Favourite quilt pattern: I love all of the Elizabeth Hartman Ives, but in particular the flamingo. Still haven’t done it though.
Favourite quilting tool: I’m with @AIMR add a quarter ruler, it’s so handy for FPP
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My partner helped me to see that I need some low key projects right now that are no stress, and I enjoyed sewing the mush pouch so much that I wanted to make more pouches.
I got a Ruby Star Society fabric scrap bag which had an awesome octopodes on pink strip in it. I planned a pouch with the octos on point in the middle of a log cabin block.
Then I remembered that Manx quilting exists, and so now I’m going to do the logs as Manx quilted strips.
So much for a low key no brain project… 
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You should nominate that block as one of the monthlies! Looks like a good one to use up stash and can be done in a lot of colorways!
That octopus print is fabulous to showcase!
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@AudiobookLover --hey, a few more days until the Mystery Quilt! Are you happy with your fabrics? Are you going to prewash them?
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I need some advice and opinions my lovely people.
So I have been making quilts for about 40 years, I like piecing, but tend to stick to straight line quilt in the ditch type quilting, as I use a regular machine. Quilting is not my favourite part of the process, but pinning is even less so!
I have many other hobbies, so I would say while quilting is the oldest one, I make maybe 10 quilts a year, and give most of them away.
There’s a long arm machine on sale, it’s a juki quilt virtuoso pro, machine and frame. Seller bought it second hand, but it’s apparently been pretty lightly used. They want the equivalent of $6k, same machine new in my country is about $15k so it does seem to be a bargain.
I have the space for it, (but in the flat below my house, not in my actual studio) and heaven knowns I’ve enough fabric on my shelves to make about 100 quilts. I’m just second guessing myself and wondering if it’s a good buy, and if I would use it enough to justify the purchase. And who the heck do I know that still needs a quilt from me. Buying it wouldn’t leave me financially short in any way.
Anyone got opinions? I am going to look at tomorrow and try it out, seller is relocating so I would have to decide tomorrow, and collect it in the next few days.
Honestly I don’t know if I want someone to talk me into or out of the purchase. My husband thinks it’s a bit daft, but he is with my daughter on the idea that I can resell it if I get it out of my system. The rest of my friends reckon I should go for it.
It’s not about the money as such, although it is a big chunk of change, it’s that I don’t want to have a bit white elephant on my hands, or worse something else that I feel guilty that I’m not using!
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I have had this discussion with myself as well in the past.
I think the first clue you need to look at is that the seller bought it second hand (the first seller no longer had it as a priority on her list…) and she is now selling it as well…will you be the third seller?
10 quilts a year, so if you only used it one year, that is $600 a quilt. You would have to justify it with either volume…personally making more quilts a year or the equivalent of 30 or more quilts to equal what it would cost for basic long arm services from someone else (I know I have paid about $200 to have a larger quilt done).
Would you only do your quilts or perhaps Molly will make more quilts as well? Would you want to quilt for others to get paid?
If finances are not the issue, it may be that the machine would let you enjoy the part of quilting you enjoy most…making the tops…the piecing, the color and fabric choices…you might actually quilt MORE knowing the part you dread would not be so hard on you physically and mentally…that is worth something money can’t buy.
Do you have alternatives to doing it yourself? Any long arm services in your area? Can you continue making smaller lap quilts? Do you want to expand your machine quilting skills and make quilting more of a go-to hobby?
I have actually done less quilting as I got older and moved more into smaller projects, sewing for myself, and hand sewing.
What is the learning curve on using the machine? Will learning and making mistakes be frustrating to you or make you more determined to make it work?
Is your fabric stash large because you bought with the intention of making quilts out of all it? I bet not…you love fabrics for all sorts of projects and it will continue to be a large stash even if you never use it…don’t use your stash as a reason to make the purchase if it is not…
You seem to know yourself that this purchase might not get the use you think since you do have other hobbies. But again, if you feel inspired to make more quilts because you can do more machine quilting easier, you have the space and the funds, I wouldn’t feel guilty at all.
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It doesn’t seem that not having a long arm has slowed you down from quilting. And if the quilting part isn’t your favorite and you don’t have a strong desire to do more than straight line quilting, I’d pass.
If you did get it do you see yourself using it more than a few times or would getting it all setup end up being too much hassle and you’d go back to your current methods?
Was this something you went looking for or stumbled across and are only considering because its a good deal?
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Excellent last question…I often buy stuff because I just came across something or everyone else had one, but would never have purchased it if I never saw it.
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To offer a counter point to previous comments…
You said you mostly do stitch in the ditch quilting. I assume the reason for that is it’s the only thing you CAN do with your current setup. So you probably don’t love the quilting because it’s not fun to wrestle a whole quilt through a domestic machine. But, I know you DO enjoy drawing and painting. Long arm quilting is like drawing with thread.
You enjoy collecting new hobbies and skills. I honestly think you might enjoy long arm quilting, and learning a new quilting skills with the right tools. Right now you’re probably struggling to pull a quilt through a domestic machine. But I think you’d find “drawing with thread” a lot more fun. Especially if you weren’t hunched over and miserable.
Don’t base your choice on the math. It doesn’t matter if you make 10 quilts, or a hundred quilts with it. We don’t craft to make the numbers work. We craft for the joy it brings us. You could make 100 more quilts on your domestic (being annoyed by the quilting process each time) and live to a ripe old age of 112. You could buy the long arm, and have a fantastic time making 3 quilts before getting hit by a bus.
Let me ask you this: have you watched videos of how the machine works? Do they spark interest? Are you curious about it? Excited to play? Or do you feel like you’re only going to see it because you’re somehow “supposed to” want it, even though you’re heart’s not in it?
I’d advise you watch some videos before going over there. Do as Marie Kondo says and ask yourself “Does this spark joy?” You remind us all the time: Life is short. If it looks hella fun, and if you have the money (without putting yourself in financial jeopardy), then go for it.
úsáid a bhaint as an stuif maith.
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100% this
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This…
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Today’s Bingo Prompt:
Use your seam ripper
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Which machine is it? I have a Juki TL18QVP and a DX2000QVP which are both amazing machines and I’d rebuy either one of them in a heartbeat. I know people frequently put the TL18QVP (and the other slight model variations) on a frame for long arming. If it’s the TL18QVP or any of the other TL straight stitch machines with large throat that can be taken out of the frame and used as a regular machine, I’d be more inclined to get it.
Edited to add - looking back at the price point I’m guessing it’s one of their larger long arms and not a TL put into a frame. I really love the build quality of my Jukis and would recommend the brand.
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Thanks everyone for your input, it was all really helpful. I really appreciated both the head/logical responses and the heart ones.
I looked at it and have put down a deposit, I’ll be getting it on Sunday.
@MistressJennie what you said about not needing to justify it beyond it as a creative practice was really helpful.
And also @photojenn question about did I jump because I saw it for sale, yes I’m a way, but the thing is this is literally the first ever machine I’ve seen second hand on sale in Ireland. Quilting is still fairly niche and they just don’t come up on the second hand market. If I decided next year to buy one, it would mean importing from the UK at an additional cost of thousands.
And @AIMR your points about moving towards smaller crafts was also really helpful, but in the opposite way. Not having to crawl around on the floor and wrestle a lot of fabric is a huge attraction.
I also spent over an hour this morning going through all the pros and cons with chatGPT, I find it a useful tool to organise thoughts. I decided to wait and see what my inner voice said when I saw the machine (it said yes, followed by ‘i want this’)
But in the end with all your help I’m not buying this because I need to make more quilts, or better quilts.
I’m buying it because it solves physical strain, gives me creative options, and may unlock a new kind of joy.
If I don’t use it much — that’s fine. I’ve bought the chance to try something I’ve wanted for decades.
I’m now having lunch beside bunratty castle, girding my loins for a difficult conversation to be had shortly. In the meantime this the the view from my lunch table.
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We all knew that you already had worked out both intellectual and emotional reasoning for this purchase. In the end, you do have to make a decision based on your own thoughts and feelings. Once the decision is made, you can now enjoy your choice and rejoice knowing that you have a tool to help you do something you love! Excited for you!
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Good for you darling! I hope lunch was lovely.
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Oh my gosh, yes! Get it! You’ll never regret trying something new but you may well always long for this opportunity going forward. How fun! I look forward to your stories of frustration & triumph! There’s sure to be some of both, & projects to ogle too. Yay!
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@LittleCogs, I agree with AIMR, you should nominate that as a block for our BOMs! We still need block for the last four months of the year. Also, your pouch would work perfectly for our May Prompt -
Inspired by:
Pop culture, octopuses, or the Arctic
Plus don’t forget to submit your mushroom pouch as a project. If it doesn’t fit in with the prompts or challenges, you can always submit it as a personal finish.
@AIMR, I mostly liked my fabrics. I wasn’t able to make out all the details of the main fabric when I saw it online and I have to admit, when I saw it in person, I felt like there was one little bit that was throwing off the entire design for me (but I don’t want to say what it was because if you don’t see it like I did, I don’t want to plant the seed in your mind, lol). So, I took my sharpies to the fabric and made a few small modifications. I am now much happier with it and looking forward to the mystery quilt! There was a nice little note included with my fabrics and you were mentioned! Deb says she’s looking forward to the solving the mystery with you and me 
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Congratulations, @Edel! How great to have such an opportunity and even greater to be able to seize it! I’ve tried a couple of longarm machines at quilt shows and they are so satisfying to play around with. I am really excited for you and to see all that you do with your new machine!
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Was it the white bug eyes? I know it is an aboriginal design, which I really like all the pattern and colors, but those bug eyes creeped me out… 
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