QuiltE

LittleDentist ... you have been given some good food for thought already.
The questions from PatriceJ are important ones to ask yourself, in coming to your decision.

Another question ... which I think you have already answered ....
* Do your current machine(s) do everything you want, except for the alligator/python fight?

If your answer is yes .... you may want to consider a HandiQuilter Sweet Sixteen
(or one of it's re-branded machines).

Why? ... from personal experience ... a bigger throat does not give you higher space.
You are still wrestling the alligator, but with a little ease but not a lot easier.
Gaining the height, of an S16 etc. makes a huge difference.
(IOW consider the total opening, not just the width)

Which takes you right back to PatriceJ's questions .....

Take your time, do your research, a bunch of test drives and then choose what is right for you!!

littledentist

Exactly. I feel like I need (want/need) a midarm. I can’t imagine how even with hours/days/months of practicing how my alligator wrestling (with a python!!) can improve under current conditions. 😳 I wonder how others do it. I feel like a lot of my patterns won’t work with QAYG, but maybe I should explore that too.

NZquilter

I've been feeling the same about an upgrade for over a year now. I really want one, but do not have the funds for even a second hand longarm/midarm set up at this point of our lives. But, I remember Leah Day once saying in one of her podcasts, when you start to feel like you need a longarm to do the quilts you want to, then it probably is time for an upgrade.

Patricia Drew

I so agree with QuiltE. Height of harp is so important. Some machines will have 12 in. width, but barely 5 in. high. So still a struggle to handle a large quilt. A low harp also impairs visibility.

Price really seems to increase when you combine a wide harp + a high harp!

It might boil down to what you can afford ... I've had my eye on the APQS George for a while ... but can't afford it. So I'm making do with my Juki TL2010Q. It's a great machine. I've had mine for 6 years now, with never a problem. For large quilts, I do them in sections.

I still dream of George though ... LOL

oreo1912

I have a brother pq1500 also and I got a grace sr2 queen frame with the grace stitch regulator. It works very well but you are limited to a queen size quilt. But for the money invested it is well with it. No more basting and you can do ruler work and any fmq you want. The 9" harp just means you have to roll more often. Sure I'd love to have a 18" but not sure I could justify the expense

zozee

If you are constantly feeling held back in your creativity and productivity, if you're frustrated with the alligator fight, I'll go out on a limb and say it's the space of harp, not a stitch regulator. I don't hear much about the stitch regulator being a big factor in decisions to upgrade, but a vast majority of people want the bigger harp. You'll never regret getting more space if you are thinking about it with every quilt you make now (or not making because of the frustration you feel).

quiltingshorttimer

before deciding on a specific machine it sounds like you need to do some exploring on new, larger harp with SR domestic vs. midarm vs. long arm (a good used one may be priced not a whole lot more than that new fancy domestic) vs. a sitdown. Once you've gotten a idea how they work differently, then you can start your search for one that fits your needs and budget.
A friend that is an educator for a major machine company and teaches using rulers on your domestic (plus she long arms too) said in a guild presentation that she thinks paying the expense for a stitch regulator on your domestic doesn't make sense since you are moving the quilt with your hands if you are FMQ anyway, so You are the SR!

FWLover

I have Bernina 880 with embroidery module and just had the store up grade it to a Plus to keep it up to date. On my deathbed that machine will be clutched in my dying hands and will be buried with it and the last quilt I worked on!

pjporter01

I just bought the Qnique 15R and it is wonderful! I had never used a longarm and I will never go back. I also have the Flynn Multiquilter system. While it does have a learning curve, I found it easier than free motion quilting on my machine bed.