user3587

I think the Bailey is a good starter setup. You would hate to invest thousands of dollars in something and then find out you don't like to quilt or you're not getting your investment back (if going into business). If I like the quilting aspect of this "hobby" then I might consider something else, like the "Jewel". I've only been a piecer and not a quilter in the past. Stitch-in-the-Ditch on my home machine is as close as I've been to to actual quilting. I did a queen size "foldy stuff" and that about killed my arms. The quilt didn't even have batting but it was so heavy I really had a hard time with it. As long as I take excellent care of my presnet setup I think I can resell it to someone looking to get started with their own quilting if I decide to invest further into quilting.

nana2

Had no idea of this business. Thanks for the info. They are very near me -- just the other side of I 45.

user3587

LindaR
No we didn't have to modify it. It fit fine. My DH is fine with the wooden carriage but I've been sewing for a long time and I feel like my machine is in a cage. I know it's a mind thing. I have shorter arms than DH so if I need to use the wheel I have to walk around the frame to the other side. With the upgrade to an aluminum carriage I wouldn't have to do that. I'm going to make me a "tool belt" to hold my tools so I don't need all that "stuff around the machine" DH likes the wooden carriage because the top holds scissors, threader, tweezers, etc. He has gone back to his old hobby of restoring old pickups so I don't think I will be seeing him around the quilting setup anymore so I guess I can take control and do things to my likeing. :lol:

Cookn

Okie,

You can make a neat tool holder, with curtain rods and a cookie sheet. Just get regular curtain rods that will go across the poles of you machine. I think it's the ones that go out to 28". Screw the cookie sheet to those with the bent part of the rods facing down. It will go right over your fabric poles and stay there until you move it. Because the rods are on the back of the cookie sheet, it has the lip which keeps everything in the sheet.

LindaR

thats very interesting....right now Ihave a juki (9") and my DH connected handihandles to the front of the frame with the off/on switch and cutter on the left button. It works very well but we do have to roll alot. I would love to have more room, at least do a 12" block/one at a time. Thanks, something to think about LOL

user3587

I do have to say that is the one thing I miss that the Bailey doesn't have and that is a thread cutter. You know that's why I bought my first Babylock. I had a old Singer and didn't know machines did that. I was so fascinated by that thread cutter, but when I saw a machine thread itself I almost had to pick myself up off the floor.

kathy

Linda, to do a 12" design at the end of the quilt I think you'll have to have a real long arm. When I'm at the end of a queen size with traditional cotton (thin) batting, a 7" is about all I can get to on my 15". I have to walk around to get to the front or back of my machine, I can't reach the wheel from the front. That's one of the bells I want on a new one, thread pick up. :wink:

user3587

Even with the upgraded carridge you have to walk around? If it weren't for the wooden carriage I was thinking I could reach the wheel. I can get a finger on it now but no grip. I was hoping the upgrade would help with this problem. I was going to order an upgrade tomorrow, now I may not if you still have to walk around to take up the thread with the wheel.

june6995

I think I missed something in this discussion.

The trolley on which the machine sits, has a frame that "wraps around" and has a shelf on top. I find that adequate to lay out my tools. Sort of like the dentists' office. There are slots for your scissors. I keep one pair in there always, faithfully put them back after each snip. Then I keep my long tweezers for threading the needle, along with my magnifying eyeglasses so I can see to thread the needle, a crochet hook for fishing the bobbin thread when I pull it up to begin a line of stitching. I also have a small screwdriver (not sure why) and seam ripper (also for "fishing" threads)

The Speed control (which came with my machine) can be attached on the front or the back of the frame. There is no need to use the foot control to operate this machine.

I watched a long arm quilter pull her threads to the surface, at the end of her stitching, and snip them with the scissor. This works well for me.

Depending on how tightly you wind the quilt, you will have various amounts of quilting space left at the tail end of the quilt. I made some single pantographs for filling blocks and started with a 12" design and finished by reducing it to 10" and just squeezed it in.

For me, I love to do the free motion. I felt the pantograph designs, done from the back of the machine, are a bit tedious to keep the design running in a smooth motion. sometimes they were "jerky" looking, but once I began free motion quilting, I don't care to go back to doing the pantographs.

Each quilter will expect certain things from their machine. I do not aim for Professional appearing quilt designs. I do not require blocks that are filled with feathers and designs. while they are beautiful, I do not have the need to spend hours getting every stitch in place and perfectly done. They are "professional" for a reason. I enjoy the free motion that appears to be a quilt done for fun! And since my quilts go into disaster areas around the world, the idea of hours of quilting is not compatible with my reason for making quilts in the first place.

Each person who is considering the purchase of a quilting machine needs to evaluate exactly what they want to accomplish. I do not believe that the quilting machine should compete with a hand quilter.

There are all sorts of styles and reasons. Think about it and then go for the machine that will give you the best results. If you cannot afford the machine you really want, modify your expectations. I did. I know I have about 10 years worth of quilts left in me, so I want to make as many as I can before I pass my machine and frame along to someone else.

Someone mentioned a thread issue. Once you work out the kinks in the tensions, you should be able to use any kind of thread. I use only one brand in the bobbin case because the tension is set for that thread, so to save myself additional headaches, I buy that one brand for my bobbin winding. Otherwise, I have used JoAnn's cheaper cone thread with no problem. Like I have said previously, the problems I have encountered with the Bailey is usually operator related. Once you get the hang of it, it is a great little machine.

Call Chuck. He is the greatest dealer to work with.

June

marla

They may exhibit them at quilt shows where you can try it. People I meet who bought longarms say it is not worth buying the cheaper longarms as they are harder to set up and do not work well.
It's a lot to invest so do your homework.