Mid-Arm Sewing/Quilting Machines

Well, I'm tired of wrestling with my quilts & it's time to seriously consider a mid-arm - but not with a frame, just one for my sewing machine table. I'm looking for good & bad experiences if anyone is willing to share. I only want a mechanical machine that sews just a straight stitch. I have all the bells & whistles I need on my Viking & barely use any of them.

I thought I'd probably end up with the Brother 1500S - but the shop I generally do business with, no longer carries the Brother - but he can order it for me. They now carry the Babylock Quilters Choice Pro (BLQP) - does anyone have one & if so, are you happy with it? I did try it out & it had a nice feel to it.

Then, I went to the other sewing machine store nearby & they carry the Juki TL98Q & the Janome 1600 DB. I thought the Juki was very noisy & since DH is in the next room watching TV, probably not a good choice. Plus, I didn't like that it doesn't have a speed control. The Janome 1600 DB- I didn't like that you "cover" the feed dogs & it felt like a more flimsy machine - it's much more reasonable than the others, but I didn't have a good feel for it.

I talked to a dealer in Southern California & he loves, love the Juki, but couldn't convince me it was the machine for me. He has a 1 year old Pfaff Grand Quilter that he would sell me for $450 - what a great deal, huh? No shipping either & if I don't like it, I can exchange it within 30 days. In speaking with another dealer, he told me that he had a lot of problems with the thread breaking & the Pfaff technicians couldn't resolve the problem, so he no longer carries it.

DH is not inclined to buy anything "used" - I'm not so picky. Of course, I'd much rather "test drive" a machine that I purchase, but I can't find anyone nearby that has a Pfaff on the floor.

I'd love to look at the Viking, since I already have one, but can't find anyone that has one on the floor either. So, I'm hoping some of you have mid-arms, especially mid-arms that you love & will share your experience with me!

Pauline Northern California

Reply to
Pauline
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Pauline - have you checked with the Sewing Machine Shop in Walnut Creek?

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They carry Pfaff's so they may have the Grand Quilter in the shop. I know they have the Handi-Quilter.

~~~~~~~ Laurie G. in CA

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Reply to
Laurie G. in CA

I have the Janome 1600 Db and I use it for just the sort of thing you are talking about. Stitching in the ditch joining of the quilt sandwich. I use a Janome extension table on it when I use it on a table, but I do have a custom table that I have inset the machine into. Either way, It is a great machine. You should be able to get a new one online for about $500 with a couple of extras thrown in. Sew and Vac direct has them advertised for that price, so you might check them out. I have bought from them and they give good service. Here is a link to them.

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this helps.

John

Reply to
John

Every one of my friends that quilts on a mid arm has a Juki. And they have speed control, so maybe there are other models?

Cindy

Reply to
teleflora

Thanks Laurie. I did go to the Sewing Machine Shop this afternoon. They only have - on the floor anyway, the Juki & the Janome. Of course, she went right to the embroidery machines with the larger opening when I told her I was looking for a mid-arm for quilting!! Anyone that carries Pfaff will order it in for me, but I want to test drive it first. DH says he didn't like the Baby Lock, but I think that may be because the sales person didn't seem to be too familiar with it - & she says she owns one!! Didn't know how to thread it & didn't even know which side to thread the needle from - that's pretty bad! I should have asked her to sell me hers!!

Pauline Northern California

Reply to
Pauline

Hey Pauline:

I own the 1500S. I did my research by going to quilt shows. I tested all the mid arms and found the 1500S to be very quiet. It does not have a speed control but I find I don't need it. It is the only machine that has a 25 year warranty.

With a lot of the other machines you have to pay for the extras, like the extension table, bobbins, walking foot, etc. The 1500s comes with all these extras. I really like the feature where you can adjust the feed dogs to several heights.

I have used it for piecing, stitch in the ditch and I use it on my Hinterberg machine quilting frame.

Polly can tell you all about my testing of the 1500S at a local quilt show. The dealer thought we were all a little nuts, Polly gets you to laughing so hard you can't concentrate.

With the 1500S you can use any needle you want. With some of the other mid arms, you can only use one kind of needle and have to order them because your local fabric shop usually doesn't carry them.

And if you don't care for the quilting foot that comes with the 1500S, the feet from the Juki machines fit.

Kate T. South Mississippi

Reply to
Kate

Can somebody help me understand DB needles? I know they're shaped differently, but what is the point of t hat (no pun intended) and what are the advantages and disadvantages? Inquiring minds want to know.

Sunny

Reply to
onetexsun

The Db needle is completely round, as opposed to the others which have a flat side, for help in aligning it in the needle arm. You have to be a bit more careful in the way you insert and screw down the clamp on the needle, so as to have the needle eye aligned perfectly with the thread path. A lot of commercial machine have this type of needle, so it is well used within the professional sewing industry. If the needle is not set in the correct position, it can effect the sewing ability of the machine. It just is not as idiot proof as the flat sided needles. That is the only difference. I use a pair of medical hemostats to clamp the the needle at the eye, and when the handle of the hemostats points out at 90 degrees from the machine. I clamp the set screw. If you use a similar procedure, you will be trouble free.

John

Reply to
John

Reply to
Taria

Wouldn't you just think that I'd stay out of a conversation when I didn't know what you were talking about? Nope. Just can not. This time, I don't precisely know what you're meaning when you say 'mid' arm SM. However. There is a lovely Viking Sapphire 830 sitting right here beside me. She belongs to my neighbor who quilts with me. The arc measures 9". The Sapphire wasn't terribly pricey, seems to handle bigger quilts much easier and has enough bells and whistles to entertain anybody. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

That was fun, wasn't it, Kate? Kate had waited more than an hour to get to test drive the 1500S. From the back of the crowd, I said in my 'stage voice', "Good grief, lady! If you can't stitch any better than that, you need to move over and give somebody else a chance." The dealers were not prepared to deal with somebody so rude and were terrified that they were going to miss a sale. Kate just plain lost it. Anybody want to go shopping with me? Polly

"Kate"

Reply to
Polly Esther

Pauline, I have the BLQCP and it is a really nice machine. I used it on a frame with the PCQuilter and Max Throat. My poor DH practically has PTSD from trying to get that to work. We really could have just taken Max Throat off and gone on with the BL and PCQ, but he couldn't bear to look at the PCQ stuff anymore at that point. So... we've now got an HQ 16 and no robotics. Mike Gilomen (of Mike's Machine Shop), who sold me the HQ16, is telling me I really should keep the BLQCP because it's so fast and smooth and makes such a beautiful stitch, but I'm kind of hooked on my Viking's auto pivot, foot lift, etc, and really don't need that kind of speed for piecing (it was great for quilting, though!). But I've been feeling guilty having the BLQCP just sitting here, so if you think you might like it, let me know. I would guess it has share. =A0I only want a mechanical machine that sews just a straight stit= ch.

Reply to
heidi (was rabbit2b)

I have the Juki and love it. It did go a bit fast for me at first but I stuck a piece of wood in the foot feed and slowed it down lol. Fast is great for free motion.

lyn

Reply to
lyn5

Lyn, I just don't have a clue what you did - but I just love the notion of forcing a foot feed to suit your needs. Atta girl and LOL. Polly

"lyn5"

Reply to
Polly Esther

Polly, I think Lyn must've put some wood in the foot pedal wedge so it only depresses part way and can't go "pedal to the metal."

--Heidi

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Reply to
heidi (was rabbit2b)

At one point, I had both machines, the 1500s and the BLQP - they were identical except for the color pink on the front - the BLQP was a brighter, more vivid shade. I kept the 1500 and sold the Babylock when I sold my frame.

I love the pinfeed when piecing.

L he bells & whistles I need on my Viking & barely use any of

Reply to
Witchystitcher

Polly said: Anybody want to go shopping with me? =A0

---------------------------------------------- Oh God, Polly, I'd go shopping with you anytime. My friends are much too serious.

Denise

Reply to
Denise in NH

So there any reason why you kept the Brother & sold the BL? Did you flip a coin?

I finally got to try the 1500 this morning & went back & tried the Janome & the Juki. All things being fairly equal, I think price is going to be my deciding factor. The Janome is the only one that is a wee bit different & I like some of the features it has, but don't like that it is missing the features that all the others have. What happened to the good old days when you just went down & bought a Singer:)

Pauline Northern California

Reply to
Pauline

I gave the purchaser of the set-up the choice and she selected the Babylock. It was newer than the Brother by a few months.

Linda PATCHogue, NY Queen of Boxtops

Reply to
Witchystitcher

I see. I just found a dealer in Vallejo - Laurie - have you ever been to the dealer in Vallejo? He sounds like a decent guy. He carries the Viking, which I would really like to see, since my main machine is a Viking, so we're going there on Friday to take a look at it. Why not add even more confusion to my decision making process:) John, you'll be happy to know that he tells me the Viking mid-arm is made by Janome.

Pauline Northern California

Reply to
Pauline

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