I have a chance of purchasing an old dependable Bernina electronic machine vs. a new long arm machine for probably the same money. Which would you do given the fact I make lots of baby quilts?

For the same price, I would purchase the long arm. You can grow with the long arm but not with the Bernina. Even if you only do baby quilts, if you ever wanted to have the option to go bigger then you can.

My frame can be set up for crib size or king.
No more pining.
I will not buy a Bernina, way overpriced.

I would go with the long arm. I think it would be more versatile. I do a lot of baby quilts on my long arm.

Long arm. If you plan it right, you can load a long length of backing and batting and then 'group' quilt several baby tops in a row. Goes quickly.

It would depend on if this were to be your only machine. If so, then the long arm isn't the choice. If you already have a good and sturdy machine to piece with, then jump on the long arm provided you have lots of room for it.

Agree

Hmmm. What "long-arm" are you talking about?

I am talking about any long arm, especially the one that your wallet would allow. You could pay as little $1946 and as much as $34,000.

i would buy the long arm... makes the quilting so much easier.

I'd go with the long arm if you already have the sewing machine that you need.
With the longarm you can quilt larger quilts, load several smaller ones at the same time as long as they all have the same backing on them.

It also depends on the longarm you are looking at in comparison and what bells and whistles it has.

I have a Nolting 18" Longarm and love it! I also have the computer system set up with it which makes it really nice!
I have a less expensive Brother SQ9000 sewing machine that I also love. It does what I need it too.

If you have questions feel free to ask.

Phyllis
QuiltingGrannie

I would question what long arm you'd get for the same money as an old Bernina??? Lots of folks through out the term long arm, when it's really not a long arm at all.

Longarm, I have a Nolting PRO 24". Anything 18" and over is considered a longarm otherwise it's a shortarm or midarm. Can't wait to see what you choose. Good Luck

Another question for the longarmers on here, would a Janome Horizon 7700 with the 11" space work on a Grace Start-Right Frame?

Ditto :?:

long arm

OOPS! I guess I used the term "long arm" incorrectly. I meant the machines that have a longer center opening from the needle to the other side of the machine. The older Berninas width in the center is only 7". The newer machines have a much wider opening.

longarm-you have more creative space front to back than a standard machine because of the larger throat depth

I just got my Gammill Vision. I LOVE it and it has made life so much easier when it comes time to quilt. It is amazing how quickly you can quilt a baby quilt (or any other for that matter). No longer do I have to push, pull or scrunch quilts to position them under my needle. Go for the long arm!

My vote is a long arm.

the long arm!! You will not be sorry. You will be able to do si much with it and may graduate to larger quilts because you can. I bought mine used a year ago and love it.

I love my Innova. I had rented for years and love having my own LA.

I would go with the larger opening space. That way you have more room to quilt and hold a frame better depending on how you quilt your quilts. Either one will get the job done though.

Definately the long arm. You can't do the same on a dometic as you can a long arm.

Me too.

Yes that machine will work on the frame, however, a couple of things to keep in mind- are you going to be using that machine for piecing or other sewing also? It can get a bit heavy moving it from the frame to your table and and back again on a regular basis you probably don't want to do it often. Also the 7700 has a lot of features none of which you need or can even use on the frame - being the reason that machine/frame combos are straight stitch only machines.

Well, how much room do you have to dedicate to this thing?

Long arm.

I got a HQ Sweet Sixteen sit down and love it. It is considered a mid arm machine. But I also have 2 Berninas that I can piece with.

If all you're doing is baby quilts, you may like the Bernina for that. I have a Janome and a Bernina. Both are about 13 years old and were top of the line in their day. The Janome is not good at free motion quilting, but the Bernina is excellent at it. If you're going to be doing small quilts, you will really like the Bernina for sewing and quilting. If you want to do bigger quilts, you might like a machine with a bigger harp (that's the opening in the area from the right of the needle to the machine).

See if you can try out the machines first to tell which one you are more comfortable using.

Good luck! :thumbup:

Long Arm deffinatly!!

agreed

I was thinking of getting one of these and I went with a Bailey's 17" and Gracie Frame for $2,500 instead. I love it! 11" is nice, but 17" is better. lol

I've got to go against the flow here. You can both sew and quilt on the Bernina which, in my opinion, is the best machine available. My Bernina is around 25 years old and still sews like a dream. You can only quilt on a longarm. If you mainly make baby quilts, they are small enough to handle easily in the harp space of the Bernina. Although you can certainly quilt a baby quilt on a longarm, you will have to find house space for a frame and machine that has the capability to quilt up to kingsize quilts.

you said machine right? you didn't say frame. so what you're talking about is really the 11" throat space, if i get it right.

if you can do the baby quilts on the machine you already have, do you really need a different one? it would be convenient, but not really necessary. i'd save up for a machine with a larger throat on a frame. you'll be happier.