I'm considering the "John Flynn Quilt Frame" and would like to hear some pros and cons.

Here ya go :D:D:D

http://www.quiltingboard.com/search....t+frame&u=&s=0

I have the older version of the Flynn Frame - the one with the 2x2" wooden rollers (not the fiberglas rollers of the newer version). To be honest, I have never been able to get the hang of using it. Plus, I sew in a very small space, and you need lots of space to move the frame around, even with a small lap-sized quilt.

I keep meaning to post my frame on the Classifieds to see if anyone wants it... thanks for reminding me.

How much do you want for it? PM me.

I have John Flynn's first quilt frame he came out with got mine form Nancy's Notions.I only used it once, at that time I didn't have a table the right height to set it and my machine then only had a foot petal control. I had a cutting table but it was to high to sit at and we needed the kitchen table to eat off of or so DH said. LOL. I have the strips on the rods etc. Need to sell mine cheap as I have found a great machine quilter and her charges are reasonable. I can't afford to pay over 300.00 to have a large quilt done. By the time you buy the fabric,batting etc you have almost 500.00 invested in the quilt if quilting runs that high. I live in Missouri and some charge .03 per square inch, so a king or queen is going to run 300.00 or more, my sister in CA only pays half that which suprised me, usually everything is higher there.

I bought a John Flynn Frame a couple of years ago, and must say that I don't care for it at all. It just seems awkward to me.

lol, I have one too, but am too lazy to figure out what it would cost to mail it to someone. It's such an odd shape for shipping.

It works great for me. I use two six foot tables end to end for big quilts. It takes practice. I kept it set up and used it everyday for at least 30 min. a day. I got the Oh that's how you do it moment and it's been a piece of cake since. Compared to other quilting set ups it's the least investment you can have.

The post office has the long boxes and mailing tubes on their website that can be delivered to your house for free.

I had one several years ago, couldnt get the pvc pipes to stay on the table, so hubby drilled holes at each corner of the frame and put casters in there.... which helped alot.
Ive since bought a longarm and gave my JF frame away

yep, I need to get over my laziness. I'll check out the USPS site. Thanks ;-)

Unfortunately the USPS tubes are not long enough for the frame. I have the old-style wooden one, and the poles alone measure 42" long. The largest tube from USPS is 38". I guess you'd have to buy a box from the UPS Store or an office supply place.

yep, I noticed that too. Back to being lazy ;-)

I think the wooden ones would be better but the new ones are very lightweight and easier to roll to quilt.

My daughter bought me a frame and she bought one for herself. She is going to set hers up on a pool table but my house is too small for a large quilt. I haven't used it yet but there is a video on his site that shows how to use it. The video comes with the frame. I can see it will take a lot of practice so I plan on practicing on some charity quilts and place mats. First I need to get another machine as I am sewing on mine now and can't spare it.
Lynda

I have one and love it. Once you get the hang of it, you can go to town quilting on it. It takes me less than two hours to finish a lap quilt. Don't care for the stitching the leader to the quilt, takes too long. So now, after seeing how long armers pin the quilt to the leader, it's so much easier.

Have one, too. Didn't much care for it.

Can you give me a little more info on what your hubby did here? I have one of these too and think I could eventually learn to like it, but can't seem to keep the pipes where they need to stay....my hubby already made me 3 different sizes of other pipes, so I really need to get the hang of using it....any info would be appreciated. I'm not sure I understand which part of the frame he pur casters in....thanks!

I have one of those frames and there is a large learning curve on this frame. John Flynn makes it look so easy! I have worked with it some and there is a lot of information on this board too,even some great modifications for the frame/machine. Good luck!

I have the Flynn Quilt frame and don't care for it. I use it on my picnic table on a cover porch. I feel I can do a better job pinning my quilt and rolling it under the sewing machine.

I bought one of his first ones, and never could master it and sold it. Good luck

use two boxes taped together in the middle

just tape dowels or even pencils to the edges of the table then the pieces will not roll off

I have one of the older models. I would use it more, but it does take up alot of space which I don't have.

Once you get the hang of it, it really does work good.

.I just bought a JF frame this summer,for 3 reasons. 1) I do not have the space for a standing frame. 2) I cannot bend over to pin the sandwich together. 3) Spray basting takes space also, or a least a wall.
I had DH buy metal rollers 6' long for my 55x66 QoV size quilts. Then you need an 8' table top. DH also fitted an 8'x2' sheet of insulating foam with wooden trim screwed to ends to prevent roll-off. This sits atop a 5' table.
You do need at least 10' of space total to manuever the frame , using the 6'poles.
I just completed my 3rd quilt. It does take practise, just like anyother form of quilting. I use a Juki machine, which has a 9" harp area, which is a little larger than a domestic sew machine.
I definetly would like a long arm, but price and space considerations ruled that out. The JF is a compromise that is working for me. :D

Oh, yes---do pin to header instead of basting; much easier. And I did my 55x66's in 3-4 hrs, in 'loose' quilting. not 'tight' as in McTavishing.

When I purchased mine it came in a plastic tube like PVC that you can get at Home Depot type stores - may work as your shipping tube for this purpose.
As for using the frame, I was able to set it up and start quilting with no problem, but th table to work on was another issue, and I had to sort of mock up series of tables with telephone books under the legs to get the table to the right height. Once I got quilting, I really liked the feel of being able to glide my quilt around rather than struggling and rearrainging it so much. I haven't used it much, and if I had it to do over, would put the money into somthing like a Sweet 16. HUGE price difference, but since I have the Flynn, I feel like I better be using it - I could put mine up for sale as well.

I wrote to Donna C re buying hers but then thought I should put the word outto the group. I wanted to buy one offered a few months ago on here but naturally was too late. My problem is I am now in Canada so don't want to pay shipping here and have no space. Hoping I can arrange one for Nov when we are in Fl so will patiently wait until then.
This info may be of use to some person on the QB. thanks

I originally purchased mine several years ago. (It's one with the wooden frame.)

I put off using it until just recently because I didn't think I could get the hang of it. The first quilt was terrible, the second better, and by the third one I got the hang of it.

I use it on all my quilts now.

If you have the patience and time (and space) to figure it out, it's worth it.

this is funny, i just heard the name 'john flynn' for the first time yesterday in a lqs, regarding his new triangle backing pattern, and now here he is on our board.........wow!!

I had one, but guess I'm not that cordinated. It allways reminded me of the old "pat your head, rub your stomach" .

I had one, and it takes time to get it rolled, etc. just like with a long-arm. The problem comes because your domestic machine is limited by the space under the arm. If you have a newer one with more space, that's a tiny bit better, but the take up roller has to fit under there, and the little bit of room you have left - that's all the space you have to quilt. While the theory is good, I never used it much. Not enough quilting area.

I've got one. Don't like it. It just sits here in my sewingroom.

take two tubes and piece it together.

I sold mine as well as I couldn't figure out how to use it. I shipped it via UPS - be sure to have them pack it and insure it as they broke mine during shipping. They paid for the repairs. I found it awkward, so just use the Juki to quilt with and got rid of the frame.

I considered it but then I found the Gracie EZ frame on Joanns. i was saving for it and then found it on ebay. Got it for 150 including shipping :-D . For small quilts I use an embroidery scroll frame with the dowels replaced with longer ones. You can get them at home depot in 36 inches. Hope this helps.

I thought you meant for hand quilting. If you didn't I don't know if this will help at all. the only machine I've ever liked was my Moms old White. (Or maybe they don't like me. They always break.)

I just tried using mine again. I have a brother machine with not a very large throat space. I find I only have about 3 inches of quilting space and don't like it for that reason. Every other aspect of it is great. I am looking for a machine with a large throat space and will try it again on that before I buy a Gracie frame.

I use mine and like it. The quilting does go pretty fast, once you're set up. I DON'T like setting it up--like the tip about pinning to leader though, I'll be doing that from now on! In fact, I'm in the middle of setting up right now for a quilt.

I have purchased the longer poles, but have not tried them yet. That's the draw back; for bigger quilts, you do need a lot of room to move the frame back and forth.

All things considered, since the one thing about quilting that I HATE is sandwiching--this has been a good solution for me.

My husband, who is also a quilter, bought a Flynn frame about 6 years ago and has tried, but has been unable to use it. It doesn't interest me. I quilt my quilts on my Brother sewing machine.

good idea, but the only boxes I could find from the USPS site are Priority Mail, and you have to order a minimum of 10. I know I can figure something out, I just haven't been very motivated. Out of sight out of mind, until someone here brings it up ;-)