Hey - fellow Massachusetts quilters, - are there any places you're aware of that give lessons and rent time on a LA Quilt machine? I'd love to learn and try to LA quilt, but don't know of any shops that offer this service. When I visited my daughter in California there were a couple of shops near her that offered LA quilting classes and time on the machine for a reasonable cost, but I've not heard of anything like that around here. Of course I'd love to visit my daughter, but that's a long way to go for a quilting class!

Check with you LQS or on their web site to see if they offer this service. Often shops that do LAQ will offer lessons. Good luck.

I have never been, but there is a quilting store in Simsbury CT that, according to the web-page of the store, offers that service. Depending on where in Mass you live, it may be a few hours drive.

As I said, I've never been there, but it may be something to look into. I'm sorry I don't remember the name of store.

YES! A Notion to Quilt in Shelburne Falls offers classes and rental time on their HQ machine. I took the class and it was really great because there were only two of us there so we got loads of hands on time and could get really close to see what was what. We learned how to load back, batting and top on the rack. He didn't really give us any instruction on tension issues as they set the machine up for you and if you rent time they are always there to help with tension. Same with threading the machine and changing a bobbin. For LA he let us FMQ, follow a preprinted design with the laser light and use "groovy boards" which are kind of like pantos only instead of paper and laser light you are using a board with the design routed into the board and guided by a stylus that sits in the groove. Below is a link to their website, they are a very nice quilt shop with a lovely selection of fabrics. I found the class to be an excellent first exposure to LAing. You have to take their class before they allow you to rent time on the machine. They offer the class a couple of times a month.

http://www.anotiontoquilt.com/

Feline,

Thanks so much for the info on the Shelburne Falls shop - that sounds like just what I'm looking for!

So glad I was able to help and glad that the shop is close enough to you that you can take advantage. Massachusetts is a pretty big state so I didn't know how far away you were. I am 60 miles from that shop via the Mohawk Trail but because it is all mountain roads it takes me about an hour and a half to get there. Not too far to go there every once in a while but I think too far to get any decent practice time in on the LA. So I actually ended up investing in my own LA but got a different brand from what they have at A Notion to Quilt. Now if I can just get some tops finished to load up on it!

Not sure where you are located in MA. I know "All About Quilts" in Walpole, MA, has a LA in the shop. Not sure whether or not they give lessons or rent out time, but you might call and ask. If not, maybe they can recommend someone.

I think Emma's Quilt Cupboard in Franklin also has a LA.

Thanks, EC. I'll check those out too. I don't mind driving a bit of a distance if I have to.

Not sure where in MA you're located, but a there's a woman in Burlington who rents time, maybe Laurenas Longarm, there's Crafters Quarters in Amesbury and Mad about Quilts in Mansfield I think, but you could google to double check, good luck!

Emmas has one but not sure if they rent it out.

I thought I read that Mad About Quilts closed. Am I wrong?