HELP!! DH wants a LA
 

DH has announced he wants to get me a LA. I'm still picking my teeth up off the floor! I need advice. What kind do you have? What features do I need? Pros and cons of various brands. This would be a stand up machine. Can't see getting a sitting down one.

My biggest recommendation to you is take a class in Longarming to decide if you even LIKE longarming. An Intro course that involves loading the top, batting and backing on the rack and doing different things, like panto, FMQ, and templates.

Most dealers offer this sort of thing as well as shops who have longarms available for rental.

Then go to the big shows and try out as MANY as you can. Set a budget. A rack set up can run from as little as $6K to as much as $36K.

Obviously the less computer and arm space you have the less it will cost. Consider your reach. I have a 26" and can barely utilize all that space because I don't have the reach. A 22" would have been fine. I have a stitch regulator and have no desire to have a computer driven LA.

Most people who start this journey do their research and homework for a year or more before finally settling on a make and model.

Have you been wanting one? If I had to wait for DH to say okay then I would get the top of the line, best quality out there. A Gammill or APQS would be my choice. I haven't heard many complaints about these machines at all. The guild members that are very happy with their LA have these brands.

Does your DH know how much LA's cost? If so, you better hang on to that man. LOL

The best known name isn't always the best machine. Just because it costs the most, doesn't mean it is top of the line. There are many great LA out there. Innova is my top choice but I am biased. However, I know many proud "Innovians" who have upgraded from Gammill, APQS, A1 and Handiquilter to Innova.

When I was first searching I saw many, many used Gammills and APQS on the market for resale. I never came across an Innova. Those of us who have them do not give them up and if we upgrade, we upgrade to another Innova. Just my .02

Congratulations!!! AWESOME!!! Hurry up before he changes his mind LOL!!!

I found this on Facebook: Things to do before purchasing a long arm machine.

http://www.apqs.com/blog/2015/04/21/...ngarm-machine/

My friend had a Innova. She had nothing but problems but I think that was because she could not find any classes or training for it without leaving the state. Every brand has disgruntled customers and die hard fans. I'd go with the top of the line with nearby service and training.

Visit shows, shops, dealers & try out as many as you can, take your time & test drive different machines it is a large investment, find the one You like that has the features you like/want. I started with a HandiQuilter HQ 16 and recently upgraded to an HQ Avante. Love them both. I always recommend people to try to get one locally. If you have a local dealer you can take advantage of the free owners classes, you have support and service.

I bought an old 2nd owner KenQuilt for $1,000. Found that I liked LA but the machine, although it had a very nice stitch, lacked the front handles. Sold it on Craigslist for $900. then found a one owner HQ 16 for $5,000. Have been using it for 3 years and loving it.

How wonderful to have a husband who appreciates what you do and wants to "help" you.

i love my innova ....it is a great machine and the service is unbeatable

Happy Gammill owner here. Love the needledown feature, horizontal and vertical channel locks, stitch regulation and fantastic customer support. In addition, the handle switches are easy to replace yourself and available at Radio Shack for only a couple of dollars. The frames are welded, very solid, which minimizes vibration. A real workhorse of a machine. But you really need to test drive many brands of machines before deciding. Besides Gammill, I would personally consider an A-1 or Handiquilter. No experience with Innova but know there are many satisfied owners. When I was looking, I didn't care for the APQS or TinLizzie. Just my humble opinion. You may feel differently. Have fun comparing machines, and keep that man!

I would go to a major quilt show, even if you have to drive & spend the night. Try them all, and find out where the dealers are in your area. Find out about set up options. It's usually a bit extra to have it set up in your home, but worth it to know that if you have an issue, it's not because you made an error in setup. They will also make sure it's working before they leave. My installers showed me how to do routine maintenance. I also get unlimited training at their site.
The other thing is make sure you have enough room. It's amazing the amount of space you need. The actual frame is about 10 X4 or 12X4. You need at least 3 feet on one end to work the gears to advance the quilt. If you are planning on doing pantographs, you need about 3 feet in the back, if not, you still need at least a foot so the machine head has enough room, and then about 3 feet in front.
I got a Handi Quilter last fall and love it!

I agree. Let him take you to a major quilt show to help you pick out the new member of the family !!

I have a Gammill and love it! I had an older New Home to start with and it was too small. When I got the Gammill, I felt like I was home! It's 5 years old and has been on a car trip to Georgia for service one time...something that happened at the factory; they covered the cost and it's been running like the Energizer Bunny since. So my recommendation is the Gammill, altho I know there are others out there which are well thought of as well!

Hi Misty's Mom,

Here's a suggestion for you. I live south of you in Sugar Land. Check out http://www.quiltyourown.com/ They are located on the Southwest Freeway just south of Beltway 8. The owner, Chris, is an APQS dealer and also has longarms available to rent after taking their orientation course. I took it last month and had a blast. They are in the same strip mall as Quilter's Emporium if that helps. :-)

If you want to try an Innova, Jo's Quilting Studio is n Richmond, TX. Give her a call and I am sure she would be happy to give you a test run. However if you can wait I really suggest you go to show and try all of them. I started wih a Prodigy which is a good machine however after my husband passed I couldn't find any local support and went ahead and got an Innova which I love. Not only did I love this machine but customer service is wonderful, if I have an issue that I can't solve Jo's son who is in my area often can swing by when he is up here or if push comes to shove their manufacturing location is in Houston

You didn't say what kind of quilting? Freehand, computer guided, both are cool but have different skill sets. There is a place for both. I am in the Statler Stitcher camp for the computer guided, we just had ours for couple weeks but it is a blast. The A1 we have had a few years.

Space is a big factor as well (table length) ours both have 14' tables then two or three feet on all sides uses up a bunch of space.

The throat space is a factor. If only doing freehand a 30" isn't needed but on a computer guided it is nice to have that extra space.

There are some youtube videos on different brands to see some of the features and options before you go check them out in person.

One more thing if you decide to go computer guided some (customers) think you just push a go button and the quilt is done. I wish it were that easy. LOL It takes lots a time to set it up, but worth every minute.

Great Husband. Mine got me a long arm and he used it too. Now we are getting ready to move to Texas and our long arm is ready for sale. I will miss her, Millie, but just too big for a house without a basement. But she is too big for my garage sale this weekend.

If we ever have enough money to move to CO and build our log cabin I will find a dealer in Denver and buy a Statler Stitcher. I will have a big enough quilting room to hold one. Right now I don't have the space or the money.

Follow the advice of feline fanatic. Take a class, rent one, go to shows and consider how much space you have for a machine. You need room to move around the machine as you load and quilt.

Two years ago my husband made the same announcement on my birthday. Well he bought the machine, a Viking 3000 and he is the one enjoying it. I still don't know how to turn it on. It is computerized that is a great feature.
Frances in Tennessee

The Innova Corp Headquarters are right there in the Conroe/Spring area...there website is www.innovalongarm.com
They have a nice showroom and offer classes there in their studio. Innova was my first choice, but I found a gently used APQS Liberty at a great price and absolutely LOVE IT!!! Like others have said, try different ones out and see which one you feel at ease with. The International Quilt Festival in Houston will have all the brands there, but you have a wealth of opportunities for a less crowded and less hectic experience for playing with machines of the top companies right there in the Houston area. Best of luck in your search

Who is the machine for - him or you?

And if for him - do you want/trust him to quilt your quilts?

I have a Gammill Vision 18/8 (the smallest) on a 10' frame. It also comes with a 12' frame for the same cost (or at least that was the case in 2011). I love it. Service is excellent. Linda's Electric Quilter's stores are located in McKinney, Tx and somewhere around Houston. Since you are in Texas it would be worth a drive to one of their locations. I bought my machine from a subdealers of theirs in San Antonio but I have always dealt with the McKinney store since that time. I took the 2 day course after I purchased it which was included in the price and I would highly recommend it. There are other good machines on the market, but after several years of research, I chose my Gammill.

Can you clone that man!!

I have a Innova 26 on a 12 foot frame. It is very light to handle. I have some medical issues that will only get worse and this LA was a perfect fit for me. The biggest quilts I do on it are about 120 in. x 120 in. DH or my DD load these for me.

If you look at a computerized machine the Handi Quilter Fusion 24 in. is a great option or Avante 18 in. (?) I found the fusion too heavy for me to do by hand only but the Avante is lighter but has a much smaller opening. To get the Innova computerized is significantly more expensive then getting a Handi Quilter Fusion computerized.

Take your time trying and testing many machines. I took several years. What I learned was that the opening of the long arm and the length of the table will determine the size of the patterns and the size of the quilt you can do on your machine. Do not buy a Longarm with a very small opening. You will almost immediately want another one with a bigger opening.

It is also important to have resources to help you with learning how to use a long arm. I did a significant amount of quilting on a sewing machine with a large harp opening but quilting on a frame still had a pretty big learning curve. Be prepared to spend a couple days a week practicing for about a year to get to where you want to be.

Very good idea! The last thing you need is a big white elephant taking up space. Also just because many of us like a long arm it doesn't mean it is everyone's dream. You can get many quilts quilted for the cost of a long arm. I also found out I do not like long arm quilting as much as piecing, appliqueing and designing. I do like long arm quilting way above sitting on my regular sewing machine and trying to quilt, especially anything bigger then a small baby quilt. I make so many quilts it would have been prohibitive trying to do all on a regular sewing machine.

I absolutely love my innova and recently upgraded to a larger one. Even if you don't have a local dealer they have 24/365 telephone support that is phenomenal! !

I got a Sweet Sixteen and loved it, but then decided I wanted a stand up to just put some pantos on. So the husband came home and announced he bought me an Avante. 3 months later I added the Pro-Stitcher. Now I'm really quilting up a storm. Have been very happy with HQ, but like the others I would go to a show where you can try them all. They've come out with a new machine - the Infinity... the husband said wear this one out and I can have that one. It's all a very slippery slope. LOL.

LOL sew faster.

I'm with everyone else - try them out! I did at a national quilt show. Bought it later from a dealer that set it up for me. Does your husband realize how much they are? About ten years ago my DH order a Harley Davidson motorcycle. I told him I wanted a new sewing machine. He agreed. Later, my DSIL told me he was telling his brother about the wonderful deal he made with me. He gets a new big motorcycle and two or three hundred, I'd get a new sewing machine. Can not tell you how much we laughed about that! I got a Bernina 440QE with the embrodiery unit - a little more than he thought. I still have that sewing machine and he sold the motorcycle two years later.

All these wonderful stories about our LAs today. I love it. I have a Gammill Classic because we (DH and I) got lost on our way to Branson one time and ended up going through the town where the Gammill factory is located; right on the side of the road (I saw those letters up on the side of that big building and screamed "Gammill, we have to turn around and go back and look at them" and got this rolled-eye look from him "what are you talking about"....we went back, went in, they treated us like royalty, showed me all their machines on the showing room floor, and sent me to the person in GA previously mentioned as being a Gammill distributor/sales facility. Two weeks later, they drove in with mine, set it up, showed me how to run it and service it, and for the most part, I have been a happy camper ever since.

My son is my quilter though. He taught himself how to manage the big machine, service it, make sure the tension is right, what thread to use, loads the quilts with ease and quilts one out while I sit there piecing another one for him. We have done some quilting for others, but mostly I use mine for family/friends and loved ones.

Do take some of the advice regarding shopping around, if you are not familiar with quilting machines. They are another animal compared to your Singer/Elna/Bernina (whatever). And you do need lots of extra space--so if your sewing room isn't so big, be prepared for a remodeling job for your present home, or a new one with lots more room than you currently have.

Best wishes.

I'm with you, feline fanatic. However, I also agree with feline fanatic's comment that you should take a class to see if you like using a LA, then test drive. I learned on a Nolting and then used a Gammill at my then LQS (class and then renting). I personally wasn't impressed with the Gammill when I was renting time(too heavy, too much maintenance - including worrying about getting oil on my quilt).

When we moved, I ended up with room for a LA and started test driving other brands (Tin Lizzie, HandiQuilter), but fell in love with the Innova after it was recommended by a member of my new guild. I went to the dealer/distributor near my home and test drove it. It also included a 3 day training class and is low maintenance. I am 5'2" and I have a 26" Innova with the Lightening stitch (the higher end stitch regulator - no computer). I like do on point blocks sometimes and it is easier to fit the whole block in the space, because I get about 22" of quilting space with the 26" machine. I would suggest you get the largest quilting space you can handle, especially if you plan to add a computer. With the Innova, it is also easier to do add ons and upgrades without buying a new machine each time.


Other considerations, is he planning on you going into business or is this just for you?

The one thing I would inquire about is training on your selected machine. Even if you go to several shows and check out the machines, you will still need to learn how to use your 'special' machine. Each dealer decides how much training they will give you, some give 8 hours and some 2 hours. Get as much training as possible, you need to know how to use your machine.

Also, does he realize the amount of room it will take when set up? I was surprised how much room they really do take.

Start doing your homework. Take a class, try out all different types, TAKE YOUR TIME, and enjoy the journey. In the end, go with your gut. Wish I had the money and room. I am jealous.

We have decided to look and take classes together. (Who woulda thought?). He's actually doing more research than me. Whether we buy one or not, this is an exciting adventure with him that I will always treasure. He's definitely a keeper.

Good for you. The years get better the more you do stuff like this together. It took me something like 45 years to get to this point in our marriage (we just celebrated our 48th); the newly-wed feeling does come back when you start doing stuff like this "together"......