Originally Posted by
DebraK
I never expected to break even with quilting. It is just something I love to do. My long-arm came from my husband who wanted to see me take my love of quilting as far as I could go. He is a believer in having the tools you need. I balked at the idea, even though it was my heart's desire. He won me with the argument, "if not now, when?". He is the one who really saw the need.
When we moved to our current home, my DH said I could get one, since we now had the room. I was able to rent time on one at a LQS near our old home and that is where I learned to LA as well. I researched the different machines and when I was ready, we purchased one. The dealer even matched her show price for me, even though I bought it at her studio.
Definitely shop around and try different machines if possible (either at a show or a dealer), then buy the best machine for you. If it's a private party selling a used machine, see if you can try it out to make sure you and the machine are compatible. Also, measure the area where you plan to place it as well as know what size quilts you plan to sew on it. Most frames come in 10'-12' lengths, but you could get a smaller or larger size, depending on what's available.