Long Arm Quilting Machine
 

I'm looking to purchase a long arm quilting machine. However I can't have a big one as I don't have enough space. Maybe one of those sit down types, not sure. Does anyone have any recommendations.

Thanks,

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...-t51343-2.html

Here is something from our search feature in the upper right hand corner to get you started. There are many more threads if you want to check there. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Remember that with the sit down type you have to move the quilt not the machine.
I have a long arm table with a Baby Lock Jane. I do not recommend this kind of set up. Not enough throat space.
Also my table has large poles that take up 3 in of throat space. I think the shop deliberately sold me this set up so I would have to buy a long arm machine.
My table can be set up half size but will only be able to do small lap quilts on it.

Whatever the head size, you will lose 3" of quilting space because of the roll up. Sit downs are nice if you are short on space or have trouble standing. Try out both types and see what feels best for you.

I have a Bailey Pro 15 that sits in a table. My husband made the custom fitted table out of Melamine. And now Mr. Bailey offers a table that fits his machines. I paid close to $2000.00 just for my machine from him and it runs flawlessly.
And his customer service is outstanding.

a link to a photo of the Bailey sitting in a table that Mr. Bailey sells:
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/baileysewing_2272_4703170

And to his website:
http://www.baileyssewingcenter.com/homequilter.html

Here is a picture of my set up.

Chasing Hawk, that's a beautiful set up, I have sewing machine envy.

Thanks, I am quite fond of it myself.

I have a friend who's planning to get one of the sit-down longarms, because she doesn't have space for a frame. I am interested in seeing how well she likes it. I don't think I would care for it, since one of the compelling reasons for buying a longarm (for me) was that I would no longer have to baste my quilt sandwich. That was the part of quilting that I liked least!

The HQ Sweet Sixteen is great.

I have an HandiQuilter16 that I bought used several years ago. It runs very well. If there is a problem, it has always turned out to be me, not the machine.

DH cleans it for me once a year. Surprisingly, it doesn't have very much lint in it after all that time. I do clean out the bobbin area and oil after I complete a quilt, though.

It is on a quilting frame and I have a used pcquilter to do the actual quilting. But it can be used on a table as well.

Even though it has a 16 inch throat, I only get a maximum of 11.5" deep quilting space on the frame. That's fine for me, although there are times when I wish I had a bit more space.

Singing to the choir sister! Basting I hated more than anything. I love the idea of never having to sandwich and baste another quilt! I think you and I were cut from the same pattern. LOL

I have a Tin Lizzie sit down and love her. I almost bought a HQ but am glad I got the Lizzie. I really really like her a lot.
Having said that... Bailey didn't have their machine available in a table at the time and my husband is not a handy kind of a guy (let's not talk about the bat house incident...) Bailey now offers a table so the machine and table is almost half that of a Lizzie.. much more affordable.

I had a Bailey on a frame because I hated basting quilts. I always had puckers and didn't know how to get past that. Now that I table baste I haven't had a single problem and it takes me less than an hour to baste a huge quilt.

There are a lot of sit downs out there - Sunshine, Bailey, Tin Lizzie, HQ Sweet 16/Babylock Tiara, the George, etc... each one would probably make you happy in the end. I went with the Lizzie because I liked the orientation of the machine. It also comes with a huge flip up table extension on the back of the table so when you are quilting it will support the quilt. I also got a skinny folding table to go to the left of it to support the quilt more on the left side. It is a great set up and more affordable than the HQ and others... the Bailey and Sunshine are both about half the price of the Lizzie or HQ.

Do you have a local dealer of any big machines? Maybe who has service nearby will help decide what to get :)

Strongly suggest you get yourself to one of the larger quilt shows that typically have at least 5 or 6 of the large quilting machine companies with booths. Of the larger companies ... HQ, Baby Lock, APQS, Innova and a few others have both long arm's and sit down models. Try them all.

I tried 3 of the sit-down's and liked them, as well as all of the long arms. In the end, like Dunster & Feline Fanatic ... I LOATHE basting and opted for a long arm. I also don't have the space at home for a long arm, so I compromised and set the long arm up at our business location (7 miles away). I'm not able to quilt as often as I like, but I didn't buy one to quilt constantly as a professional, I got it only for me.