caspharm

I am one of those people that likes to make quilts from beginning to finish in order to call it mine. I went to several FMQ classes after I started quilting, but didn't like having to shove the quilt through the machine or do the pinning. I started doing the LA after the LQS, near my house at the time, bought a unregulated Nolting to both rent out and quilt on. I took the class and was hooked. They upgraded to an unregulated Gammill and I used that. Then we retired and I couldn't find a place to rent a machine, so my DH said we had room and I bought my Innova about a year after I retired.

Now I quilt for me and for charity. I don't need to quilt for income, but I did do one for an acquaintance for pay (baby quilt). The other reason I love owning my Innova is I do larger quilts (queen and up), most of the time and it is definitely easier on my LA than trying to do it on a DSM.

luvstoquilt301

I have my HQ16 in a recessed alcove in the living. We have a small house and the second bedroom is only 8 x 8. The living room is quite big tho. It does not show all that much and we are fine with it.

lynnie

my friend has one, and I've used the machine 3 times so far. it is far more easier to quilt a quilt on it.
i'm going to start doing meandering on the next quilt and learn how to do that next. It's fun. It gives you the freedom to do bigger quilting, I feel. but i'm new to it.

moomos

My mom and I purchased an hq16 and love it.. We self taught and enjoy using it for pleasure and some friends have given us quilts to do for them. We are not professionals, but have fun. No only to figure out the pro stitcher. We cannot understand that. Anyone that knows how to use it can help us. We would appreciate it. Have a great day!!!!!m

quiltingshorttimer

Like many of you, I started with quilting on my DSM,but hated the pin basting, can not get onto the floor due to knees, and found that not only did shoving it through the small harp hurt my shoulders & back, but wasn't satisfied with my quilting. I then rented time on a LA at a shop and loved it! When the opportunity arose to purchase a 2006 Gammill Classic Plus with all her threads, rulers, pantos, etc I jumped on it and just love it.

There was a learning curve, I've had to add a drafting stool after my 2nd knee replacement. I am retired and do quilt for others and achieve my goal of supporting my quilt "addiction" and while I would like to earn more to cover some insurance expenses, my husband reminds me that was not my original goal, I wouldn't want to lose my love for quilting and I am not going to starve!

it allows me to piece more and bigger quilts than I would if I had to use my DSM or pay someone else and it allow me to do more complex quilting too.

yel

i bought an innova in2010 just quilt for charity and that also gives me practice ......then i do a few for friends and family ...i am almost to 700 .............we were quilting by hand and would only get 2 or three done in a year ...that is a big difference ....i had the room and went to paducha tried out all of the ones on display ...checked the pros and cons ....and for the money and the innova was a good fit for me ...reasonable price ...easy set up...and couldn't ask for a better support team ..thanks guys

Taughtby Grandma

I love my long arm machine for so many reasons. It is so much easier to put a quilt on the frame, no more crawling around on the floor. It is so much faster to finish a quilt. I don't quilt my blocks heavy because I like a puffier quilt. I thank my husband every day I use my long arm machine. I am the only one who uses my machine except for a niece, 2 nephews and my granddaughter who I have taught to quilt with it.

Macybaby

I was concerned about the expense and if I'd like it, so I started out with a 15" Bailey on a king size Gracie frame with the speed control. It wasn't a huge investment. And I loved the quilting so much that I found myself frustrated with the small/slow machine and last fall upgraded to an 24" HQ Fusion. It "corrected" all the little annoyances I found with the Bailey (but a huge additional cost as a trade off).

I have no regrets starting out with the Bailey - it was very affordable and a great machine within it's capabilities. It now belongs to a good friend, and I would not have sold it to her if I didn't believe it was a good machine. She likes having it, but does not "love" the quilting part like I do - she has no plans of ever "outgrowing it" like I did.

I would like to do quilting for others at some point - not so much to make money but because I love that part of it. BTW - Mine is set up in the formal dining room. It was the only room in the house long enough for the 12'6" frame. Never used it for eating anyway.

Cam's gram

I bought an Avante with the prostitcher and have not regretted it one bit! I do not hire out, this is my hobby. I tried all different longarms at a couple of large quilt shows so I knew what I wanted. My dealer is 2 hours away but it has worked out. He had the system shipped directly to me and came down and set it up. I will add out cottage is up by his shop. This summer we'll take the machine up for cleaning and an update. I never thought I had to justify my purchase.

Tothill

There is a B-Line with a Juki 98Q in my local online classifieds for $800.00. I know it is a regular machine, but I have read good reviews on it at PatternReview.com. It is a 12 foot table top model.

Any thoughts for a first set up?

I do have room.