LONG ARM MACHINES

2022  Hello Quilters:  I totally understand the frustration with long arm quilting machines and am happy to consult if you contact me, but be sure to leave contact information.  The main problem is usually the tension.  Your tension may be fine and the next project it's messed up again.  Not sure why, but you just need to check it before each project.  The tension should feel about the same as with a domestic machine.  The top thread should pull through the needle easily but not too loose.  For the bobbin thread:  if you hold the thread and let go of the bobbin, the bobbin should fall a bit, about 5-10" of thread and then slow down and stop.  If too tight, loosen the little screw, if too loose, tighten it a bit. Look at the stitching.  If there are bottom threads showing on top, either loosen the top tension or tighten the bottom tension, depending on which one needs it or play with it until it's right.  And visa versa.

Sunshine 16 Quilting Machine and Q'nique 21  Some quilting pictures and commentary
Quilting on Q'nique 21
 
You can't see the quilting but it's scotty dogs and heart balloons and it's pretty cute

Quilted with bears, trees, moose, and clouds using the Q'nique the laser to trace a drawing and create the quilt design

bear, bunny, fox, and raccoon design

Quilted with stars and loops on Q'nique 21

Kate's quilt

Ryan's Graduation Quilt Q'nique 21

I love this new machine in 2017 (although can't help feel a bit guilty as the cost would've covered paying someone to quilt all the quilts I'll make in my life, maybe-- we'll see -- And my neck starts aching, even though truly, I do enjoy it!  It has a laser that you "draw' follow lines on your design on a paper on the back and it quilts the design onto your quilt.

This section is to document my progress, ups and downs, with my Sunshine 16 midarm quilting machine.

Sunshine did a great job on this one!

I thought I broke my Sunshine 16 but somehow it ended up quilting better than it ever had before!

I was really happy with my quilting on the Sunshine 16

Update Sept 2015--  I just sent this email to someone and thought it may be helpful so am publishing it here. 
Hi --------,  I have very little experience on other quilting machines so can't compare.  I had quite a negative experience with my machine at first, but with time, practice, perseverance, and patience, I'm happy with it

Initial problems:
1.  Learning to load the quilt (I've gotten much quicker at it over time)
2.  Thread kept breaking or shredding.  This was horrible because I had to constantly re thread and it took so many more hours.
3.  Learning to adjust the tension to get a good stitch on top and bottom.  I've gotten much better at this but it can still be a challenge.  Key is when I want to adjust, I have to do it in the smallest increments, little by little until the thread stops shredding (if too tight) and stops coming out of one of the loops (coming unthreaded if too loose which is horrible because the stitch is fine on top but on the underside its terrible)

Things that have been helpful:
1.  I took a few classes from a local shop on a different brand machine which was somewhat helpful.  
2.  A lady on the sunshine 16 yahoo group let me come to her house and gave me some pointers which were 1. Use Glide thread and 2. Don't move the machine so fast and try to move at an even pace.
3. I've also learned to listen as I quilt and notice certain sounds which key me in if that loop comes unthreaded or to check to see if the stitching is good.

Ideally if money were no object I'd prefer one that is automatic as even if the process goes smoothly, it's still time consuming and a lot of strain on the neck and shoulders, but then again if money were no object, I'd take my quilts to a quilter because they do such beautiful work! 

Swirly quilting in the negative spaces Sunshine 16.

Getting better at feathers

Update:  August 2014--  Since I visited Ronna (another Sunshine 16 owner) I have been doing much better.  One of the main helps is using Glide thread and sewing slower.  I've also learned to load and adjust my quilts better on the frame.
Three latest quilts completed and you can click on pic to go to the original post:

There is definitely a big learning curve when learning to quilt on a midarm machine on a frame.  The price was inexpensive and I've actually quilted a lot on it-- but also been vexed, irritated, stressed... so far I've persevered, but can't say I've come anywhere near mastering this machine.  update-- I'm doing much better and because I'm quilting more (due to less problems) hopefully I'll continue to gain expertise.


TEN quilts completed.

So excited to get my new machine in the mail.  April 2012.

It is very pretty!

It was tricky setting up the frame.  Luckily I had some help.

Practicing, practicing and very antsy to start quilting real quilts.

1.  First quilt.

Not bad for first try on a real quilt.

There are so many variables that can mess up your quilting:  thread, frame poles (--not too high, not dragging on your machine), TENSION, even my backing fabric-- it seems if I use cheaper fabric, it doesn't work.

It's so exciting to be quilting my first big quilt!

2.  Despite having to pick out a lot of bad stitches, and having to rethread very frequently, the finished product while extremely flawed, doesn't really show the flaws and still looks beautiful!

My daughter's rainbow heart quilt

I wanted to stitch hearts and swirls, but again, it was only the meandering stitch that would work.  More repeated picking out. Luckily the meandering stitch is a wonderful quilting stitch.

3.  This quilt was made for my daughter.

On this quilt, I tried quilting circles, but no matter what, I couldn't get it to stitch without problems.  I picked it out over and over, changed threads repeatedly, messed with the tension and finally changed the backing fabric and went back to the meandering stitch.

4.  And once again, the finished product was pretty forgiving of all my errors.

Again I tried to do something a little more creative and had some success.

The stripes made a natural boundary in which to quilt different designs.

5.  I've enjoyed this quilt a lot.

6.  Made as a gift.  I did the borders on my domestic machine with a conch shell design.  I'm always most worried about giving away quilts with the flaws and hope that they aren't too noticeable.

7.  A gift for my niece.

Postage stamp quilt   

8.  I sewed some scallop stitching along the scallop border on the domestic machine (I'm not completely satisfied so put it away for now).  I may sew yoyos as shown.  

First Quilt in 2014

9.  A gift for my sister in law.

Made for the Triangle Quilt Along hosted by the Sassy Quilter

A fishing themed triangle quilt made for my husband's birthday.  With a little helper who also likes fish!

Finally having luck with a new free motion design:  Visit the link to go to the original post to see the tip I got from Ronna, which helped me do this: