:? :?: Does anyone know if Brother,Singer or any main sewing machine co make a longarm that's in a reasonable price zone??? All I see and Voyager just went up to 2500.00. Why not manufacture a machine that every quilter can afford???

I sure would be nice wouldn't it. The way prices are going up and the state of the economy I don't see it happening any time soon........all companies are out to make money and will charge as much as the traffic will bear...but :D :D :D :D :wink: we can dream

Check out the Bailey quilting machines. They tell the history of how they developed this machine especially for the home quilter. They pair them with Grace frames and the price is affordable. They make both a 13 and 15 inch arm machine. They are not so huge that you have to build a room on to house them. Their prices will not break the bank.


http://www.baileyssewingcenter.com/homequilter.html

My friend has the 'Gracie' stand w/a Janome machine. I believe she doesn't have more then 2,500 all together in it. She even quilts for others on it and it does great. This is a perfect size combo and am looking at it for myself too. Have heard that Janome is coming out w/many different machines this year (yea-like my wish list could get any longer!):0)Am anxious to see myself!:)) I agree that too many of these quilting machines are out of the reach of many quilters. I just recently looked at a gimmell that is supp. to be for the home quilter-it was still starting around $8,000. There's much fabric to me in that amount:0)Keep us posted on what you find out there-Skeat

Skeat.....don't rule out the Bailey. The arm is longer and the price is about the same. It will work on Grace frames as well as others. I chose the longer arm for various reasons. if you wish information, send me a PM.

http://www.baileyssewingcenter.com/homequilter.html


see all their option packages.

June

:wink: Just LOOK Around, Though not real cheap more reasonable all the time, Brother, Singer and other Brands coming up all the time, just wait I guess. Everyone should have one. Anybody Know anything else???

:wink: Keep Looking cause mine is a Brother. I Love it, Found it in 03, I've seen others lately some under Commercial or Industrial Machines. And cheaper than mine. But I 'm Happy with mine high speed and all.

I'm glad to see this discussion because I just stumbled across the Bailey 13" and 15" machines yesterday and the prices that I thought were fairly reasonable. They sell them with or without the Gracie frame (which I have), so the two should be compatible. I'd welcome anyone else's thoughts or experiences with the Bailey long arms.

Hey there, Calico.......I have a Bailey 13 inch and if I were 20 years younger i would have bought the 15 inch. I was pinching pennies a bit because I have no idea how many years of use I will get. That is important. Think ahead and what you want to do with a quilting machine. Get the best you can afford. And I am aware that young women with families do not have the extra funds for this type equipment. It is a long term purchase.

I want to say that the Bailey family are great to business with. iIhave called Mr. Bailey, the owner (also known as Chuck) a number of times and he is like talking to an old friend. He will joke with you and tell you the problems and frustrations he had when he first started using a sewing machine. Very down to earth and friendly.

I moved my speed control to the back of the machine to learn to use the pantograph designs. The cord seemed too short. I could have corrected it by moving the machine back, but I would have lost quilting space. I called Chuck and asked him what I was doing wrong. He said the cord was too short and he would make up and send me a pig tail so I had adequate length to keep all my sewing surface intact. He also told me the problems they had with the thread breaking and wrapping around the take-up lever. He told me how they worked trying to find some way to prevent that. They have what they call a rubber boot. heck, I could not figure out how to get it on. So another call to Chuck. And then, they got a bad batch of light bulbs and they are sending some ot those too. He just laughs and tells you his "carefully guarded" secrets. (just joking!) You will find some of the nicest people to do business with. He knows who I am by now because I have called so often. But I am a satisfied customer.

I have finally gotten the "hang" of this machine and love it. I am ready to do borders, after making some of my own pantograph designs to use.
If you wish to write and ask more questions, we can do tht through PM.

Take your time and check out all the possibilities! So you won't regret that you bought something that will NOT do the job for you.