I'm looking to buy a new machine to only do free motion quilting. I have a machine that is only a year old, but it won't do satisfactory free motion quilting. I've worn myself out attempting this, taken a class, etc. The class teacher had a wonderful Bernina 440 that sewed wonderfully, but that is out of my price range. I'm looking at a Juki TL 98QE. Anyone have any experience with this machine? Either good or bad, let me know. It would be a big help. This machine is around $700. Any others in that price range you would recommend?

I didn't know there was such a thing.

When I had been quilting a short time I made DD a memory quilt and wanted to FMQ it. My machine wouldn't do it do I bought a Juki just for FMQ. That was over three years ago. It was the best thing I ever did. I love FMQ quilting with it. Works like a dream. I would recommend it to anyone.

Do you use this machine alone or is it a Longarm that must be hooked up to a longarm frame?

I use mine alone. I don't have a frame, but have talked to people that have them on a frame. It works fine without though.

I'm not interested in the frame, etc. It all looks too complicated and takes up too much space. I took a class and that lady did wonderful quilts on a domestic machine not using a frame. The huge longarms are too technical looking to me. ....would be like my driving a semi truck!!! Frightening.

Littlehud, what Juki do you own?

I have no room for a frame. The Juki works find without one. I started on my dining room table and now have a sewing machine cabinet. As long as there is something to support the quilt it works. Quilting gloves help too.

I have a Juki TL-98 QE. What a great workhorse.

I have the Brother 15000 and it machines quilts great. It has needle up/down, thread cutter, knee lift, ext. table and came with walking foot and free motion foot. It only does straight stitch and it has pin feed. It's easy maintenance too.