The Pros and Cons of a Long Arm Quilting Machine

After having quilted my fair share of twin and king size quilts, I recognized the need for having an easier and less time consuming way to finish my quilts. Almost anyone who is seriously into quilting wishes they had a long arm quilting machine. These industrial sized machines allow you to quilt blankets easier and faster. There are a lot of things to consider before purchasing a long arm quilting machine. Many of these machines can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Anyone who does this for a living or does it because they are passionate about the craft, is aware that this is a worthy investment. Of course, most quilting businesses use this machine because of the great efficiency it has and allows a quilter to finish large quilts in a few weeks instead of months.

 

Long arm quilting machines have frames that can go up to 14 feet wide. The frame secures the sewing machine, which glides along a track as it quilts. The machine has three poles that hold the quilt in a stationary position. Because of the size, a quilter can easily work on large projects with less the effort and energy. As the machine quilts, the quilt rolls up conveniently preventing it from bunching.

 

The reach provided by the machine’s long arm offers great support for the quilt and at the same time allows the quilter to move and rotate the quilt freely. This also enables the quilter to create practically any pattern from simple to intricate designs.

 

The long arm quilting machine does not do all the work, even though it greatly aids in the amount of time and work that is required. The quilter must manually guide the machine as it quilts. If you are considering long arm quilting you need to prepare yourself to stand up for long hours in order to hand-guide the machine. Or break up the time in order to save yourself from having to finish it all at once.

 

Because of the speed and ease that a long arm quilting machine offers, many die hard quilters consider purchasing one. Because these machines are quite expensive it makes sense to get one only if you do a lot of quilting, or if you will use this as a source of income.

Be sure to shop around before making your purchase. Make sure that you look at as many as possible and that you are able to find one that will best suit your needs. There are several brands available in the market with different features. Learn about each of these brands and compare them to find out if they meet your needs. In addition, look for those who offer set up and repair services and training classes on how to use a long arm quilting machine. Take your time to do some research first in order to make an informed decision.

[tag-self]quilting[/tag-self][tag-self]quilting machine[/tag-self][tag-self]long arm quilting machine[/tag-self] [tag-self]quilting[/tag-self][tag-self]quilting machine[/tag-self][tag-self]long arm quilting machine[/tag-self][tag-self]quilting[/tag-self][tag-self]quilting machine[/tag-self][tag-self]long arm quilting machine[/tag-self]