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.

juki is great but i would bump it up to the 98Q not the QE.

the QE doesn't have needle down and when i'm FMQ stopping with the needle down is my preferred way to stop.

I have the Brother 1500, straight stitch and love it. Has long throat and I use it without a frame as don't have room.