Originally Posted by
Sarasewsandstuff
So, do I understand this correctly: I can put some DSMs on a frame and then do FMQ that way? Instead of sitting?
Yes, but the quilting space is very limited. Imagine the harp space of a domestic, add the take-up bar and the quilt that is on the take up bar and the remaining space is the area you can quilt. Sometimes as little a s a few inches.
Strongly suggest you go to a larger show where many machine dealers are located and test drive the various machines. Most (all?) of the major domestic and long-arm manufacturers now make mid-arm sit down quilting machines. You will see some machines oriented on the table like a domestic (horizontal to you) and some oriented like a long-arm (vertical to you). Some manufacturers offer stitch length regulators, some do not. Tables vary as well (size and customization such as height adjust and additional drop arm extensions). Some come with integrated bobbin winders, some require a separate bobbin winder. Then there are the variations of the machines themselves - which are as diverse as we can find in domestic machines, and all of them have a 'feel' to them that you need to feel comfortable with. Last are the issues of: price, support, locality of dealer, warranty ... etc.
I had a rather lengthy process when I bought my sit-down machine. I made spread-sheets and logged and ranked various features I wanted or needed, missing or bad features I didn't want, prices, warranty, etc. I test drove all the machines I could find at large quilt shows over a 3 year period. I had it narrowed down to three machines that I was interested in. One day I walked into my local quilt shop and they had just started carrying one of the three machines I was interested in and the owner whispered a price in my that I couldn't ignore .. so I bought it.
So ... go out and explore. You may wind up with a list of several or a few that you like and you can then narrow it down to things like price, locality of dealer - etc ... or you may go and find only one that you think you could live with. You can get all the recommendations from folks here on QB and those recommendations won't mean a hill of beans until you put your hands on the machine yourself and try it out.