I would say yes. I was lousy at FMQ on my Bernina. Bought a mid arm and I love that once it's loaded, I have no problems with bunching or puckers. The backs look as good as the fronts. Also, I have the free motion control on the mid arm and it does a really nice even stitch.

In 2006, I bought my first Janome, it is nicknamed the Rose O'Donnell machine. When she was on the View, she said she didn't sew because she couldn't find a machine that did everything she wanted it to do. Janome came out with the Janome 2007DC LE, and gave her one and everyone in the audience was also given a machine. I found one on ebay, bought it for $200 and I love it. It is a workhorse of a machine and I do everything on it plus have bought other Janome's since then as I really like them.

yes absolutely - it the best!

When I went from my circa 1976 JC Penny machine to my Bernina my piecing accuracy did improve but what I really noticed was the experience of sewing increased exponentially. I compared it to going from a bare bone basics car to a luxery car. My Bernina would now be considered an "older model" because I bought it over 10 years ago. It is the 153QE so has some fancy computerized stitches but really I don't use them very much. Anyway I think my piecing improved a lot and things that were difficult for me before like Y seam and curves just seemed easier to do with the Bernina

Now if we are talking quilting getting a LA absolutely transformed my quilting. I was never very good at FMQ on my Bernina. I suppose more practice would have made me better but I just found it stressful and hard to devote the time for practice to something I didn't find thouroughly enjoyable. Not to mention the pure torture and drudgery I considered the sandwiching part.

The LA totally transformed that and when I don't have a quilt on the rack I feel something is missing from my life so it is easy to put in the practice time required to get better.

Yes, there is a learning curve...even to just pin it up so it's even, but it's not too difficult.

I'd say my favorite improvements by going to a frame is the fact that I don't have to pin the layers together (and unpin when I'm done, lol!)

Also, on my "standard" machine, rolling and unrolling, and stuffing the excess quilt into the throat space...took so much time. And then I was only doing SITD, no curves or anything. Once you get the hang of it on a frame, stipple and swirls are SO easy. And relaxing.

I dunno if it is much faster to quilt this way, but I can do MORE quilting on each piece in the same time, kwim?

Oh, I'm loving y'all's answers! Just the info I was hoping for. Keep 'em coming?!

it was like night and day.

How did you like using it without the frame? Well, I guess you still weren't totally happy, thus the frame that's on it's way. Please post back after you get it!

Does your machine have a 9" throat and do you use it on a frame?

I never tried FMQ on my old one due to the size of the harp being small therefore I don't know if it makes a difference. I however love my new machine and now can't live without its features. It was pretty easy to learn, Ive had it for a year and a half but i find I learn new things everyday that it does, so I feel i can really grow in my quilting with this machine. I still piece with my older one when I have to, but I find I miss the features on my newer one.