two questions on machines

[Betty J.]

Hi...well, I tried everything to try to find a way to put a longarm with frame in my townhouse. I cannot. I even had a brainstorm in the middle of the night one night and got up and measured. :lol: :lol: (I know, I'm just a little bit crazy).

So I have to rethink what I'm going to do. My current set up will not be sufficient for the quantity of sewing and quilting I am planning to do, and I think I must do something. My Bernina 200E that I upgraded is first of all inadequate and it just seems to be getting old and has lots of little problems.

I have two options the way I see it: 1) buy a really nice high-end Bernina 830 and a new table, which I CAN fit in to my studio if I move my current desk to my bedroom; 2) Replace my Bernina 200E upgraded, and buy a sit-down longarm and table. The first option with hoops and software upgrade and everything I need is about $14,500. I have no idea what the second one will be.

I've tried the longarms on frames, but not as a sitdown. So the question is...who out there has a sit down longarm set up, what is it and how do you like it? (I noted in Stitched that Hollis quilts on a conventional sewing machine, and Caryl Bryer Fallert quilts on a sit down longarm, but I couldn't tell what brand--not that I'll ever match their abilities, but I am going to dry my darnedest to work that direction)

Also, does anyone know how much the new Bernina 5 series machines run? I'm thinking that might be the right one for replacing my 200E.

[Margo C.]

BJ, I think that Caryl Fallert sews on a "GEORGE" sit-down machine by APQS. http://www.apqs.com/machines_george.php

You might want to contact Kathy Samson (TQS Katzzz: community/my-profile/Katzzz) She is doing fabulous work on her new sit-down machine. I'm not sure what brand she bought but I think it may have been a Tin Lizzie: http://www.sewingmachinesplus.com/tinlizzie-qqsd.php
In fact, some of her designs are now being digitized for computerized long-arms!

As you know, I use a Handi-Quilter16 (mid-arm machine) and love my machine. Their sit-down model is here: http://www.handiquilter.com/product/hq-sweet-sixteen/
and I would not hesitate to recommend this brand.

[Jo H.]

Yes, Kathy has a Tin Lizzie. That's what I have too. It has 18 inches of quilting space and is a wonderful machine.

[Cheryl K.]

I have the HQ16 sitdown and I do really love it. It's spacious, sewing wise, but small enough for a tiny sewing studio...like mine. The down side is that I have to pin baste my quilts but I have that down pat. The up side is that I get to side as I stitch and the HQ table is configured in a way I like. The new Sweet 16 is really nice and has the computer screen where you can easily see, better lighting, etc. I think you can get one for less than $5,000.

I have a friend that has an 820 with the quilting frame. No embroidery but she doesn't really yearn for that. I love the 8 series and the extra space. I too have the 200/730 and mine still works beautifully but I wanted more space.

The new 5 series machines sew beautifully, and I had a good sitdown on the 580 and you would love it! It has a super quick screen, great embroidery editing features (Word Art, layering to see which design is active for editing, etc) It is a fancy new Artista! The BSR is an option, not standard like the 8 series..big factor there.

It kind of depends on how much machine embroidery is to you. A new 580 with a SW16 and you would be set!!!

Always enjoy spending everyone else's $$

[Betty J.]

Thanks everyone. Great input here, and I really appreciate it. My son Ken was over here tonight measuring and figuring. He thinks I need the longarm with a frame and he believes he can figure out how I can get one in afterall, but we'll see. It involves a lot of moving furniture around here and there, but would be worth it if it leaves my house in good shape also. If that doesn't work, I think I'll go for a sit down longarm. I'll see how a good service on my existing machines makes them work as to whether I really have to replace the 200E. Anyway, whatever I buy it will probably be at the Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival at the end of February. But if I have to move around as much as he was talking about, it will take me that long to get ready. :shock:

I have such great sons.

[Kathryn S.]

Hi Betty Jo, I'm coming in late here but wanted to tell you that I have the Handiquilter sweet 16 sit down machine, which i love working on. I don't want a stitch regulator, so it's perfect for me. I had to move stuff around but it all fits in a small bedroom. One of my friends recently bought the same machine, and she made a comment that stuck with me. She had a Nolting long arm, and said that she felt more like she was actually quilting when using the sit down machine. Have you tried both the long arm on a frame and a sitdown long arm? If you truly prefer one over the other, that might help you make your choice more easily. Too bad you don't live in my neighborhood, you could come over to my house and try mine, and also try another friend's Gammill. Kathy

[Betty J.]

Hi Betty Jo, I'm coming in late here but wanted to tell you that I have the Handiquilter sweet 16 sit down machine, which i love working on. I don't want a stitch regulator, so it's perfect for me. I had to move stuff around but it all fits in a small bedroom. One of my friends recently bought the same machine, and she made a comment that stuck with me. She had a Nolting long arm, and said that she felt more like she was actually quilting when using the sit down machine. Have you tried both the long arm on a frame and a sitdown long arm? If you truly prefer one over the other, that might help you make your choice more easily. Too bad you don't live in my neighborhood, you could come over to my house and try mine, and also try another friend's Gammill. Kathy

I wish I could come over and try yours too...wouldn't that be fun?!!!

[Kathryn S.]

I wish I could come over and try yours too...wouldn't that be fun?!!!

Yeah, Virginia is a long way, Betty Jo. I know you'll find a way to get what you need, it will take some thought and ingenuity.
It reminds me of Ricky's story that he tells during his La Veta retreats, the man in the story is trying to get somewhere and is thwarted but then figures out what to do and goes on. That's what we do all the time- the answer will come and it will be a good one.
Kathy

[Betty J.]

Kathy and all of you, thanks so much for your encouragement!

[Betty J.]

Hi all. Well, my Victoria (a Bernina 200E upgraded) took matters into her own feed-dog and decided not to do any more free motion quilting, so to the shop she went yesterday. While there, I talked with my favorite Bernina person who told me they are having an especially good sale next Saturday, the 22nd on Bernina 830s. In the end it works out to nearly half of what the longarm would have cost by the time I got all the things I needed to make it work for me. So it is that she convinced me--next Saturday I will go out and place the order, and I don't have to wait until next year. Plus the table fits better in the space I have. Still, I have a LOT to do before I get all of this here.

My poor little Victoria was sitting down beside the Bernina 830 at the store...that thing is huge comparitively. I am going to trade Victoria in, and will miss her, but she'll probably go to a good home that won't make her work quite so hard. I guess she thought it was time for her to retire too. I'm keeping my old faithful Betsy, a nearly 20 year old 1230, for which I have a lot of unique attachments (like a ruffler and a walking foot, and my current sewing desk, which remains where it is, was bought for her).

I think this will be a wonderful set up for me...the 830, the 1230 finally out where I can use her easily, and my DIL's serger she more or less permanently loaned me. I also am going to buy a bigger monitor to help with my design work and go ahead and do those improvements in my home arrangement that my sons and DIL worked out for me with just some minor changes. Plus I'll have space for a design wall and another spot to hang quilts.

I thank all of you for your help and suggestions, and especially for putting up with my backing and forthing for more than a year on this. You must be tired of hearing how I decided one way or another, and then I changed my mind, but this time it's for real. :roll: I'll post pictures of my studio suite when I get it all done.

[Margo C.]

WHOO-HOO!! Good for you,BJ!! Can't wait to see photos!

[karen f.]

I thank all of you for your help and suggestions, and especially for putting up with my backing and forthing for more than a year on this. You must be tired of hearing how I decided one way or another, and then I changed my mind, but this time it's for real. :roll: I'll post pictures of my studio suite when I get it all done. [/quote] It seems pretty normal back and forthing on such a big decision. I'm looking forward to seeing the whole setup in action. Glad you have settled on a good plan for you.

[Jill B.]

Betty Jo I love reading about what others are doing with the machines and which one they would like or need or can afford etc etc and then how they work through it all with ideas from family and friends and the TQS family of couorse, it is so very helpful as its opens your mind up when other people comment which may be a different mind set that you had yourself.

Looking forward to seeing photos of your set up and how you find your machines when you are ready.

[Betty J.]

Oh, what a cool group of friends! Thanks!

[Cheryl K.]

Wow! I just noticed I am behind on forum posts. Congrats on your decision and please post pics when all is set up!