Domestic machine on quilt frame?
 

I have a Janome 6500P that does a million different stitches, and was told I could put it on a LAQ frame that I purchased online from a reputable company. Well, it does fit, but with a 9" throat space it only gives me about 4 or 5 inches of quilting space at a time. On a practice muslin quilt piece it sewed beautifully after getting the stitches the size I needed them...but a quilt top?? I'm banging my head against the wall and ripping out terrible stitches. Has anyone else tried a domestic on a LAQ frame?

I did see somewhere that a domestic machine can be "lengthened" so it has a much longer harp! Must not have been very successful as I can't find anything on google now.
Good luck!

You've just run up against the typical problem with a DSM on a frame, and the problem gets worse as you roll the quilt and have less and less space. Lots of people do make this system work though. Like Kitsie, I have seen where some machines throats can be lengthened, but I think that was done with a vintage machine.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the original Handi-Quilter "frame" was a portable version that you used with your DSM. You had rails that you taped to your counter top or table and set your DSM on the trolley (my name for it). In fact this is the system I use, but with a lot of DIY improvements. The rails have been upgraded to metal not plastic, mounted on a permanent table, counter top formica covered, and the aluminum rods now have wooden dowls through them. Yes, with my Brother 1300 on it, my throat space is limited, but I have done a queen size quilt on it. I did one half of the quilt and then removed it from the frame and rotated it to do the other side. I was doing the Baptist Fan pattern. Tricky but doable. Since I'm only quilting for myself and I don't enter my quilts in shows or the fair, it's a cheap solution to owning a LA. I keep my quilting lines simple, a meander or echo stitch, no feathers for me! I find it easier to FMQ by moving my machine vs moving my quilt. Like everything else in quilting, practice, practice, practice.:)

i used to use the Juki on a frame. yes, the max space at the end is only 4-5". so you have to get creative with the designs in the block. i used to do the bottom 2 corners, then the middle, then the top 2 corners [or the other direction]. it took more time, but definitely worked.

I have a Janome 1600p on a Little Gracie frame. Yes the throat space is limited, but since I have never quilted on a true longarm, I don't know any better☺.
Anyway, it does take some messing with it to get your tension just right with whichever thread your using. I discovered that Glide on the top and Bottomline in the bobbin, doesn't work for me. Stitches just don't want to form. Connecting threads brand of thread works well.
I took my feed dogs out since my machine doesn't drop them.
Just keep trying and you will figure it out. Good luck.

I have one mounted on a Gracie frame. It has a 9 1/2" throat and works good for me but you don't have much space. Mine is 6 1/2 to 7" of quilting area.

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My machine is a 1914 Singer model 66 that my DH stripped down and repainted with new decals. He put precision ball bearings to help the movement and a bicycle brake handle to control the speed of the machine. I also store fabric underneath my frame. I love it.

Kitsie, what you are referring to is the Bailey machine it's just a stretched DSM however you still don't have the height once you roll the quilt. I belong to the online group and was so glad to hear all the problems that a lot of them had so I didn't go that route. Make an informed decision before you invest your money.

Like Mike's girl I know no better and am totally happy with my set-up. I pantograph only. No tension issues.

No, she's referring to the WOW machines. There was a company that used to stretch your machine. At first, they could do almost any machine you already owned. Then they would only do certain machines. You can't find them because they closed a few years ago, not sure if it was because of lack of business or if it was because they wanted to retire and couldn't find anyone to buy them out.

I have a Singer 201 that was stretched to 18" by WOW.

I have the same setup. I found the Janome too heavy to work well so got a Juki. I have lots of trouble with tension. I read that you need to be sure it is exactly level and I am trying. I also saw a tutorial where they "floated the top as well as the battng" (did not roll the bottom). I am going to try that. Thanks for starting this discussion.

Just saw your name! I'm Linda Schopper. :)

I have a Janome 6500, for about 13 yrs, and a longarm Innova 26 in. Having a regular machine on the frame would leave a very small opening. Have you considered dropping the feed dogs or if you already did NOT dropping the feed dogs? I have done many quilts on the Janome 6500 and still do small quilts but only as a sit down machine, not on a frame because I felt the opening would be way too small. I found quilting with the feed dogs UP worked better then with them down. Also use a 90/14 top stitch needle, https://www.walmart.com/ip/Schmetz-T...&wl13=&veh=sem and thread like Aurafil. Also be sure not to outrun the machine or jerk it.

Please feel free to pm me. I find the Janome 6500 a bit of a thread snob and I went through a learning curve with using it for quilting. I used it exclusively for piecing and sit down quilting for nearly 10 yrs. I did many very large quilts on it like 10 ft x 10 ft. Yes, that is feet. They were all done in sit down mode, not on frame, but I think your issues might be more the machine then the frame.

Quilter 53 - you are right; I have a handi quilter frame (that I'd LOVE to get rid of;sell). I had that same issue; once you roll it up you really can't do anything but straight line stitching as there is no place to 'move' the machine. No room. A total waste of $500.00. Made me sad. Still in the original box!
Love my longarm though.

I had a Juki also on a frame. You do have to be careful as you don't have much room. I kept bumping up to the sides. Maybe that's why I got so good at good old meandering because that's about all I coukd do without getting frustrated. I have a sweet 16 now.

I used to mount a Janome1600P on a New Joy frame, which worked with crib size quilts. Last year I bought a Janome Artistic Design sit-down quilting machine with 18" of quilting space. It came with a table large enough to hold a king-size quilt. It works great; wish I had bought one sooner. I still have some of my quilts done by a professional quilter who uses a Gammill, but for all the charity quilts I make I use the Artistic Design quilter.

Has anyone used the John Flynn system? Also, stretching the DM would be very interesting.

I've been wondering about that too!

We have had a lot of discussions on the John Flynn frame. Try the search function.

Cindyb,
The John Flynn frame is a pain to use, too much juggling. My friend had one and she tried to convince me that I needed to buy it from her. She didn't like it.

I quilt my own quilts with domestic machines. The one I use the most is a Pfaff 4.2 with a 10" throat space(when she's not being a drama queen), Pfaff 1222e and Bernina 1031.
Sharon

I have a 17" Bailey and I don't have an issue with throat space. I just quilted a 96" long quilt and still had plenty of space in the throat. I had about 12" of quilting space around my needle. True the throat space is a bit smaller than true long arms but if you don't use super thick batting I think you are ok. I am about to start a king size quilt so I will let you know how that goes but I don't anticipate a problem. I love my machine and it works great for me. I haven't had any issues with it since I got it and figured out its tension and what thread works best. But you have those problems with any machine until you get to know it.

I have a brother 1600p which has a 9" throat mounted on a Grace SR2 frame. Frame is limited to 88" wide frame but I find it works very well. Very few tension problems. Now with a 9" frame you have to do a lot of rolling but if you plan things out it works nicely. If you do a long quilt you will be limited to about a 4" border since that is all the throat space you have left. But twin size, lap and baby quilts work well. Sure I'd love to have a 18" throat but can't afford or justify the cost.