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04-02-2011, 07:26 AM

#31

milp04

Senior Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Dayton, OH

Posts: 661

No, you're not alone with not being able to afford a long arm. Please check out the information and the videos at the following link by Leah Day:

http://daystyledesigns.com/articles.htm

Hope this helps someone.

Pam M

04-02-2011, 08:18 AM

#32

My time

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: Lumby, British Columbia

Posts: 2,769

No long arm in my future either. It really is a struggle to quilt those big quilts on a regular machine. It's too bad we don't have quilting bees anymore, that could alleviate some problems.

04-02-2011, 08:22 AM

#33

danade

Banned

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Central Texas

Posts: 180

I've wrestled quilts around on my Juki TL98Q, a great machine for FMQ but I use it for nothing larger than a twin size. It's just not worth the struggle. To me, sending quilts out to a longarmer is money well spent. and usually not as expensive as you might expect. Saves you loads of precious time and you can check their work before you give them your quilt, for prices, turnaround time, etc. Get references from friends or shops if you can. Oftentimes the batting and sometimes even the backing is included in the price. I'm a convert!

As for owning a long-arm machine, they take up HUGE amounts of space and are quite complex to use. I bought one thinking my extremely handy husband could put it together and it was just impossible, so we sent it back.

As I always tell my husband, "Do it the easy way, not the hard way!"

04-02-2011, 08:40 AM

#34

penski

Super Member

Join Date: May 2007

Location: Illinois

Posts: 3,474

i do mine like Lori S suggested and it works for me on my small sewing machine just start your quilting on the middle section first and work out
if you need more help or expanations PM me

04-02-2011, 08:41 AM

#35

Thea

Junior Member

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: So Fl

Posts: 107

NOT SURE WHAT # I AM BUT, I DO NOT OWN A LONG ARM NOR CAN I AFFORD ONE.

04-02-2011, 08:46 AM

#36

sewbizgirl

Power Poster

Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: Mississippi

Posts: 27,297

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabric_fancy

when i first started quilting i did so on a small singer also.

i found the best way to quilt is from the side.

you always see people machine quilting from the front but this limits ease of movement for both you and the quilt.

you will have much greater success if you turn the machine to its side like the frame quilters do.

you should either sink the machine into or table or build a base around it out of foam insulation.

here's a link to make it out of form - just set your machine on its side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAS25v3ZTk0

then spray the area with sullivan's silicon spray to eliminate quilt drag.

use machingers gloves and you can try the quilt halo.

i used all these products for a little over a year before i got my frame and had great success quilting this way.

also you might find that a frame isn't out of your reach. they are very inexpensive on the used market.

i got my grace pinnacle with all the extras (a $3000 cost) for $600 and then i just put my sewing machine on it.

Wow... thank you! I will have to try turning my machine sideways... That's got to work better than quilting from the front. I don't think there is any easy way to quilt a big quilt on a regular machine. Very tough... But I still try because I do not want to hand quilt, and I really don't love the look of long-arm quilting. It looks too machine-made. I suppose if I ever need to make a huge quilt I will have to have it long-armed.

04-02-2011, 08:46 AM

#37

Stitchalong

Senior Member

Join Date: Apr 2010

Location: Battle Creek, Michigan

Posts: 375

No longarm in my future either. I use my old viking on a Gracie frame which is very limiting. What I like about it is no more basing. I keep looking for one that I can afford, but so far, nothing.

04-02-2011, 08:48 AM

#38

sidmona

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2009

Location: Milton, Georgia

Posts: 2,739

I have a domestic machine with a 9" throat. I have done many large quilts on it including a king x-long. I don't roll, I scrunch. It takes a little work but it is doable. No long arm in my near future and I love to quilt so I manage.

04-02-2011, 08:52 AM

#39

sharoney

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: South Texas

Posts: 1,968

I don't have a LA, don't yearn for one, don't plan to ever buy one-
I have quilted many large (even a king-size) quilts on my Vikings, which don't have large throats, sometimes you just have to fight with the quilt! Lol
Now I use a vintage Singer that has a larger throat, and it's wonderful for FMQ. You can get one on ebay or Craigslist for a couple hundred dollars or less. NOT a featherweight-