7 Reasons Why I Don’t Want or Need a Longarm

Quilt Hanging system for quilting on a home machine

Suspending your quilt reduces the weight and drag of the quilt on your machine.

About two weeks ago I posted about my quilt hanging system that’s allowing me to quilt Emergence, a 70″ x 90″ extremely heavy quilt, easily on my home sewing machine.

I think this is an awesome way to solve many issues quilters have with quilting big quilts on small machines and if I could figure out a way of packing the clamps, bungee cords, and handles together, I’d turn it into a Suspended Quilting System and sell it on the site just so more quilters would try it out and start quilting this way.

But quickly I began to receive comments asking why I don’t just give it up and buy a longarm already?! Why screw handles to the ceiling and clamp bungee cords to my quilts when I could just buy a big machine to quilt my big quilts so much easier?

I’ll be honest – these derisive, eye rolling kind of comments really boil my blood. Nothing makes me madder than one quilter scoffing at the ideas of another quilter or “putting her in her place.” And I’m really sick and tired of the snobbery that comes with machine choice. It shouldn’t matter what you stitch on so long as you ARE STITCHING!

So allow me a rant on this Saturday afternoon as I explain exactly why I absolutely don’t want or need a longarm to quilt my quilts, even the really big ones. Yes, I expect I’ll annoy a lot of people with this post, so if you’d rather not get mad at me, feel free to check out videos today instead.

Keep in mind that I’m not attacking quilters who want longarms or who own them.

I’m just sharing my opinion why I absolutely, positively don’t want one, and I’m attacking the elitist, snobby attitude that surrounds machine choice.

UPDATE – In 2015, I changed my mind on longarm quilting machines. Click Here to find a detailed update on this post and 7 Reasons Why I DO Want and Need a Longarm.

7 reasons why I don’t want or need a longarm machine:

#7 – Longarm Machines are Huge

If I installed even a small frame in my basement, I would have to completely rearrange my sewing space to accommodate the large, bulky contraption.

Right now I have several tables set up around my Janome Horizon, but if I needed to, I could work with a much smaller setup. I could even collapse all the tables and quilt in a closet if I absolutely needed to.

But with a longarm, the ability to downsize is essentially impossible. It’s going to be huge and it’s going to take up a ton of space. There is no way to make a 20″ long machine any smaller!

Now let’s talk about the attitudes surrounding the size: The general attitude is IF you’re serious and IF you’re dedicated to quilting, you will spend the money, remodel your house, rearrange your living room, etc. – essentially do whatever you need to do to make a longarm fit.

Quilters that don’t have dedicated sewing studios, who quilt when they can with the space they make on the dining room table or laundry room, are they really any less dedicated or interested or skilled in the hobby than those with wide expanses of space? No. Absolutely not.

That kind of snobbery about space really needs to end. Work with what you have, make the best of the space you are given, and when you see opportunities for improvements, such as better lighting or storage, make the changes that need to happen!

#6 – Longarm Machines Are Expensive

I can stomach shelling out $10,000 for a good used car if we’re needing one, but I can’t wrap my brain around spending even $4000 on a quilting machine.

When I first got into quilting, $300 was the absolute most I could spend on a machine, and I still remember the look on the dealer’s face when I told her my budget. She thought I was a waste of her time.

Again the attitude from the Elitists is IF you’re serious and IF you really love quilting, then it should be no problem to take out a loan, refinance your house, sell your kid, etc. in order to get the machine of your dreams.

But the fact is, it really doesn’t matter how much money you have to throw into quilting! I’ve known many quilters who have obviously more money than sense (or skill) and buy hugely expensive machines that just sit and collect dust.

A bigger, better, more complicated machine does NOT make you a better quilter, and it will not instantly improve your free motion quilting skill. Only time and practice can do that!

goddess quilt quilted on a home machine

I don’t need a longarm to quilt show quilts!

#5 – I Quilt for Me

This should probably be my slogan. I should put it on t-shirts so everyone knows how selfish I am!

Why is this important? Because in order to afford a longarm quilting system, most quilters will start quilting for other quilters.

This isn’t a problem in and of itself. Lord knows, I support anyone wanting to create their own business and make money on their own.

But here’s what I do have a problem with – the quilters that DON’T want to turn their hobby and passion into a business feeling pushed and prodded into it due to the high cost of the machine.

As I’ve written before, finding a balance between a craft you love and your business is an endless battle. I have no idea how quilters who longarm for money can turn off the business aspect of the craft in order to find enjoyment in the quilting for themselves. That is one situation I never want to find myself in and another reason why a longarm is not for me.

#4 – I quilt from the center

I like quilting my quilts from the center of the quilt to the outside edges, filling each section with color and seeing the quilt come to life.

While I have never quilted an entire quilt on a longarm, I know you don’t really quilt from the center in the same way. While everyone has a different opinion about this, personally I would dislike having to work from edge to edge from the top to the bottom of a quilt.

What if I had a section on my quilt that covered 50 inches of space from the top to the middle? With a domestic machine, I can start in the center and fill that entire space, maintaining the design and fills and thread color throughout.

From what I understand about longarms and how they work, I’d have about 20″ of space to work on at a time, then I’d have to break thread and advance the quilt to get to the rest of the area. While yes, I know professional longarmers that can do this perfectly, it just seems a bit counter-intuitive to me.

#3 – I don’t want to learn how to quilt all over again

I’m a pretty good quilter on a domestic sewing machine. I can easily stitch on a 1/8″ scale and achieve the dense stitches I like to create on a quilt. On a longarm, it might take years for me to achieve this kind of mastery.

While the two are pretty much the same as far as forming and quilting designs, moving the machine rather than moving the quilt is quite a different application of the stitches.

The few times I have touched a longarm, I’ve been literally pulled around by the inertia of the huge, heavy machine. Yes, I’m sure I could learn how to wrangle it in and eventually learn how to control it, but I don’t really want to. If I can quilt on a domestic, why would I ever need a longarm?!

Now for the attitude that really cheeses me off – most people cannot believe I quilt on a domestic! They look at me like I’ve grown two heads when I explain that I don’t own a longarm and don’t want one.

It seems that everyone now assumes that longarm = awesome quilting and that is just not true. You can achieve gorgeous stitches on ANY machine you use, so long as you take the time to find them.

#2 – Most quilters start on domestic machines

Most quilters getting into the hobby have a domestic sewing machine, or can easily get one for under $500.

What does this have to do with my choice? It comes down to being an effective teacher. If most beginners start on a domestic sewing machine, that’s the machine I should be teaching on.

Yes, I could make YouTube videos of me swinging a longarm around on a frame, but I’d likely loose 80% of the beginners that read this project because that’s not the machine you have or the way you quilt.

It’s important for me to be a good teacher, even if I’m just teaching online and will likely never see you in person. I want to know I’m reaching the most people and helping them in the clearest way on the machine that most have access to.

#1 – It’s NOT any easier

There’s this idea that longarm quilting is SO much easier than domestic machine quilting. I sincerely doubt this is true. Yes, longarms involve moving the machine and not the quilt, and for some people that might work better for the way your brain works.

However, just because you have a 20 inch throat, and just because the quilt is wound up on a frame doesn’t mean you’re going to instantly touch a longarm and be transported into a world of perfect stitches and golden tension.

Check out any forum from yahoo groups to individual forums for each manufacturer and you’re going to find hundreds of posts from beginners desperate to understand how to use their machine.

I’ve spoken to many quilters about their decision to buy a longarm and most stories go something like this:

“I wanted to learn how to free motion, but I just couldn’t get the hang of it on the machine I had. And then I met so-and-so and she said I needed a longarm to do that kind of quilting. So I went out and bought one and it was SO expensive, but then I got it home and I still couldn’t quilt! But since I’ve spent all that money I HAVE to learn on this machine!”

So rather than spend the time and energy needed to get comfortable quilting on a domestic, most of the quilter’s I’ve spoken to have been seduced by the dark side and purchased a longarm, only to find that, while frame quilting might be different, but it still requires hours of practice to master.

And that is the point of this entire ranting article!

YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE!

I don’t care whether you’re quilting on a $300, $4000, or $30,000 machine, you cannot achieve mastery of the machine just by turning it on.

You have to stitch on it, play with it, adjust it, adjust your setup around it, keep stitching, and eventually you will find your way through the ugly stitches and into that perfect place where the speed of the machine and the movement of your hands finds a balance.

So please stop blaming your machine for all your problems and fantasizing that a bigger, better, more expensive machine will fix everything. Chances are, it’s not the machines fault. Spend more time quilting, less time complaining, and you will find better stitches very quickly.

Staying afraid of it, terrified you’ll “ruin” a quilt, that’s a place that will keep you treading water for the rest of your life. Look back to the first block you pieced – was it perfect? Stop expecting the first quilts you quilt to be perfect!

Here’s another final quick tip – if your tension isn’t perfect, please ignore it.

This is the #1 reason why quilters start, and then stop free motion quilting forever. But if you ignore those ugly stitches, if you plow through them like a bulldozer with no brakes, you will find your way through to beautiful stitches eventually.

Quilt every day for the next month – just 30 minutes each day – and I’ll bet you’ll see an enormous improvement in your quilting stitches.

GO QUILT!

Leah

UPDATE – In 2015, I changed my mind on longarm quilting machines. Click Here to find a detailed update on this post and 7 Reasons Why I DO Want and Need a Longarm.

LeahDay

Leah Day has been teaching online since 2009. She's the creator of the Free Motion Quilting Project, a blog filled with thousands of quilting tutorial videos. Leah has written several books including 365 Free Motion Quilting Designs, Explore Walking Foot Quilting with Leah Day, and Mally the Maker and the Queen in the Quilt.

163 Responses

  1. Kira says:

    I know you posted this 2 years ago but I really needed to read this today!! I have been upset at the fact that the dream of ever owning a longarm machine is never going to happen and that I was a failure in quilting if I didn't have one. Your words have inspired me to stop whining/having my pity party and get back to freemotion quilting on my home machine! Thanks!!!

  2. P&D says:

    I love your blog. Not every one can afford a $10,000 extra wide sewing maching. That's all a long arm is anyhow. Why do they cost so much? My guess is because women keep paying too much. And because there are too many people with too much money, with so many others without enough. I love it. There is so much more freedom without having your quilt rolled up, I've never seen a long arm that quilts stitch in the ditch and goes horizontal and vertical with feed dog assistance…

  3. DandyQuilter says:

    Leah's skill is obvious. Her quilts are great..but the bottom line is..no one will take you seriously until you move into the long ARM arena…and get serious with pro equipment.
    I don't agree with this.. but I see it everywhere I go and at all the quitting conventions and workshops.
    This is an old post..but still holds true..today.

    • Marian says:

      I seriously disagree with this. A stitch is a stitch whether it’s on a longarm or not. Many people stitch beautifully on a domestic machine with no issues at all and that’s because they took the time to practice the art of FMQ. Many quilters have won major awards at shows using domestic machines as well as longarms, so to dismiss the fact that long arms are the only ones to be taken seriously is a ridiculous notion.

  4. If she's making art, it's not about "being taken seriously" as you would want to be taken seriously if other people are going to hire you to long arm quilt their quilt. When a person is making art, the finished product is all that matters, not the process used. Clearly, Leah's art is superior, it really doesn't matter that it wasn't rolled up onto a frame during the quilting process.

  5. Wow! I'm reading this post 2 years later and I couldn't have said it better myself. I've been machine quilting on my Bernina for nearly 20 years – I would hate to have to start all over on a long arm.
    Everytime I try them I do NOT like the feel of it! Go domestic quilters!!

  6. leanne says:

    I know its been a while since you posted this but I've just seen it after spending an hour surfing the internet looking at long arm machines !!! I can't quilt yet – I'm signed up for your craftsy classes, I watch your youtube videos, and I'm one of those people who are too afraid to actually start !! so this post had me in fits of giggles – so I'm going to take up your challenge of 30 minutes a day for the next month and I'm sure I'll have the confidence to quilt one of the tops sitting in my cupboard 🙂 actually when I look at my five samples from when I started a little practice a few months ago I can see improvements ! thanks for the back down to earth post and practice nudge – love your work !!

  7. Anonymous says:

    Oh Leah, I am so proud of you for sticking to your guns. I just bought a long arm in April, & I have had more frustrating hours while using it than I have had happy hours. After watching your vids I never planned to get a long arm. Then my bulging disk in my neck gave me fits every time I spent too many hours on my domestic machine. Now it gives me fits because of the frustration/stress my LA is giving me, because the stress, no matter mental of physical goes to my shoulders & neck. Now I am stuck w/an $8000 machine for which I don't know if I can get my money back. On top of that, some of the things I did on quilts on my domestic machine, I could never do on a LA-it stiffles my creativity. I often wondered if you had a longarm but just never mentioned it. Not all longarmers are snobs about domestic machine quilters. Love you girl!!!!!

  8. Aren't we lucky that there are so many options to fit the needs of so many different quilters today!

    Yes, I quilt on a longarm (maybe technically a midarm, it's smaller than most) out of necessity. I have carpal-tunnel overuse problems in my wrists and cannot hold my arms in the position necessary to freemotion on a domestic machine without extreme pain.

    I don't look down on other quilters' different choices and I hope they also don't look down on me. Aren't we all more alike than different? It's just like the rift between traditional and modern quilting between some quilters (but luckily not all!). More sad than anything else.

  9. J.C. Stewart says:

    Leah, your words apply to MANY things in life. Better hockey equipment does not make you a better goalie. New "high tops" don't make you better at sinking 3 pointers in basketball. Having the latest kitchen mixer doesn't make you a better baker. Use what works with you and don't judge what others use. My aunt made the best bread in the world and everyone told her that she needed a kitchen mixer with a bread paddle to save her the work. She never did! Thanks for all you do – you inspire me with every post, every video!

  10. Leah, I love how you cut through all the seductive marketing hype and bring us all back to the Real World! THANK YOU! I don't need a longarm machine, either — just more practice on the machine I already own. 🙂

  11. B G says:

    Thank you from a husband of a quilter with no longarm. She has denied wanting one as long as I have been offering to buy one (years). After reading your blog, I understand and will leave her to enjoy quilting her way.

  12. Teresa says:

    I love your blog and I love your opinions. I think you should quilt with whatever you want. By sticking with the domestic machines, you have maintained your accessibility to a broader audience. Not only is that a great choice for you, it's an awesome business decision. Made obvious by what you've done so far, you are an exceptional business woman. Enjoy your art the way you want!

  13. Anonymous says:

    I have to say, "You rock!" Thank you for your in depth view. My burden is lifted. Time to happily begin my journey on my domestic machine.

  14. titianmom says:

    My big concern is more than just the cost of longarms; its the overwhelming need to buy every new fabric/pattern out there and pump out hundreds of "homemade quilts".

    We've flooded the market/world with our craft since about the 1970s and on. Just go to eBay and do a search on "homemade quilt" and see what they go for: next to nothing, if they sell at all. Sellers can't even recoup their money invested, even if they use a cheaper domestic machine. Many of our quilts will likely end up stacked on a thrift store table with a sign saying, "$20 each", or worse–they'll be used to haul furniture in the back of box trucks.

    Why not just make a few, personal pieces of art of our own and stop there? The work would be more appreciated by our families and the world in general, and their value will hold over the long haul.

    My 2 cents.

    The only folks making any real money on quilting are the fabric companies, notion companies, and the artists/designers. That's it.

  15. Angie says:

    Thank you for posting this! I rescued a vintage Necchi & had it refurbished. I have learned to sew on it and I love my machine. I am sure I am not alone in dreaming that a new machine or maybe even a long arm machine would improve my skills. I did not purchase a new machine & have over the last year gone from bumbling & knowing very little about sewing on a machine to finally getting my nerve up to try free motion quilting on my machine (the quilt tops and backing materials were piling up!).

    I went into free motion allowing mistakes & blundered through a throw size top made of scraps. I had long stitches, short stitches, points in my stippling & ripped not only really bad stitching but stitched up folded over batting BUT I made it through and by the end my quilt did not look that horrible.

    I have in the last week since my first attempt finished 2 more stippled designed tops (one baby & one large throw) and am pleased to say they look much better. I am now venturing out and am so excited to try new designs.

    I will never buy a long arm machine & doubt very seriously if I will ever buy a new machine. I like my vintage tank since she takes my "newbie" abuse and just keeps going. I am still working out stitch length but it will come. I am sure the thread cutter & the needle down position on a new machine would be wonderful but I think I will just adjust my skill & buy more fabric!

    Thank you for sharing your love of quilting.

  16. Sue Kelly says:

    Thanks, Leah. I was thinking about a long arm and looking at various posts. Glad I found this one. I'm going back to my Singer 66 treadle. Only cost me $100. Grannie didn't need a $15,000 long arm, why should I?

  17. § tiff § says:

    I just found this post today…I do all my piecing, applique and FMQ on a 1952 Singer and have heard "Why don't you get a "real" machine?" enough times that it makes me want to pull my hair out….thank you for speaking up for the domestic, and proud of it, machine quilters out there

  18. Tubaville says:

    Hi Leah, I came across your website less than six months ago and stayed up all night watching videos, then spent the next week FMQing nonstop. I've been at it ever since. I stopped into my local quilt shop today to start a scrap recycling program and got into a conversation with a couple of gals. They mentioned how their quilt tops are piling up. I told them how great FMQing is once you get going and they both said "You should go into business doing that" and I thought "Hmmm that would be so much FUN!" Maybe…just maybe. Thanks again for being a great teacher and giving me the confidence to do this.

  19. Reba says:

    Great insight!! You have challenged me to stop looking for the machine that will help me free motion quilt and start practicing!! Thanks!!

  20. Marie says:

    You just posted that you did, in fact, recently purchase a Juki QVP sit down longarm. What made you change your mind?

  21. Leah Day says:

    Hi Marie – Great question! I've purchased a table mounted longarm, which was supposed to have a similar feel and movement to quilting on a home sewing machine. It has ended up being much more of a learning curve!

    The reason I decided to purchase this machine is the massive change in machine prices since this article was written. Right now I can purchase a huge bulky sewing machine with 200 decorative stitches and an 11 inch harp space, or I can spend the same amount of money ($5500) and get an 18 inch table mounted longarm with a lot better visibility. So price wise, longarms have become far more affordable so you no longer need to justify the expense by starting a quilt-for-service business. Does that make sense?

  22. This is the best post I have ever read, I'm still giggling. You are awesome and I love your attitude. Keep up the great post.

  23. I loved your text on Quilt. I have the same thought. I do Quilt by passion. I once wrote: I love to quilt. I think you fantastic shape with the line as if his hands had wings. For me Quiltar is a trip planned beginnings of creative means and purposes elegant, delicate and often cheeky! I would like to make it clear that all I know of Free Motion Quilt learned from you!
    Adorei o seu texto sobre Quilt. Tenho o mesmo pensamento. Eu faço Quilt por paixão. Certa vez eu escreví: Amo fazer Quilt. Acho fantástico você dar forma com a linha como se as mãos tivessem asas. Para mim Quiltar é uma viagem de começos planejados de meios criativos e de fins elegantes, delicados e muitas vezes atrevidos! Gostaria de deixar bem claro que tudo que sei de Free Motion Quilt aprendi com você!

  24. HelloQuilts! says:

    Re-reading this post – Love this line –

    So please stop blaming your machine for all your problems and fantasizing that a bigger, better, more expensive machine will fix everything. Chances are, it's not the machines fault.

    I think I've been guilty of this one!!!

  25. Leah Day says:

    Lol! Yes, it's easy to get into the habit of blaming the machine. The fact is free motion quilting is challenging no matter what type of machine you're playing with so it's good to always go into it with a mentality of practice and patience.

  26. perditax says:

    Yes to everything you said! I find a lot of snobbiness around sewing of any sort. I have health issues and there are days, weeks even when I can't sit at my machine. I recently started hand embroidery and I love it. It's something I can do on the days when I literally can't do anything else. I'm absolutely hooked particularly on redwork. I posted some pictures in a sewing group I'm a member of and explained what had lead me to hand embroidery and 4 different people suggested I buy an embroidery machine. I mean Why? Over the past couple of years I have seen people in sewing groups post things like " I have just started sewing and I've bought a sewing machine, overlocker/surger and an embroidery machine is there anything else I need? " These people have more money than sense.

  27. Joyce says:

    Lots of good reasons there! I don't find snobbishness because I just basically shake that stuff off. I wasn't very good at quilting on my machine and then had a wreck and shoulder/neck injury. I found that it hurt within minutes of me trying to quilt. I bought a simple (cheaper) frame and mid arm machine and could then quilt my tops again and not have to pay the big bucks for someone else to quilt them. It did take awhile to practice to finally get good results. I made several practice quilts. But it is all about what each person can do and enjoys using. I can't stand all day and my neck problems will return if I try. So I enjoy the midarm and frame and get my larger quilts done on it in a few days. I also enjoy quilt as you go for some projects. I do know that a nice machine can make everything so much easier. But no matter the machine you always have to practice. Like everything in life!

  28. coolcapri2 says:

    Your post just made me feel a lot better about not having a long arm machine. Not to long ago, I purchased a rather expensive sewing machine because I thought I would like it with all of its bells and whistles, but I reverted back to my more simpler machine because of its ease of use. However all isn't lost on the more expensive machine, I recently had eye surgery and I am legally blind in one of my eyes, however that has not stopped me from quilting altogether (slowed me down a little). My more expensive machine came with a magnifier which allows me to see fairly well with my good eye. I say all of this because things happen for a reason, I brought the more expensive machine because I didn't want to drop 10K on a long arm in hopes that I would be able to achieve greater success in quilting with that machine, when I didn't! But in the long run in order to continue quilting I needed that machine. I didn't buy the long arm for the same reasons you have listed, but mostly because I quilt for me. I quilt for fun and don't intend on making a business out of it.

  29. Ann Philbeck says:

    Hi, Im a longarm quilter on my frame, and a midarm quilter on my sewing table. I love longarm quilting better because it comes so much easier for me. I even quilt my table toppers on my longarm sometimes. Depends how I feel. I think it is so sad if anyone looks at any quilter the wrong way. Its all crafty and about how you feel about it. I love both.

  30. Thank you for this article! I feel so much better. I only learned to sew on a machine this year and now I am practicing quilting and free motion. Already I have experienced the "looks" from merchants when I told them I could not afford a $3,OOO machine. I almost gave up sewing because they made me feel that whatever I would make on my machine from online would not be any good. I'm glad I didn't. I love sewing and the creativity it brings. And I will continue to practice my free motion.

  31. Leah Day says:

    That's great! Stick with the machine you have right now and make quilts. Think about it – of course a shop owner wants to shame you into buying a new machine – they make money! The more you practice, the better you will get. I've won big ribbons on quilts created entirely on normal home sewing machines so please don't feel pressure to buy a new machine if what you're using now works great.

  32. snosrap5 says:

    Oh my goodness, I am so glad I came across this article. Blessing to my ears. I've been quilting 2 years now and love my little home sewing machine. Working FMQ is so fun and can be challenging on my machine. But I love it. I'm not perfect but improving with every quilt. Your article made realize that I can continue as I am without worrying about adding a long arm to my room. As long as I love quilting it doesn't matter how I get the job done on what type of machine. Thank you!

  33. Carol Scott says:

    I totally agree with you. I had thought about a long arm and thought it would make me a better quilter but I took one of your classes on Craftsy about FMQ and found practice practice practice is the best advice. I didn't think my domestic machine could do FMQ until then. I do like your idea of the bungee cords and others hanging from the ceiling because thats what my biggest problem has been. I have done many king size on my domestic machine and I always start from the middle but it is very hard to FMQ when the quilt is so heavy. I did buy me a better machine as my old machine throat space was 4" and moving a king size quilt through the space was extremely hard, but I did until finally it stopped working. Even when I bought my machine I was pressured to buy long arm and was told to do FMQ I needed a long arm. I told them I didn't want one and walked out to another store. If you practice you can FMQ on any machine Thank you!

  34. Mary Ann says:

    I realize this is an older post but I just found it and sometimes I am just amazed at the audacity of people who think they know best what will work for someone else. I do have a longarm. Why? Because I can't quilt very well on my domestic. I just can't seem to keep my stitches even. So I use a stitch regulator. I also use pantos so don't feel like I am particularly creative. If I had your talent, I wouldn't need a long arm either….for all the reasons you stated. I am super impressed with your (and others) ability to quilt on your domestic. You can see the big picture in a small space. That would be awesome to have that knack. You are wonderfully talented and I think while my quilting is okay, it is not original so that that makes you a much better quilter than I am. I wish people would just stop with the judging and being ugly. There is room for everyone and we can all learn from each other.
    I hope you are still enjoying you quilting as much as ever.

  35. Donna Floyd says:

    Hmmm, Interesting read. I am now considering investing in a long arm set up. So I am reading everything I can, good and bad. I do very well FMQ on my Janome 6600, but am limited to size of design with an eight inch throat. So Im thinking it wold be a whole new adventure to learn something entirely different. I have made my own suspension system and that really helps on some designs. I think for now I will rent time on a long arm near me to see how it goes and how much I like it. Thank you for your in depth thoughts that I will take into consideration.

  36. Pat says:

    Leah: I know this post was from 2011, and I just read it today. I have been machine quilting for about 3 years, only when I have time. I have made five quilts, and they have all been queen size or larger. If a master quilter or a good quilter saw them, they would say "how awful." But the thing is I completed them and have given them to family members who cherish them! I have a Juki 2010TL and another Juki F600. Between them, I could do a lot of stuff. So far,I have not practiced free motion quilting enough on either to be very good at all. Because of this blog you have written, I have decided to quit looking at big ole expensive quilting machines and be happy with the Juki sisters and enjoy what I do at MY LEVEL. I may improve or not. Thanks for your lessons!

  37. Leah Day says:

    I think that's great Pat! Use what you have, improve, get the hang of quilting and keep enjoying this craft. I have added a longarm to my setup (yes, I eventually decided I did want one after all) mostly because I was curious about this style of quilting and wanted to follow my curiosity. If you find yourself getting curious, check your local area and see what's available to rent. But yes, I agree you should be able to quilt everything you want to quilt with the machines you have right now!

  38. Thanks Leah. Once again I love your direct down to earth no nonesense pragmatic approach. This post just resolved something I’d been struggling with. I feel I can let go of it now and keep going with my set up as it is. Thanks so much. Wishing you every good thing you want out of life. Cheers. Seren

  39. Dang Girl! I am a quilting teacher…wrote a book on beginning quilting and just came back from a 2 hour jaunt teaching out of town. I saw all of those nice shiny long arm machines at the shop that I was teaching at. I patted and caressed those long arms and thought, how many classes am I going to have to teach before I can get one of these? How many quilt ” tops” unfinished will I have to show my students before I can actually quilt my class samples the way they should be quilted? I was just looking up long-arms when I came across your article, and thought, OK, good for her, standing up for a domestic machines–then when I read all the way down to the bottom, I realized it was YOU! Leah!!! Oh my gosh! You are my hero! This was well written–and was my wake up call. I am inspired. I will watch your videos, I will quilt for 30 days. I will improve, I will finish my class samples…and when you are in Houston next time, I am taking you out to dinner! Thanks a million! and Happy New Year 2019

    • LeahDay says:

      Thank you so much Carol Ann! But I should include an update on this post – I have gotten a longarm since I wrote this post. I realized two years ago that I was wrong about most of these points. While yes, I still believe you can quilt on whatever machine you want, if you’re aiming to quilt faster and finish more, a longarm is the way to go. Sorry if that isn’t what you wanted to hear! I’d still love to go to dinner!

      • Michelle says:

        As a fairly new quilter, who started on a domestic, and quilted some queen size quilts on… and then a year later was GIFTED the availability of using a long arm at my mom’s house (she had a friend GIVE it to her, and she doesn’t know how to use it) and then when my parents moved out of country for 2 years they opted to “store” it in my basement, where I have full access it to it…. I read this article thinking… she just doesn’t know! It is so much quicker and easier on a long arm. I agree with all your points about snobby attitudes and elitist thinking. But I disagreed with some of your points about the actual advantages of a long arm. So, I’m glad you are loving your new long arm! I have been saving for the last year, knowing that eventually this one will go back to my mom (I have made some progress teaching her how to use it), so that I can buy my own. What machine do you have now?

        • LeahDay says:

          I really need to update this article Michelle – I agree with you! This was written years ago, when longarms were very expensive, and the cheaper options not available, and I honestly didn’t know what I was talking about! LOL! Live and learn and yes, longarm quilting is MUCH easier and faster and more fun than quilting on a home machine. I now am a dealer for Grace Company and have the Grace Qnique 15R / 14+ and I might be investing in a second machine this summer. It’s extremely addictive and so wonderful to be able to finish quilts so quickly!

  40. PS stay in touch, I owe you a dinner!

  41. Ann Cameron says:

    Good on you Leah! I am not a purist but love to patchwork and quilt. I thought I’d be able to master quilting by getting myself a long-arm in a weak moment at a quilt show cos I only make big, useful quilts. You’re right again about the cost because my HQ Little Foot was dearer than any car we’ve owned and soooo dear to run! It never occurred to me to research the cost of the thread recommended for use before ordering. I can use anything on my 38 year old Janome and the tension is so easy to adjust, but with the HQ getting the tension right each time you change thread is a veritable nightmare. I’m only just emerging from the moronic state as far as modern technology is concerned, so it is quite a learning curve. There is so much to remember, so much adjustment, having to use a thread gauge etc. etc. takes the joy out of my hobby. I am persevering, however, and hope for some measure of perfection before the Lord calls me home; but even in retirement time is scarce, so hours of practice, to say nothing of the cost of fabric and thread is limiting. But I’m taking Cindy Grisdela’s advice and just use each new quilt to practice on or I’ll never make it. Thank you again, Leah, my non-elitist, non-conformist quilting buddy.

    • LeahDay says:

      You’re very welcome! I did end up adding a longarm and I need to update this post to share those reasons why. It’s not necessarily easy, as you pointed out if you have issues with thread or tension or loading the frame. These days the cost has come down considerably and I found many of the reasons I listed in this post well… they were based on my opinion at the time, not necessarily on fact! LOL! I’ll have an update on this out soon, I promise!

  42. Patricia Polmanteer says:

    My dream machine is a total computerized one like Donna Jordan from Grants Pass in Oregon. However.. I know it is a dream. (and we all need our dreams don’t we). I enjoy watching all you well practiced machine quilters share your craft. I love each of you on the YouTube all for different reasons but mostly to learn by watching you all and picking up tips. Right now I am bing happy making my straight line quilting look better each time. So dream on quilters and practice practice and practice more. Keep up with the great YouTube videos. Thank you..

  43. Doreen says:

    Omg Leah I’m so happy that you posted this and it encourages me to continue to do my best and enjoy my domestic machine and not regret and envy those who have a longarm machine. You inspire me and others to achieve beautiful work no matter what we have. It’s the person behind the machine that matters! Thank you so much!

  44. Marie says:

    Leah I can not express my gratitude for your words of wisdom!! Yes I started quilting on a domestic and yes 4 years later I am still quilting on a domestic. Beautiful is in the eye of the beholder and does not need to be expensive. Big quilts are a challenge but don’t give up. Practice is the key!!

  45. Judy says:

    I personally do not like the heave quilt work whether long arm or regular sewing machine. When I quilt I will do just so much like half the rows jut to hold it all together. I actually prefer the old method of tying but that no longer works for my hands. I too do not like the “snobs” of not only quilting but any sewing. I do it for me and I’m the important one here.

  46. Cindy Locklear says:

    Your article is excellent and your points of why I do not need a Long Arm are correct. I fell into seeing and buying and then my $20,000 machine sat and collected dust! When I would need help my local store was amazing but soon became tired of the time I was taking up. Finally I was told to use U Tube and learn my machine. So that is what I did and slowly ….. ever so slowly I’m learning and beginning to quilt for others. This is a HUGE investment it has taken me quite some time to learn to enjoy this machine.

    • LeahDay says:

      It does take time! There are so many wonderful things these machines can do, but we need to understand that it’s never going to be as easy as pushing a button. There is training, understanding, and a whole new vocabulary to learn when it comes to any new form of quilting. I’m really glad to hear you’re taking your time and learning how to enjoy your longarm!

  47. Genny Bresett says:

    There is a time and place for ALL types of quilters. The main goal is to enjoy the process — however it works for you.

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