I have the Tin Lizzy 18 and I love it! I do ALL FMQ ( so far have not figured out how to do that pantogram etc) and not intricate stuff. I got my frame and machine because I went to the LQS and spent 1 solid hour trying to use my time! Had no idea what I was doing but ended up with a baby blanket that stands by itself! I got my hours worth! I decided I needed my own so I could go have coffee when I got tired! I love mine now that I am getting so I can comfortably use it! I am quilting for Quilt of Valor! I have done 8 (quilting only) and have 4 ready to quilt! I am not sure I could quilt sitting down!

i notice that no one has mentioned the WOW stretched singer. i'd been looking at those cause they look so sturdy. it'll be a long time before i can afford any, but i'd looked at the wow and the bailey.

I have a Tin Lizzy 18 that I have had for about 2 years now. I really like it and don't think I could quilt with a stationary machine. I have not had any problems with it. Would love a long arm learning/support group. There is always a learning curve when attempting a new skill.

Unfortunately, there are no Quilt Shows anywhere near me, and travelling at this time isn't an option. Just to clarify a previous statement, when I said price didn't matter, what I meant was the difference in price between the HQ sweet 16 and the George wasn't an issue. I would really like to stay around the $10,000 mark. Maybe I shying away from the frame models because they intimidate me, or maybe it's because I have only ever sat down to quilt on my DSM and George is the best option with the most space. I have tried a couple longarms on frames, but, that was years ago and although they are fun, don't know that it is what I was looking for. I have emailed many of the companies for brochures, prices and DVDs, so the search continues. I really appreciate all the feedback...keep it coming.

I think something like this should be corroborated before it's put in the public domain. If not true, it could do Pfaff a lot of damage and that's not fair. :-D

Absolutely true -this is how rummor mongering gets started.

My friend with the sitdown HQ 16 says that the most important thing before you purchase this machine is to make sure that you are comfortable with free motion quilting. I had the chance to buy a model at less just before the new, pink model came out and didn't because I don't have much experience with FMQ and was afraid I wouldn't like it. Then I'd be stuck with the machine. So, one of my goals is to practice and see if I eventually like and the other is to save the money to get one. She has quilted queens on it and has won a ribbon for one of her quilts at a national show.

I bought my A1 in 2002 I guess I've made forty or fifty queen size quilts several twins for grandchildren.Dining room table and round tale tablecloths with matching placemats and runners.They have the best customer service people so your one phone call away.I have a my dealer who moved to Florida available by phone and another one who took her place 90 miles away and she would come to me in an emergency.I have several people in business within a ten mile drive if there were something I could not do myself .I bet most of the sewers have the same set up because there are alot of us now with longarms.Keep in touch Arkansas.

Elaine from Pa. http://community.webshots.com/user/heellie

Hi from South Alabama,

Would also like the info that you are offering.
No dealers in this area at all.
Bought a Juki but free motion quilting is all that it will do and there is no way, at the moment to regulate the stitch length.
Would like to see what you have since it is from an Ala dealer.
Thanks, Brenda

Brenda ,there are A1 dealers in most locations there is one in the Carolina one in Florida and they travel to your area.Pull up A1 and click on the map it will give you a phone number and adress to the ones nearest you and they will be able to give you information you need.Sometimes you need to get out of your comfort zone and take a ride to a quilt show to see all that the quilting world has available now.The A1 dealer will tell you where you can find someone with a long arm who might let you come over to play with the machine I know if anyone lived near me I would open my doors to them.Good luck keep in touch.

Elaine from Pa. http://community.webshots.com/usre/heellie

Your probably right, and your point is well taken. I just assumed that an informed consumer would question the Pfaff dealer they were going to do business with and do their due diligence in the area of research prior to buying any machine.

I own a Pfaff 262 in addition to other machines and it is hard to find parts for but in defense of Pfaff it was built in 1968 and still runs like new. All I intended to do by posting the info was to attempt to inform a potential consumer there could be a problem. I never assumed I had any power to hurt any company and of course that was not my intention. I just spent 7500 bucks on a machine and I know if I found out after my purchase Bernina was going under I would really be upset. We all work really hard for our money and I thought it was the right thing to throw out this info.

However, to anyone that was offended by my post re Pfaff I do apologize.

Many blessings...

Absolutely true!! Not all LAers have facilities that are available for viewing, but mine is. I've had a few people come take a'test drive'. Each person's needs are different, and you need to find what feels good to you. LA quilting, well - any quilting!, is a physical activity. A well-fitting system, fit to YOU, will not be as hard on your body.

Just as you wouldn't go to a Ford dealer to get a price on a Chevy, the same goes for the longarms and the computerized systems (Statler, Intelliquilter, Compuquilter). There's a lot of hype and misinformation out there, so do your own research.

The HandiQuilter Avante can be lowered to sitting height. Use a rolling seat and it works great. This way you have a regular longarm. I've tried it.

Sandy

I have been using a HQ Sixteen for about 6 years. I have quilted about 400 quilts with it. I do not have a stitch regulator-my dealer said he does not use one so I decided I could do without and I do. Very few problems with this machine-sometimes some tension issues but I am able to work them out.

with regard to the Tin Lizzie:
did you try contacting the company before taking it in? i just spoke to the owner yesterday and he walked me through a problem and i didn't have take the machine off the sled at all.
i was using it and went to the bathroom, as usual. when i returned, it wouldn't work. it made that sound that we all recognize as something jammed. i took the chase/race apart and cleaned it thoroughly, and did the same to the bobbin case itself. then i took the whole mechanism out and cleaned the parts separately. uh-uh! the black wheel at the back wouldn't budge and the sound was there. the motor was running and the belt wasn't moving. i gave in and called tech support, who transferred me to ernie, the owner. he said he was with a customer (it was sunday - show day) and he would call me when the show ended. right. i thought okay, i'll have to take it in. at 7 pm he called. he had me force that back wheel to the left a little and to the right a little until it felt loose. it still didn't
work. he had me unplug that heavy black wire that runs from the left hand control box on the handlebar to the back end and then replug very firmly and voila!!! the problem was a piece of something so microscopic that cleaning didn't get it out, but forcing the wheel dislodged it. (in forcing the wheel, i accidentally bumped the plug and disconnected it.) i wouldn't have forced that wheel without his say-so. the support is fantastic. so before you bring it anywhere, call first.

I have had a Tin Lizzie on a frame and now have the Queen Quilter sit down model. I have to disagree with those you say that quilting on a long arm is much easier than maneuvering a quilt under the needle of a sit down model. If you already quilt on your home sewing machine it is basically the same with the sit down model. The only difference is you can't dial down the speed - you have to control it yourself. As for quilting on a frame there is a very steep learning curve. If you haven't done it before it is not as easy as it appears. Also, there are pros and cons to attaching a quilt to a frame also. If you don't get the quilt centered and on entirely straight you have problems. No so with a sit down model. I like my Tin Lizzie because of the way it sews, because it doesn't take up as much room as the one on a frame and it is also a good value. I hope you find this helpful.

When I was looking for a longarm machine, I tried teh HQ Sit Down at the local dealer. I loved it. Since then, I have purchases a longarm Tin Lizzie, because I do have the room for it. If I did not have room for the big frame set up, I would buy a HQ Sit down in a heartbeat. And I thought the price was very reasonable. I had been doing fmq on my Bernina int he past and when I tried the HQ Sit Down, it was HEAVEN to have the room to move the quilt. HQ also seems to be a very good machine--I have heard very few comments about anyone having any troubles with their HQ machine. Which means it might not be so important that your Dealer is a little distance from you. Definitely try one.

how much space do you have? i don't think you mentioned that.

A little hint, Purchase you machine, what ever you deside, during a quilt show if possible. you will get a better price then just going and purchasing it without the Show Specials. could save you hundreds.

I am having to sell my BabyLock Jewel Quilting Machine, QuiltMotion, QuiltCAD, and Grace Majestic Quilting Frame. All are near new and still under warranty. Less than 24hrs of quilting time has been used on this. It works great and in great shape! I bought the Jewel the end of last year and Quiltmotion is only 2 months old. I am only asking $9,000.00 OBO!
If interested email me at [email protected]

All that is included:

1. BabyLock Jewel Quilting Machine
2. Carriage with encoders for Grace Pinnacle Frame
3. Electronic bobbin winder with variable speed
4. Laser light and clamp for following pantographs
5. “M” size metal bobbins
6. Needles size 16 and 18
7. Thread mast and washers
8. Oiling Kit
9. Needle Removal wrench
10. Alan Wrenches
11. Front and back handles both with LCD monitor screens and controls
12. ¼” hopping foot
13. QuiltMotion Software
14. LCD display on swivel mount
15. 15’ USB cable
16. housing/carriage plate
17. 300 Built in Patterns
18. QuiltCAD software
19. QuiltMotion Quick Reference Guide book
20. QuiltMotion Installation Guide book
21. Grace Majestic Quilting Frame (King, queen, & Crib size)
22. 4 king size leader polls or 8 crib size
23. Cloth Leaders
24. Velcro Leader Attachments
25. Plastic Tube Leader Attachments
26. Blue plastic leader attachment roller
27. 1 Large pink spool of thread
28. 1 king size Frame table or 2 crib size
29. Jewel Track System
30. And many many more extras!

I've done both - moved the fabric while the machine stayed stationary (on the Flynn setup) and moved the machine while the fabric stayed stationary (Inspira setup) and I prefer moving the machine. Even though the work area is smaller, I don't have a deal with managing the quilt.

I sold my Inspira some time ago, it just took up too much space. So now I'm looking at getting either a Juki 980Q, or a Jamome 1600P, or an Elna 7100 - all have 9" throats, and the EZ Track Quilting System (http://www.easyquilter.com/index.htm). The set up wouldn't have all the bells and whistles of the more expensive setup, but it is sit down, and I'm fairly good at FMQ, and the investment is less than $1500 for the machine and the EZ Track. I could handle that.

at the hampton show i spoke to ernie floyd, the owner of tin lizzie and he told me that he is now producing the machine part of the janome (definitely), and one other major brand. i wish i could tell you which one. my memory is crap. i think it was pfaff.

he himself has introduced a new machine called empress, a long arm, 26" , without the bells and whistles, but digitized.
his largest market was the no-bells-and-whistles quilter within a certain price, so he's offering it again only with a longer throat. i don't know the price. the cost will be whatever the dealer gives you.

for anyone interested there's a new dealer in trenton, new jersey. the store is called 'above and beyond'.

YEAH!!!! Can you hear me dancing? I just purchased a Queen Quilter 18 Sit down model! I chose the sit-down model due to lack of space. I'm nervous but so excited! It will be here next week! If you have any tips to throw my way....I'm listening! I almost have two quilt tops finished and one completely finished...now I need to get them sandwiched and ready to quilt when the new machine comes! I'm so excited I don't think I'll sleep a wink tonight!

Vanessa in Oklahoma

I think the standup quilter is easier for some things like keeping the quilt flat etc.

The sit-down quilter IMHO gives you more control. You can turn the quilt whenever you want so that if you can do feathers better in one direction, you can always do them in that direction, etc. You can stitch a long line in one direction.

I have a standup. I'd love to build a sit-down table for it so I could do one or the other depending on how I feel.

Regarding Nolting: they are awesome. I have a circa 80's Gammill, which was actually made by Nolting. I am at least the second owner and as of about a year ago, they still patiently answer my questions. A good company that makes quality machines.