Renting longarm time
 

I am considering purchasing a longarm but would really like to spend a few hours on one first. Is there anywhere in the Houston-Southwest Texas area that you can rent time on a longarm?

I think renting time is an excellent idea. I hope you find a place. There is a Tin Lizzie dealer there...perhaps they do that? I don't know their name, just that they exist.

Dina

Quilter's Emporium in Stafford offers a class for the Handiquilter, after which you can rent time on their machine. Telephone is 281-491-0016; they are on a feeder along the SW freeway. I just checked and they have a class scheduled for this Saturday for $100. Rental fee is $25/hour, 2 hour minimum.

You might also check with quilt shops and longarmers in the area. You might even find a longarmer who is willing to rent time, even though they may not be in business for it.

Don't know about your area, but wanted to tell you I did exactly that. Was pretty sure I wanted a Baby Lock Crown Jewel, took a class so I could "rent time" (although the shop was way too far away to actually go rent on any regular basis) and after the class I knew it was the machine for me.

Call every quilt shop in your area. They will most likely know what's around.

Oh how I wish there was a place near me where I could rent time on a long arm!!!!

the quilt frog, I think it's around the woodlands, the have many brands

I looked it up, it's in Spring 281-793-1777

You are very wise to go this route. this is what I did as well. The shop was too far away (an hour in great weather over mountains) to get any good renting time but I did take their class to "certify" for renting time on an HQ16 on a rack. The class alone was enough to let me know that longarming was definitely something I wanted to do. I ended up gettin an Innova 26".

I am not sure about renting time Quilt N Sew off Mason might but I am not certain. I got my long arm at http://quiltfrog.com/ she also offers classes so if you want to go that route you can. Carrie is really a sweet person and her husband Tom is super helpful with answering questions in person and over the phone. Good Luck :-)

It's been several years since I contacted them, and I was told The Quilt Frog offers classes, but they don't rent time on machines.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Might also check with Sew Contempo (281-333-5322) near Webster/Nasa 1. I'm not sure if they rent them, but I bet they would know who does.

check out Jo's Quilting Studio I know that they are an Innova Dealer and I have talked to them at the Dallas Quilt Show. I am pretty sure that they rent time. There are a lot of Innova owners on this board and I know that next year that is the route I am going!!!!

Forgot to mention that they are in Richmond which I believe it pretty close to Houston.

I would also check with this shop as I think they have 2-4 different brands of machines so you could try them all to see which one "feels" best for you. Then you will have a better idea for which one to purchase if you find you like to do longarming.

Check out the Texas Machine Quilters, at quiltfrog.com, in Spring. They have several brands you can try and they offer excellent customer support. With the purchase of a machine you get a free two-day class on YOUR machine. I got mine there, and I live six hours away!