Advice on Longarm Quilting machines
 

I'm at the beginning of consideration for a longarm and attended a class for the BabyLock Crown Jewel longarm machine. I was impressed with the quality of the machine and the frame and the fact that it was a bit, a tiny bit less expensive than a Gammill, etc.

Anybody own one of these and what has been your experience? Is there anyone out there who absolutely despises their machine and if so, why? Thanks so much for the input. I have gained so much knowledge here and wouldn't think of going forward without asking the "crew."

I bought a Handi-quilter Avante which is exactly the same machine as the Babylock Crown Jewel & I found that it was a little less cost than the Crown Jewel. The Crown Jewel is made by Handi-quilter. I thoroughly enjoy my machine. I have called Handi-quilter several times with questions & they have been more than helpful. Great customer service. Good luck with your decision.

I have a HQ16 on a frame that I love. I bought it used and have never had a problem with it. My DH cleans it for me every 2 years; it was clean as a whistle inside after 2 years of use. It hasn't needed any other servicing yet. It gives me about 11 inches of quilting space on a smaller quilt, between 8 - 10 on a larger quilt.

Price-wise, used is always cheaper than new. The good news is that most quilters take care of their machines, so the used ones are generally reliable. Even so, you probably want to see the machine in person and run it on a quilt sandwich for a bit. I'll suggest finding a place where you can rent time on a long arm, so you know what to expect/look for during your shopping experience.

Other less expensive brands you can look at: Bailey's home quilter, New Joy Crystal Quilter.

I've never used either of those machines, but they seem to be pretty basic. There is a forum for the Bailey on yahoo, but I don't know if there is one for the New Joy.

Happy hunting!

I have an A-1. Honestly, you will find people who love or dislike every make and model out there. The best advice is to try them yourself. When I was researching for mine, I went to several quilt shows, even one three hours drive away, in order to try them all out. Contacting the manufacturer may give you some people in your area willing to let you come over and see theirs. I have done this twice now, paying it forward for those that helped me in the same way. In the end, you need to decide what features you most want balanced by your budget. For me it was cruise control, hydraulic legs, a steel frame, less weight to move around, and a 22-inch throat. I wanted more than a mid-arm (up to 16 inches), as I wanted to be able to grow into maybe a business later. For now, I only do charity quilting and quilting for myself. But, I have the ability to move into a business, plus it can have a computer added later if I want.

I have a baby lock crown jewel. I do not like it. I have lots of issues and the computer I purchased for big bucks doesn't work correctly. I'm constantly having to call for assistance. They take over the machine from my computer and the assistant can't even get it to work. If I had it to do all over again, I would buy something different. Perhaps the Handi Quilter or even spring for a Gammill. This is an expensive investment and loving to work with your machine is everything. I have four quilt tops that need quilting and I'm just putting it off because I know I will have to struggle through it.

But, like everyone says, we're all different and hey who knows, maybe I simply got a "lemon". I did love working with the machine in the store - so go figure LOL

Just make sure that which ever machine you purchase you have assistance close by. I'm an hour away from where I purchased mine. I own a husquavana sewing machine that I bought locally. I just love having the support close by in case there is any question or issue.

I purchased a 26" Innova on 12' frame, and I love it. If I were buying another longarm for some reason, it would definitely be another Innova.

i am with dunster ....have an innova and love it ......used a few others before ...[.sister has one and a friend in town has yet another and a friend out of town yet a different would not trade mine for all the rest ]

Where can you buy Innova? Is Innova the brand name or is that a model from a brand?

Count me in as another thrilled Innova LA owner. I almost got an HQ until I drove the Innova. IMHO I got a lot more bang for the buck. Innova is reasonably priced, just a wee bit more than HQ and a LOT less then some of the other big names like Gammel, APQS and A1 (when comparing throat size). Great rack system and awesome 24/7/365 support.

for JT Innova is the brand. The manufacturer is ABM. Google Innova or ABM Innova or Innova longarm and you should get plenty of hits. There are dealers all over the country.

I went to LOTS of quilt shows and did a test drive on any machine I could afford. I learned a lot about how I quilt and move. The choice depends as much on you as the machine. And good product support is invaluable.