I just wondered how many on this board have a Longarm and what brand you have.
I went to a show yesterday and saw the new Innova. I love it. My Millennium is 8 years old. Might be time for an upgrade!

I recently bought a Nolting Pro 24" and LOVE IT.

I have a Nolting Pro 24". Best purchase I have ever made!

I have an HQ 16. It doesn't get enough use, but I am changing that! :)

Charismah has an Innova and she does amazing work with it.

Yes...I own an INNOVA. If you need any info just ask. I think there are some great differences...mainly thread options....and a few others...it is a very nice machine.

:thumbup:

What doesn't your Millenium do that you'd need to upgrade?

This is the one that makes my heart go pitter-pat. ;) I got to play with one a little bit, yesterday and boy, was it cool!

Is it as picky about threads as some of the other long arms seem to be? I don't want to have to deal with matching thread weights in the bobbin and needle. I like being able to put something like Bottom Line or 70wt bobbin thread in the bobbin and a huge thread in the needle.

Another question - if you're quilting with a fine thread in the needle, can you actually use the small needle that is right for the thread, or do you have to use the 16-18-20 size needles that seem to commonly recommended?

Oops - forgot one - do you have the stitch regulator and how do you like it? Some of them seem pretty troublesome, but on the sample I saw yesterday, it looked like the stitch regulator was right on the money, even though the piece was clearly experimented with by numerous other newbies. :)

Thank you! :)

Actually the INNOVA is the only machine that can use any thread on the market.

The machine has 7 patents.

One of them being the constant tensioner. Which is why it can use so many different threads.
It can use very thin silk thread.....it can also use PERLE cotton..that really thick embroidery thread. SO for art quilters this machine is really nice. It also has so many RPM's that you can buy an extra attachment for couching down specialty yarns and fibers..which is really cool.

You do have to use the standard needle sizes.

I do change my thread weight in the top and bottom all the time...in fact most of the time I use disposable bobbins...and my top thread is anything I want it to be...

The only thing I haven't been able to do without freckling is put variegated thread in the bobbin and on the top...because you can never get the thread to match up perfectly. But I don't think that is possible in any machine... :?

I have the regular stitch regulator and it works perfectly fine...I don't think I will spend the 4000$ for the lightening stitch because there is nothing wrong with my current one...why pay more? My next investment will actually be the e-cording attachment so I can have fun with the couching. :thumbup:

Thanks SO MUCH for this info!! I will PM you when I get my list of questions ready. How new is your machine? The one at the show yesterday is nicer than the one on their web site, which they told me they are in the process of re-designing. (The web site.)