Good evening all..
I finally got up the nerve and a few dollars to go buy a quilting machine and frame. The price? SEVEN THOUSAND dollars! Does anyone have a better suggestion at a more reasonable price? What is everyone using?

I'm so tired of losing my fingerprints every time I have to quilt a blanket. I did just purchase the quilters gloves but I am truly interested in a better way. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks

well, naturally I'm going to say the Bailey - either the 13 or 15" (I have the 15" with the Little Gracie II frame - $2500)

http://www.baileyssewingcenter.com/bahoqupro15.html

We did a lot of research before deciding on the Bailey - we knew we didn't want a 9" machine - most are way out of reach financially - which makes the Bailey a great deal...

(I have several posts on the picture board concerning my setup (which we just got set up about a week or so ago)

iI cast m vote for the Bailey. I have it with the GMQ Pro frame for a whole lot less than $7000. You can almost buy a car for that amount of money.And it is a good solid machine. Just ask Janeen

Hi - For beginning quilting on a frame, I have a BabyLock Quilters Professional machine with a New Joy aluminum frame. The quilting surface is not very big (about 4"-5"), but for me in my "learning" stage it is sufficient. I would like to go eventually to a larger machine & frame, but that will be a few years. I will need to save up about $6500 or so.

I have a Hinterberg machine frame and the Viking Mega Quilter Machine. I have arthritis and have had thumb surgery on my right hand (I'm right handed!) so am unable to hand quilt. The main reason I went with this frame was the ease in taking it down and putting it back up. I have to set it up in the family room and when the kids & gkids visit I have to take it down. At first I just used my regular sewing machine but when the Mega Quilter came out I jumped at it. It has the stitch regulator and a larger harp. My total investment was less than $3,000. I would try out different frames and machines before buying - I looked for quite awhile at frames.

Polly in Iowa

Personally, I would not consider spending several thousand dollars now and then a larger amount later. I make a lot of quilts and decided I wanted to invest in something that will see me through my quilting phase. I am 74 and did not want to make a large investment, thus, I chose the Bailey 13 inch machine and I am confident it will still be working hard for me when I am 80.

Among the factors a person needs to consider is whether or not you want to do quilts for other people. I made the decision up front that I would only do my own quilts since I make a lot of quilts for charities. When friends ask me to do theirs, I have invited them to bring their quilts to my house. Then I show them how to load the frame and run the machine. (Nothing hard about that!) and that way they realize how much time it takes to get the quilt finished.

Since the first of the year I have completed about 15 quilts. one was a large 90 X 110 and another 104 X 120 for my daughter. Then I made a number of Standard and Queen size and child size quilts. . I have the luxury of time to be able to spend on sewing. I have done this all my life and want to keep active and keepy my brain cells alive. My father is 102 and considering this factor, I hope to be making quilts into my 80's. And I believe my Bailey, like the old Singers, will be around for a long time. Everything else depends on how long I am around to continue quilting.