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by toogie ( edited 13 Feb 2017 ) 12 Feb 2017

Cutie Quilters- I have a chance tomorrow, to go to a lady's house and play with her long arm quilter. I am so excited!!! Brenda invited me today at church. I didn't realize she had a set up.



Before I went to church this morning another lady, from church, Debbie, sent me a text. Debbie said she finally finished her quilt. She made her blocks on the sewing machine but she quilted, by hand. I told her to bring it with her this morning and I would look at it before Sunday school, if we got there in time.


We went in the kitchen and I called Brenda to come see too. Then Brenda told us she had the long arm quilter & frame, something I have been wanting. Later, in our SS room, Brenda invited me to go and play!-lol-


Brenda then called me after we got home, to bring Debbie too, but Debbie has to work. She said she would put something in the frame and I can play with quilting it!!! I am beside myself!


So quilters, what do I look for in a frame or in the machine brand features/lights/patterns,etc??? What do you need and what do you never use, if I were to buy one?
Update -I'm back. Here is my friend Brenda from church and her sewing room. She got this long arm quilter about 3 years ago.

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by babash 14 Feb 2017

Have you seen the Flynn quilting frame?
Only costs about $200 and uses your own machine at a table no standing.

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toogie by toogie 14 Feb 2017

I just looked it up. It says it only accommodates quilts 38 inch wide......

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by crafter2243 Moderator 13 Feb 2017

Too bad the thread broke often. I am glad your visit was still a fun one.

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toogie by toogie 13 Feb 2017

She changed her needle and kept re-threading.... I did find that I wouldn't be able to stand that long fooling with it, as my back & leg started to hurt. I may try like you with the quilt as you go. Which you-tube way did you use? Would love to see your back.

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by toogie 13 Feb 2017

Chris, I found it here a little cheaper US.

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by shirley124 13 Feb 2017

Wow! What a sewing room. Wish my new one looked like this. I am in such a mess trying to fit everything into a smaller space. Hope you had a lot of fun with your friend. Hugs Shirley

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toogie by toogie 13 Feb 2017

I should have taken the rest of the room. She had a Bernina embroidery machine, commercial serger or 2 and commercial regular sewing machine.
I had a nice visit, but uneventful evening of quilting. You would just get started and then the thread would break.

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by 02kar Moderator 13 Feb 2017

I can't help you with quilting, but you go have a grand time playing with your new friend's quilting machine. They do take up a lot of room but I know quilters love them.

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toogie by toogie 13 Feb 2017

I think I would too, as long as I didn't have any problems, like today. I really think though, she needed a heavier weight thread, but I didn't feel it was my place to say what I think. She suppose to be showing/teaching me.
We did enjoy being together and her husband made us coffee. We also had cake but I don't think he made that-lol

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by pennifold 13 Feb 2017

Wow, Toogie I'm so excited for you and I can sense it in your post that you are too.

As you are limited for space have you thought of the Sweet 16 quilter. You can place it on a table! I'm going to put a URL for you to have a look at it. I don't know how much it would cost in America, but here in Australia it's about $9,000.00AD

Good luck with all your endeavours. I would certainly have some extra lighting placed somewhere.

I have a friend at my Newcastle Sewing Guild who has one and she LOVES it.

Love Chris

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toogie by toogie 13 Feb 2017

I will look it up Chris. My experience today with this machine, didn't go well. I was over there about 3 hours. All we got done was to pin this 45 inch piece of fabric/batting/backing and stitch about 12 across the width. Her thread kept breaking, every time you started to stitch to the left. She would have to re-thread and then you would have to stitch back over, so needless to say, not a good experience.
She did tell me yesterday at church, she wouldn't buy this kind again. I wouldn't either if every day was like today. I can free motion on my regular machine and have more done in that amount of time.

toogie by toogie 13 Feb 2017

Look up at my comment above, at the link. I think its the machine you found.

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by babash 13 Feb 2017

I have heard some Quilting frames you can use an existing sewing machine so that would cut down on costs.

Bet you are wondering how on earth you had time to go to work now you are retired?
Enjoy all your new friends maybe they would have invited you before but knew you were so busy and wouldn't have had the time.

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toogie by toogie 13 Feb 2017

You are probably right about that. I know I have more time now but I don't seem at times to get as much done!

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by graceandham 12 Feb 2017

My friend loves her new Quilting Frame from Brother. I know nothing about the machines, except that another friend discovered she needed to improve the lighting at the area immediately around her machine, and her DH ordered clamp on LED lights for cheapo on the internet!

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toogie by toogie 12 Feb 2017

I met a couple while I was visiting Pearlie and they had one in a pretty small bedroom. It really was tight in there. He had an extra light somewhere.... He let me move the machine and it glided so easily, tracing the design. Of course I didn't stitch anything because there was not a quilt set up.

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by asterixsew Moderator 12 Feb 2017

Toogie you sound as if your having a busy time visiting friends playing with new equipment. Cant help with the info that you are asking about but have fun

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toogie by toogie 12 Feb 2017

Both of these ladies are new acquaintances, met them only in the last few months. It's so nice to talk with people that have the same interests as you.

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by pacmp 12 Feb 2017

Wow how exciting and I know cuties will be able to help give you some needed advice. I hope that this dream of yours may actually come to pass in the near future and that it will be what you have always dreamed or even better! Dreams coming true, is a wonderful feeling and know it must be like a child on Christmas eve as you can see this life dream actually possibly coming together for yourself! I can hear your spirit dancing through your questions and hope that this is a dream that will come through. Hopefully sooner than later. Take lots of notes being sure to write down who suggested what features and why so if you need to ask more detailed questions that you could look up who had given you that advice. Best wishes! Pam

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toogie by toogie 12 Feb 2017

Thanks Pam....unless I tell my visitors to only come in the spring so we can sit on the porches, as I would have to removed all living room furniture to put this frame in, I don't have room for it-lol- I would have to have another room added on or take another bedroom. I don't think hubby would go for either of those suggestions.-lol

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