Hello from the Sierra Mtns
08-02-2011, 08:19 AM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Oakhurst, CA
Posts: 727
Welcome from Oakhurst CA. Are we neighbors? I can not answer your question about long arm quilting, but just wanted to say "hi" and welcome to the board. You might want to start a new topic to get answers to your question. Some people may have just seen this as a howdy, not realizing you posted a question too.
08-02-2011, 08:20 AM
#32
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
Originally Posted by gjrie
I'm so glad to find this message board with so many different lines of topics!
I'm a quilter struggling to decide whether or not to get a Long Arm Machine. I've been sewing for 35-40 yrs (since jr hi) & quilting for the last 10 yrs. I've been part-owner in a family owned knitting retail shop they once owned & have taught knitting/crocheting and aspired to teach weaving. Finally sold my loom & am concentrating on quilting & grandchildren! Humm, maybe not quite in that order!
I'm a quilter struggling to decide whether or not to get a Long Arm Machine. I've been sewing for 35-40 yrs (since jr hi) & quilting for the last 10 yrs. I've been part-owner in a family owned knitting retail shop they once owned & have taught knitting/crocheting and aspired to teach weaving. Finally sold my loom & am concentrating on quilting & grandchildren! Humm, maybe not quite in that order!
The decision you are struggling with can only be yours and yours alone but here are a few hints to help you along the way. Apologies if you have already done some of this...
First you must try out LAing to find out if you even like it! Then you need a basic idea of how much you can afford to budget for it.
Best case scenario is to go to a machine quilting show or expo where all the major LA vendors will have demo machines set up for you to try. But the sparse time you will get on a demo at the show is to only give you an idea if you like the feel of a particular make/model.
Next is to find a dealer in your area for some serious hands on time. This may involve having to take a class and investing $50 or so for the fee or rental time of the machine.
Once you have it narrowed down to a couple of makes/models you can start budgeting for it. This may make you change your mind on the make model. Make a list of must haves, wants and I can live withouts. See if your chosen machine can be upgraded. Also decide will this machine be used for just your stuff or do you plan to quilt for others?
A LA is a serious investment that requires serious thinking and as much research as you can dig up. I was pretty much where you are about 3 years ago. I took delivery of my 26" ABM Innova machine last year and do not have one single regret.
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