Hello Everyone,

I am in looking around for a quilting machine. Of course I have looked at so many videos online that talk about different machines, but something for me is missing. I would love to hear from many of you about your experience with your machine. Do you thnk for a beginner it would be better to get a table top or go ahead and get the long arm.

I just need some feedback on how your machines are working. I guess I am looking for some with a stitch regulator on the machine and one that glides real easy if it is a long arm.

Hope I hear from many of you!

Quiltbaby

If you're a beginner, I wouldn't invest in a longarm yet. It's a huge monetary (and space) investment and, from what I've read on the homequiltingsystems group at http://groups.yahoo.com, it's a good idea to spend a whole year researching longarms before deciding on the one for you.

When you talk about a tabletop, do you mean the George?

Most of us quilt on our regular domestic sewing machines. It's best for most people to start there.

I agree, I encourage people to get used machines from yard sales, they are better than the new "affordable" machines.

I have a short arm machine, and the large frame. My frame is 12 feet long and 3 feet away from the wall! Not counting the width of the frame itself. I do most of my sewing on an older Bernina model, and a 45 year old Singer. I only use the short arm for the quilting.

I bought a extra cheap Brother a couple of years ago, because it came with a quilting foot. And I practiced free arm quilting on it. I am proficient, sort of, but it was always kind of a hassle for me, I have seen some of the things people on this board do and I am blown away.

That for me was the first step to see if I was going to want to quilt my quilts myself. And I was hooked, even if not great at it. I just got a Juki mid-arm (98Q) and a GMQ frame with the stitch regulator. People kept telling me I wouldn't want or need the regulator, but I like it. And I am so much better on the frame.

I would start small, because the big frames and machines are only more and more expensive. I think some people find that they really like piecing, but are happy to leave the quilting to someone else. Make sure what you want before you lay out the money.

I started with a frame (stand alone vs table top), and put on my 1500 Brother. One quilt (granted it was a baby quilt) was all it took for me to decide that was not going to work for. 9" harp = 6 inchs of quilting space. I spent more time rolling and clamping than I did quilting. I had about 9 quilts and 9 months for a exhibit so I invested in the HQ 16. LOVE it

I want to thank all of you for your wisdom because it has helped me. I have a Bernia 155 which is old and I am going to buy the quilting foot and the walking foot for that machine.

I have made three quilts and they were okay. Right now I am trying to decide if this is what I really want to do. I will follow the instructions and try to learn to quilt on the small machine and then look for a good long arm if that is what I am lead to do.

By the way, what is the HQ 16?
Quiltbaby

We are NOT trying to discourage you, but the really, really nice long arms cost upwards of $20,000. I do what I think is pretty nice quilting on my domestic machine on smaller quilts.

The HQ =HandiQuilter is a midarm 16 to 18 inches (Avente), WAY under $20,000- used HQ 16 now selling for $5,000 - $6,000. Excellent machine and customer service. They also have the Fusion, computerizered or not, I chose not, cost being only one factor.
Another option to the DM machine or the expensive long arms.

I looked at the HQ with the stitch regulator and wow, that is about $20,000 together not including the table.

I love the features. Right now the cost is a concern. I guess I have to go to a shop and see these machines in action.

Do you know who sells the used machines?

You might want to take a look at the Bailey mid-arm. I own a 15", and found it to be quite reasonably priced (I got mine used, which made it even more affordable). It's basically a stretched machine, so it works pretty much like a normal sewing machine, but it has the throat space to allow you to get much more range on your quilting frame.