What kind of Machine Quilting frame do you use? What do you like and dislike about it?

I have a Little Gracie II with a Janome 1600P-DB machine with a speed control. I can quilt up to a queen size quilt - specifically, I can do a quilt that is 88 inches wide and about 100 inches long. If I need to go any longer, I have to turn the quilt halfway through, which is a real pain. The advantages to this setup are that it is a frame set up (which sounds obvious, but frames are a HUGE boon for quilting), and that it was relatively inexpensive. I paid around $1300 for the frame and machine combined. HOWEVER, if I were to do this again, I would save my money and get something with a longer arm and a wider frame set up. I'd like to be able handle a King size quilt, and that just isn't possible on my setup. My current machine has a 9" arm, which means there is about a 4" - 5" quilting area at the very beginning of the quilt, and about 2" by the end of the quilt. A 17" arm would allow much more complex quilting patterns. If I were going to spend the money now, I'd probably go with a Tin Lizzie. It has a larger quilting space, a wider frame, and a stitch regulator. The stitch regulator slows down the needle speed when you slow down you arm motion. It helps keep your stitch length even, which is a challenge for a newer quilter. It is not cheap at around $6,000, but it is a good, solid set up.

I have been using a HandiQuilter II frame with a Juki TL98Q machine for about 2-1/2 years. I just purchased a Hinterberg frame.

The HQ frame was okay. I had it set up at 10 ft long and quilted one king size and one queen size quilt, plus smaller ones. The poles that come with the frame bow a lot when it's set up that long.

I think the Hinterberg frame is going to work much better for me for the following reasons:

1. I am short, and the Hinty frame is at least 6" lower than the HQ on a standard height table.

2. I quilt from the front (needle end) of the machine. The front roller on the Hinty folds down which allows you to get right up to the quilting area. The HQ frame is designed for quilting from the back, so when quilting from the front you are much farther away from the quilting area.

have you ever appeared on the Hinterburg Quilting physique? i've got seen it in diverse magazines, and that i've got additionally quilted on it. the stitching device I worked with in this physique became the Voyager 17. it may incorporate or and not making use of a stitch regulator. i'm uncertain that it extremely disassembles, although. i take advantage of the Juki 98Q and that i be attentive to it may additionally extra healthful the Grace professional besides because of fact the Hinterburg. reliable success jointly with your seek.