I took the long arm plunge!!!
09-29-2013, 04:00 PM
#51
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Knot Merrill, Southern Indiana
Posts: 5,781
Congrats on taking the plunge. Keep us updated on how it works out for you. I too am wavering, should I or shouldn't I. Seems like big $$$ and I could have a pro do alot of quilts for that money also. However, I love the idea of a start to finish quilt entirely made by me. Use to be able to rent time on a LA, but moved to a different state and don't have that service available within a good driving distance. Sigh
09-29-2013, 06:12 PM
#53
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Northern Wisconsin
Posts: 7,991
Congrats!!!! So excited for you. My mom and I both share our long arm(it's easier for both of us to afford it by sharing it and I don't have room at my house for it anyways). We had a cheaper one that we started out with. I can't remember what kind it was but her name was Molly....lol. It's a good way to find out if it's really something you want to do. I just LOVED it. We ended up selling Molly and upgrading to an Innova. My only regret is not getting the bigger frame. Wonderful machine and for the money, it is so worth it. Quilting is more fun than making the quilt tops to me now. I do alot of cheater quilts( plain fabric that I just quilt and panels). It takes some time to get used to, but I know you'll love it too.
09-30-2013, 04:36 AM
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern New Jersey
Posts: 360
Congratulations! I also had a Voyager & Hinterberg for a few years. It was the best purchase I had ever made! My intention was to quilt my, my mothers and a few friends quilts. That machine taught me so.... much. As time went on I was quilting for allot of people. Knowing that it was not intended to quilt that many--I ended up purchasing a Nolting Pro24 since I just loved dealing with Hinterberg and the company that took over Hinterberg (Nolting)! You can contact me any time through QB or my blog!
09-30-2013, 06:17 AM
#58
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,904
I've got the Voyager and Hinterberg frame and am perfectly happy with it. I have no desire to do computerized (I like the satisfaction of doing it myself and actually learning how to LA, instead of the LA doing the work for me!) and don't need (nor want) the "Big Boy" machines and frames. Mine also has the stitch regulator, and it works just fine for me. I also have the boards, but installed them upside-down so I've got free space back there when I'm pinning, marking, etc. The only thread mine doesn't like is invisible thread. Otherwise, it will gladly sew anything I feed it. I've named mine Laverne and Shirley. Laverne is the frame, Shirley is the Voyager (after my mom, who taught me how to sew). So now I just say "I'm off to visit Laverne & Shirley!" and DH knows exactly what I'll be doing LOL. It's a great machine. You'll have a good time with it!
09-30-2013, 07:44 AM
#59
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Littlefield, TX, USA
Posts: 1,077
Nolting is a great machine, you will love it once you are used to it... they may not make your model, but the company is still in business:
http://www.nolting.com/Index.php
You can probably upgrade your model when you are ready.
Marge
http://www.nolting.com/Index.php
You can probably upgrade your model when you are ready.
Marge
Not so much a "plunge" as a "wade".
Back in June I had it in my head that I wanted a long arm and went to the big quilt show in Chicago and test drove all they had to offer. I fell in love with the Innova with lightning stitch. Since then I've been waffling over do I want one or not??? So even though hubby was pushing me to buy one (and confessed he was going to buy it for me for my birthday (Oct 18)), I've been reluctant to lay out good $$ for the Innova of my dreams.
Being unsure if I wanted one or not ... I've been trolling Craig's list and E-bay for used machines.
Two days ago I found a machine close to home being advertised. It's a Voyager 17 on a stretch Hinterberg with a stitch regulator. Currently sits at 84", has a set of "groovy" boards with 4 panto's (I doubt I'll be a panto person, but they're there), and a stand-alone bobbin winder. Purchased in 2008 and she has made 3 whole quilts on it. Not a machine I had test drove before (because they don't make them anymore). For the price, I thought it would be a great machine for me to start with, and if I really liked it and wanted to upgrade someday - the Voyager's seem to have pretty good resale value (Hinterberg/Nolting are still buying them to refurbish). I researched it and found only two marks against it ... it's very heavy when off the frame (but the weight isn't an issue when on the frame, easy to maneuver), and it can be picky about thread - especially my favorite thread. I can live with these.
So I went up to test drive it today. I liked it
I didn't "love" it like I loved the Innova (that machine is sweeeeet!), but this machine will give me what I want ... experience with a long arm to determine IF I want a long arm. Who knows ... some day I might upgrade to the Innova.
Pick it up tomorrow.
I may be picking brains here once I get it home!!
Back in June I had it in my head that I wanted a long arm and went to the big quilt show in Chicago and test drove all they had to offer. I fell in love with the Innova with lightning stitch. Since then I've been waffling over do I want one or not??? So even though hubby was pushing me to buy one (and confessed he was going to buy it for me for my birthday (Oct 18)), I've been reluctant to lay out good $$ for the Innova of my dreams.
Being unsure if I wanted one or not ... I've been trolling Craig's list and E-bay for used machines.
Two days ago I found a machine close to home being advertised. It's a Voyager 17 on a stretch Hinterberg with a stitch regulator. Currently sits at 84", has a set of "groovy" boards with 4 panto's (I doubt I'll be a panto person, but they're there), and a stand-alone bobbin winder. Purchased in 2008 and she has made 3 whole quilts on it. Not a machine I had test drove before (because they don't make them anymore). For the price, I thought it would be a great machine for me to start with, and if I really liked it and wanted to upgrade someday - the Voyager's seem to have pretty good resale value (Hinterberg/Nolting are still buying them to refurbish). I researched it and found only two marks against it ... it's very heavy when off the frame (but the weight isn't an issue when on the frame, easy to maneuver), and it can be picky about thread - especially my favorite thread. I can live with these.
So I went up to test drive it today. I liked it
I didn't "love" it like I loved the Innova (that machine is sweeeeet!), but this machine will give me what I want ... experience with a long arm to determine IF I want a long arm. Who knows ... some day I might upgrade to the Innova.
Pick it up tomorrow.
I may be picking brains here once I get it home!!
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