Help! Longarm is to the repair shop, looking for a temporary solution
 

Hi everyone,
I have a HandiQuilter longarm quilting machine and I do commissioned quilts. I always have a long waiting list. I had to bring my machine at the repair shop this week and it's bad. There is something wrong with the motor, it will need to be fixed. I'm ok with that, but they will need to order some parts and it may take up to 4 weeks before I get it back.
There is no local shop where I could rent a machine or a studio were I could rent some time. I don't have any quilting friend, and one of the reason why I'm so busy is because nobody in my area have a longarm, so I got all the orders for anything bigger than a baby quilt :-)
Now, I'm pulling my hair at how I could finish my orders without my longarm.
I'm not used anymore to free motion quilt on my domestic sewing machine.
I do have a Juki Tl-98. I know some people put this one on a frame.
I'm thinking about some of those solutions:
1) Could I use my frame to at least sandwich the quilt? Anyone having done that?
2) Is there a way to install a straight stitch sewing machine on an existing frame? I suppose I would have to order a fitting carriage. It would be wonderful to have a "backup" machine when I have to bring my machine for repair or such.
3) Any other idea or solution?
Thanks,
Annie

I would contact the customers to see if they are willing to wait for your machine to be repaired. It would be better to finish those quilts on the longarm rather than attempting to complete them in another manner. I limit the number of quilts that I take in at any one time for this reason. Sorry to hear of your trouble - but I am sure it will be back home and running perfectly.

I have contacted some customers already (the ones with bigger size quilts, and the ones with orders that I know could wait). But I have at least two orders that are very custom quilts required for a specific event, so I just can't let them down. Those quilts are the ones that concern me. They are small size (toddler and lap) so not totally un-manageable without a longarm, but still, I'm just not used anymore to do this the good old way.

Hugs to you in a tight spot.

I would try to avoid doing any quilts on a regular sewing machine if you are not proficient. Also trying to long arm on a totally different machine is not the answer either for custom work.

They can gift the tops at the event and then take them back for the quilting.

Thanks for the hugs, I need it! :thumbup: Unfortunately, sending only the top is not a solution. For exemple, one quilt was required for a family photo session. It would not look good with only a top.

Sorry for your trouble! How on earth do you take a long arm machine in for service? Do you have to take it apart?

I only bring the "head" of the machine. This way I was able to bring it to a repair shop that is 2.5 hour drive from me. Local repair shop could send somebody home, but it would have taking a few weeks just to get a diagnostic! not to mention having it repair. A few months business. Couldn't afford that...

i previously used my juki 98 on my frame. i would suggest that you try that. you can meander or do narrow pantographs with it. sorry you are having the issue

I'm thinking of setting up a "temporary solution" kit, but I can't afford the space to have a second frame to put my Juki on it. Is there a place one can buy only a carriage and electric system to put a machine on it, and then put it on the existing rail of the machine (it's a 16 inch one)? Or is there a very easy to dismantle frame available on the market? My HandiQuilter has wheel, not my Juki, so I need a carriage.

Not a possibility for most of us - but many professional longarmers have two (or more!) longarms. Usually one is for free motion quilting, and the other uses robotics, so both can be busy at the same time. I'm sure this also helps if one of the machines has to go in for service.

joe'smom - as profannie said, the longarm consists of a machine head, a frame, and a carriage that the machine rides on. For servicing, the machine head (and sometimes the carriage) can be removed and taken to the shop.

Would the dealer possibly rent or loan you a machine?

Nope. That was my first idea. They told me the machine are too expensive to set up a rental system.

What about mailing it in to be quilted? You pay them, you loose the income, but the customer is happy! Missouri Star does that service, and I know the knowledgeable ladies on this board know others. Maybe even some of the ladies here that do long arm quilting for the public could offer their services?

If you are actually in or near Montreal, there must be a couple of guilds around and a few quilt stores. Perhaps contacting them could put you in touch with someone willing to rent you time on their machine. I think at this point, I would be getting out the yellow pages or searching online for any guild or LQS within reasonable distance and start networking. It might mean a very long day away from home, but at least you would have made every attempt to fulfill your obligations.

Okay did a quick search. There is a Beaconsfield quilters guild http://www.beaconsfieldquiltersguild.org/
and Effiloche quilt store open today 514 276 2547. Hope someone will know someone who can help you out.

Unfortunately, it's not possible. One is required for a local customer for the end of this week. It's a small size, something I could finish in one hour on my longarm. The other one is a very specific quilting design; I make a background and put some applique on it.

The main problem with the HQ is the upper part of the carriage is built into the machine, so there is nothing to put another machine on.

I've never seen a carriage that will fit the HQ frame. . .

In a real pinch, I'd put the quilt on the frame to hand baste/pin baste and then take it off and FMQ it with an easy pattern on my Juki.

This got me thinking, and my DH said "didn't you get a second carriage when you got the robotics?" so we got into the closet and found the box with the non-robotics carriage. DH is going to fix me an upper slider and then I'll have a carriage I can put a different machine on if I ever need to.

Yes, I just thought about the pin/basting solution this afternoon. Thanks for confirming it's not a crazy idea. At least I would save myself the laborious taping on the floor and crawling around. That's something :-) Otherwise, I have a Bernina 730 with a stitch regulator that havent' used since I got the longarm (I'm keeping this machine for the embroidery feature), so I may be able to do something.

Thanks for the information about the HQ carriage. It's true it doesn't look like the other ones. So it seems there is no way to get a decent backup...

I think I might try to find a town not far away that rents time on a L A. Go and spend the night if you have to.

Check e-Bay out. I have seen (and almost ordered one) a hand made wooden frame or separate carriage parts made by a man who teaches quilting. Price depends on what is ordered. But less than $200 for the whole thing. I checked under "quilt frames". He may still have an ad on E-Bay...he also has a video.

maybe the repair shop would have a loaner try them

maybe an option for a later time - you can get the upper wheels from HQ for $80.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Handi-Quilte...MAAOSwHMJYH8Sn

I have the Fusion so have more room between the wheels.

I don't know how long since you've used your DSM for FMQ, but I bet if you spent an hour playing around with a practice sandwich, it would come back to you. The sizes of the quilts you're doing are managable for your Juki. Give it a try!

I realize that your repair person is far away, but you might want to find out if they have a loaner.

Is it possible the repair shop has a "loaner" machine? I have never used a long arm, so that may be a silly question. It was just my thought.

I sent you a PM.