It seems to me several of you have longarm machines. Are they just for your own personal use or do you quilt for others? Just curious. I've often thought about one since I send my quilts out, but I can't afford one and would have no place to put it anyway.
Gerri

I do quilt for others, and quilt my own. They are space hogs! I'm fortunate in that I share the machine with a lady who also owns a former church building, where she used to have a quilt store.

I have a Tin Lizzie that I bought used as a retirement present for myself. I only quilt my own quilts and a few for my close friends. I don't plan to quilt for profit, that seems to take the fun out of it. I enjoy my Lizzie and quilt a lot, always remembering how blessed I am to have it.

Shelly is so fortunate to have the big space for her machine. My house is small, we took out our kitchen table to set up my machine. I can't open my microwave all the way! (I do have prioritys)
Mary

That sounds like a great arrangement. Thanks for responding.

Oh Mary - that's too funny about the microwave - but I hear ya! Priorities!

I have a Nolting Fun Quilter.
I just quilt for myself & a few close friends.
I feel it would take the fun of it if I did it for a business.
Plus I'm too busy to find the time.

I have a Bailey 15", when I can afford it I'll get a real longarm and when I get good enough I will do it for money to help pay for it! I have a spare bedroom to set it up in but still have another 3 ft. section of table that I did n't have room for.

I've had a grace frame and juki for years, my DD and I share it. It sits in the corner of the family room....my DH is very tolerant of my "hobby".....

exactly what she said.

mine is in the now almost-finished basement. just finished enough to use it for this purpose.

I would starve without my microwave. Or end up eating a whole lot of peanut butter sandwiches. :lol:

But I do have a Grace frame and Pfaff Grand Quilter on it. Works like a charm with the Qbot attached. It's housed in a spare bedroom.

I have a Tin Lizzie18 and love it. It gets a lot of use. I make quilts for my family & friends as well as for charity. My 9 year old grand-daughter & daughter inlaw come over and use it frequently, as well. They also make quilts for charity, family & friends. Mine is set up in an extra bedroom. I'm so fortunate that it fits in there.

actually, what do you mean by LONGARM? there are machines that are 15" all the way up to 26" +. what range were you thinking of? the tin lizzie SL is 18" and at 120" (110" usable) wide, it's more than enough for me.

Hmmm, I don't really know what I mean by longarm. Sounds dumb I know, but when it comes to quilting machines, I'm a little (OK a lot) ignorant. I've seen a few pictures posted by members of their sewing rooms and the machines look awfully big to me, so I just assumed they're all big. If I ever decide to take the plunge (maybe a retirement gift to myself next year -{ can't wait!} ), I'll have to really research and will turn to the board for advice and opinions.

a lot of manufacturers now offer some kind of oversize-throat machines, suitable for quilting. you can spend your life after retirement checking them all out. i know because i tried to do it.

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after you try a few and narrow it down to the features you like, go to a quilt show. almost all the manufactures have setups there. try them out against one another. it's the only way to really see what the differences are. you'll also get to see what it is you're paying for. talk it up with all the venders and tell them what you like about other machines, including price. ask them what they'll throw in without extra charge. the venders can do that for you. they have no"rent" to pay. take your time and go around at least twice, trying out the machine each time. let the vender know who you are and realize that you are a serious possible customer. at the shows, you can often do better than at stores, and with a warranty you're still eligible for service.

remember, they are there to sell. you are there to buy. you have the money and they want to have it.

i have a mega quilter from husqvarnva. it is for my own use and have done some for family members. i did move into the bigger bedroom 14 x 20 so i have room for it.

Butterflywing -I never would have thought of that. Thanks so much for the important info. I'm going to print this up and save it. There's no way I will remember it next year!

I don't have one YET but our local sewing machine shop jsut set up the Babylock Jewel. He said I can come and drool on it anytime I want!! I really like that machine!

I've drooled over the same machine, maybe some day!

I have a couple of APQS's. They are the Ultimate's, I & II. The UI has a computer hooked up to it and the UII is for custom and freeform quilting. I did have a Gammill at one time, but I sold it due to the fact that it was too heavy. The APQS's are much lighter and better looking. Regards, zeke.............

What do you mean by "too heavy"? The actual weight as it pertains to the pressure it has to exert on the floor? Or the weight it has when you move it around to sew with? My husband and I just started investigating this as an income source, and the Gammill was one my husband seemed to be impressed with. (Maybe it was one with the best internet "demonstrations" on how to use it, which would be a huge bonus to a newbie just getting themselves educated on this subject.)

I found the suggestion on attending a quilting show and seeing them all in person to be a must, if I could only find a show that would be near me- it would be a treat to hear first person how they work and to see them in action, and to make your comparisons as you go. The second time around is a must too- you form your questions as you go along and then can get them answered the second run through, and then I suggest even a third run with just your finalists- it shows you are serious AND allows you to get the two vendors to price bargain against one another as you announce your intentions to possibly purchase one that day.

Hi sgardner,

I mean that the machine is heavy in weight. The Gammill Optimum has a 30" throat and weighs about 80 lbs. After a while my arms started to ache. I'm a big guy of 6'1" and 220 lbs. and didn't like the way I felt after lugging that thing around the table for a few hours. The APQS machines are far more lighter in weight and run very goog and I won't change for anything, unless someone gives me a lot of cash to do so.

And yes, go to quilt shows and try them out. I live in California and towards the end of october PIQF(Pacific International Quilt Festival) will be in Santa Clara. That's in the bay area and it's a good place to start your search for a machine. Most of the companies are there showing their machine and letting you play with them. Only you can pick the machine that suits you. Take care and good luck on finding a machine. zeke.............

I have a Bailey 15" and Grace Frame....Turned the Guest Bedrm into a quilting rm for it....Love that machine

Then I took over one daughter's rm and that is my sewing rm.
Her rm is large....I can fit a huge cutting table that my husband made with baskets underneath....2 other tables back to back my husband also made....Then there is a huge oak table from one end of wall to other. I am very fortunately to have a husband who loves and does nice woodwork.

The frame is essential to determining if your machine is 'heavy' or not. My A1 can be moved with my little finger, because it is well balanced and the wheels and carriage glide smoothly.

Very true Shelley, but the A-1 only has a 23" throat. The Gammill also has a nice track system, but the Optimum has a 30" throat and moving that machine around is easy. It's not only the weight of the machine, but the size is in play too. My Ultimate I only weighs 42 lbs. compared to the Optimum that weighs over 80 lbs. I don't know about you, but I rather push 42 lbs. around while doing stippling. Easier on the hand and arms, let alone the body. zeke...........

True, Zeke. But have you driven the Horizon?? HEAVEN!!! And glides just as easy as the Elite.