Opinions on Grace Frams
 

Hi. Would anyone using the Grace Quilt frame please share their experience. I have been quilting for quite awhile. Would now like to do my own quilting. Thanks.

You need to sure you have room for the machine as well as space to walk all round. I forgot the later and had to place it in a different location than I wanted. I have mine set up with a juki machine and the combination works well for me. I have in time purchased the red snappers which makes loading so much quicker.
i sometimes fell the set up is flimsy but no problems really. I really enjoy the frame. When I did my first quilt I got carried away and did 2-3 hours none stop. For the next two days I could hardly move my arms so be careful.
It is the cheap version of a long arm set up. If I could have afforded the big set up I would have purchased it as the size of the throat in a domestic machine which goes on the frame limits its use to a few inches on each run.

I have a Grace New Generation frame and a Husqvarna Viking Mega Quilter. I love them. Couldn't afford long arm machine. Have had it about 8 years now.

The Grace company makes lots of different frames for both hand and machine quilting. Which model are you considering?

I have a frame with a jukie machine. It works well for me if I just meander. The throat space is limited, so I haven't been able to do much with FMQ. It does work if I'm in a hurry to get something out.

My 1st frame was a Grace Pro and I loved it. Used 2 different machines on it during my time with it. Didn't care for the poles as they would bow so slipped a conduit pole over them to beef them up. Changed out the plastic piece the wheels roll over to a metal "T" strip too. Only problem was I couldn't seem to sell it so gave it away. A couple from another state came and got it so they must have thought it worth the trouble and distance. It was well made and easy to take apart to move to another location.

I started quilting using the original Grace frame. I also purchased the "pattern perfect" boards with it and loved it. I would still be using that set-up, but my husband purchased an Innova for me several years ago. I still have the frame and the "pattern perfect" boards if anyone is interested in purchasing them. If not, I will keep them. I quilted many, many quilts with that set-up and loved it. There is a yahoo group out there for grace frames.....you might want to check that out and see their comments, etc. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I, too have a problem with bowing on my "new to me" Inspira frame. What is conduit pole and where does one get it. Sounds as if that may alleviate the problem.

She is probably talking about PVC pipe that you buy from a hardware store or something very similar.

I love my Grace Queen frame which l keep at our home in Fla. I use it with my 15" Bailey home quilter. I love the canted rails ...the back wheels of the carriage are double, one one either side of he rails. Plastic coating on these metal rails keep it quiet and smooth as glass.The height is comfortable. I got it used, and the previous owner added a center leg for support. At home in Canada, l use a half size Inspira frame, and find it's not nearly as solid.Also the lnspira is meant to use the pantograph shelf...so when not doing a panto, it's hard to see below the shelf, and the machine is pretty low causing me to stoop.

conduit pipe is what the electrician runs wires through--usually a strong metal or very rigid plastic--check at a Lowe's orHome Depot or lumberyard.

She is talking about electrical conduit poles not pvc poles....pvc would bend really bad in the middle. You can get conduit poles at any store like Lowes or Home Depot.

David

I too have a Grace frame for sale, I never had any problem with the rollers bending but I did change out the plastic tracks for stainless steel. I had an 15" Bailey quilter on it (sold) they are a very affordable mid-arm. It didn't take long for me to know that I loved frame quilting and wanted more bells and whistles so a few years later when I had saved more I got an Innova. The grace frame I have is very sturdy and sets up in 3 sizes, I think it's the top or at least near the top of their line.

I started out with a Grace Pro frame and a Viking MegaQuilter 9", moved up to a Juki stretched 18" before moving on to an Innova on their frame. The Grace frame served me well for the years I had her. I had her set up at 10' and actually got 10' 9" of width from her. I did add conduit poles to beef up her sagging aluminium poles and then added metal tracking when I moved from Florida to Iowa. When I gave her away, I had a couple come from Ohio to pick her up and they seemed to be thrill with both upgrades. They took the conduit poles too which I hadn't expected. Anyway, I felt I got my money's worth from the frame and never had issues other than those I mentioned above with the upgrades.

Kathy, you don't show anything about your quilt frame on your site listed above. Just wanted you to know that.