Changing my Longarm set up
 

I currently have my Bailey pro15 on a Hintenberg stretch frame. Yesterday, I spent several hours practicing on a quilt we will use as a spare. I have mild arthritis in my lower back and an issue with my right hip (the bursa something is always inflamed). I was really sore last night after I finished.

So my husband and I talked about it and we decided to look into a table set up. Kinda like the sweet sixteen table.
Here is the issue with that. I can't find anything that says it will work with a Bailey. I called Handi Quilter today and the table in question is custom made for the Sweet 16. And I spoke with Mr. Bailey he suggested a Horn cabinet, but that's not what I want. I want a table set up, extensions are not a problem, my husband can make any size I want.

Please don't suggest I go lurk around the yahoo site, I won't sign up anything with yahoo. If anyone has pictures suggestions or leads to purchase one, it will be greatly appreciated.

This eBay seller sells plans for making a frame. Looks like you can make it into a tabletop if you want. He has some of the specialized parts for sale on eBay also. Just be sure that the carriage assembly is the right size for your machine. I would email the seller first. Here is a link:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/rzsdad/m.htm...p2047675.l2562

Thanks for the link. I have a frame already. My husband is going to build what I want. The rough drawing so far is a table 3' x 5' with the Bailey sitting in one of the corners and I have the rest of the table to lay the quilt on. Also it will have a bookcase as a leg to support the table and two sides will be attached to the wall.

The table is the same concept as the sweet sixteen except my table will bigger.

I've seen pictures where a kitchen table is used. The cut out the shape of the machine in the table and add a shelf underneath to set the machine on.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...t203255-2.html

I found this here on the board to give you an idea. This could be done with out the plexiglass

have you tried quilting with your frame, sitting on a stool? This is what my dealer uses - a stool on rollers, the frame at the lowest level so it's the right height for sitting at. She swears by it.

So you want to change from frame quilting (moving the machine) to table quilting (moving the quilt)? Sorry, I missed that! Thought you wanted to frame quilt sitting down.

Just want to mention that table quilting can be hard on the back too. Be careful about the ergonomics of your new setup. I think distance from needle to front of the table is important. Might be worth measuring a Sweet Sitxteen setup to see what distance those are set up with.

We will do that thanks for the suggestion.
I do okay sitting at my sewing machine in the other room. I can sew for hours in there and have no problems and very little pain.

No I haven't. We lowered the frame awhile back because my arms weren't long enough to reach the back roller comfortably...lol

My husband thought of that also. He does such nice work, he did all the carpentry in my main sewing room. He also suggested I keep my frame for a bit after the new table is built to see if I like that set up.

I purchased a "drafting chair" to use with my quilting set-up. It has wheels, a bar around the lower end of the center pole to put your feet on and is adjustable to the right height. I have lamanent flooring on top of the carpet in my sewing room so the chair will glide smoothly. I can sit and push the chair with one foot from one side of the quilt to the other. This might be a good alternative for you.

I am very vertically challenged and have bursitis in the right hip...once I had the ergonomics worked out for quilting on my shortarm and now on a Bailey Pro 17E with Grace Majestic Frame, I needed to raise myself since the frame was as low as it could be. I used a few layers of interlocking floor mats (the number of layers needed depends on your height). You can use any number of mats to fit the width of the frame and then build up the layers until you determine you have reached the right number of layers. I rarely have pain in my hip, back or knees. Hope this helps.

There is a saddle type stool on wheels made for quilters who can't or don't want to stand for longer periods of time. I'm sure one of the LA magazines would have a link ... or you could search for it on the net.