Changed mind about a sit down machine
 

Has anyone bought a sit down quilter like the HQ 16 and then thought they would rather have a stand up long arm? I’m in the market but I don’t want to buy the sit down and then wish I’d bought the stand up and loose money, hope this makes sense.

I bought a sit-down (Bernina Q20) and I have zero regrets! A sit-down is a very different animal than a stand-up LA, in my opinion. Ideally, I'd have both!

I shopped for mine for 2 years, test-driving every machine I could get my hands on - I was 100% certain by the time I made my purchase that I was buying what I really wanted. If you're thinking you might change your mind, maybe you're not quite done shopping?

Have you made "pro" and "con" lists for each type of machine? Do you have a really clear idea of what type of projects you'll be doing on the machine? Have you spent a solid amount of time working on each type of machine?

For a LA, I discovered that my back problems will be an issue if I ever get one. I think I can make do with having a stool to perch on and perhaps by wearing a back brace, but definitely I found a sit-down machine far more comfortable and can spend hours at a time working on it. If I ever do get a stand-up LA I will need to make sure it's one that glides as effortlessly as possible, to avoid fatiguing or tweaking my spine. Depending on your age and health, that may be something to take into consideration too, if you haven't already.

Most quilters have a definite preference for one or the other. How long have you been researching your purchase? The rule of thumb is to spend a year looking and trying out different setups before making a decision.

I learned to FMQ on a domestic machine but always felt quite tense doing it. Once I tried out a frame setup at a quilt show, I knew that was what I really wanted. For me, quilting on a LA is easier on my back and shoulders than quilting on a domestic, probably because I am much more relaxed. I have never been able to machine quilt for hours at a time - an hour or two per day is my max. This may be part of the reason my back problems have not flared up from quilting.

Agree with Sewnoma ... perhaps you are not done shopping yet. Have you been to a large show where you can try lots and lots of machines? Do you have the space for the size frame you would want to get?

also, bear in mind that there are sit down machines that can be converted to frame machines. The Juki and the HQ come to mind, but there are probably more. Perhaps one of these is the answer??

I don't have either and don't have room for either.

I hope you can decide which one, you will love it.

I also have the Bernina Q20. I love it and the wonderful stitch quality. However......you still need to sandwich quilts (hate this part) and there are still times when the quilt is unwieldly and in my lap or it catches on something and pulls. It's certainly a lot better than my smaller machine though because of the space under the machine and the huge table are great. It can be converted to a long arm, and sometimes I wish I did that instead. But at this point there is no way I'm paying maybe 15 or more thousand to set it up as a long arm. If I wanted a long arm, I would've done that before spending 13 thousand on this one. And I probably would've picked a different machine if I did a long arm to begin with. Good luck figuring it out. It makes such a difference to have the better set up with the sit down especially with big quilts.

I think Prism99 has given good advice--definitely take your time shopping and trying out machines. Make that list of pros/cons of sit-down vs. LA. Often I think people jump on the assumption that LA are more expensive (not if you go the route of a used machine and since they are mostly made for commerical use, they should last a long, long time)and that you have to stand the whole time. That depends upon the type of quilting you would be doing--working on pantos or Edge to edge where you are making large sweeping motions usually does require more standing. Doing custom work or modern quilting usually allows you to sit on a drafting stool. I'm assuming you have quilted with your domestic machine, so you know the issues with sandwiching--that alone was a driving force for me to go with a LA.

I'm getting a sit down instead of a frame, mainly because I have no room for a frame. If you want a frame then get the frame.

Interesting question...most quilters I know have upgraded in one kind of machine or the other but I don’t know of any that have gone from sit down to LA. As other members have suggested, maybe you need to spend more time on each of them to see what works best for you.

I don’t have one, have never used one or shopped for one. But just thinking about them over the years, the sit down always seemed like the choice I’d make if I were able to invest in that purchase.

I have the Sweet 16, had the original Haniquilter on a frame. Love my sit down and have no regrets

I have no regrets in buying the current mid arm machine for a number of reasons. There is no need to sandwich or baste a quilt top before loading it on the frame. Also, the quilting space works well for me since I am very short and there is no way my arms could handle a quilting space of 22 or more inches :). I also find FMQ is much easier for me than it would have been with a sit down machine or a DSM.

What about the Juki 2010? I got the additional work table so that the machine sits like a sit-down machine. It quilts beautifully and is a semi industrial machine. I love it and I also piece on it. Maybe you could try it out and make a decision.

I've been debating for years myself, and with the advent of the smaller stand up machine, I added that to the consideration pile. For what it's worth, I visited a dealer and he told me that people are trading in their sit-down machines for the smaller standup ones as most prefer those. Now I'm back to being more undecided, as I had been leaning toward the Sweet 16 too! I wish you luck in your choice!

Have you talked to any people who are trading theirs in? I'm just wondering because that sounds like a typical sales talk like the guys who come to your door and the first thing they say is "your neighbors are having us put new windows in their houses" and then you ask which ones and its one person 4 blocks down. That's a well known sales tool to make people think that other people are buying so they will, too.

Well, my thoughts on that are ...who cares what other people are doing, even if it's true? Do what makes sense for you. You're the one who will be paying the bills and using the thing!

I love my Q20...I don't care if every single one of my friends & neighbors had one and traded it in, it's a great machine that does everything I wanted it to do.

Quilting on a domestic or sit down machine has one major problem for me. I can't manhandle a quilt very long at all without back spasms. Usually within about 30 minutes. And I absolutely hate!!!! doing the quilt sandwich. When my friend was selling a very used (1999) Nolting 24 inch with a 12 foot bed, I jumped on it. I still get back spasms but it's not for a couple of hours. I can load the quilt back on the frame in a couple of hours. Then I float the batting and the top. That's day 1. Day 2, I can get most airy Panto's half done on a queen size quilt. If the quilt is a lap, I can finish it in 4 to 6 hours. If the panto is more detailed, it does take me more time.

I don't do free motion...am not artistic and can't draw worth a darn. Moving that sewing machine head around is so much less tedious for me than trying to shove a quilt and keep an even stitch through a short arm. Now, if all my quilting projects were going to be mini's, placemats or table runners, I would probably know I needed two units. I will never give up my stand up Longarm.

And get the biggest throat you can afford. It's so much quicker to finish a quilt if you can make a 16 inch pass each time as opposed to a 6 inch. Takes at least double the time to do the smaller width. I can go up to an 18 inch on my 24 inch throat Nolting. The rollers take up space. The disclaimer....this is my opinion and my experience. Others make absolutely beautifully quilted projects on the mid arms, and I can only admire their work.

I researched and saved for 5 years. During which time, I was able to use my friend's computerized Gammill for a few very large quilts, and used my Janome 6600 with a 9 inch throat for everything else... including a 90 inch queen quilt.
I found free motion on the frame to be really cumbersome and heavy, and standing all day was tiring. While I loved the precision of computerized designs, I didn't feel like it was very creative. I spent more time manipulating the computer to do what I wanted, than actually feeling creative. Then you have to stand and watch it do the quilting, just in case something goes wrong..

I tried out several sit down machines, including the Sweet 16, Gammill Charm and Innova sit down, and researched the George from APQS. It became clear early on in my research that I prefer the machine to be oriented like my domestic, with the throat to the right of the needle. I couldn't get used to facing the head of the machine...

In the end, I purchased a 22 inch Gammill Charm. It sits in an industrial table with large, locking wheels. The side and back of the table flip up to support the quilt. If, in the future I have room for a frame, and decide I want one, I can make the transition and keep my 22 inch quilting machine. I love my Charm. Gammill has wonderful customer service, and they have a long history of quilting machines.

Good luck with your decision... I know It's a big one!

At a quilting class that I took the teacher noted that there are fabric pushers (sit down quilters) and machine pushers (long arm quilters). What you have to decide is which you are. I'm a fabric pusher and have a Bernina Q20 that I love. I initially made my decision based on space- the frame just took up too much space. When I took a long arm class with a Bernina Q24 my decision was validated - I felt that I had no control over the machine. Hope this helps, it is a big decision!

A deciding factor for me was trying out a larger quilt on a sit-down machine. Small samples, like those most of the vendors were using on the sit-down machines, were easy to move, but a twin-sized quilt was significantly more difficult. Thus, I went with a mid-arm with frame.

Join the HQ Facebook page and ask your questions there.

I do not like to make the quilt sandwich, so my preference is for a machine on a frame. I was going to wait another 2 years to buy, but 18 months ago got a great deal on a HQ16 on a frame. No regrets.

I am lucky to have space in my home and no plans to move in the near future.

Thanks for all your answers, I have been looking and researching for about 18 months, the HQ dealer is about 400 miles away, but he has arranged for me to go and see and try a stand up for a couple of hours with a lovely lady who’s about 30 mins away. (which is better than a quick try at a show) I am going on Friday, will let you know what I decide. My dad passes earlier in the year and left me some money so I want to make the best of it.

I contemplated the same thing for about a year. I was comfortable FMQ on a DSM and did enjoy quilting on the bernina Q20. Space was a consideration for me so I was also looking at the brother dreamquilter and frame but tried out a avante and felt it was smoother. I also decided to get the 10ft frame and set it up smaller until I can move it into a larger room in my house. I do have back and shoulder issues so I use a stool and quilt sitting down using the microhandles. I don't regret my decision and the transition has not been as huge a learning curve as I thought it would be. I do recommend taking your time. I went with my brand because I love my dealer and it is the brand he sells so I did not try others because dealer support is important to me. I have had my machine a couple months and haven't had any issues. It stitches smoothly. I think either way I would have still enjoyed a sit down but the basting was hard for me so thats why I chose the long arm over the sit down

I have both and much prefer the stand up long arm. I have trouble maneuvering the quilt with the sit down.

I waivered back and forth between the two. I really wanted a stand up machine so that I didn't have to sandwhich and baste the quilt. However, the price difference was too much. Then, in Paducah I had the chance to try the BlockRockit which met my needs (standup midarm with a ten foot frame) and my budget for around $5000. I have had it two years and am still very happy. If you call the owner, Lynn Barlow, tell him Kaye Hlavaty sent you! He interacts very well with his owners. I called several times in the first few months with issues that were resolved with just a phone call.

Feel free to PM me for more information.

Thanks everyone, Kaye I live in Scotland and we are much more limited in the UK in the brands available �� BlockRokit not avail here at all.

I bought a Baby Lock Tiara II a couple of years ago. And while I’ve enjoyed using it, I do find myself wishing I’d just gotten a Longarm to begin with. I’m leaning real close to pulling the trigger on the Handi Quilter Amara. I wish I’d looked at this model while at the Houston Quilt Show.