Longarm quilting can certainly be intimidating at first.......but if you spent the money you certainly must have looked into it rather intensely prior to purchase and decided you wanted to do this. I have been LA for over 10yrs and vaguely remember my first experiences....there have been so many satisfying moments since then.........just remember it takes time and patience to "master" the thing. Granted, there are a few who just turn it on and wonders happen, but most of us have to concentrate, practice, talk to ourselves, and whatever it takes to keep one grounded to continue. Start with either muslin sandwiches-top, batt, bottom or use some ug fabric just to practice on....those can later be bound and donated to animal shelters....they love to use them in the animal cages.......don't expect to have perfect anything at first.....if you do a panto, buy one that has lots of soft curves, not straight or diagonal lines...it is easier to fudge a curve than a line and keep your eye not on the laser but just ahead of it, like when you drive, your eyes scan the road in front of you, not glued to the spot in front of the wheels...sort of the same thing...and above all relax, breathe and be happy with what you are doing. If you decide longarming is not for you....and yes there is a bit of muscle strain occasionally, then put it up for sale.....it does not depreciate drastically andf you will probably get most of your initial output back. these are just my thought today...now I have to put up another top and quilt it.......

Thanks for the encouragement for all of us!

I just upgraded to a true long arm after using a Juki 2010 and got tired of the turning routine. I used it with Quilt Motion. I am transferring that to the Viking Mega Quilter that I just purchased. To learm I use any old inexpensive pieces of fabric, old sheets that I could find. The practice quilts were cut up and given to my local SPCA for pet beds. They were most appreciative.

It doesn't have to pay for itself. All it has to do is make you happy. There's little enough happiness in life. Do what you can to add to yours.

I use a HQII Frame extended to 12 FT with a PC Quilter and the MAX Throat. I love it! (max throat is a system that allows your 9in throat machine stitch up to 15", unlike most mine does work) I've had this set up for about 6 years. I love getting exactly what I want with every row. Last year I did upgrade the PC Quilter by retro fitting it with MRQ hardware which came with Pro-Q designer, a software program that allows you to lay out and program your complete quilt design. It's wonderful... I only wish I didn't have to sell it. I'm having some serious medical issues that need to be taken care of and won't be able to use the system when its done. Don't be afraid... take that first step and remember, whatever the timing if something happens you'll find a way to work through it... :)

I thought I wanted one until I helped a long armer do several quilts at her home. The quilting was fun but the loading and unloading wasn't for me. She has the top of the line Gammil with everything on it. I can send my quilts to the best award winning LA to do for me for years and still save money. If your passion is machine quilting then it's worth the cost but having to machine quilt for others to justify the cost would not be fun at all to me. I do decent all over quilting with a John Flynn Frame and it cost under $150.

If that works for you, great. but as far as loading goes, check out using red snappers http://quiltsonthecorner.com/red_snappers. loading and unloading truly is "a snap"! I think there is another brand of a similar type of thing but oh my, so worth the money they cost. Whether you have a mid arm/long arm or whatever.....

I too was so afraid of my LA that I thought of many reasons to get out of the agreement with the seller. I bought a Tin Lizzie and was one of the unlucky people who got a dud! Still even with the frustration of machine that constantly skipped stitches I made up my mind I would master it. Finally the store owner came to look at my LA and replaced the encoders and as if a miracle had happened all was well. I love longarming, the machine not so much. Before you give it up remember, no matter how much it cost, theraphy is probably a lot more expensive.

Before you give it up remember, no matter how much it cost, theraphy is probably a lot more expensive.[/QUOTE]

I LOVE IT! THIS HOLDS TRUE FOR ALL ASPECTS OF QUILTING:-)

(QUOTE- Before you give it up remember, no matter how much it cost, theraphy is probably a lot more expensive.-QUOTE)

I am getting one to make me and my family happy.