Originally Posted by
Scraplady
I do not have a long-arm and don't anticipate ever owning one. I don't really have room for a LA system nor do I think I really want one. What I WOULD like to have is a mid-arm with lots and lots of throat space and a table that I can SIT at. I am one of those who likes my quilt to be my very own from beginning to end, from design concept to the final stitch in the binding. I am just picky that way, so would probably never send a quilt out for quilting. I've done several queen size quilts on my domestic that has a 7 3/4" throat. I get it done, and I'm almost always pleased with my results, but it IS a wrestling match. I could see having something like the HQ 16 or maybe the new Baby Lock Tiara, which I went and drooled over last week. Right now, however, it's just not in the budget.
I know some here would disagree with me, but I got myself an industrial machine for Christmas! It's "only" 12 inches, not 16 (oh, but the 12 is so nice!!!). I got one that is a knock-off of the Juki 8700 and it has a servo motor that has adjustable speed. I got it off Ebay and it was less than $450 delivered to my door. Took about 4 hours to put it all together (no instructions; it would probably take us an hour to put one together now that we know how!). I haven't really had a chance to sit and play with her, but I did do a few practice runs and she is great!!! The table is about 3 ft x 5 ft so she doesn't take up much room. What really turned me against a mid arm on a table is that they don't have feed dogs. I like to do straight stitches on my quilt too so I couldn't really see any reason *not* to go industrial.