Welcome back!
Well, I made it through my jam-packed June schedule. Hope all of you are doing well and enjoying your summer! Before you know it, we’ll be thinking of cool weather and indoor activities … like quilting.
I’ve talked with many of you who are contemplating investing in a longarm. No denying, it is an investment. I hope the last post on the benefits of longarm quilting helped. In this post, I’ll get even more specific. We’ll look at the most important things to consider before buying. Stick around for the end of the blog for the monthly special and floor model sale!
What to Consider When Buying a Longarm Quilting Machine
1. Why are you buying a longarm?
This may not be the first question that comes to your mind, but your answers need to support your buying decisions.
Consider:
- Are you planning to limit your quilting to your own quilts? Maybe you’ll quilt a few additional projects for friends and family?
- Do you want to run a longarm quilting business? If so, what type of services do you want to offer?
If you see yourself as a start-to-finish quilter who enjoys the complete quilting process, you may not create the volume of quilts needed to require a top-of-the-line machine.
But if you see yourself as a longarm quilter who wants to focus on the actual quilting process, a larger, more heavy-duty machine may be your best option.
2. What is your budget?
Like I said, this is an investment. Do you know how much you have available to spend?
If price is an obstacle, consider starting:
- with a used machine. This will reduce your initial cash layout and give you some experience before upgrading. (See The Quilting Connection’s website for used machine opportunities!)
- with a smaller machine and then upgrading in two or three years. (We DO take trade-ins!)
- as a free-motion or pantograph quilter and then adding the computer system later.
One additional note: If you must finance part or all of your purchase, be sure to include that fee in your budget. And ask what financing options are available when you’re ready to buy!
3. How much floor space do you have available?
Longarm quilting machines often sit on 8’, 10’ or 12’ frames. Not only do you need space for the frame itself, but you also need space to walk around it.
There are additional options, however.
If you’re really limited in space, there are stationary longarm options. One example is the Handi Quilter Amara 20 ST. This machine has a 20” throat space, but it sits on a table. You move the fabric.
Other moveable longarm options include machines that sit on hoop style frames. For example, the APQS Ellie sits on the Halo hoop frame. It’s less than six feet long!
4. What size quilts do you want to finish?
Longarm quilting machines offer a large variety of throat sizes.
If you’re completing smaller quilts like wall-hangings or baby and lap-sized quilts, a longarm with a smaller throat space of 15” to 20” will probably meet your needs.
Handi Quilter’s Moxie XL or the APQS Larry are just two of the options in this size category.
However, if you primarily find yourself quilting queen and king-sized projects, you’ll probably want a larger throat space of 24” to 30.”
Options in this size range include the Handi Quilter Amara 24 or the APQS Lucey or Freddie.
5. What styles of quilting do you enjoy or want to learn?
Your style(s) of quilting will determine some of the options or accessories you need to factor into your machine purchase.
Consider:
- Are you a free-motion quilter? Do you plan to use rulers? If so, you’ll need extras including a ruler base, the proper foot and rulers designed to be used on a longarm.
- Do you like to follow pantograph patterns? If so, you’ll need to be able to quilt from the back of your machine. You’ll need extras including a back set of handlebars, a laser light and a plastic grid to cover your paper patterns.
- Do you love the precision of computerized quilting? If so, you’ll need to add the computer hardware and software to your longarm as well as a track system on your frame. And as you’re adding a computer into the mix, it helps to be comfortable with technology!
Whatever your quilting styles, be sure you choose a longarm that can handle all of them. You may have to add options over time. Make sure your machine has the needed capability.
6. Are you able to stand for long periods?
Depending on the style of quilting you prefer, you may need the stamina to stand for long stretches at a time.
Free-motion or ruler-based quilting can be done on either a stationary machine which allows you to sit or on a moveable longarm where you stand in front of the machine.
Pantograph quilting requires you to move along the back of the frame while using the longarm’s laser light to follow a design on a paper pattern with your machine.
Computerized quilting doesn’t require you to stand at the longarm for long periods, but you do need to be able to load and prepare your quilt, setup the computer, advance the quilt and trouble shoot any problems.
7. Are you willing to perform the regular maintenance a longarm quilting machine requires?
Maintenance is needed every time you use your longarm.
When we use our Handi Quilter longarms, we follow this maintenance routine:
- Oil the bobbin hook assembly each time you begin to quilt. Repeat after every two bobbins.
- Change the needle every quilt … every two quilts for wall-hangings or baby quilts.
- After each quilt, brush out the bobbin hook assembly and around the front of the machine by the needle and foot. (Do this even more often if your quilt is creating a lot of lint.)
- Clean all the wheels on the longarm and its carriage. Also wipe down the track the carriage rides on.
- Dust the back table and remove any loose threads or lint that can get tangled in the wheels or on the computer’s track system.
None of this takes much time, but following a routine such as this is essential to keeping your longarm in good working order.
8. Have you taken the machine(s) for a test drive?
As you’re exploring all the possibilities available to you and figuring out what best fits your requirements, test drive the various machines.
Consider:
- Which brands/models feel most comfortable to you?
- Which have the options and accessories you need to start and eventually want to add?
- Does the longarm seem easy to operate?
Know as much as possible about the machine you’re planning to get before you purchase!
9. Do you have access to a reputable, authorized dealer?
Factor in what comes with your longarm when you purchase.
Consider:
- Will a knowledgeable serviceperson set up your longarm and frame?
- What warranties are available?
- Do you receive training on your machine? And is additional, optional training available in the future?
- What servicing options are available? Do you have to ship your machine to the company? Can you bring it to a local shop? Is in-home servicing and repair available?
- Is knowledgeable support available when you have questions or encounter a problem? Do you have a phone number for a quick response or just an email address or a website.
- Can you easily purchase the longarm parts, supplies and accessories you need?
Owning and operating a longarm involves more than just the physical machine itself. Make sure you have access to everything you need and want for the duration of owning your system.
If you’re thinking about jumping into the world of longarm quilting, The Quilting Connection would love to be your dealer!
Many of you are already part of our wonderful quilting family, and we appreciate you so much! Remember to reach out to us if you need anything.
We want everyone to feel free to come in and test drive our APQS and Handi Quilter machines. Share your questions with us. Ask about the training we offer … you know that’s huge to us. And check out the supplies/accessories available to you both in our shops and on our website.
If you’re local and want to know more about either owning a longarm or upgrading your system, consider joining me at one of our two APQS Road Shows. Keep reading for details.
Upcoming Events
We have some special events on our July calendar. I’d love to see you at one or all of them!
Saturday, July 13th – 11 AM to 1 PM
The Quilting Connection 25th Anniversary Party!
Join us in Elkhorn!
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Tuesday, July 16th (Appleton)
Wednesday, July 17th (Elkhorn)
APQS Road Show Longarm Experience
Here’s your opportunity to learn more about our APQS machines.
You’ll also discover quilting resources, receive a sample business plan, learn about machine maintenance and find out which accessories will make your quilting fast and easy!
Registration is required for this FREE in-person event!
See our website for details and to register.
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Saturday, July 20th
Cranberry Country Quilters’ Show, Eagle River, WI
Northland Pines High School, 1800 Pleasure Island Road
10 AM to 4 PM
Admission $5.00 (children under 12 free)
Now for the July Special from Handi Quilter! This is one of our favorite specials because you get to choose what to spend your store credit on!
We will also be having a big floor model summer blowout sale! Click here for the current inventory.
Capri on Insight $4,995 - 2 left
Amara ST $6,995
Moxie (15) with Pro Lite $8,490
Moxie XL (18) with Pro Lite $10,990
Amara 24 with Pro-Stitcher $22,090
Infinity with Pro-Stitcher $26,490
And as always, if you have ANY questions or want additional information about ANY of the products and services we offer, please call us at (262) 723-6775 or email us at info@QuiltingConnection.com.
You can also visit us online at QuiltingConnection.com or in person at 21 Adams Street in Elkhorn, WI (usually M-F 9-4, please call to confirm we’re open) or 1017 W. Northland in Appleton, WI (W, Th & F 10-4, S 10-3).
Finally, check out our blog at QuiltingConnection.com/blog and our Facebook posts.
Please share your thoughts and questions. I’d love to hear from you!
Angie