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Home > Tips On Buying A Long Arm Quilting Machine
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Tips on Buying a Long Arm Quilting Machine by Heather Allen
If you've done some quilting using large pieces of fabric, then you know how difficult it can be to try and feed the fabric evenly through your sewing machine. That's where a long arm quilting machine can be a great help. They're designed to handle large pieces of fabric, which allows you, the quilter, to do a quicker and better job.
Long arm quilting machines vary, but usually they have a throat depth range of around 32" to 40". They're designed to avoid friction or sliding of the material. You hold the quilt in place with three poles, and as you work on the quilt it gradually rolls up, rather than sitting in a heap on the floor. The sewing machine part of the machine runs smoothly along a track for quilting.
Unfortunately, though, a long arm quilting machine is a fairly expensive piece of equipment, which makes it out of reach for anyone but a professional quilter. They cost upwards of US $7,000, with many costing well over $20,000. So a quilting business can justify the expense as it can be spread out over multiple quilts.
For home quilters, however, it's often a good idea to look around for a used long arm quilting machine. They still tend to be pricey, but it's often possible to pick one up for under $5,000. The important thing is to make sure you know what you're buying. Do some research first so that you can pick whether the machine you're considering is a well-known brand with parts or repair services readily available. The last thing you need is to buy a cheap machine, only to find you can't get it fixed if there are any problems.
Most major manufacturers have their own website, which makes it much easier to research long arm quilting machines. You can either choose the type you want and then try and locate a second-hand one, or else use the websites to check up on a machine you've been offered. Many manufacturers will send you further information about a particular model if you request it.
Whether you're buying a new or used model, it's always a good idea to take a look at the machine before buying it. The manufacturer may have dealers in your area that you can visit. Or visit a store which stocks a range of models so that you can test a variety of long arm quilting machines and find one that suits you. Sometimes there are trade shows where many manufacturers bring their machines, which is a great chance to find them all in one place and ask lots of questions.
Some other things to consider include:
- Does it have all the features you need?- Will it fit in the space you have available?- Is it easy to set up or will you need to pay for help?- Is there a repair service available locally?- Can you get training if you need it?
Buying a long arm quilting machine is a bit financial decision, even if you buy a used machine, so make sure you've done all your research before making your final decision. If you do, you will make the right choice and buy a machine that will be of great benefit to your quilting efforts for many years to come.
About the Author
If you want to learn more about machine quilting (http://www.madaboutquilting.com/Machine_Quilting.html), head over to Heather's site at http://www.madaboutquilting.com Or click here (http://www.madaboutquilting.com/newsletter) to get 3 Free Reports about quilting.
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