I got to spend a day playing with this baby learning about longarming. The class was an intro/beginner class. We learned about loading a quilt on the frame, batting, thread, tension, etc. Since I have my midarm on a frame I knew a bit already. But I wanted to know more. I’m not sure I learned much. I did learn what floating means. I learned how loose the quilt should be on the frame. I learned how to lock when starting and ending. But the best part was talking with the ladies and playing with the machine. I enjoyed it. Compared to my Bailey, the long arm is so quiet and smooth. It has a needle up and down button and a bunch of amenities that the Bailey doesn’t. The Bailey is a very simple machine but it works. As much as I enjoyed playing with the Avante and the show prices are phenomenal, I kept my head and stuck with Bailey. He can do what I need right now. He’s not perfect and I have a lot of trouble quilting with it right now but I want to continue to try working with it before I completely give up.
Until the next Road, I’ll try to work with Bailey. And while I’m trying, I’ll research the other machines so I can be prepared next year.
And I met up with Dori of Hobbies up to Here for lunch. She’s just as lovely in person as she is on the podcast! I can’t wait to meet up with her and Katie at QuiltCon.
I ended the day with a final bout of shopping. Tomorrow (Saturday) is my last day at Road and hopefully, I’ll be too busy to shop. I made sure to get everything I wanted today so that tomorrow I can concentrate on my activities. I’ll be attending a couple of lectures in the morning. In the afternoon, I’ll be working my Guild’s table selling raffle tickets for our Opportunity Quilt. Then I’ll be meeting with a friend to walk with her as she checks out the quilts. My friend is not a quilter but she enjoys coming with me to look at quilts. She’s more of a knitter and but maybe I can talk her into quilting with me. 🙂
~Happy Quilting!
Smart approach on the long-arm decision. My first long-arm was not a good match for me. After struggling with it for a couple of years, I finally called the sales guy and said I wasn’t happy, and it was his job to come up with some ideas to make me happy. I ended up trading up, but the company was fair to me and yes, I’m much happier now. Now that I have more experience under my belt, I’m curious about what else is out there. I plan to try out more things when I visit the next show or two, not to buy, but for research. Buying can wait, as long as what I have still works at least as well as it does.
Have fun with the show.
Thanks Melanie, I’m glad it worked out for you. I’m going to do the same thing! 🙂
I have loved all of these posts. Having been there many a time, I can walk through it all in my mind. I’m glad you had the opportunity to use the Avante for quite a while. If you can find classes with an APQS, Gammill or Nolting, or best yet, Innova, you will find they are all even better! The Innova is my personal favorite, but that one’s expensive. They’re all good, though!
Thanks Susan! I’m definitely going to be putting this as a must do at next year’s Road. I’m glad I was able to help you experience the show vicariously through me. 🙂
It was such a pleasure meeting and sharing with you Melanie! I’m looking forward to seeing you again next month at QuiltCon. We’re going to have so much fun! You’re an inspiration, my friend!
Hugs,
Dori
Thanks Dori, it was so much fun meeting the person behind the voice. I haven’t heard the recent podcast yet but plan to over the weekend!
Yay!! She sent me this picture while I was trying to keep the lid on a class of 6th graders and was SO jealous! I can’t wait to meet you in February!
Definitely Katie! So excited for QuiltCon!