Does anyone out there use a Viking Sapphire 830 on a frame (like a Grace Frame)? I am thinking this might be the way I want to go so I am looking for all the advice I can get. Also, looking to buy the frame used. Thanks in advance!

I don't but wanted to say I love your avatar!

I just bought a used Grace frame this last Saturday. We haven't set it up yet but when we do I have two Berninas and other vintage machines. I am also wanting to know who sews with this combo.

My Grace frame was $400 on craigslist. It is in really good shape, broke down easily and fit in our mini van. It will hold a king size quilt. :-D

I have a Grace frame set up with a Pfaff 79 on it and it is so much better than on a table, but with the shorter space in the neck area, you just have to roll it more often.

I would love to see a photo of a regular sewing machine on a frame.

This is a photo of my original frame with a 9" domestic Elna 7200 Quilters Dream Pro sewing machine. It is on a different carriage than what came with the frame in this picture, though. The original carriage is wooden like the frame and has 2 sets of handles--upper & lower for stand up and sit down quilting. The carriage in the photo is for an add-on gizmo I used called "Free Motion Max Throat" which I think has been discontinued.

Thanks Beverly for your photo. Is the striped fabric your leaders for attaching your quilt to? :-D

Thanks for the info. The only problem may be that the stitch regulator won't work on my Sapphire. Any thoughts on that? The Sapphire has an 11" throat. Seems a shame that it would not work.

Yes. That is my 12' set. I have another set (blue stripes) for 10'.

You can learn without a stitch regulator. There wasn't one available for my Elna 7200 when I started so I learned without one. It was a relatively new invention for domestic machines and was only available for the straight stitch only types back then.

Have you checked with Quilters Cruise Control to verify there isn't one for the Sapphire? Grace has something called Sure Stitch so you might check with them, too.

I have an 830 on a Grace Mini Pinn frame, setup quilt size, & I love it! The two work great together!

How to you keep it on? I mean, I only have the foot pedal, does that attach to your frame? :?:

Mine sits on the floor, the Viking foot pedals are big, very, so too big to put on the side of the machine. I wish there was a way, but doing okay with it on the floor, & I just move it back & forth, as needed...

Normally, you would buy a speed controller that attaches to the handles of the carriage & plugs into your machine where your foot pedal normally plugs in or you can do what I did at first which was to tape the foot pedal to the right handle on my carriage. I squeezed harder for the easy areas and let off for the curves or detailed areas. Kind of like riding a motorcycle.

I know Grace had a contraption on their carriage that you sat the foot pedal inside of and then there was a trigger on the handle that would squeeze down on the foot pedal. That's where I got the idea to tape the foot pedal to the handles.

Some machines--mine is one but I didn't use it--have a start/stop button that you can use but then you have to move the carriage at the same speed for all work--detail & easy. That's the way old timers learned to quilt on their longarms but it is very frustrating and kind of scary on the start ups and stops. You've got to be ready to roll as soon as you hit the start button and ready to hit the stop button a split second after you stop or you end up with some really nasty piles of stitches. With enough practice, it does work but having the controller on the handles either the foot pedal or the box is much easier to start & stop. I did buy a remote wand (start/stop button on a stick) for it and that was easier than reaching around trying to hit the button on the machine while it's sewing but I still preferred to use the pedal taped to the handles because I could control my speed that way. I was my own "Quilter's Cruise Control" or SLR--Stitch Length Regulator.

I know other quilters who just leave the foot pedal on the floor and kind of kick it along as they quilt or hold it in one hand and steer the carriage with the other hand.