I have a HandiQuilter2 frame with a Juki machine on it. But I want a Nolting Fun Quilter reeeeaaaallllly bad!! Glad to hear you like yours, Barb.

cissyquilts............I love my HobbyQuilter. When I first got it, my grandson (then 6 yrs old) wanted to help me with it the first time. I put some muslin together with batting and let him glide the machine along. He enjoyed doing it also. With it being all freehand it was a cinch. He loved it as much as I did. And I still do. My daughter uses it alot also. She mainly does baby and wedding gifts on it. It works for me!!! I am so glad that I got it.

Barb

I don't know what I would do without my longarm. I read about quilters here using their home sewing machine and doing quilts. I really am inspired by them. I would NEVER have the patience to do that. I just do the placemats and smaller things. even a baby quilt is hard to imagine. So to all you gals and guys out there that do that............I really, really admire you. Keep it going.........


Barb

The best advice I see is to try them all. I started with the Little Gracie frame and brother machine. I loved it, but it had it's disadvantages..the pantograph did not line up directly with the needle, so everything had to be calculated a bit off. Also, it was new (they have since corrected almost everything in the little gracie 2) so the side tensions had to be put on and taken off every time you rolled the quilt. There was no place for the pantograph (just a hole) and so I had a board I'd put there. It didn't roll all that smoothly, either. And they had a pointer rather than a laser.
BUT I LOVED it!! It was sturdy and I had lots of room to work. It's now set up in the basement waiting for me to get the upgraded parts.
I then got the inspira frame with the pfaff grand quilter. DON'T!!!!!! My poor boyfriend spent hours drilling holes and bracing every thing and it still shakes. I also got the stitch regulator thrown into the deal (they wanted to get rid of the old frames for the new one) and that is AMAZING. I had the speed regulator on my Gracie, but this is far more forgiving and although it doesn't make all the stitches the same size, it's close enough for rock and roll. The reason I hate it, besides the shaking, is that there is only about 3" of work room. Finding 3" pantographs is tough enough, but having to turn your quilt mid way through because you've run out of room stinks. This they have not corrected on the new version.
Given my 'druthers, I'd go with one of the Grace frames. They not only work well, they're actually quite pretty. All wood, which I polyeurathaned before ever putting it together. I found the pfaff to be a bit better than the brother, but I'd give my eye teeth for a mid, or longarm. I'm SO jealous. Maybe when I'm a famous quilter.......
Good luck in whatever you choose, and please let us know what you decide and the outcome. Sorry to be so long winded.
bev. :]

Thanks for all the great advice..I'm obviously not going to rush into making such a major purchase..Still have to convince the hubby it's a good investment..I'm intrigued by all the options out there..lol..And still doing research

I also want to thank you and applaud you for giving all the details of your journey into buying home quilting equipment. Many can learn from your experience.

Keep in mind that small arm machines will not give you much quilting space once you roll the quilt into the throat of the machine. it does not matter what the name of the machine is, or how expensive it is, but what amount of quilting space you are going to have to work in. I think that is difficult to fathom for many people,

This is a great place for learning many things.

I have a Grace Next Generation quilt frame with a Husqvarna Mega Quilter. I have quilted a king size quilt recently with no problems at all, freehand with no stitch regulator.
I am searching for the Sure Stitch regulator to fit the frame.

There are machine quilting focused shows around the country. MQS, MQX, and Innovations are a few. Just about every long arm is there, as are some mid and DSM (Domestic Sewing Machines - your home machine) setups. Try to attend at least on of those shows and try every machine in the place. Several times!! With these shows, the focus is on machine quilting, and you would be amazed with the possibilities.

Good luck in your search!!