karensue

I have gone thru the old posts about purchasing long arms for weeks - "Thanks" to all the wonderful ladies who post their thoughts and advice.

I can piece pretty well, and I machine embroider great (of course been doing it for 15 years), so I am thinking that getting a long arm shouldn't be something that I can't do. (had a mid arm and was okay with pantographs). I have bought many quilting books and magazines, watched videos, and read lots of articles, but now that hubby is ready to rearrange basement for it, and buy me one, I am getting scared that what if I just can't do it very well.

We did go to a show and he fell in love with the way the Gammill is made (especially the frame)- he thinks that if I don't like this endeavor, that at least he can recoup more of his money if we re-sell it - meaning that Gammill seems to have a better resale value than other machines (and yep he already looked that part up).

I don't want to do big quilts, I am happy with smaller quilts, wall quilts and making quilted table cloths, so I was happy with a 22 inch machine (translating to 16 inches quilting space), and an 8 foot frame.
But last night he said to phone the store (which is not close) and ask about the Gammill 26 inch on a 10 foot frame.
We've already agreed that I would want to upgrade in future to the statler retrofit so the machine can do the quilting for me - kinda reminds me of watching my embroidery machine, which I love to do, and I figure that if I am not good at free motion the computerized part can "cheat" for me.

Now that he wants to spend more $$ and is willing to take away his personal space in the basement to put this frame in, I don't want to disappoint him, and me. He spent a year just building and furnishing me a sewing room on the other side of the basement, and he is the type that likes to get me top of the line machines (sewing/embroidery/sergers), so he is definitely a keeper, even though he never acknowledges my projects??

So would I be wrong to buy such a pricey machine, thinking that I can be at least average at it?

thanks for any advice once again
karensue

ManiacQuilter2

Marriage is a partnership and you are very lucky that he supports your hobby. Discuss with him your fears but if you have seriously tried out the machine you want, then go for it. The first quilt I would make is a quilt for him!

madamefifi

Good heavens, if my husband were willing to lay out the $$$$ for a long-arm I would jump at it, even though I have never used one or even seen one IRL! I doubt you would stay "average" for long. I'd be happy to send you a couple of my ginormous UFos that I am dreading quilting on my regular-sized machine!

WandaVA

I personally wouldn't get a longarm that wasn't computerized. I can freehand on mine, but 99% of the time, I let the computer do the work. I guess, with a lot of practice, I could master the freehand quilting, but at 68 years old, I'm not sure I'd live long enough to freehand a great quilt! It's not as easy as it looks.

And I wouldn't even consider an 8 foot frame. Mine is 10 feet, and there have been times when I wished I had the space for a 12 foot frame. Good luck and enjoy!

cenpaqltr

Go for it!!! My husband has graciously given me the double stall garage attached to the house for my quilting/sewing/embroidery space. The quilting machine has 10 foot table and have had several quilts that fill it up to the edge....love it!!! If he is willing to be supportive of your love of quilting - by all means jump in and enjoy yourself!!

joyce888

First let me say I think you've got a a fantastic husband. Going for a 26" throat is very wise and a 10 ft frame can do a queen size quilt. The Gammill is a great machine and I would go for the computer up front.
Buying a long arm is like buying a car. Negotiate for extras. I don't have a Gammill but I did purchase my machine during a quilt show and negotiated for the add ons. I received the leaders, rear handle bars, 2ft extension (making it a 12ft frame), extra bobbins, extra needles.

Jingle

I would get one if I had the room for one. No garage or basement.

Tartan

Discuss it with him and see if he is interested in doing some quilting as well. If you get the computer option, he may like to start a little side quilting business. Have him look at a few videos of people like Jamie Walen (sp) on YouTube.

Macybaby

My husband also was very supportive, and I'm glad he pushed me to get the 24" machine instead of the 18" model. And with his interest, I bought the computerized portion a year later. Now he quilts too! He's always love computer design, so he has a lot of fun picking designs and fitting them to the quilt. Though so far he's got no desire for piecing, but that works for me as I love to piece, and he'll quilt the ones that I don't have special plans for.

I still prefer to quilt free hand and love ruler work, but the computer and the design software allow for more options and can really get a quilt done fast if all it needs is an all over pattern.

bjchad

Sounds like you have some experience with your mid arm of what you will be doing with the long arm. That being the case, go for the best you can afford. Get the 26" machine with as long a frame as you have room for. Certainly the 10 foot frame. I don't think you will regret it.