Sunday, February 20, 2011

Lots of Questions

I'm looking for a longer arm sewing machine (not a longarm or midarm machine) and possibly a machine quilting frame that uses a household sewing machine. I'm seriously considering this bundle which includes a Grace Start-Right 96" queen quilting frame, a Juki TL98QE, speed control, and QuiltCAD software.




Has anyone used these products? Or know of anyone who has?

I've talked to a few people who have the Juki TL98QE, who really like it. Unfortunately none of the sewing machine shops near me has one in stock so I have not been able to try it out.

The same goes for the Grace frame, there is not a retailer close by. I've heard good things about Grace frames, just not this particular frame.

I've also been looking at the Janome 1600P - it has the same arm length and height as the Juki. I have been able to play with this machine, and I really like sewing with it but I'm not crazy about the bobbin placement - it's a little awkward to get at. (Strange thing - Viking makes a sewing machine that is EXACTLY like the 1600P, EXACTLY, same price too.)

Do you have a similar set up but different brands?

6 comments:

Loris said...

I don't know about these products but have fun with this adventure :-) Try the http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Machine_Quilting_Professional/
There are lots of quilters on there and surely one of them will know something about what you are looking for.

Michele said...

I have the Bernina 820 with a Bernina frame which is actually made by Grace I believe, so I have some of the Grace accessories. I love my set up. I know someone with the 1600 who loves it, but she doesn't use it on a frame. Lots of people in blogland seem to have Juki's but no one around here sells them, so I don't know much about them. I seem to live in Bernina country here. Good luck with your search :)

Needled Mom said...

I have the Juki. It's a great machine, but I do wish it had more arm space. If I were to do it again I would go with the Bernina 820 or the Janome Horizon to get that additional space. A few inches makes a huge difference.

Rose said...

I have a Juki 98Q--bought it without trying it out...there is a yahoo group for the Juki 98E...but people with the Q and recently some with the Exceed 600 post there.>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TL98EJuki/

Anyway, I joined the group, and read and read the posts. People did have problems with it, but I think in the past 4 or 5 years, I have only seen a couple times when it was actually the machine and not operator error...or thread.

That being said, I don't have mine on a frame...but at the yahoo group lots of people do. I have it down in a desk...I have quilted one top that was 91 or 92 inches square, and have quilted a full sized quilt on it...and several bigger baby quilts.

I cannot say enough good about this machine. I absolutely love that thing...there is a guy on the yahoo forums that even talked one of the ladies through doing the timing on her machine...she had hit a needle or pin and got the timing off.

At my blog, the banner photo is one I quilted on the Juki...and down on the sidebar is a label quilts and you can see a few other quilted on it.

Mary said...

I have a Juki TL98E or something like that. LOL! I can never remember the letters and numbers at the end. It is a great machine, the only one I ever ordered online. But I knew Juki's were reliable and had no fears. It has been a great machine. I put it on an original Grace frame and use a Cruise Control stitch regulator. If I was talented in the quilting arena, it would be great. I can't seem to do any more than meandering. Sometimes I do it good, sometimes I don't.

mom said...

It's kinda Greek to me, but have you tried good old google or e-bay to see who carries them..maybe you can find one in Oregon and have to make a trip!!!!