I am trying to do a very decent job at FM on three quilts I have ready! I want to become very very good! However, I am getting tired of people telling me " oh, you need to get a longarm"! Are they kidding I have only being doing this a couple years! No way am I ready for that, nor do I want to entertain that idea at this point anyway, which I state. Nor do I want to spend that kind of money. They don't get it! Oh you should take it to a longarm then, it is so difficult to quilt the big quilts they say. I point out one more time, it is not that I don't want to pay someone and that I am cheap, it is more I want to do it myself. Yes, it takes more time, but how else am I going to become good at this? GRrrrrr! Ok, I think I got that off my chest for now!

You go girl.......

More power to you!!! I feel the same way. I only have a featherweight machine and am making do even with making large quilts. It may take longer but it costs less and I am learning a lot.

I hear ya! I think people are trying to compliment you when they say "you need to get a longarm". They are probably thinking wow, she's this good on a domestic, I'd love to see what she could do on a long arm. If you are fine with the machine you are using, then "THAT IS THAT"! I agree, a longarm is an investment. Maybe you could say "sure, would you like to be my first investor? LOL Just keep doing what you do and have fun.

Do what makes you happy and ignore the naysayers! For what it's worth, I'm with you in that I'd rather be the one to make 100% of my quilt.

Ditto on what she said :thumbup:

I agree and I don't send mine out, either. I do rent time on a long arm at the LQS, but it's expensive. I can do a meander in a morning and bring it home to sew on the binding over the next few days. I understand that others do like an experienced long arm artist to do their quilts and that's fine, too.

Thanks everyone! Good to have someone understand what I am saying! I kinda enjoy working with my old 15 and seeing what it can do, kinda the thrill of the chase!!! The challenge and it can be that. Someday I may graduate to something diffrent but for now I am enjoying the ride!

Tell them what I tell them: If I wanted one I'd have one.

Wow! I like that! Your right on that for sure! Thanks!

Good for you. I don't have a long arm and will never purchas one. Yes it takes more time to finish a quilt but the satisfaction that it is done and done the way I do them, is a great reward.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Sounds like you need new friends--LOL! I have the opposite problem. I have a mid-arm and several of my in-laws seem to think I enjoy quilting so much I'll do it for free & to their specifications including purchasing the fabric, thread & batting.

I'm just starting to learn FMQ on my regular machine. At the rate I'm going I won't want a LA till I'm about 90 lol :D:D
Just keep doing what you're doing, Deedum!

I quilted and did free hand embroidery on my little Singer Machine for 20 years. "Experts" told me , my machine was a toy. I now have a Long Arm , but it was what I learned on my Singer that makes me better at what I do now. So stand firm Don't let anyone tell you can't or have too!

Get a coffee can and everytime they tell u to get a longarm point to the longarm fund canister! I admire you that your learning to FMQ! Not easy! Just keep on keeping on!

Long arms are so out of price range for most of us. Even if I ever have the money can I justify that much money for a hobby. It would definitley be different if I also did a side business LA quilting for others. It is very satisfactory quilting a quilt from beginning to end even if the quilting does not look as perfect if it was done on a long arm.

Yep, Another reason I have no desire for one!

I never thought of it that way, but I do beleive your right! Experience is a great teacher! My friend makes beautiful scrappies on her old machines which are 50 plus yrs old. Maybe someday, I might think about a mid arm or something, but for now I know what I want and what I don't! I have no problem saying so either! Maybe I should get cards printed saying this and just hand them out, haha!

As a lifetime handquilter I have no interest in a longarm. I know of several members of both my guilds who have burned out on their's. I do simple basic quilting by machine on my Linus quilts because I know the new owners will likely wash them to death. It also allows me to produce a lot more quilts for that project. While I enjoyed spending the money I made doing a couple of commisioned quilts it is just not the same as making a quilt for myself or for a gift.

Now, this is priceless! I think I will do just that! Your right, FMQ is not easy to learn! I intend to become really really skilled at it! My old singers just handle it so easily, now it is up to me! thanks for your compliment!

Amen!

Amen...I just have a little White from JoAnn's. I have done 2 kings, a queen, a full and many baby quilts. Sure it takes more time to fit a king through my little machine but I can say I did it myself! I am just learning FMQ as well and although it takes time and practice I believe I can be satisfied doing all my quilting on my little White!

I totally agree with you. It is what I want and everyone is different I guess. Would not mind trying a longarm just to see what they are like, No I will not buy one not room and no money

Between my little Singer and the Brother I bought about 10 years ago, I can do almost anything I want in piecing and FMQing. I don't have room for a longarm. I had a smaller frame for the Brother for a while and it felt like the elephant in the kitchen - always in my way and it didn't like the way I FMQ, so it is up for sale for someone who does oodles of lap quilts with pantos. I'm like you and like to "do it all myself". I'm terrible at envisioning a final product. My quilts are always a work in design progress until I put the last stitch in the binding.

Diana

Say to them " OK when are you going to buy me one" or "My birthday is in ----. You can get me one for my present"

Answer back to those people with, "When you are ready to purchase LA for me, I would enjoy helping you decide which model I need."

I'm with you! I can, and do, FMQ even my large quilts on a domestic machine. It's part of the process of quilting and it's all mine! A longarm is just way beyond what I want to spend!