Prism99

You might want to join the homequiltingsystems group at yahoo.groups.com. This is a large, active group of quilters using a wide variety of mid-arm and long-arm setups. The rule-of-thumb advice on that group is to allow yourself a year to research options and try out various machines at quilt shows, dealerships, etc.

A lot depends on your price range. Also, having a dealer close by where you can take lessons could sway a decision.

kerrym38

I have a Tin Lizzie 18LS on a wood frame (can't remember the name of the frame). I purchased it from a local dealer last March. I love Lizzie! I can stitch in manual mode or stitch regulated mode (Lizzie Stitch). I am learning to quilt free motion, but if I want I can do pantographs also. I have my frame set up to do up to a queen sized quilt. It can be set up to do a king size, but I don't have room. I never do a king sized quilt anyway so it wasn't an issue for me. Everytime I use Lizzie I fall in love with her all over again. There is a learning curve when you start to use a long arm, whether it be a Tin Lizzie or one of the other brands. You just practice, practice, practice. You will soon find that most of the time the problems you have are operator error - not the machine. And you also find that your fear goes away the more you use your long arm. At the beginning you almost feel like if you do something wrong it might blow up. It won't. : )

Good luck on your decision. For me I wanted a local dealer, which is one of the reasons I went with Lizzie. Plus, the price was more affordable for me than some of the other brands.

For my purposes Lizzie is wonderful. I don't quilt for other people - just for myself. Although a friend has talked me into quilting a couple of her quilts for her. : )

deemail

I have a longarm...but if i was shopping today...i'd be here early monday morning with a check in my hand...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soGt7kmW0aI

maryfrang

APQS stands for American Professional Quilting Systems from Carol Iowa. I have a Mill that we bought in 2004. I love my APQS. I have had two problems with the machine in the 6+ years that we have owned it. Both of the times, the factory personnel in Iowa emailed the instructions for correcting the problem and also sent the parts to us right away. My husband cleans the machine after every other quilt and it runs smooth and has a really good stitch. I really think you need to contact the different machine companies and read their material. Then get to a show or a the Machine Quilters Showcase in the spring and try all the machines you would be interested in. Live a sewing machine, each machine is different and we are different too. Try them out and get what you like.

lfstamper

Wow Deemail - just watched the you tube video. Very impressive machine - how much are the Lacresta?

Annaquilts

Some features to look at are-
stich regulator
12 foot table so you can do King size quilts and smaller
atleast 22 inch troath opening and a good hight so you can do 12 inch blocks on point

I am short $ but else I would get a ABM Innova 26 inch throat opening on a 12 foot table.

A mid arm machine that has a lot of appeal to me is the Avante. It has an 18 inch opening. I will most likely not settle for a machine with a smaller opening Less tehn 22) as most of my quilts are rather large. (up to 10 feet) Smaller quilts I just do sit down on my Janome 6500.

cathyvv

I also have an HQ16, bought it second hand, and love it. So far the only problems I've had with it are 'cockpit errors'.

I use a pcquilter with it on a pinnacle frame. I don't really like the frame, but it was a package deal. Someday I'll upgrade the frame, but for the kind of quilting I do, the HQ16 is plenty big.

Good luck on your search!

QuiltingGrannie

I see you had a chance to play with a Nolting? I have one, the Fun Quilter, and love it. I also have the Side Saddle computer system with it.

The Noltings are made in the USA. Gammill used to be made by the same company as the Nolting, but moved its manufacturing over seas.

The reps for Notling are very helpful - at the shows, in person and on the phone. I was able to have ours delivered, set up and brief lesson on how to operate it by our rep.

Things to look for ---- stitch regulator, a frame that fits your space and the size quilts you want to be able to longarm. I have the 12 foot table. I also have hydraulics on mine so it is easy to move it if I want or need to.

The Side Saddle computer system is easy to learn and to use. It is easy to attach to the LA and to disconnect it so I can do computerize designs and free motion easily on the same quilt.

If you have any questions send me a PM or contact me via email.

Phyllis
QuiltingGrannie
Quilter's Pantry

An Arm Long

I have a Baby Lock Crown Jewel (18") which is the same machine as the HQ Avante. To me the 4 day class in St. Louis was the most important thing in the deal. I bought it at a quilt show and received the class as part of the deal. When I got home, I was so comfortable with my machine and able to take off and quilt with it immediately. My nearest dealer, however is 1 1/2 hours away, but have not had to go there yet. I purchased my Jewel in April and have done 16 quilts on it so far.
Classes are so important. (Not just a day to help set it up and learn how to use it)

ckcowl

if you are thinking of purchasing a long arm you should think of it like buying a car- or your house- it is an investment! you should try out (test drive) as many different ones you can find- check out the local shops- see what they offer- try them out- visit shows---try out the machines- as you try out a few different ones the questions will start coming to you-
don't buy one because (sally down the block has it and likes it) buy one because you have checked out dozens- and it is "the one you like the best" has the features you like/want- is in Your price range- service/tech support/warrenty/free owners classes/set up/start up---all of these things should (play into) your decision-
i've seen so many people buy the first one they saw---had no support/assistance- nothing but frustration for years-until they sold it (loosing sometimes thousands of dollars) never having quilted a quilt with it-
think of it as a Large Investment---that's what it is--- and check out as many as you can- take your time and find the machine / set up that works FOR YOU.
the likes and dislikes are as varied as we all are....and to put out $10,000+ on something without being sure...