Boy this is a thread that hits home with me. I've been talking about getting a longarm for several months and my DH was all for it at first. Now he's got me concerned because he thinks I wouldn't quilt enough quilts to justify the cost. I will turn 61 next month and if I did 12 quilts a year I wouldn't do enough in my lifetime to pay for the longarm. I think he's right that I enjoy the piecing more than I would the quilting. So now I'm concerned that I wouldn't learn how to longarm to the skill level that I would be satisfied.

I bought a longarm a few years back and NOW....I LOVE IT....then was a whole different story. I didn't feel it worked properly, it had a hesistation on each start and I couldn't get it to go away. Finally had the tech come out and they set the timing and played around with it and now I love the way it quilts and it is smooth. I also think that 3 years of practice has helped. The more I practice the more I love it.!!!

Good Luck

I took one short tute on mine when they set it up. I found I didn't like pinning the quilt in, it took to long, so I made zipper leads and from then on I was up and running. I quilted several sheets before I finialy did my first quilt. Still learning after 12 yrs, but I love it.

Buy second hand. That will reduce your costs significantly. I purchased a HQ 16, a frame and a pc quilter (computerized robot) 2nd hand and love it.

Like you, I was worried that I would spend big bucks and then not like the quilting. The price of the used set up raised my DHs eyebrows:eek:, but compared to buying new it was cheap. It's also not top of the line, but the HQ16 works perfectly, the frame is fine for what I do, and the pc quilter works for me! In fact, without the pcquilter, I wouldn't have bothered getting the HQ16 and frame. My fibromyalgia will not let me do FMQ, but I can handle sandwiching, measuring and loading the quilt on the frame - just not all the same day.

I've done about 8 quilts so far and have enjoyed it. Mostly I do end to end meanders, but that is my choice. I'm thinking of taking a couple of my meander patterns and leaving an open space in them to let me customize the pattern by the quilt or the recipient. For instance, for a child who likes trucks, put a truck in the open space. For someone who likes fishing, put a fish in it.

Am I getting my moneys worth? Yes. If you make 5 or 6 quilts a year and had to send them out to longarm at an average of $200 per year, then you've spent $1,000. After a few years, you've made your money back. If you make more quilts, you make it back sooner. Charity quilts are easier to manage, because you don't have to figure out how to get them quilted for next to no cost.

I've taken no classes, but have done extensive reading and the PC Quilter manual is pretty good at explaining how it works, plus goes into how to load a quilt on the frame. Having said that, I'm very good at figuring things out and absolutely tenacious about it. No darn machine is going to defeat me! And every problem I've had were caused by 'pilot error'.

One word of warning...there is a reason that FMQ is so costly! It's hard work and it takes a lot of time! So be sure you have the time before investing in a longarm.

I have no regrets. I have had mine since last June. I get better with each quilt. I have also gotten much faster with loading the quilt. I think you have to dive right in. I did have a couple of concerns after I first got it and I called the tech and they walked me through the solutions. I took a 2 day class which helped take some of the fear out of it.

Great feedback from all you ladies. Thanks for sharing so we can make an informed decision.

long arm
 

I too had buyers remorse when I bought my long arm. Had a hard time as I really wanted to be good right now and that didn't happen. Wondered why I had spent soo much money on something I couldn't do.So I took a few classes and got a little more comfortable and had to find my style of quilting and now I have to say I really enjoy it.

Hang in there, it will get better.

grammy.mj

Please don't give up. I have had mine for about 5 years and have done very little on it but shortly after we go it my husband got very sick and passed away. I just didn't have the desire to even look at it but eventually I did and I love it. Could it be that your more afraid to tackle it than buyers remorse? Good Luck with it.

s7sue, your words are very encouraging! I have had a simple quilt loaded on my frame for 4 months. At first, I just would look at it, now I don't even notice it. Think I better get a move on it before my DGS has a son of his own!!!

I never had buyers remorse, but I sure have had some frustrations! You have to just keep plugging away and be determined. I quilt for the public so I had to learn, and learn fast. I did a lot of practice pieces, my dogs still sleep wtih them...I purchased my longarm in 2006 and I probably quilt 30-40 quilts a year on it. I have added pattern boards and circle lord, and pantos to my armory, and that helps. I bought the home I am in now because it will accommodate my longarm, and I will buy the next for the same reason. Yepp, guess I love it! I am 61 also...but who's counting? :)