katyquilter

I'm not keeping score, but my DH spent lots of $$$ on a digital baby grand piano several years ago. He so enjoys playing and it relieves his stress. It took me a while to get up the nerve to purchase a long arm, but I did find a wonderful deal on a used Nolting Hobby Quilter and frame. It's all mine (paid for) and I'm having fun!!!

sandpat

I was wondering the same thing as quiltinghere asked. I do all my quilting on my DSM. I'm thinking though that it is a totally different skill since on the DSM, you move the quilt and on the LA, you move the machine. Just how hard is this transition?

sgardner

The answer is also a NO from me! Not even close.

In a regular sewing machine, you push fabric through the machine only in a straight line. I did SID for years that way on my regular sewing machine.

The sit down ones for quilting have you pushing the fabric "in all directions". And with a LA, you are pushing the machine around, not the fabric. They are completely different feelings and motion ranges. Some people have really hard time transitioning from that first "push fabric through in a straight line" to the LA "pushing the machine around", but I never did.

You practice for a long arm by taking a sheet of paper and holding a pen upright (not in a normal writing position, but vertical to the paper) and practice drawing using your whole arm. As stated earlier, it's a lot like "drawing" in every normal sense of planning where you are going with your lines.

sgardner

I've read a lot from people that warned me how "hard" it was going to be! But then I got my Avante and I've had no problems what-so-ever adjusting to it! The transition was nothing. You just imagine that your are drawing with your machine.

quiltinghere

I'm not keeping score either :wink: :lol: :wink:
I think you hit it on the pinhead when you said "get up the nerve to purchase" - guess I don't want to make the wrong choice - guess I need more research and facts and road tests.

ohstr

Hello to another PA quilter,
I had the good fortune to be able to go to the show in Paducah this spring....tornado and all. There was a woman on the bus that was going to the show for the purpose of checking out the HQ Avante... as I was talking to her she said that she would be selling her current machine which is a HQ16. I had been exploring the possibility of purchasing a quilting machine next year - but when this opportunity presented itself ... I thought about purchasing hers. I have known this lady quilter for several years; she had purchased the HQ 16 four years ago and was ready to "move up". We made the deal and I went to her house and she spent some time showing me some of the features of the HQ 16, and she is a phone call or visit away if I have a problem. I have done 2 small quilts on it since May - and I love that machine. I guess you have to keep your ears and eyes open in talking to fellow quilters - and you never know what can happen.

She is also very happy with her Avante...

Good luck to you in your search I am very happy with the HQ16.

Sue

StitchinJoy

Here's my story. I'm a professional longarm quilter. I bought my machine with the express goal of practicing diligently, learning well, and becoming a professional. I bought it with cash and with full knowledge that I would be paying myself back for a couple of years. It took 2 years of income to pay for the machine and all the startup costs.

Most longarms (with throat over 18 inches) start at more than $15,000. That doesn't include training, classes, books, DVDs, rulers, pantographs, batting or thread, and of course you will need plenty of all of those things. (We do like our toys!) The startup probably equates to about 100 bed quilts quilted. You will need room for the longarm and thread and batting. Face it, that's a whole room.

I think this question really depends on so many factors. Ask yourself these questions.

Do you have the money without going into debt?

Do you have room for it?

Do you have the mechanical ability to learn to maintain and repair the machine when parts need to be replaced and things go badly?

Do you have the time to devote to learning how to use and maintain the machine?

Do you think you would like to quilt 100 quilts?

It really is a personal preference. If you have the money and you will use it a lot, in my mind that's plenty of justification for buying one.

I love it. My time spent at the machine is golden and magical.

Please let us know when you decide.

StitchinJoy

Gammill has partnered with a credit company and offers financing. Just go to the Gammill website. It explains the 20% down and the credit application is there.

They have a chart that I think is rather misleading showing how many quilts it takes to make your payment each month. That chart is based on 90" x 100" quilts. Realistically, you can't depend on getting or completing a couple quilts that big each month when you are a new longarmer.

No affiliation and I don't even own a Gammill. My machine is an A-1 Elite, made in America.

romanojg

I love the way you put this. I bought a frame a year ago; it is only large enough to do lap/baby quilts. The store had got it to teach on but alot of students had problems distinguishing how it was like a large one just smaller. I got it for just under 400 and then I got a Viking mega quilter. I love the mega quilter. I figured it would be a good way to practice and see how I liked it before I made a large investment. I have yet to quilt anything on it. I'm in the middle of setting up my sewing room and my goal is too start doing quilting. I think it's crazy to do the quilt and since I can't afford to send it out; it is either STID or not at all. I just finished the trip around the world and it is so pretty and I'm going to quilt it. Not on the frame but I'm going to quilt it. I have the problem that I am smart but don't have the confidence to do things without being shown. A friend loaned me her book on machine quilting and it has lessons in it; which I'm doing. She helped me decide how to do the quilt so I feel better. The only classes around here for machine quilting are on Sun. which I work and I have found none on doing Long Arm. I just know that this is the year that I step up and add something else to what I love to do. Maybe one day then I'll get a big girls frame. Thanks for the advice for all of us wanta -be's

skothing

Just a thought, why not rent time on a LA at a local Quilt shop? That way you will know if it really what you want. After quilting for 3 hours my shoulders where sore and sift.
Pushing and pulling the heavy heads can wear on your body. There are newer machines like the vision from Gammill that are easier to move and the Gammill has a better resale value than most. Important if illness or stricken by poverty unexpectedly. I had to delay my purchase due to retirement being cut by the PBGC. Working to buy one in June 2012.