SuzyQ

How does everyone face the machine when free motion quilting .... just like you do when piecing or do you turn the machine so you are facing the end where the needle is? What's everyone's opinion on sit-down free motion quilting vs. frame machine quilting ... pros and cons. I want a larger harp machine and a frame BUT I can also see advantages of having a larger harp sit-down machine, one being that you can turn the quilt whichever way you need to to quilt the design where with the frame you have to learn to quilt in all directions and I'm way artistically challenged :lol: Any insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Susan

Rose Marie

My machine has a 10 inch throat and that helps very much.
I bought a Flynn frame and that was a mistake.
It is fine for baby quilts but nothing larger. It gets unmanageable when you add length to it and the balancing pvc pipe wants to fall off the table.
And you have to contend with all the length of your quilt being on one side of your machine when you reach the end. I dont have that kind of room to maneuver.
I have heard bad reports on the Fabric Mover also, because of the edge of the hole getting in the way.
I would very much like to have a stitch regulator but I dont have a Bernina.
So I only make up to lap size and sent out to a longarmer for anything larger.
I have seen demos of other frames that fit a regular sewing machine from the front end but it still is a financial risk. Maybe someone else has one and can give a report.

oksewglad

I sit as if I'm piecing--never thought to try another angle--hmmm? maybe give that a try. I have a Bernina but no stitch regulator. Sometimes I do fine when I'm in a nice even rhythm. I too am artistically challenged! But find I can write cursively on a quilt--especially like to "write" on baby quilts--ie nursery rhymes or some silly verse. At this point I've only stippled big quilts, SID, or double needled diagonally through the quilt (with feed dogs up). Big quilts can get bulky uner the throat plate and not easy to maneuver. I'd love to be able to have a big MQ machine because of that.

kluedesigns

i do free motion quilting both ways. on a frame from the side of the sewing machine. off a frame i use the front of the machine, the same position as piecing.

i have a flynn frame and i'm very happy with it but i typically don't do quilts over 6 feet square and my studio is rather large so i have space to work.

Lacelady

I sit at the machine as if for piecing, but then that is because it is in a cabinet so the needleplate is level with the cabinet. I could only turn it end on if it was on the surface and I wouldn't like that.

littlehud

My machine has a 9 inch throat and I sit just like I'm piecing. I would love to have a frame and a long arm, but this works fine for me now.