Confused about long arm frames...
#1
While at MQX last week (wonderful!) I fell in love with a long arm machine, the price is finally something I can consider at some point. My question- why would you need a frame bigger than say 8 feet? I am just going to use this for personal use, not business, and the largest quilt I would be making is a queen size...so am I just missing something? Thanks!
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: La Quinta, CA
Posts: 3,918
I have a 10 foot frame and I can't imagine using a smaller one. The extra area on the side of your loaded quilt is for acessing your machine to change bobbins and clean the bobbin area as you quilt. I find I want at least an extra foot.
#3
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
Originally Posted by chiaraquilts
While at MQX last week (wonderful!) I fell in love with a long arm machine, the price is finally something I can consider at some point. My question- why would you need a frame bigger than say 8 feet? I am just going to use this for personal use, not business, and the largest quilt I would be making is a queen size...so am I just missing something? Thanks!
#5
8 feet wide would only give you 96 inches tops. My gammill , when pushed all the way to one end, takes up about 20 inches. I need to be able to see into the bobbin area to clean, oil and troubleshoot. Add on the extra backing and batting you need on each side of your loaded top (you put a clamp or something on each side to keep the backing taut while you quilt), and now you are way over 8 feet. Queen quilts run about 88 inches (give or take). Hope this helps!
#7
I agree with all above. I just moved up to a 12 foot frame....PLENTY of room to do what I MAY want to do in the future. If you can avoid it, don't go small -- you'll be wanting bigger sooner or later.
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 10,590
Originally Posted by amandasgramma
I agree with all above. I just moved up to a 12 foot frame....PLENTY of room to do what I MAY want to do in the future. If you can avoid it, don't go small -- you'll be wanting bigger sooner or later.
#9
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
i have a 10 foot table and am so looking forward to upgrading this year to the 14 foot studio frame- some quilts, even queens are at times difficult to load---you need to remember- the machine takes up some space- a 10 foot table does not give you 10 feet of usable stitching space- you only have about 8 feet-if that
my 10 foot table just does not make it for me-i quilt alot of large quilts-(most queens) and at times have to quilt the length of the quilt, unload it, move it over, re-load and quilt down the length again...would be so much easier if i had bought the full size table in the first place...
my 10 foot table just does not make it for me-i quilt alot of large quilts-(most queens) and at times have to quilt the length of the quilt, unload it, move it over, re-load and quilt down the length again...would be so much easier if i had bought the full size table in the first place...
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11-06-2012 12:28 PM