Watson

The shop where I rent time on the LA also has a mid-arm.

I'm going to be starting the quilting on a new project, but don't feel confident doing it on the LA, so am going to FMQ on my domestic.

Is it appreciably faster to use a mid-arm than a domestic?
Is there much of a learning curve?

Thanks,
Watson

Homespun

Yes, much faster!

QuiltnNan

i think it is faster

dunster

Is this a mid-arm on a frame, or a sit-down machine? If it's a sit-down, and if your quilt is large, it should be easier and faster to maneuver your quilt through the machine with the larger throat and probably a larger bed. Whether it's appreciably faster or not depends mostly on the size of the quilt. I don't think there should be much of a learning curve. If it's a frame, then it's not that much different than using the longarm, and is also faster than either the DSM or the sit-down mid-arm, but there is more of a learning curve. I think part of this depends on how proficient you are with your DSM, and how complicated your quilting design is.

Watson

It is a sit down and I'm pretty proficient with my DSM.

So, worthwhile to rent time on it to more quickly quilt a large wall hanging?

Watson

loisf

I think it would depend on many factors - how proficient you are on your own DSM, the quilting pattern used, the size of the quilt, how tolerant you are of having to shift the quilt around on your DSM, if you can afford the rental fee. I have a Tiara - a sit-down machine. I can't imagine trying to quilt on a DSM after having the Tiara. The harps on most sit-down machines are huge and allow for much less shifting and struggling. I imagine it would be much faster.

However, another consideration is that the sit-down machines don't have feed dogs, so straight-line quilting needs to be done with a ruler. Stitch-in-the-ditch is also harder too, I find.

I think the only way to decide is to try it out once and see what you think. I imagine everyone would have a different answer.

Grammahunt

I learned FMQ on my 6" domestic. My local quilt shop owner literally forced me to sit down to her new Mid Arm machine with a 9" throat. I was in love. I mastered the free motion stitch immediately (and bought the machine which I still love 15 years later). But back to the point. When we don't have to fight for space it is MUCH easier to FMQ. I now have a Sweet 16 and FMQ is faster than tying our charity quilts. I can quilt a crib size quilt in 15 minutes. Queen size quilts are no problem to FMQ either--when you have room to move. Try it, you'll like it!

bjchad

If you are Fairly proficient on your DSM you will love working on a sit down midarm. You will have more space and better visibility. It will be easier moving the quilt and you be able to work more quickly. I don't know what the rental price will be but you should at least try it. I think you will find it worth it.

QuiltE

Watson ... you'll have no problems transitioning.
You'll love the added depth and heighth in the harp, and the table space.

Sure, you have to learn how to operate the machine .... that won't be difficult!

Which machine? S16 (or one of the others that are the same)?
or the Bernina Q20?

MadQuilter

Wish my sit-down wasn't buried behind home remodel projects. YES it is much easier to maneuver the larger quilts and if you do well with the DSM you'll be cookin' in no time. I like using the ruler for SID.