Evaluate the use of John Flynn multi-frame system.

[Caroline A.]

First of all, I had a John Flynn frame and finally got rid of it. Too awkard and frustrating to use. I went on to the early HQ frame with my Brother 1500, then on to the early HQ16, which I have now with the studio frame after using it with a home made frame on a table for years. My DH likes to tell everyone I have a LOT of machines. Guess I have my share: a 1958 Necchi Supernova (my first machine), a Viking #1, the Brother 1500 (I use that for piecing and love it), the first model Janome Gem Gold, and a Bernina 640 w/embroidery module. And I'm still looking for a Featherweight. Nobody can have too many machines...right???

[Annis C.]

My DH has a gun collection too and he never complains about my purchases. Right now I'm having a hard time finding a place to store them, since I only have enough room for using 2 at a time. So I'm always shifting them around. Soon I will have a new home with room for more to be set up at once. And the extra ones that I seldom use will be passed down to my grandchildren eventually or traded for something I like better.

[Diane F.]

Okay so the conclusion was negative on the John Flynn frame, right? Since we've gone off-topic I'll jump in...

I have (gulp) FIVE machines! Two are old Singers and three are Berninas. I inherited two of the machines...

Bonnie the Happy 1941
Suzy Q 1958 or 1959
Evelyn 198?
Greta 2002
Hansel 2011

Okay...let's play guess the machine!

[Diane F.]

To think that I get hassel from my DH over my machine collection - I've got nothing on you guys, lets see

My gran's old hand-crank Singer,
An old treadle Singer with the long thin shuttle
A Janome Mystyle 22 - the main workhorse for everything!
A Janome Mylock 204D overlocker (serger)
and a semi-industrial blind hemmer.

Compared to some of you, I'm not even trying! :lol:

[Annis C.]

I forgot the commercial machine I have out in the storage building. It's never been used. I bought it for sewing tapestry bags but ended up not needing it as quilts took over my life. I have 5 Pfaff's (3 newer ones, 1 from my mother and a serger), 3 older Bernina's (1 a serger which has barely been used), and 2 Janome's.

[Caroline A.]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention my serger, which I rarely use now. My DH never complains about the number of machines I have, in fact he's encouraging me to by a Featherweight even though I said I really don't need one - it's just a "want".

[Deborah W.]

Okay--now I don't feel so bad about wanting another machine. I only have one but would like another with a large harp for machine quilting and so I can have one set up for piecing and one set up for quilting. I feel like that is a bit extravagant but my husband also has a collection which rarely ever leaves the safe so it is not even used! I would definitely use another machine! :lol: :lol:

[Annis C.]

My DH is encouraging me to get a longarm quilting machine. He says we're not getting any younger and he made sure I have enough space in our new house for one. And since I just packed up about 50 projects that need quilting, from miniature to queen size, I would save a bundle doing it myself. Of course I would have to make more projects first for practice as I wouldn't want to practice on any of these.

[Renata L.]

Sounds like a plan to me, Annis! Which long-arm machine are you interested in?

[Annis C.]

I've been researching them but have never sewn on one so will need to do that first. The ABM Innova sounds interesting, and I know people who do outstanding work on an A-1 and a Prodigy. But since I don't plan on quilting for others I don't need the most expensive machine. Although it would be nice to have one that you can put on AutoPilot! It will be a few months before I make any decisions. In the meantime I hope to spend a few hours a week practicing free motion quilting on my Janome.

[Margo C.]

I've been researching them but have never sewn on one so will need to do that first. The ABM Innova sounds interesting, and I know people who do outstanding work on an A-1 and a Prodigy. But since I don't plan on quilting for others I don't need the most expensive machine. Although it would be nice to have one that you can put on AutoPilot! It will be a few months before I make any decisions. In the meantime I hope to spend a few hours a week practicing free motion quilting on my Janome.

Annis, you really need to get your hands on as many different kinds of machines as you can. It's like buying a car. You decide what features you really need, and what your budget is, then find the machine that you are most comfortable driving that has the most desired features within your budget. And, like buying a car, sometimes you will know right away when one "fits".

I hope you will check out Handi-Quilters. I LUV mine!! http://www.handiquilter.com/

[Margo C.]

Annis I don't know where you live, but I'd highly recommend you go to a machine quilting show to look at and try all the longarms. MQX has a show in Portland in Oct, and of course, Houston is a great show too. But MQS, MQX, and HMQS are geared more for machine quilting.

Buying a longarm is a very personal, physical decision. You really have to try them all and compare. I did not buy the brand I thought I would, after I tried them all... I have had my A1 Elite for almost 9 years now, and LOVE IT!!!

[Annis C.]

Yes, I will try them all first. And the Handi-Quilter is on my list. My DH thinks I should get a used one. That's the way he buys most of his heavy equipment. Of course I'd rather have one straight out of the box so will probably lean toward the less expensive ones. A trip to Portland would be nice since I have relatives in that area, but will probably go to Houston in November instead since that is closer to me. Quilt Market is in Portland next May and I'm making tentative plans to go there then. For now I really need to stay away from the computer and get my 2nd room cleaned. This is going to take a long time. The first room didn't stay clean long. I'm using it to put everything from each room until I can decide what to do with it.

[Kathryn S.]

Annis, I concur with the advice to try out longarms before you settle on one. We have the big Road to California show every year, and I have tried out all of them! One year I spent 3 days at the show and must have spent at least half an hour on each of them. Some of them, I couldn't pilot well, some of them were smooth. When I saw the handiquilter sit down model and tried it, that felt just right to me. So time spent playing on each one is a good investment. You'll get a feel for which ones work for you.
Kathy

[Kathryn S.]

Thanks for all the great tips about long arms. Forgot to mention I was given a John Flynn frame, but never have taken it out of the box. :?:
My husband has a shop full of tools and machinery so doesn't say much about my quilting collections.
Would like to purchase the new anniversary black singer. (Just for my collection)I think it's suppose to resemble a Featherweight.