What I like about this machine you can take it off the frame and use it for your sewing machine, it is so fast............... :)

I don't know why the LA people you talk to have a problem with embroidery on the quilts. I've done a couple and they are very doable. You don't have to spend that much. My suggestion is that you watch the quilt magazines and look for the machine quilting expos. Go to one, they have most if not all of the machines there. You know that they make mid arm machines. You don't have as much quilting space, but you don't spend as much for them either. And you don't need all the bells and whistles to do a nice job of quilting. My Gammill Premier on a home-pro table works great. No stitch regulator, may take a little more learning curve, but not necessary. Edge to edge patterns or pantos will go right over your embroidery, which if it is hand that works and looks great. If you are talking machine embroidery that could be a problem with the dense stitching. Bach to the shows, I ramble, you can test drive all of the and decide what would work and feel good to you and your budget. I wouldn't jump into machine a decision without a lot of research and thought. Oh yes, I have quilted large queens on my DSM and did very well, if you have enough table space to help support the quilt. It is very doable then.

I don't know why the LA people you talk to have a problem with embroidery on the quilts. I've done a couple and they are very doable. You don't have to spend that much. My suggestion is that you watch the quilt magazines and look for the machine quilting expos. Go to one, they have most if not all of the machines there. You know that they make mid arm machines. You don't have as much quilting space, but you don't spend as much for them either. And you don't need all the bells and whistles to do a nice job of quilting. My Gammill Premier on a home-pro table works great. No stitch regulator, may take a little more learning curve, but not necessary. Edge to edge patterns or pantos will go right over your embroidery, which if it is hand that works and looks great. If you are talking machine embroidery that could be a problem with the dense stitching. Bach to the shows, I ramble, you can test drive all of the and decide what would work and feel good to you and your budget. I wouldn't jump into machine a decision without a lot of research and thought. Oh yes, I have quilted large queens on my DSM and did very well, if you have enough table space to help support the quilt. It is very doable then.
PS Just thought that some of the DSM companies are now making machines with long spaces between the needle and the motor especially for quilting. Another thing to consider. :lol:

I would ask myself how many of these quilts will I make and quilt is a specific time period...say 1 year? Depending on that answer I would base my decision on that. I would also look at different LA services. Many will do custom work at usually .03 cents per square inch, yes that's a lot of money but if you are only doing 1 or 2 quilts a year that large and aren't planning on doing quilting for others to off set the cost it may be worth it to pay to have it done.

Do you have room for a quilting machine and is that really something you want to learn to do? It does take a bit of practice and commitment.

The person you spoke with about the quilting apparently only does edge to edge pantographs but there are a lot of people who do beautiful custom work. I know Chrisma on this blog had posted photos of some gorgeous work she has done for clients and I'm sure there are several more.

Good luck and let us know what decision you make.

Look for a different long-armer. I have a friend who has no problems working with embroidery. She does custom work, not an all over pattern. She charges a little more for the custom work, but it is well worth the little extra money for the beautiful work she does.

I tried out long arms at shows and then got mine through the mail from Sewing Machines Plus. They ran a special -- 18" Queen Quilter, frame, laser, shipped for $5000 and they finance. I buy the rails at Home Depot (electrical conduit) and cut them to the size I need. The Queen Quilter is a Tin Lizzie and the frame is made by Grace.It took my nephew and I a weekend to set it up, and yes, it takes a lot of room, because you will need to walk al the way around it. A king size did not fit into my 10X14' room. The computer would be another $5000 -- go figure when you can buy a capable laptop for less than $1000. It also comes with a CD to show how to assemble it and leaders (that you put on the rails and pin the quilt parts to). Just another option to consider.

I wanted a longarm but the price was the problem -and for just being a hobby could not justify it for the cost - instead I bought a New Joy quilt frame and a Babyloc quilters machine-this is concidered a mid-arm machine-I have had it for 5 years - but.... if I had to do it over I think I would go with a longarm that you sit down with on a large table- it is half the cost of a regular longarm.

I would do my homework before I purchased a long arm. I had a smaller system with a B-line frame and a JukiTL98Q and then upgraded to a used HQ16. It was a sit down model that I put on the trolley of the B-line. It was a good system, but I was ready to move up to a true long arm. I searched for about 6 months and found a used one local to me. It fit my budget and no shipping. I think the B-line frame was good for me. I learned how to troubleshoot, that long arming is a PROCESS..and that I would not be able to just do award winning quilting right out of the chute. I have had my Gammill for 2 years and just starting to quilt for others.

Test drive all the machines you can get your hands on. Ask around on this board to find a long armer that does the kind of quilting you are looking for. Good luck!

Is there a place where you could rent a LA? That way you could quilt your quilt your way as well as see if you really want to purchase one or if you even like to LA. It is a big investment in money as well as space, so I understand your question.

I rented for several years learning on a Nolting (no stitch regulator) and then going to a Gammill (no stitch regulator) [the shop owners switched]. This worked well since I had no room at the time.

We have since moved and after trying out several different machines at shows and dealers, I have purchased an Innova with Lightening Stitch. I can't wait to get it, because I have several tops waiting to be done and I want to do them myself.

I love the entire process of both piecing and LA quilting, but it is all a personal choice of doing it yourself or shipping it out.

Have you thought about quilting each block separately? I've been doing more of that for larger quilts with pieced blocks. It would still be a lot to handle when you sew them together but probably managable. Also don't understand about not doing embroidery on a LA. Space is the my big issue with having one of my own.

I just got a Nolting Fun Quilter that I use on a table that my husband made for me and I love the setup. I purchased a used Fun Quilter with the stitch regulator and I am thrilled and what I can do now. I had a JUKI 98TLE on a HandiQuilter frame for years and I found it very limiting.

My daughter and I both make quilts as a hobby and we have about 24 per year that we finish. I do use a lot of machine embroidery in my quilts and like you, was shocked by the response I received from professional quilters. Some were willing to quilt them at a very high price. In my mind that justifies the cost of the Fun Quilter.

But way beyond cost is the flexibility it gives us. The throat of the JUKI is just to small for some of what we wanted to do. We are certainly not ready for a 24 inch long arm. But the 17 inch is not scary, and we are able to do ruler, pantograms and free hand quilting with ease. I absolutely love quilting my embroidered tops!

My suggestion is to not start to small, and not go so big that it is overwhelming to learn or use. Also, the customer service for which ever system you go with is really important for hobby level quilters. I do not want the rep thinking I am a professional and know more then I do. The bottom line is that we do this because we love it, not because we want to up our stress levels.

Research, research, research.

After many months of doing just that, I made my decision to purchase my Innova Long Arm with frame.

I love quilting on my machine and do not have any regrets as to choosing this machine over all the others.

For the price range, it came with everything I need at the present time and when I'm ready and/or need to upgrade or add more features, it's super easy and I don't have to get a different machine to do so.

I have what is called a short arm machine, it's on a 14' frame, I can and have done king size quilts, don't like to.
It was a used machine it does not have a computer and it is a gambill/singer and I have done to date over 150 quilts. I love it. It cost $1250.00 delivered and set up

Several of my friends have their appliqued and embroidered quilts custom quilted and they are gorgeous., and the designs are not quilted over. Maybe you need to investigate other LA quilters..I know it is hard...like changing your hairdressee!

Working around embrodiery is very similar to working around applique. I can handle up to 120" width to any length desired on my Gammill machine.

Living in S.E. Texas.. we are lucky to have the Houston International Quilt Festival here!

I don't LA but if I were considering it...
I'd definitely test drive ALL the models at the festival and ask the manufacturer reps TONS of questions.

They often have special prices during the festival.
Not to mention that they have crazy deals on their floor models at the end of the festival.

The only bad thing is that you'd have to wait until November. :(

Try contacting a quilt guild group in your area and tell them you are looking for a long arm quilter that does custom work. You may have only come across long armers that do the edge to edge pantograph work and wouldn't be willing to quilt around the embroidered areas. If you do want a machine of your own you would need to get one with a 12 foot table... a 10 foot table won't be able to quilt the size quilts you are making. That's alot of space to take up in your house unless you plan to make alot of this type and size of quilts.

A suggestion! Some quilt shops has the LAQs and allow you to rent the machine (in store usage) You might check with you local shop to see if you can "rent" the machine.

I do machine embroidery too and quilt my own on my longarm. It's no problem to work around it at all. I bought my machine from Nolting becuase they made it latex-free for me and they were wonderful. I have a very basic machine, just the stitch length equalizer and i like it that way. Just a suggestion, Nolting has used machines that were traded in when someone wanted to upgrade and those prices are a lot cheaper. I have had my machine a few years now and it has been running great. Check out the Nolting web site. If you are near Nazareth, PA you are welcome to come and use my machine. I just put an ad in the paper here to rent it out by the hour. It would be nice meeting you if you are near by. You can make a lot more quilts if you quilt them on the long arm. If you decide to get one, consider renting it by the hour to other local quilters. It will help you pay for it and help other quilters who are not able to keep up with their quilt tops :) Happy Quilting!

There is a longram quilter here in Paris that has quilted several quilts that have embroidery on them. She did one for me. If you want her name/phone, just PM me.

I'd suggest finding a shop where you can take a class and rent time on a machine before sinking thousands of dollars into it. Even if you have to travel a ways and stay overnight, it's cheaper than finding out you don't enjoy it!

A friend who has both the money to buy and room to put anything she'd like (don't you just hate that?!) was researching LA's, had tested a couple at shows and then found out about a class/rental. She rented the machine for an afternoon, I think, and did a twin sized quilt after the lesson. That was when she found out that she didn't like doing it, and would much rather pay to have them done.

Even paying for custom work, you'd be able to have many quilts done before you reached that $8 - $10 k entry level.

There are lots of long arm quilters who will quilt your embroidered tops with an eye to making the embroidery pop. PM me and I'll send you at least one name and phone number and maybe more. froggyintexas

I have the HandiQuilter Avante 18". No computer but I do have regulated stitching. It is easy and fun to use. If you're just going to use it for yourself and maybe to quilt for friends, not as a business, it is perfect. The machine was $6995, I think, and the 12 foot studio frame brought it to $8200. I got it during a special but they have their truckload specials all the time.

For all of you who are looking or interested or even thinking of buying a reasonable priced long arm. I have the viking 18" long wrm with 10 feet Imperial frame. You can look it up here and see the features of both. I have one setup at home which i am using and loving, and the other setup is up for sale for $5500.
You can see the details of the setup here:
http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/us/14755.htm

Only pm if interested.

Thanks

Money,,big issue. Figure out what you can spend. That can direct you to certain LA's. If price is the the fthe most important prolbem then don't go looking at things outside that price range.. The LA's can intice to get more of a machine than you can afford. The lower end frames can be bought seprately from the machine. You do have to look at the machine you put with the frame.The grace frame especially the HQM has versitilty. It will quild all sizes. It just takes alittls exextra to put the needed extention on. Machine is importajt too. Speed, workhorse, the throat. Juke has a great one. there are good in all price range. If price is not a problem you still have a problem. Buy one that has lessons that come with it,plus possible divd to take home and go over. You should have fun!!!! can't over state that feel comforable. Some have a high curve on learning, if you need the extra help you have to look at those that offer domming to your house. It isn't the name. Do you like what it can do does it feel right.Can't go wrong if you have those thingsl
Julie

WOW, your longarmer is just wanting to do edge to edge patterns. That is where their easy faster money is. But it is very easy to do beautiful work around the embroadry and makes it pop. Look for another longarmer. There are many of us around that take the time to make them very special (and not charge an arm and leg!)

I also agree with the comments about the Innova. I have the 26" with a 14' frame. Love it!!!

If you can afford it, I say go for it. I bought a LA on a lark and have never been sorry. I do not do a lot of quilting for others because I don't want to be tied down after just retiring. However, I do some and could really pay for the machine in a few years if I wanted to do that much quilting.

How about hiring some groups to handquilt some of your quilts? If you think about it, It might still be cheaper per quilt.

I have an HQ16 and love it. This is a customer quilt I just finished. www.quiltcorneronline has a great deal on an Avante right now. They are located in Baton Rouge which may not be too far from you. Good luck in your quest for a machine. I know it is a huge investment but I get so much pleasure from my machine I think it is worth every penny. I bought a used machine in order to save money and it has worked out just fine for me.

Perhaps your LA quilter was afraid to tackle your beautiful quilt. I have quilted several embroidered pieces and have a 14 foot table so 120 inches is not a problem. Let me know if I can be of any help!!!

Has anyone heard anything about the Innova long arm machines? Is it a good machine and is the price good? I am looking at the 22 inch. Thoughts please