Decisions

[grammy65]

Good points Gardenquilter. I think it's really important to have a dealer you can count on. I think I mentioned once before that I had a friend who chose the A-1 just because the rep was close to her. In her case it worked out great. I know the APQS website lists the reps in each state, and I'm sure the other companies do the same.

Sometimes I wish I had gone with a Millennium, but when I think of that reach to clip threads, etc. I'm happy with my smaller Liberty.

[Cathy32078]

Thanks ladies for the help. I think I am "thinking" this to death. lol Going to just relax and see what happens. I do have a lot of info. & literature that I have asked for by the dealers of the APQS, the Gammil & A-1. DH has been doing a lot of reading from a couple of LA forums about the diff. machines & doing some research too.

[cindyg]

Cathy, I know what you mean. I can't even decide on what kind of sewing machine cabinet I want - the normal cabinet or one of the large quilter's dream table. So I'm going to stop thinking about it for a while.

[grammy]

I have the Gammill Classic Plus and I love it. I bought mine from the Quilt Center in Janesville, WI. I did have a problem once with tension and called up there. Received immediate help on what to do. The Gammill is expensive, but I think worth it. I wouldn't want a lightweight frame/table, this is a solid piece of equipment! It's not going to move if I lean against the table or anything. Plus I bought the overhead light bar which is great lighting over your work area! After my quilt top and everything is on the rollers to start quilting, my table is designed that the 3 rollers in front adjust out - this gives me even more of a quilting area to work before I have to advance the quilt. I also have the zipper leaders, which means I can take and pin the quilt top on while sitting on the couch if I wanted. But it takes so little time to pin it on it's not an issue. I also have a display screen on the front AND the back, so I don't have to run around to the other side to see what it's saying. Mine has the 26" throat. Can you tell I love my Gammill? Just don't have enough time to quilt as much as I would like...

[Cathy32078]

We checked and the APQS, Gammil & A-1 will be at the Nashville Show this month. YIPPEE So we will give them a test drive and go from there.

[grammy65]

How lucky for you Cathy. Hope you give them all a really good workout and that you will feel confident with your final decision. You can't go wrong with any of them.

[qltsbme]

I have a Gammill Classic Plus. When looking at the APQS Milli, I didn't like that because it beeps, it has the smaller bobbin and I don't like how the quilt is loaded on it. The Gammill had a better feel to it when I test drove it.

If I were in the market today, I would seriously consider the A-1. It's not a pretty machine but it is very user friendly and a lot of machine packaged into a small package. It "drives" nicely.

[Nadine2007]

I went with the Gammill because of it's reputation.

[CindyB]

At the Fair, I got to "drive" both the Janome w/Gracie frame and a HQ16.

I thought they were both about the same as far as handling, but I liked that the Janome w/Gracie because the rollers in the front are below, and you don't have to reach over them. I'm short enough this could be a problem for me.

Also - but I'm not saying this is the final factor - the sales lady told me that she knew I was an "experienced" machine quilter because my stitches were so regular... and that machine didn't even have a stitch regulator (I was pretty proud of myself when I realized this!)

Nice to know I can still fool some people (or she was trying to get on my good side - which is probably more the truth!)

[cindyg]

Cindy - two things that would be important to me - it must have a stitch regulator and a large throat space - at least 16" - because when you get near the end of your quilt the quilt rolled up on the take up bar inside the throat of your machine takes up a lot of space. The bigger the quilt the more space it takes up.