do is an 8" pass so i would think with a 13" you may only get 5-6"
i agree with the others , get the most you can for more satisfaction