OMG, I am sick as a dog, and punchy. I have a humongous cloud of quilts (puffy and bright mind you) hovering over my sewing room and thoughts. So having tired of working on the compatibility issues I have with my web design software and Vista.... I started thinking of all the projects I should be working on, pies I should be baking and quilts I should be quilting. I recently purchased an 18" industrial strength-quilting machine. This machine is predecessor to the HQ16 and a plethora of other midarm competitors. My machine weights in at about 80 pounds and is as smooth as butter to run. It doesn't rattle and clang like the HQ16 that I test-drove while on vacation in Melbourne, Florida. Oh BTW the little quilt shop on Wickam Road in Melbourne is very nice, dynamic, with lots of fabric, threads, notions and machines! Not only that, but the people are very very friendly, knowledgeable and if they didn't know, they made a call to find out!
So I have this machine that is sitting on an adequate frame at the moment. I purchased it from an acquaintance that was looking to find a new home for it. She had injured her shoulder and it has become to hard for her to make use of. Plus, lets face it; it is easier to just give it to a professional quilter. Back to the frame, I decided I really have to buy the Hinterberg frame after having a gander at it in Florida. OMG... night and day difference, plus I don't have to upgrade anything for the 18" machine. With the frame I currently have I would have to upgrade it, so even though I like the Grace Quilt Frame and even used it with my home machine as well as the 18" machine.... I want to have the full capacity of the 18". The Grace frames with the exception of the Pinnacle only have a nine-inch movement. So if any of you out there need a good frame with lots of extras for your home machine or the 9" throat Juki, I have one for you! Lets make a deal! If you live anywhere near Buffalo, Rochester or Syracuse, NY (including Auburn, Corning etc...) I have a frame for you! LOL The only reason I want the Hinterberg is because it breaks down quickly and efficiently, and to get the same quality of machine in the Grace I have to go Pinnacle and that doesn't break down. Not that I would break it down, but we are talking form, function and fiscal retention. The Hinterberg Stretch is quite a bit less $$ than the Grace Pinnacle. So, Now that I have a machine-quilting set-up. I have loaded and quilted three quilt tops... and have several to go. I will upload photos later. The three I quilted were just comfort quilts to donate through the Webster Quilt Guild and the Genesee Valley Quilt Club. I am having fun playing with the machine, which is a Nu-Style 18" machine. I love it; it is a simple quality machine. It is very old but has a great stitch when I load the bobbin correctly. LOL I purchased one Longarm Quilt Book so far, lots of templates but just one book. ABC's of Longarm Quilting by Patricia C. Barry. I am not overly impressed with the book. It is extremely vague on some things, and specific to Gammills on other things. There are a few patterns in the book to kick-start the machine quilting experience but nothing exciting. The book is pretty much just an overview of longarm quilting.... ho-hum kind of book. Check it out from the library, as there are a couple of pointers in it. But otherwise... just go on line and join a longarm or machine specific forum or group. You will learn more there.
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