I'm having buyer's remorse...... help me!!!
 

I did it!!! I finally ordered my new longarm machine!!! But, now, I'm having buyer's remorse. I'm so scared I won't be able to do it. Or, something terrible will happen to it after I spending sooo much money on it. Will this feeling ever subside so I can feel the excitement that I should be feeling? What if I'm not good enough or cooridated enough to run this thing?? Help me!! Did anydbody else feel this way after making the decision to buy?
Oh, by the way, I am getting the 30 inch Nolting. She is going to be purple and on a 12 ft steel frame. Delivery date is scheduled for mid August.:eek:

Congratulations, I envy you. You will have so much fun with it. I know you will enjoy quilting with it once it is set up.

It is natural to worry about a big.purchase. you are going to love it, I'm sure.

i felt the same way when i bought my apqs longarm.almost five years later i love love love it! get your first class in asap..learn how to load a quilt, learn how to do a panto, adjust laser lights, mark quilt on panto grid and find the fuse box! once you get the basics, you will be whipping out your quilts in no time! i have 12 ft table too. though a different machine, i would be happy to answer any questions along the way! good luck! im so excited for you!

oh and remember to BREATH! I still catch myself holding my breathe!

oh! and have you named him/her yet? a must! see, i am excited for you!

I was going to say the same thing as Skittl1321 - it's normal. Think about buying a car driving it home is fun, then reality sets in and you think was I serious about this one, is it right, should I have got the blah blah blah instead. Then time passes and you begin to think, oh geez, I don't want a new car I like this one. Breathe, it's a good thing ;0

This happens to a lot of people! Be sure to join the homequiltingsystems group on groups.yahoo.com ; many there are familiar with that feeling and will help you get over the hump. (I have seen confessions there from people who let their setup sit for a year or more before using it, they were so intimidated by it!) There is a learning curve with everything; you aren't born knowing how to drive a car but most people learn how to do it.

I haven't named her yet because I haven't seen her yet. But, don't worry. She'll have a name. I'll know it when I meet her. Golly, I said her didn't I? Geezzz what if they send me a guy? Do they even make male machines?

I have an HQ16 that I bought 3 years ago. I still have buyers regret until I take something off of it I like. Then I am happy. OR, when my kids come home to use it. That makes me happy.

I have to say this is nothing like buying a car. I never have buyer's regret about cars. Not even the "toy" I bought last year.

I recently took a class at my LQS so I could rent time on their machine. I spent about 3 hours there and the procedure was not all that difficult. Of course, my quilting was still pretty bad, but everyone says that takes practice. You will do fine. Calm down and don't be too hard on yourself.

Congratulations on the new machine. I have a very pre-owned 1996 Nolting 24" that I bought from a friend of mine. It is a workhorse! I had exactly the same feelings. The thing scared me to death. I bought several pantographs at the IQF in Houston 2011. I didn't buy any that had really small details, knowing that with my level of experience, I would be in big trouble. I am not artistic, but am finding this easier than I thought it would be. A good friend of mine made a statement to me that has helped me a lot..... "Don't worry about the quilting, when you wash it, it will wrinkle up & look beautiful." She was oh so right. Have fun with your new machine.

If it's purple, it's a girl ;)

Now can join the rest of us.

What I learned:
- it is a 'normal' feeling and was OK to have it ... as long as I could afford it in the first place.
- allow yourself at least 100 hours of quilting before you see the difference. Lengthen that amount of time if you only get to work at it sporadically.
- learn to let yourself have as much of a learning curve as you feel you need and be less critical of yourself.
- find someone locally or via phone who can help you if you have any questions.
- ask for as much support as you can ... you'd be surprised how much more you will receive if you ask for it.
- you may even have a LA group locally you can attend. They can really help you learn and encourage you to 'stretch your wings.' Check with you state quilters association and LQS's that have LA's, as they sometimes host groups.

Have fun.

ali

If it was a male machine it probably wouldn't work when you wanted it to, it would spill oil on the floor and your quilts, etc......Just kidding guys!

Congrats ...its been a long time coming. Happy for you...It's the waiting time thats causing you all the stress..once you get it you will be so excited to jump in and start learning your new purple baby....(HEY! Barney is purple and a male...doesnt seem to have any problems holding a job...LOL...sorry just had too) We had reservations about ours between the time we wrote the check and the time it was delivered...after that it has all been great. Congrats again you will love it....sounds like a Barney to me...LOL

I don't think its buyers remorse, i think you are just scared and it will go away with practice.

I have had my Gammill for a year now, I have spent about 25 hours using it (I had a broken arm for the first six months I owned it and really couldn't use it much). I get better every day - the biggest problem I am having is tension - if I go too fast in the curves my thread doesn't lie flat on the back side - still haven't figured this out. I have been doing quite a few quilts for charity and the group I have been doing them for keeps giving them to me and they have been happy with the job I have been doing. I really believe I am more critical of the project than they are. I am working on one now that is giving me fits -

I also find it difficult to decide what to quilt on them. I had never done any of my own quilts - always sent them out for quilting so I didn't even know how to meander - getting much better at that. I have some pantographs and have tried some of them but am not sure I like them as much as I like doing freehand.

I just bought a set of "Red Snappers" and am anxious to try them out. I have to finish the quilt that is currently onthe machine before I can try them. I am thinking about taking them to the coast with me when I go so a friend there can try them too. They came highly recommended - they will replace the need to pin the quilts onto the leaders on the machine - this is the part I really dread doing since I hate getting stuck by the straight pins - lol

I am looking forward to going to the Longarm Convention in Portland, OR in October - will try to take a few classes - thinking about trying to set up a small business with it - not sure though, may just like to stay personal and do for myself, friends and charity.

It happened to me when I bought my Bernina 820 but I kept thinking "If not now, when." I'm so glad I bought it and have never looked back!

Oh, I always feel this way after a large purchase. But, I paid more for this machine than I did my new truck!!! Yikes!!!

Just enjoy it and don't worry. I bought a Sweet 16 and love it so much. Then I found out I'm sick and wish I hadn't bought it. But I still use it every week. Just have a good time with it and don't worry about what could have been or what might be. Today is all you really have.

Hey Jim!!! I actually thought about calling it Barney!!! Maybe I do have a Barney. When I see it, and drive it the first time..... I'll know for sure!

Heheheeh!!! You may be right!

You are like me, always second guessing yourself. Just take a deep breath and go for it. Don't get discouraged if you aren't an expert in a week! Do you know anyone with a longarm that can help you? Also try utube, there are videos of everything else on there.

I hope you get well and get to feeling like using your new machine. None of us are gauranteed a tomorrow. So, I guess we just have to live for today! That is what I keep telling myself. Life is precious. But, it is just a TRIAL run preparing us for our real life to come. Blessings to you. Thanks for your encouraging words.

Oh congrats!!!!! You will do just fine!!!! I think it is very normal when making this type of investment to feel remorse. I felt this way when I purchased my machine and frame!!! I was so scared and now I love it and am learning so much!!!! Relax and enjoy!!!!

Wow, 30" is one BIG machine. Are you getting a computerized one? Congrats on the machine. Just practice and you'll be fine.

Contrats on the purchase! And hey, if it's a male machine, it can join Frank (mine) and they can chat about how women don't do anything, but make the MEN do all the work! :) (hah!)


Shay

my sweet friend, ive named mine Martha already and i dont even have one yet! oh i cant wait! i have all the excitement bottled up and bursting for you!!! you CAN do this AND you will be fantastic at it! don't you worry! your dream is one step closer to becoming a reality and the first time you turn it on in your home you will feel the joy. everything you set your heart out to do you succeed with flying colors. anyone who can hand quilt the way you do can run a machine with your eyes closed. you got it in the bag!
much love, ole green eyes over here :P

It will take a little practice, but you will get the hang of it. I really like the feeling of being able to finish my own quilts. You will too. Just practice, practice, practice!

I purchased a top of the line Pfaff embordery (sp) machine and I had buyers remorse for quite some time. Now that I have been using her I don't know why I didn't buy a new machine sooner. She makes sewing so fun! I am sure once you start using your new machine you will love it too.

I bought mine used,sight unseen and worried too. I just took a class with Pam Clarke to learn how to start free motion quilting. If you have a chance to take aclass from her she is fantastic. I have had my frame for 3 years and had tried pantographs but wanted to more and I think she has inspired me to go for it.

Once you get that baby and start working with it you will stop having buyers remorse.... Did you ever feel that you couldn't quilt? or even sew? Yep, you'll do just fine....

Yes they do make male machines. I also have a Nolting and you will find the service is out of this world. Join the Nolting group. I was SUPPOSED to get a 12 foot table but when I went to pick it up she said the box was mismarked and it was a 10 foot. (Used) As soon as somebody traded for a smaller table because of downsizing or whatever I was supposed to trade back with her.Long story short I still have my 10 foot and wish I had a 12. I make king size quilts and like them to go down the sides. Sigh. When I first got it I was so excited/scared I could hardly sleep.It's a LONG learning curve but the words practice will become your mantra. Get yourself a dry erasure board and practice and doodle. This builds muscle memory that will help you later when you get it

Congratulations on your new baby! I just got Queenie the end of March & have done about 6 quilts on her so far. Buyers remorse? Nah...just nerves & excitement! Once those boxes show up on your doorstep, the excitement will take over. I agree with some of the others, take some classes, get a dry erase board & practice! You only get better with each quilt that you do. Don't forget to breathe! It's a learning curve, for sure, but aren't we always learning something new in quilting? You'll do fine, just relax & enjoy!

I am LOL! I just purchased one about 4 weeks ago and had the same feeling. I could hardly wait to get my hands on it though. Nothing went wrong. Belive me, after a year of nothing going right, I had great fears. I have quilted one quilt and a table topper piece. They turned out very nice. No I am not a pro, but I liked my results. I practice drawing on paper what I was going to do on the quilt. Thus training my muscles first. That helped. I purchased the Babylock Crown Jewel with Quiltmotion and Quiltcad. So I did one FMQ and the other I let the computer do. Just get in there and play with it. You will have fun! I really love my Crown Jewel. I do need to give her a name.

Visited the Nolting factory yesterday. I think you will be very happy. The people there were fantastic and they will
be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Congratulations! You will get over your fear with practice. I still get frozen with fear when I just haven't quilted in a while. I think that's normal. Let us know when you get started!

me too,all of the above.you'll do great.after a short time,she'll feel part of you.an extension of your arm.I learned with paper and pen.the brain doesn't know the difference between pen and paper and long arm and fabric.just start doodling.look at designs on everything and copy them.and yes,BREATH.YEAH for you.

Awe, it's going to be great! Can't wait to see your quilts!