Thread: Midarm Quilter or upgrade to Janome 9900/12000

I've finally saved up my money to get a new sewing toy. I use and love a Janome 6600, and I've been thinking of upgrading it to something that 1) has a bit larger 11" throat space and 2) has a free arm. I've been dreaming of the Janome 9900 or 12000. I don't do machine embroidery usually, but it might be fun to expand my skills! I like being in my sewing room.

But the biggest thing is the throat space. I am constantly wrestling with big quilts, so I've been thinking maybe I should keep the 6600 and spend my hard-earned money on a sit-down mid arm quilter like an APQS George.

Thoughts or advice?

your 6600 is such a wonderful machine, I wouldn't trade it away (because I love mine). If you have the room, an additional machine dedicated to quilting is not a bad idea, unless of course you really think you might get into the embroidery aspect of things. I don't think the extra couple of inches of throat space will decrease you quilting difficulties.

Consider this opinion as completely biased ;-)

Why not make the jump to a long arm? I have a Janome 6500 and coped with the same problem. I went to a Innova 26 inch on a 12 foot frame. I still do small quilts on the Janome 6500. Be Sure whatever you go to has a large enough throat opening and large enough frame. A fame is also nice in that you do not have to cope with basting the quilt.

Support for the quilt is the most important thing when doing any quilting. I just haven't seen a table big enough to give any support with these sit down machines.

Wow, these are excellent responses!! Thank you!! I think it sounds pretty unanimous that I should keep my beloved 6600 and add a midarm or longarm to my sewing space. You are so right. Now I will investigate all the suggestions you've given me. Thanks again!

I have the Babylock Tiara II midarm. If your biggest struggle is with quilting, and the choice is between a sewing machine with a bigger harp space or a midarm, I'd defiantly go with the midarm. I have a large harp on my Bernina 780 but the thought of quilting anything larger than a crib quilt makes me cringe.