Are you a Short Arm quilter? If so let's talk!
07-30-2012, 02:14 PM
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Clay Springs AZ
Posts: 3,229
I think all strait stitch machines can be set up on a frame. You can also get a stitch regulator for them but they cost $500.
It is the cheapest way to go but it has major drawbacks. Mostly the throat area is small so most quilting pantos etc wont work. I have a few that are small enough but did not like using them.
If you do get this setup make sure to get a frame with the smallest rods you can get.
Strait stitch machines are reasonable, check out the Brother 1500 it is the same as my Baby Lock Jane.
My frame with the strait stitch cost me $1800.
It is the cheapest way to go but it has major drawbacks. Mostly the throat area is small so most quilting pantos etc wont work. I have a few that are small enough but did not like using them.
If you do get this setup make sure to get a frame with the smallest rods you can get.
Strait stitch machines are reasonable, check out the Brother 1500 it is the same as my Baby Lock Jane.
My frame with the strait stitch cost me $1800.
07-30-2012, 02:15 PM
#22
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 110
I have a Handiquilter11 frame that I purchased last summer, I am using my Kenmore sewing machine to perform wonders. The harp size is 7 1/2 inches. I have been using warm and natural batting which allows me more space to quilt as it wraps on the poles nice and neat. I have made many pantographs and rest my foot pedal on the back side of my machine along the tray and quilt away, I am the stitch and speed regulator. I have had the frame for one year now and have made 14 quilts on it. My quilts are mostly double- queen sized. Last week I decided to be brave and turn a quilt on the frame. Something I had not done before, no problem everything worked out very well. My only fear is that my 25 yr old domestic home machine will give up and I will have to retrain myself. I did not find any of my projects were problematic, I have used the poly fill and will again but I bought a huge amount of warm and natural, I lke the puffy feel of the polyfill so my next quilt I will return to it and at that stage will probably have to turn my larger quilts 1/2 way through so that I can quilt it in it's glory. I was very surprised that the learning curve was so short, and I had never free motion quilted before!!!
07-30-2012, 02:20 PM
#23
Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: on the Texas Coast
Posts: 4,020
I have a Baby Lock Jane on a frame and it is mostly just sitting there taking up too much room.
The space to quilt on is so small that even a lap quilt is too big.
My table is an Imperial with very large rods that take up way to much room on my 9 inch throat.
The strait stitch machine has a complicated threading and a under the machine bobbin so have to move the machine to the far end of the table to change the bobbin and to rethread.
I do have a stitch regulator which costs $500 but it is wonderful.
Tried to do pantos but needle kept getting caught on edge of quilt since you cannot see the edge from behind the machine.
From the front of the machine quilting is much better but need to do free motion or marking a quilt pattern.
The space to quilt on is so small that even a lap quilt is too big.
My table is an Imperial with very large rods that take up way to much room on my 9 inch throat.
The strait stitch machine has a complicated threading and a under the machine bobbin so have to move the machine to the far end of the table to change the bobbin and to rethread.
I do have a stitch regulator which costs $500 but it is wonderful.
Tried to do pantos but needle kept getting caught on edge of quilt since you cannot see the edge from behind the machine.
From the front of the machine quilting is much better but need to do free motion or marking a quilt pattern.
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07-30-2012, 02:21 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Hay River NWT Canada
Posts: 704
I have a Juki on a super quilter frame with the handi handles. When I first started with it I kept hitting the cut button on the left handle. LOL 'the girls' kept getting hitting the button! Simple fix I unplugged the button. Glad it came with that option. I also have a Brother the same as yours. Love that machine.
07-30-2012, 02:38 PM
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 1,102
I have a KenQuilt that is 11.5 inches on a 12 ft frame. I don't like using it on the frame and am trying to figure out a way to convert it back to a table top machine. As soon as I do, I'll offer a great deal on a short arm frame!!!!
I did use it to baste a quilt so I could FMQ it on another machine. Loved it! It took almost 2 hours to get it on the frame, tho, so I'm thinking about investing in the Red Snappers and basting everything I own with it until I convert it. I guess I could still use it on the frame, I just have to push the foot pedal instead of the button LOL
I did use it to baste a quilt so I could FMQ it on another machine. Loved it! It took almost 2 hours to get it on the frame, tho, so I'm thinking about investing in the Red Snappers and basting everything I own with it until I convert it. I guess I could still use it on the frame, I just have to push the foot pedal instead of the button LOL
07-30-2012, 06:51 PM
#27
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
http://machine-quilt-frames.blogspot.com/
There is a link in this thread to another thread that shows a modification to his frame that makes swirls easier.
07-30-2012, 07:57 PM
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Puget Sound, Wa. State
Posts: 2,462
Try some groups on YAHOO for info on short-arm quilting.
There are some specific to your machine or to your frame.
There is one for home machine quilters as well. I have learned alot from them. I have the Pfaff 1200 (500$) and the Grace frame (300$) and really like it for a beginner set-up.
If you look at some of the quilting that some people are doing on these setups, it is incredible. No LA needed.
Hope this helps and enjoy your setup and new machine.
Kirsten
There are some specific to your machine or to your frame.
There is one for home machine quilters as well. I have learned alot from them. I have the Pfaff 1200 (500$) and the Grace frame (300$) and really like it for a beginner set-up.
If you look at some of the quilting that some people are doing on these setups, it is incredible. No LA needed.
Hope this helps and enjoy your setup and new machine.
Kirsten
07-31-2012, 02:47 AM
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 1,102
I had this set up: https://store.graceframe.com/cart/ma...uki-combo.html
Mine was a Juki 98. I bought it off CL for half that price. A husband bought it for his wife when she got too sick to hand-quilt. She died and he remarried and the new wife wanted it GONE! There was nothing wrong with it. It took me 3 days to put the frame together and I never could get the hang of using it, so I sold it on this forum.
I made one similar to Ken Lund with shelving board and rolling casters but I never got a table long enough to try it!!
Mine was a Juki 98. I bought it off CL for half that price. A husband bought it for his wife when she got too sick to hand-quilt. She died and he remarried and the new wife wanted it GONE! There was nothing wrong with it. It took me 3 days to put the frame together and I never could get the hang of using it, so I sold it on this forum.
I made one similar to Ken Lund with shelving board and rolling casters but I never got a table long enough to try it!!
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