Check this website out. He has a new kind of frame that allows you to use your sewing machine. You move/float the frame. Looks interesting and the price starts at only $130. I might have to take a closer look at this.

Does anyone on the board own one? Pros and Cons to this?

Karen

See the picture? When the quilt is rolled as you are quilting, what is on the outside of the machine's throat is now inside, cutting down on your sewing space. You CAN avoid that by sewing upside down though :wink:

Also, the amount of sewing area shown is not the amount that you can actually use... look at how close the end of the frame is to the side of the machines throat.
How big your throat is will determine your quilting space on the frame.

The Flynn quilt frames have been around for years. There are a few on this board using them.

I have one. I bought it in May. I set it up and it is fun to play with BUT. My sewing machines throat isn't very big so it would be great for table runners, wall hangings, baby quilts, and lap quilts. But not really anything bigger. The first and only thing I used it on was a wall hanging, without a stitch regulator I could see that I would definitely need practice before I would be good at it. I think I read somewhere that a walking foot helps.
I used my kitchen table the placement of the cords on my machine required that I have a hole to thread the cords through to plug in. You can also get a standing frame for this and use it for hand quilting.
I was going to try one of my older machines the throat was a little deeper and taller than my new machine. But life happened. Then my DH said go ahead and buy a Bailey's Home Quilter - so I am getting the 17 inch arm machine can hardly wait.

I had one one these back in the 90's when I first started quilting. I loved it! the kit I bought includes the 'ends,' and directions, you supply the 'rails' in my case we used 8 foot 2x2's. I think at the time it was 50 or 60 $. Yes, it was heavy and bulky. PVC pipe as tall as your machine is what you use for the sideways movement... if you use a standard home machine you still have the problem of throat depth... I peiced, then quilted 12 queen size quilts on that thing in a year.

It would be handy if your machine is big enough. Notice that he's using the new Janome Horizon with 11" of throat space, where most non-embroidery machines are only about 6".

I just sent a similar message out with the web address for this product. I don't own one but I think I will get one soon. After watching the video on the web site I think it looks like a great help, especially on the larger quilts. The price of $130 is now $150 in the most recent Love of Quilting issue but still, it's a very good price for what it will help us do!

It's not new, it's been around for years. I think I paid about $45 for mine. It takes practice to learn to use but once you 'get it' it's great and a big time saver.

Check out All Brands.com it might be cheaper there.

I have looked at that frame on the internet before. If you happen to get one Please let us know if you like it.

Hey ladies there is a thread here on the quilting board that a members husband made her one my husband made one for me and it cost $12 to make here is the link to make it I guess you can do at least a full quilt on one We just made mine and I only do walls and baby quilts so it works for me I have found you need a table that your sewing machine sets down into.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-24223-1.htm

DH made me something very similar out of wood. It works the same way as this one. Before I got my mid-arm and frame, I quilted a lap-sized quilt on the the frame he made. It worked okay, but the PVC rollers were a little awkward to maneuver, and since the frame moves instead of the machine, it took the whole length of my 9' sewing room to quilt that small quilt. I personally wouldn't want to try to quilt anything larger on it.

But for as little as it cost to make ($15 or $20), it was worth it. :D

So those of you who have one would you recommend this and did you enjoy it?

I just recently advertised for a used one since I wanted to try it. I had very good response and did get one.[Used but like almost new] I have done some practicing with it but see that it is going to take a lot of practice to get used to it. Right now it seems awkward to handle but that may change with more use. I would suggest you put an ad for "wanted Flynn Frame" on here and on SEW Its For Sale. You just may save yourself some money and not be out so much if you don't like it.

I too had been wondering about these frames since seeing it in Paducah - thanks for all the responses and ideas.

I was seriously considering one too. But my machine had a small throat so didn't end up getting one. But I think it sounds cool. No pinning or basting problems.