Long Arm Suggestions
 

I am wanting to purchase a long arm quilting machine but really don't know which machine will offer me the most bang for my buck. Any suggestions would be really appreciated.

If I had the chance to do it again, I would go to a quilt show where they have numerous machines and try everyone out and buy the one I felt I liked the best and not listen to salesman why theirs is best because I think for the most part they are all good. I do like my machine but I bot it blind and have tried other machines some I liked better some not. I hope that helps.

Definitely try to go to a big quilt show in your area; I'm no where near ready for a long arm, but it's important to buy the machine you'll enjoy and want to use, otherwise it's going to be a glorified $4,000+ paperweight.

I looked at several and did decide I want a 22-26 inch throath opening and a 12 foot table as I often do blocks on point and would like to be able to do cal king sized quilts. Currently I am interested in the HQ Fusion 24 in. and Innova 26 in. or maybe a used machine like the Gammill Classic plus 26 in. or APQS Millenium 26 in. If I would go with the Fusion I could possibly get a computer with it. (Prostitcher) It is a lot of money. I tried several and really liked the feel of the ABM Innova but would not be able to afford a computer with that one.

My oldest daughter told me to wait, as in try out different ones and be very sure. I do plan to take a class for the HQ this summer as we have a dealer close by.

I just went thru this. Years ago I had tried long arms and my favorite was the Prodigy. I now own an A-1 that I just happened to fall into. I tried different machines just last month at the International and I was blown away by some of the machines. First off, the Babylock Crown Jewel was amazing, I was impressed. Second the Handiquilter was nicer than I expected - I would have looked into them because the money difference between them and say Gammils and APQS is alot. A machine that is getting lots of attention is the Innova. They say 24 hour service and evidently some have taken them up on it. The price is right also. I agree with finding a show and try, try, try! What I like you may not.
Have fun and take your time. You'll know when it's right.

I would also pay attention to the frame. I like my machine a lot, but can't do really small stuff like micro stippling or pebbling because the carriage movement on my frame is so stiff. It really, really, really wants to roll horizontal or vertical.

I think that would be like telling you which sewing machine to buy. It'll be different for everyone. See if you can try a few out and decide which seems to fit you. I'm not sure where you are in VA but I just saw that a LQS in Williamsburg (a beautiful store by the way) has classes and then you can also use their LA. Once you get comfortable with it they have another class to learn the computer part of it. I thought that was pretty good. It's hard in this area to find them. Not sure when the next quilt shows are. I know that Chantilly has one coming and Raleigh NC has one in June. I think there is another one in VA; you can probably google it.

What are the different features that you like on your machines? knowing that everyone is different.

Just got back from the fabulous Paducah quilt show and every quilting machine/sewing machine known to exist was there - those booths were absolutely swarmed with hopefully, potential buyers. I even walked up as a lady was leaving one machine and just held the handles and hit the "+" button and "quilted" my first name - so on a practice piece is my name - "Nikki". I cannot buy one - but boy, did I get the "bug".

If it's "bang for the buck" you're wanting, then I say first determine what machine you want, then find it used. (That's what I did!)