Any consumer is going to research the living daylights out of a large purchase. When it came to researching long arm machines, I didn’t know where to start, or what questions to ask. I knew the big brands, I see the machines people use on social media, I know who looks like the star machine. But I needed to know more on a personal level.

It’s like a normal sewing machine: some people swear by Bernina, others live by their Juki and some are die hard Janome users (yay!) and the list can go on and on. Each machine is designed to do the same basic thing: sew your cut up fabric back together again. But the little nuances that each machine has makes that particular machine the perfect match for that user. And with something so large as a long arm, once you make that commitment, you’re pretty much stuck! That’s going to be your machine! Sure you could return or sell, but who wants to deal with that?!

To make it a little easier to start I wrote down all the specs of each machine and the price.

Then to social media I ran. My quilting Instagram community came through big!! So many great answers to my questions, such great pointers and insight. It really helped me narrow down a lot! Of course, each answer I would reflect on and figure what would be the best for my situation.

In case you are reading this and don’t have a community to reach out to, let me help you and be your community.

When I started, I was all in with both feet. I felt I needed the 12 foot frame, the computer, all the accessories and the bells and whistles. Then I sat down and really thought what my goal was. What did I want to accomplish? At this point in my life, I am about the art of the quilting. I love the expression and individuality and human error (as long as it’s only a little bit of error) of the free motion quilting. I am not looking to quilt other peoples quilt tops at this point. So do I need a computer? Not today!

The big thing for me was consistant stitches in free motion quilting. So a reliable stitch regulator and various speed settings was a must for me.

The 12 foot frame I was wanting to go with to not limit myself on size. But then I got to thinking about how many king size quilts I’ve made (zero) and how many I really want to make (zero) and saw the 12 foot frame footprint (giant) so I went with the 10 foot frame and so far ZERO REGRETS!

In my research, I asked everyone’s biggest regrets, and really there were a few that wanted the extra space and didn’t have it and wished for a 12 foot frame. But as a whole, not a lot of regrets. People must have done good research to find their machine match!

Another great piece of advice was to go and try out the different machines for yourself. The best way to do this is to attend a quilt show in your area. I went to the local show with a good idea of what I wanted, but thought to try out the other brand I was seriously considering. I did not love the other very popular brand. Quilting on it did not feel natural to me. It just didn’t feel right (and the reps on the floor were less than enthusiastic and helpful, which I know varies and has nothing to do with the machine, but it added to the overall vibe)

After revisiting the machine I thought I wanted, and then the other one I was considering, I knew I had made my choice and was ready to sign my life away on the dotted line. So exciting and so scary at the same time!!

I knew for my personal needs and space, that Amara by HandiQuilter was going to be my girl! She’s a little bigger than I think I realized once you save the space around the machine needed (and I got the 10 foot frame!) , but I made it work in my space. I’m one week into learning about her nuances and I have learned A LOT (it’s not really the same as a sewing machine like I thought it was). I am so excited for this adventure and I love being able to share it with you!

Part 3 is up next: what did I get into and the learning curve