FMQ machine preference
 

I'm wanting to purchase a basic machine for FMQ. Don't need a lot of bells and whistles, just want something that has the larger throat and is easy reasonably priced. What machine do you like and why?

this is my current setup. the only thing it doesn't have it needle up/down. but pulsing the go button accomplishes the same thing. they have smaller models at lower prices and their customer service is excellent.
http://www.baileyssewingcenter.com/bahoqupro17p.html

A sit down long arm might be considered but it only does free motion quilting. I have been quilting for 30 years and 25 years have been quilting on my Bernina with a 6.5" throat. Very lucky that I won many awards from the quilts I quilted. I never did a king but many queen size quilts.

I really like my Brother 1500 for fmq. I rarely have trouble with tension and the throat space is big. Excellent for piecing too.

This is because there are no feed dogs on this type of machine, so if you want to do straight line quilting, you will have to learn to use a ruler. Maybe some who do ruler work on a sit down can comment on the difficulty of that.

I have and LOVE my Juki 2010Q. It is a straight stich only machine. No bells and whistles, but quilts like a charm! It's all I use!!

I just got mine today! Can't wait til I have time to play with it this weekend! Right now it's set up on the dining room table, need to make room in my sewing room.

I have a juki which has feed dogs, goes back and forwards and has a 9" throat which is larger than most domestic machines. I find it is very good for free motion on even a large quilt . It also works very well on my quilting frame, where it spends most of its time.

Another Juki 2010Q person here! Great machine. Just give her a little oil once in a while and she's happy. She's not a thread snob either .... I can use any type of thread with no difficulties. :)

Would really recommend that you and try out any machine before you make that final choice. While some will find that a 6-7" throat is fine, others will seek something in the 10" and up. Only by giving them a try will you find one which will be the best just for you -- how it feels when you use it, how it acts with your motion. Good luck and most of all --enjoy your quilting!