Any experience with renting time on a longarm quilting machine?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Rural MN
Posts: 3
Any experience with renting time on a longarm quilting machine?
I have two questions.
First: I've been teaching myself how to FMQ on my domestic machine. I am currently working on a twin-sized quilt and having difficulties wrestling with it. I've looked online and found a few places where you can go and train in on using a longarm machine and then pay by the hour to complete quilts. If you've rented before, how did you like it?
Second: If a sitdown longarm machine was available to you to rent, think you would try it?
I know I'll never purchase a longarm machine on a large quilting frame but I've recently seen the new Janome sitdown longarm and would love to have one. To help defray the high price I was toying with the idea of renting out time on it.
First: I've been teaching myself how to FMQ on my domestic machine. I am currently working on a twin-sized quilt and having difficulties wrestling with it. I've looked online and found a few places where you can go and train in on using a longarm machine and then pay by the hour to complete quilts. If you've rented before, how did you like it?
Second: If a sitdown longarm machine was available to you to rent, think you would try it?
I know I'll never purchase a longarm machine on a large quilting frame but I've recently seen the new Janome sitdown longarm and would love to have one. To help defray the high price I was toying with the idea of renting out time on it.
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
The way I started was visiting a shop that offered a certification class then rented time, I took the class & rented time to quilt a couple quilts then decided to buy my own. Over the years I have had a few people come in, take the class, maybe come back & quilt a quilt (9 out of 10) have decided they would rather pay me to quilt for them instead of doing it themselves. I have a couple people who once or twice a year come over & quilt a couple quilts. The others enjoyed the class & doing a practice quilt but decided it wasn't their interest, or it was too much like work & they understand why it costs what it does to pay for the quilting. It is a great way to try it out & see if it is something you would want to invest in... Better than investing only to find you do not like doing it
#3
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
I also think it's a great idea. If you have the opportunity, I would try both types of machines. I was doing FMQ on my domestic machine and was doing sort of OK, but when I tried the long arm at the shop I was in heaven. I know this isn't the case for everyone, but for me moving the machine was much more intuitive than moving the fabric. It's a different motion, so see which one works better for you.
Last edited by PaperPrincess; 02-15-2015 at 05:44 AM.
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 19,127
When I was quilting in competition, I never had a problem with quilting any of the quilts for myslef or for customers on my Bernina 1530. I certainly would give anything a try. I don't understand these LA on a tiny table. I would think you be constantly be adjusting the suspenders. I just had excellent support on my left side and support for the quilt behind the machine. Good luck in you exploration and just be sure to have fun. This is a hobby after all.
#6
Are you saying you would want to rent time on your machine at home? I have done this with my HQ16 BUT only to friends who I know personally. It is a big learning curve for them and you have to babysit them for a long time. One friend got so stressed out she said she would be happy to pay me from then on to quilt her quilts...lol.
#7
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Rural MN
Posts: 3
Thank you for all the great feedback. I'm definitely going to try renting time on a LA. I don't think owning one would ever be in my future. I still work full time so I don't think I could ever justify the expense of one. It great that people offer to rent their's. Thank you again.
#8
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Rural MN
Posts: 3
Are you saying you would want to rent time on your machine at home? I have done this with my HQ16 BUT only to friends who I know personally. It is a big learning curve for them and you have to babysit them for a long time. One friend got so stressed out she said she would be happy to pay me from then on to quilt her quilts...lol.
I hadn't thought about people coming to use a sit down machine without knowing how to FMQ - silly me! I just assumed people would come who at least FMQ on their domestic machines. You gave me more to consider. Thank you.
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,232
If you rent time on your machine, as a business, you will need to worry about things like liability insurance, will you have to collect sales tax, etc. etc. etc. That alone would turn me off.
Also, I think it might be tough on your sewing machine to have others using it. I sew with several women for volunteer work, and some of them are really hard on their machines.
Also, I think it might be tough on your sewing machine to have others using it. I sew with several women for volunteer work, and some of them are really hard on their machines.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: I live on a farm near Fargo
Posts: 384
I so agree with Paper Princess:I was doing FMQ on my domestic machine and was doing sort of OK, but when I tried the long arm at the shop I was in heaven."
I too have quilted on my sewing machine. But it is hard and does takes some strength to move the larger quilts around. The longarm is a much easier way to quilt and if it is possible to find one to take classes on and rent it is so worth your time.
I too have quilted on my sewing machine. But it is hard and does takes some strength to move the larger quilts around. The longarm is a much easier way to quilt and if it is possible to find one to take classes on and rent it is so worth your time.
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