Longarm Quilting Machine Overview

by Merry Jo Rembold

Most people research on the average for 2 years before they purchase. It’s a big investment and you want to make sure you have the machine that’s the right fit for you. Trading up is fine. The only problem is you always lose some money in the process. This can’t be helped if your needs change over time, but can be minimized if you’re careful and diligent in making a checklist to help you with your decision making.

The best case scenario: You get all the features and more that fit your needs and budget! You don’t want to over-buy and you don’t want to under-buy.

You need to determine if you want a business or hobby, the amount space needed, finance options, price range or budget, then features. Then you can start narrowing the list of brands you like that fit your needs.

Business or Hobby

1. Decide if you want to quilt as a hobby or a business, and to what degree.
2. Some people want a machine simply to quilt their own quilts.
3. Some want to quilt as a business on a part-time basis to simply finance their hobby and fabric buying sprees!
4. Some want to support themselves by quilting as a business.

All avenues are okay. It depends on what you personally want to get out of it. That will determine how much machine you need to purchase.

Space

1. The space you need for a longarm is based on how long the frame you need. This is determined on how big the average quilt is that you are going to be quilting.
1. Maybe you’re an art quilter who only makes wall hangings or lap size quilts.
2. Maybe you want to run this as a business and will need to accommodate anything your customers throw at you.
2. Are you going to take over the family room or have dedicated space attached or separate from your house?
3. Renting commercial space.
1. Maybe there’s a quilt shop with a room to rent. Remember this helps out the quilt shop owner. People finish their quilt quicker, buy more fabric, take more classes and complete more quilts. You need to use this to balance costs when negotiating the price you pay for space.
2. Problem: You must be mindful about interruptions interfering with your workflow. Set appointments for drop-offs and pick-ups and stick to them.
4. Remodeling or taking over the garage, etc., can be an expensive option.
5. Kids leaving home may open up room or two.

Financing and Business Plans

1. What type of financing is available? Are you paying cash, taking out a personal, home equity or commercial loan?
2. Commercial loan: Most lenders require a business plan to be submitted. Even if they don’t, you should complete a business plan if you’ re going to do this as a business. It helps you understand the dynamics and will help keep you on track for your business. It will assist you in developing your pricing, policies, determining pricing on supplies, etc.
3. Sample business plans for the quilting business are available at both APQS.com and thequiltedrose.com. They may be available at the local library, etc., but these two business plans are specific for this business, not a generic plan.
4. Word of caution: Don’t start out with cheap pricing to get business.

Running a Quilting Business

This is a whole separate subject. I’m only hitting a few highlights in this overview so you have some information to assist you in developing your checklist if this is your goal. Not everyone here wants to do this as a business. Those who are interested in taking a business class may contact me or Sewing Machines Plus. If there’s enough interest, I will be happy to add and teach this class.

Price Ranges of Longarm Quilting Machines

The price range can go from $5,000 to about $25,000, some times even with or without a computer. Rule of thumb: The more money you spend, the more bells and whistles you get, the longer your machine lasts and fits your needs. Some features are important because they save you time. The less time spent on the quilt, the more you make per hour. Time is money.

Used machines: There are private sales through individuals (no warranty) and used machine sales through manufacturers or dealers (may have a warranty). Stores take trade-ins, so check with your local dealer.

So now you can start your checklist! Make it a "flexible" checklist as the more you learn, the more you may tweak the list. Start with budget. This budget is determined by your needs, and whether it’s a hobby or a business and whether you have money to burn or not!

Features

1. Warranty: What does it cover and how long is it?
2. User Manual: How detailed, can you fix things yourself?
3. Repairs: Where do you take it, or do they come to you to fix things?
4. Customer Service: Are they responsive to your needs?
5. Training: Do they have training available? Remember, if you purchase from a rep or shop: staff that can show you how to use the machine features and tell you about additional equipment you can purchase such as base expanders, computers, etc.
   
   It is not their responsibility to show you how to push the machine around on your quilt to create your designs. This is something you educate yourself to do through books and classes. Some companies do offer a beginning class with purchase.
   
   Sewing Machines Plus does have training available through classes at their store. Their staff is very accessible and knowledgeable to show you the features available on the machines and how to operate them. They also carry more than one brand.
6. Throat Space: Must be 18-inch throat space to be considered a longarm. Smaller throats are mid-arms or short-arms. Some brands have 30-inch throats. Sounds good, but can you utilize that much space freehand or is it overkill?
7. Stitch regulator: Does it stop when you do, or fire and extra stitch or two?
8. Stitch Quality: Do you like how it looks? Eyelashes and loops are adjustment problems.
9. Needle position: This is your needle up/down button.
10. Start/Stop buttons: Accessible?
11. Handles
1. Are they ergonomic, reposition capable, set, comfortable?
2. Can you easily reach them?
3. Do you have handles front and rear?
12. Thread cutter
13. Channel locks: Some are electronic, some are manual, some don’t have any at all.
14. Computers: Some manufacture their own computer systems, some are after-market. Most are available to add on at a later date if you decide you want them.
15. Frames
1. 3 rail and 4 rail systems. One is not necessarily better than the other is. One may be more convenient for you.
2. Some have a roller that may lift up on a hinge to access batting. Can you access the batting to smooth our wrinkles or add a piece?
3. Some frames you must adjust the height of the take-up roller as you roll more of the quilt onto it or it will cause your machine to bind. Some actually decrease your sewing area as you get toward the bottom of the quilt.
4. Rolling your quilt: How do the locking mechanisms work? Easy, time consuming, a pain in the rear?
5. Can you adjust the height of the frame to fit your height?
6. Do you sit or stand to quilt?
7. Some brands even have auto fabric advances. This is an add-on feature.
16. Bobbin size
1. M or L bobbins, M is large, L is small.
17. Bobbin winders: Turbo vs. on the machine, separate motor?
18. Weight of the machine head
19. Wheel systems vs. ball bearing
1. Are wheels upright, horizontal or at an angle on the rail? How do they attach and ride on the rail?
2. Machines that utilize a ball bearing riding on the rail easily move any direction.
3. Most machines are on rails: They move left and right, forward and backward. Curves are created by moving the machine.
20. Daily maintenance and scheduled maintenance
1. How easy, difficult or time-consuming is the process?
2. Do you have an oil reservoir? Is your machine going to drip oil on a quilt?
21. Lighting systems
1. L.E.D. or regular lighting on the machine itself. Do you have black light capability?
2. Is it capable of adding overhead lighting?
22. Hopping Foot
1. Does it have a presser foot you have to remember to lower?
2. How easy is it to adjust to accommodate thicker batts?
23. Laser Stylus
1. Where does it mount on the carriage?
2. Can you move it to the front of the machine?

Looking at Machines

Major quilt shows usually have most brands available to try. This is a good starting place. Ask a lot of questions. Have them demonstrate different features of machines. These are corporate shows.

Find a local store that carries more than one brand so you can compare.

TAKE YOUR TIME! Get the machine that best suits your individual needs. I used the shows to compare brands and narrow my checklist. Narrow down to 2 or 3 brands you really like the features and how they feel to move around on the frame. Then go to your local dealer and spend an hour or more on each machine. This really is the only way one brand is going to speak to you.

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