G'ma Kay

I have a 6500. I love it! We (DH and I) have been looking at long arm frames and I am wondering, since the bobbin is on the top of the machine bed, how do you conveniently change the bobbin when using it on a longarm frame? Most of the used sets I see on ebay have a front loading bobbin, and I wonder if you brilliant, experienced quilters out there have my dilemma already solved for me.

Prism99

With all frames, you typically need to move the machine to one side of the frame or the other in order to change the bobbin. You cannot load a quilt that takes up the entire frame space from left to right; you need to leave at least 10" or so on one side for bobbins. When longarming, I always try to avoid running out of bobbin thread anywhere in the middle of the quilt; I try to change bobbins at the side, even if there is some thread left on the old bobbin. Makes my life easier!

cathyvv

You said what I was going to say.

dunster

I can change my bobbin (on my Innova) from the front while the longarm is over the quilt if that is necessary, but it is easier if I move the machine to the side, where it is not over the quilt. Also, since I clean the machine with each bobbin change, I almost always move it so I can also remove the needle plate and clean inside that area too.

G'ma Kay

Thanks so much for the helpful hints. That makes a lot of sense now that you draw me a picture.