Inspira Quilting Frame Manual

I had the Pfaff Grand quilter with Inspira frame, same as the Viking. The first time that I used it I knew the quilting space was too small.

• Inspira Quilting Frame Parts List

It was a PITA to advance the quilt and keep everything even. I quilted 10 - 15 quilts on it, the last being a king. It took months for me to finish the king because I hated using the setup. By the time I got to the last borders I quilted what I thought I remembered I had quilted on the first borders, but of course it was different.

As the quilt rolls on the takeup roller it consumes throat space and you could end up with only a couple of inches of space to quilt in, so quilt motifs have to be small. I was a very new quilter at that time and did not know much about the quilting process.

The machines are good but the Inspira frames not so much. I have not kept up with the advances in hobby quilters but I think that they have come a long way since the days of the Mega and Grand quilters.

If she spends some time shopping and is willing to spend a little more money I think in the long run she would be happier with a different setup. Thanks for the great advice. I'll pass it along to her. She's an avid piecer and DSM quilter who works at my favorite LQS. She is ready to take the next step, but I don't think she'll be happy with this set-up.A local sewing machine dealer has her Millie for sale with a 14' table for $8500.

I steered her in that direction because the Millie is off the table and sitting in her shop window-no way to test it so I think if it sits there for a couple of months she'll take a lot less just to move it. Anyone interested in this Millie, shoot me an email and I'll direct you to the shop (Olympia, WA). I paid $1199 for my Pfaff Grandquilter new, years ago. The Viking is supposed to be the same machine. I adored my PGQ. It did an fabulous good piecing and quilting on the frame. But the 9 inch throat was really limiting.

I wish I had kept it for piecing.I, too, would steer her towards a slightly larger throat. There are so many used machines to chose from these days at great prices. I bet she will find something she loves!Linda, it seems there was a gal in the town of Brookings who was selling her Millie in case your friend is interested. It may have sold already but possibly is worth a shot. I'm another one who started off with this machine (Mega Quilter/Original Inspira frame). It was the first & only frame machine that I'd ever seen - around the same time Kay got hers.

It was good enough to get me hooked on machine quilting on a frame. Mine worked fine, but after you had rolled the quilt a few times, you were down to less than 3' quilting space. I sold it for $1,500 I think, or maybe it was a little less to somebody in my guild. I also went to her home, checked her set up and gave lessons to her & her 3 friends. She hasn't come back to me with any complaints.

She didn't want to spend more money at the time on anything bigger & figured that she could always sell it at some point in the future. I did remove the feed dogs. There is so much more available today.Buttonflower.

I would really encourage your friend to explore other options. If she is looking for something 'entry level' to just quilt for herself something like a second hand fun quilter on a hinterberg frame might work for her. Very user friendly, decent SR, nice stitch, runs any thread, great Nolting support and like apqs they don't care that you are not the original buyer.

The frame is inexpensive but very stable and sturdy. Between the limited quilting and the wobbly flex those frames have, I think she would be frustrated and quickly outgrow what she is looking at.Claire.

Linda: I've used several different longarms over the last few years, and this is what I've found. Unless the machine is of industrial quality, and the table likewise, you will eventually end up being dissatisfied with it. The 'bells and whistles' that come with the machine are not nearly as important as the design and manufacturer's support.What I tell my friends is, to only buy an APQS, Gammill, Nolting, A1-Elite, Prodigy, Innova or Ken-Quilt, and then only the big aluminum purpose built machines, not any 'streched' machine.

I say these because I know they will perform and that the tables they come on are up to the task. To me, it doesn't make any difference how old the machine is, and if budget is an issue, an old unregulated machine like an APQS Ult1 or 2 will work fine. If you can't afford one of these, save your money until you can.

Buying anything else will just frustrate you, and Lord knows there are enough frustrations with good equipment. All of these machines have good reputations for customer support.

Inspira Quilting Frame Parts List

If I had known this when I began, I'd have saved myself a lot of money. But then I guess, we all have to pay for our educations. I don't like the Tin Lizzys, HQ's and the rest of the second line machines, even the purpose built ones, because the frames/tables just don't measure up and I don't think the customer service does either. Who can do good work on a flimsy platform? Well there you have my fairly well informed, I might add, opinion.