When will you consider a Long Arm?
06-10-2012, 01:42 PM
#61
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 1,537
I'll never get a LA. I'm a piecer not an artist. I see some of the quilts posted here in the pic section and I never visioin any beautiful quilting like THAT coming from this little brain.
IMHO, Artists have a different brain than I have. Sometimes I can put color together for a quilt and be very happy but can never see how to quilt the darn thing. That's why it's so much fun to send a quilt out. They see quilting in spaces I would just leave blank! And put pretty stuff where I would just do a boring meander.
I can rarely send a quilt out now...saving up for another queen to go out...but so worth the money.
No room for one in this house anyway....and no...not sour grapes
IMHO, Artists have a different brain than I have. Sometimes I can put color together for a quilt and be very happy but can never see how to quilt the darn thing. That's why it's so much fun to send a quilt out. They see quilting in spaces I would just leave blank! And put pretty stuff where I would just do a boring meander.
I can rarely send a quilt out now...saving up for another queen to go out...but so worth the money.
No room for one in this house anyway....and no...not sour grapes
06-10-2012, 02:25 PM
#62
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 6,395
Right now I don't foresee the need for a LA machine. Most of the quilts I've made recently are smaller size ones, so I can either hand quilt them or do them on my Featherweight. I do have access to a commercial upholstery machine with a large throat that I could learn to use, but haven't taken the time to do so yet. It goes too fast!!!
Also the designing and piecing is the part I love. Once I get the top done, the rest is a chore. So if I get rich, I'll get someone to do the quilting for me, not buy a LA machine.
Also the designing and piecing is the part I love. Once I get the top done, the rest is a chore. So if I get rich, I'll get someone to do the quilting for me, not buy a LA machine.
06-10-2012, 02:30 PM
#63
Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 7
I never realized so many people had long arms for personal use. I always just assumed there were a lot of professional or (semiprofessional) quilters on the boards. I'm trying to learn FMQ on my domestic machine. Between that and hand quilting I should be able to do everything I want. Of course I don't have dozens of children and grandchildren to quilt for. If I finish 10 bed size quilts in my lifetime, I will exhaust all of the quilt-worthy members of my family and have several left for myself.
06-10-2012, 02:37 PM
#64
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Knot Merrill, Southern Indiana
Posts: 5,781
I have just the opposite problem ... my husband keeps telling me "You need a Long Arm" and I keep telling him all the reasons I don't want a long arm!!
As for cost justification, Dunster laid it out pretty well and a lot will depend on how much the setup you are looking at will cost and the number and size of quilts that you make. And like Lori stated there is the additional intangible cost of learning to use it properly (and all the thread, muslin, and batting you will go through).
For me there is one more pretty magnificent that I'm not willing to spend. Space. The long arm itself doesn't take up much room but the frame does ... and if I'm going to invest in a frame I wouldn't waste money on a frame that couldn't manage a King size so we're talking 12' long by 5' wide (minimum). My house is an ample size, but it's filled
I would however consider a mid arm machine that I can drop into a table, preferably my cutting table. When we are done redecorating the family room (almost done!), I'm moving my sewing room from one room into another and I want a cutting table made-to-order. I think I'll look into having it made with a hole for a mid arm, and a cover that will sit flush then my large cutting mat sitting on top. My "cost justification" ... mid-arm $4,000, made to order table $600, shutting husband up ... priceless!!
As for cost justification, Dunster laid it out pretty well and a lot will depend on how much the setup you are looking at will cost and the number and size of quilts that you make. And like Lori stated there is the additional intangible cost of learning to use it properly (and all the thread, muslin, and batting you will go through).
For me there is one more pretty magnificent that I'm not willing to spend. Space. The long arm itself doesn't take up much room but the frame does ... and if I'm going to invest in a frame I wouldn't waste money on a frame that couldn't manage a King size so we're talking 12' long by 5' wide (minimum). My house is an ample size, but it's filled
I would however consider a mid arm machine that I can drop into a table, preferably my cutting table. When we are done redecorating the family room (almost done!), I'm moving my sewing room from one room into another and I want a cutting table made-to-order. I think I'll look into having it made with a hole for a mid arm, and a cover that will sit flush then my large cutting mat sitting on top. My "cost justification" ... mid-arm $4,000, made to order table $600, shutting husband up ... priceless!!
06-10-2012, 03:19 PM
#65
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SoCal
Posts: 11,921
I just tried a HQ Sweet 16 and loved doing sit down quilting. You might want to take a look at that. I think it is about $5000
I have just the opposite problem ... my husband keeps telling me "You need a Long Arm" and I keep telling him all the reasons I don't want a long arm!!
As for cost justification, Dunster laid it out pretty well and a lot will depend on how much the setup you are looking at will cost and the number and size of quilts that you make. And like Lori stated there is the additional intangible cost of learning to use it properly (and all the thread, muslin, and batting you will go through).
For me there is one more pretty magnificent that I'm not willing to spend. Space. The long arm itself doesn't take up much room but the frame does ... and if I'm going to invest in a frame I wouldn't waste money on a frame that couldn't manage a King size so we're talking 12' long by 5' wide (minimum). My house is an ample size, but it's filled
I would however consider a mid arm machine that I can drop into a table, preferably my cutting table. When we are done redecorating the family room (almost done!), I'm moving my sewing room from one room into another and I want a cutting table made-to-order. I think I'll look into having it made with a hole for a mid arm, and a cover that will sit flush then my large cutting mat sitting on top. My "cost justification" ... mid-arm $4,000, made to order table $600, shutting husband up ... priceless!!
As for cost justification, Dunster laid it out pretty well and a lot will depend on how much the setup you are looking at will cost and the number and size of quilts that you make. And like Lori stated there is the additional intangible cost of learning to use it properly (and all the thread, muslin, and batting you will go through).
For me there is one more pretty magnificent that I'm not willing to spend. Space. The long arm itself doesn't take up much room but the frame does ... and if I'm going to invest in a frame I wouldn't waste money on a frame that couldn't manage a King size so we're talking 12' long by 5' wide (minimum). My house is an ample size, but it's filled
I would however consider a mid arm machine that I can drop into a table, preferably my cutting table. When we are done redecorating the family room (almost done!), I'm moving my sewing room from one room into another and I want a cutting table made-to-order. I think I'll look into having it made with a hole for a mid arm, and a cover that will sit flush then my large cutting mat sitting on top. My "cost justification" ... mid-arm $4,000, made to order table $600, shutting husband up ... priceless!!
06-10-2012, 04:23 PM
#66
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Wasilla, Alaska
Posts: 252
I'm with ontheriver. It has been on my wish list for quite awhile but with the economy as it is it's not going to happen for quite awhile yet. I have a Juki on a frame which i enjoy but again the quilting area is so limited. I can do about a 4" row at a time.
06-10-2012, 05:15 PM
#68
Power Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Between the dashes of a tombstone
Posts: 12,716
This is been a great discussion, thanks for starting the topic! I still want a long arm for personal use. I think I would get more projects done. Crazy as it seems I very seldom send a big quilt out; I'm too cheap as I think I can quilt it on my DSM, so I have a pile of quilts to finish. Again, thanks for the topic and the wonderful input folks!
06-10-2012, 06:04 PM
#69
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Possum Trot, KY
Posts: 3,843
My DH purchased one for me in May. We've practiced some but not much as my Dad had a stroke the weekend we picked up the machine & frame (not from us buying it, lol).
He said he wanted any quilts from us to be from just "us". We ended up getting rid of the couch in the front room and that's where it's set up at (only room big enough).
He said he wanted any quilts from us to be from just "us". We ended up getting rid of the couch in the front room and that's where it's set up at (only room big enough).
06-10-2012, 09:05 PM
#70
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Camarillo, California
Posts: 35,242
It is something that I have been thinking about for a while. I would love to have one. Someday, if I can save the funds, I would love to get one. My thing is I keep looking at the huge ones on huge frames but for the most part you stand to work with those. I know you can get stools. I have had 4 knee and 1 foot surgery in the last 4 years and my friends all say I should get a Sit down model if and when I decide to get one. I don't send my quilts out, I would rather buy more fabric than spend $3-400 on quilting from someone else. I quilt all my own quilts on my DSM. They are not fancily quilted, by any means.
Someday........
Someday........
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My newest Grandson, Caleb Austin, was born May 29th. I am now Grandma to 4 precious babies. I am so blessed!!!!
My newest Grandson, Caleb Austin, was born May 29th. I am now Grandma to 4 precious babies. I am so blessed!!!!
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