I am very new to quilting but am in it for life! I just finished my first quilt (sampler in quilt class) and am finishing up my second quilt for my newst grandson. I love every part of making the quilt from cutting to hand sewing the binding. I am quilting in the ditch for my grandson since I want to get the quilt to him quickly and it is the only technique I have learned so far. I already have fabrics for the next four projects!

I just ordered a quilting frame and am getting ready to purchase a (hopefully used) longarm machine. I am looking at a couple of 17 and 19" throats.

Here is my question: the space height at the throat on these are only 5" but that seems fairly common. Can I quilt a king size quilt with these dimensions?

I welcome all thoughts and comments. The three I am looking at are not well known but in my price range if I buy new: Crystal Quilt, Homesteader, Bailey's Home Quilter - all three are stretched.

You can roll a very large quilt in 5" - depends on the batting. Minkee and fleece take up a lot of space too. I love my Gammill if that helps and they have used machines.

I have a 18i inch tin Lizzie. It is a close call on 110" x110" king size with drops and it has a larger throat than the ones you are looking at. Used, they go for around $3500' sometimes less and they have a fabulous sitch regulator.

Depending on how much futzing around you want to do, you can always turn the quilt. Quilt to the middle,(or farther, as much as your roller will hold) then remove the quilt and put it back on the frame, turning it 180 degrees and quilt the other side. You are going to want to roll the un quilted portion on the take up roller and continue quilting from where you left off the first time. The messing around comes from getting all the layers smoothly rolled on the take up. Might want to consider basting with a water soluble thread before you do the second half. It can be done, however, if you are planning on a lot of huge quilts, you may want to look at a larger machine. I know there have been several posts on Baileys. Do a search.

Have you looked at the HQ16? There are many on the used market right now? The height is over 9".

Hinterberg has just been bought by Nolting... they have factory refurb Voyager 17 machines right now for $2400. A good deal!

http://www.hinterberg.com/Voyager.aspx

I have done a king size with a 9 x 5" throat machine and didn't have to turn it. Pay extra attention when rolling it up on the takeup roller to scrunch it up tight and I used Hobb's 80/20 batting. Puffy batting might not work so well but as PaperPrincess said, you can turn it which is what many folks have to do with a 9" machine anyway.

I don't have any trouble with fleece because it is super squishable. I have more trouble with poly battings. The foot gets stuck on them so I have to cover the edges with tissue paper and quilt through it.

Thanks very much, everyone. This helps a great deal!