Mid arm quilting machines

I apologize if this has been asked in the past, but I was wondering if there are any midarm machines that have stitch regulators, that can be used as a regular sewing machine without using a frame? I was interested in the Berninas with their BSR, but the throat space is just too small to make the investment worth it. I was going through the latest issue of American Quilter with all the information they have on midarms, but they all looked like they were to be used on frames. I just don't have the space for a frame. Thanks, Nancy

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Nancy
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Reply to
Hobot

I was just passing through the local Joanne's and in their sewing machine department, they have set up on a frame one of the Husky/ Viking Megaquilter machines with some sort of stitch regulator that is plugged into the back of the machine. There would be no reason that you could not use this machine as a table top machine with the stitch regulator in place. The machines are based on the janome 1600p series and manufactured in the same factory in Asia as the janome machines. I use mine set into a table top and it gives it a large flat working space to move fabric around on. I don't know if that add on feature is available on the janome, I have not heard abut it, but it is available on the Husky/Viking. That might be a solution to your quest. Here is a picture of the Janome and my insetting it into a table top. Hope this gives you food for thought.

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John

Reply to
John

It certainly gives *me* food for thought! Thanks, John.

Reply to
Carolyn McCarty

Me, too -- and it makes me hungry for one :)

-Irene

Reply to
IMS

John, I've actually been thinking hard about the Janome 1600. Which one do you have? Are you happy with it? And most importantly -- how flexible is it for free motion quilting? I don't think I'll ever be able to afford even one of the Handi-quilters. But the 1600 is probably within reach in another year or so.

Thanks, Sunny

Reply to
Sunny

On Apr 12, 12:34=A0pm, Sunny wrote:

I bought my 1600db about 2 years ago and love it. I paid $599 online and that included shipping and some extras such as cover plate so you can cover the feed dogs, free motion darning foot, and a bunch of extra needles. The 1600db is the cheapest of the three machines in that category. It has needle up/down and that is it. If you want thread cutters, or other features you will have to spend more and I don't think they sell those online. At least they didn't at the time I bought mine. I have been using it more and more for piecing as well as stitching the sandwich and if the truth be told, and I was placed on a deserted Island with one machine to use for quilting, this would be the machine I would take. I know it is limited for clothing construction, no zig-zag or buttonhole or other deco stitches. But with quilting you only need straight stitch unless you do a lot of applique. But you probably have a good "regular' sewing machine for those things already. I think, for the money, it is one of the best purchases I have made in sewing machine land. I would say go for it and you will not be sorry. It is a really simple machine and is very robustly made, with few features to fail, it should last a long time. It is a more commercial feeling machine and it has some idiosyncratic features. If you are using it like a sewing machine the loading of the bobbin is from the side. This is because it was built to be used on a Quilting frame which would place the bobbin access area facing the operator. But, if you ever have seen or used commercial machines, they have the same bobbin loading feature. So it really is not that different, when viewed from that perspective. Hope this helps.

John

Reply to
John

If this is what I saw at a quilt show today, it would not work off the machine. The stitch is regulated by wheels that ride along the rails of the frame.

L>>> I apologize if this has been asked in the past, but I was wondering if there

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Linda PATCHogue, NY

Reply to
WitchyStitcher

I didn't know exactly how it worked. I just noticed it as being displayed as a stitch regulator. I wondered how they could retrofit a non integrated system to one that is integrated, like Bernina's BSR. Too bad, it would have been a neat workaround. I will say that plenty of folks who do free-motion quilting use the Janome 1600p platform to accomplish their craft. There is a local quilt shop that features that style of quilting and they all use that machine. They told me it really would not take to long to become adept at using it for free- motion as they all were able to do so within a short period of time. I have a Bernina with the BSR and to tell you the truth, I have yet to master the use of it. I don't think I will ever favor free-motion quilting. Most of my quilts are traditional small piece assemblages with not a lot of open space that would benefit from the free-motion thing, so I have not delved too deeply into that area of quilting. But, who knows what the future holds. Never say never.

John

Reply to
John

When you say mid-arm, that includes HandiQuilter 16, Tin Lizzy and a couple others that are less than the "big guys", but more than a domestic machine. I have a HQ16 so I admit, I'm biased towards that. I've had mine 2 years now and wonder how I ever managed to quilt anything without it. A friend uses the original HandiQuilter frame with a Brother is is very limited in what she can do. I keep telling her to come over and use mine, but she's afraid if she does that, she might never want to use her setup again. The HQ16 does come with a stitch regulator. There are people who use it set up on 2 banquet tables and take it down when they're not using it. There are a couple HQ16 Yahoo groups if you are interested in more information.

Hope that helps.

LizA. Kent, WA

Reply to
Liz A.

Reply to
Taria

"If this is what I saw at a quilt show today, it would not work off the machine. The stitch is regulated by wheels that ride along the rails of the frame' Do you know if all long/mid arms that use stitch regulators need the frame to make the regulator work? Nancy

Hope that helps.

LizA. Kent, WA

Reply to
Nancy

Reputation number one. General "feel" of it. The Tin Lizzy was just starting to be available to try at shows. The one time I tried it, I didn't like it at all. It seemed to "vibrate" too much. The HQ was smoother. The HQ is like an electronic sewing machine whereas the Tin Lizzy reminded me of an old, non-computerized machine if that makes any sense. Also, the tremendous "support" system available with two Yahoo lists. Add to all that, the largest HQ dealer is an hour away.

LizA. Kent, WA

Reply to
Liz A.

Mine is setup on 11' of kitchen cabinets from Ikea with adjustable legs to compensate for the uneveness of my floor. The cabinets make it tall enough for me to work at it without killing my back -- I'm 5'10". I bought what they call the "portable frame" but it is screwed down permanently to my table top. There are a few people on the two HQ lists that have the sit-down models. And yes, you are correct, you can't use a stitch regulator with it. The stitch regulator is attached to the wheels on the carriage. There are two sensor wheels that ride on the table top or rail.

There are lots of different options for using the HQ16 with limited space. If you're interested in learning more, talk to a knowledgeable dealer or join the Yahoo lists. I know there are some people on the list who keep their HQ16 set up at 8 ft. Personally, I would find that limiting.

I've had my machine two years now and I am still in love with it. I can't imagine quilting without it. And, my back and shoulders are also very happy that I'm no longer stuffing quilts through my dsm.

LizA. Kent, WA

Reply to
Liz A.

Thanks for the information Liz, I will look into the yahoo groups. Nancy

There are lots of different options for using the HQ16 with limited space. If you're interested in learning more, talk to a knowledgeable dealer or join the Yahoo lists. I know there are some people on the list who keep their HQ16 set up at 8 ft. Personally, I would find that limiting.

I've had my machine two years now and I am still in love with it. I can't imagine quilting without it. And, my back and shoulders are also very happy that I'm no longer stuffing quilts through my dsm.

LizA. Kent, WA

Reply to
Nancy

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