MQ or LA

[klwheeler]

I quilt my own on my Pfaff, and have done up to 100 inches by 100 inches, on it. I also have tried renting a mid-arm, HQ16 but the problems with it are too much for me, and I won't even describe all the issues there. The home machine is reliable, costs me nothing extra, and has the best part of all, I don't have to leave home to use it. I'm glad I practiced on lots of small quilts and now can do just about anything with it. Love the quilting and before was amazed at folks who could do it.

[12stepquilter]

kl, I quilt with a BabyLock and have a dreams of having a long arm but I am also happy with the small machine too. Welcome to the QIAD and would love to seee you post pics of your work.

Rhonda

[1quiltinnana]

I am trying to quilt on my home sewing machine. I am doing ok. I am sure the Long Arms are better for stretching out the quilt and quilting it as it distributes the weight evenly and smoothly. Post photos of your quilts soon.

[SFOQuilter]

If you were renting an HQ16 and had problems then shame on your LQS or wherever you rented it from. I have been using mine for 1 full year now and have never had one single issue. I don't know how long it takes you to prepare and quilt a 101 x 101 quilt on your Pfaff but I imagine that's where some big differences come in. I can load the backing, batting and top AND free motion quilt a queen size in about three and a half hours from start to finish.

[karpet]

After making my first quilt 19 years ago, I FMQ on my Janome 6500 for the first time tonight. I have been doing SITD for over 15 years, and have struggled so much man-handling full size quilts through the machine that I had almost convinced myself that I just was not good at the quilting part and would keep it as simple as possible and only do what was necessary. Then I read someone suggest a book by Harriet Hargrave "Heirloom Machine Quilting" and I found that a friend had given it to me with some other pattern books a few years ago. So I currently find myself with 4 finished quilt tops that only need to be finished. I read Harriet, I made the microwave chocolate cake (chocolate helps most situations!) and I set out and quilted a whole row tonight! I'm so excited! It is not beautiful work, but I feel like a whole new option has opened up for me!
Karlene

[luv_2quilt60]

well, I love quilting on my bernina...but with 2 busted disk in my neck..it's hard pulling and tugging for me..so, am thinking on a HQ 16.....And Yes, Your LQS should of done soemthing to help...Welcome here and we would like pictures..........Beverly

[Tulpje]

I MQ-ted for about 1 year on my Juki, which was fine. I even did a Queen Size FMQ on my Juki.

Back in April I bought a Quilt frame that can handle as large as a King Size quilt on it. But my Juki fits on it, which makes it a short arm/mid arm. The Juki has a 9+" throat space, but that space gets limited by the quilt on the up-take bar, which leaves a true 6" quilt space.

What I like about this set-up so far is that I only had to invest an extra 2 grand for the Pinnacle frame, which gives me the opperttunity to practise a lot and see if I really like it well enough to invest money into a LA machine.

IF I do like it enough to invest more money into my quilt 'hobby', Baby Locke is coming out with a LA quilt machine this year which I might like, and else I have my eyes on the Lizy18 (SP).

To be fair, MQ on just about any machine with a decent throat space is pure *FUN*. Before I stared FMQ on my Juki I made a LOT of practise sandwhiches. I used the QIAD MQ book a LOT, and still look through that book once in a while.

Just remember to have *FUN* with it.

*T*

[sewbug]

It's easy to walk up to a LA machine at a show and start quilting! Actualy getting a quilt set up in it, getting everything sit right and keeping it set right is one big hassle. I helped a vendor set up a very nice Prodigy LA with small quilt on it. It took a long time to get the machine set right so everyone could walk up and grab hold and say this is fun! and I know I'll not want to go through that everytime I want to machine quilt.

[cindyg]

I have a B-line frame with a Juki. I usually make twin to queen size quilts. With a quilt that big I can only quilt 4-1/2" swath across because the take up bar takes up space in my machine throat. I usually use pantos 4" - 4-1/2". The BEST thing about my set up is that I do not have to baste or glue together my sandwich. Once we got the frame set up with the leaders all I have to do is pin on my backing, batting and quilt top and I'm good to go. Oh, I do have to change my thread and get my panto taped to the table. All in all it might take me 30 minutes to get ready to quilt something.

[Tulpje]

I second that Cindyg, now that I have my leader cloths in place with written directions on it which gets pinned where, all I have to do is pin the quilt top onto the leaders. My Panthogram stays in place with a special piece of material under it that came with it. The stylus for the panthogram can be adjusted up to 4". This set-up for ME is DA Bomb right now.

*T*

PS. Cindyg, where do you buy hose disposable bobbins for the Juki?