Back in May 2022, it was time for my Bernina Q24 Longarm Delivery Day! I waited way too long to share about it, but here it finally is!
This post will give you an idea of what it’s like to go though installation of a longarm.
I’m sharing photos of my home studio before, during and after installation of the longarm quilting machine. It took about 6 hours of setup from beginning to end, but it was worth the wait!
I love quilts! I love the stories they tell and the warmth and love that they convey and provide. After working in a quilt shop for a while, I knew that a longarm quilting machine would be something that I would love for the rest of my life. (You can read about my quilt journey here.). After much research and testing of various machines, I fell in total love with the Bernina Q24 with Q-matic longarm.
Prepping for Longarm Delivery
This is my studio before the longarm delivery. We had recently moved in, so it was pretty basic. Honestly, I like keeping things pretty simple in my workspace, so not too much has changed.
A lot goes in to getting ready for the delivery of a longarm quilting machine, but the MOST IMPORTANT thing to consider is SPACE! We recently built our house and in anticipation of buying a longarm, we created this room for it. We also extended the area at the top of our staircase (my studio is upstairs) so that large furniture, like the longarm, could have space to come up the stairs, and then turn to pass corners and make it into this room.
I bought the Bernina Q24 on the Largest Pro Frame
BUT even with those carefully made plans … they thought some of the rails might have to come in through the window! That’s because even though many of the pieces of the frame come in boxes that can be carried up the stairs easily (or at least with help), some of the rails are just…VERY LONG, so when you have to turn a corner with them, you need some space to make that turn.
Luckily, the rails made the turn at the top of the stairs without any trouble! YAY!
It took about 6 hours for setup to be complete.
You can put the frame and robotics (if you get them, I did) together yourself. My husband and I opted NOT to do that. So, we paid for installation. We were glad to have done it that way, but if we want to relocate it to our basement or something like that in the future, we would consider doing it ourselves. You get manuals for assembly, so it is possible, and people do it themselves all the time. That being said, we have 4 engineers in the family, so that would come in pretty handy!
Should You Buy a Longarm Quilting Machine?
Buying a longarm is a HUGE purchase. Not just big, but expensive. Multiples of 10’s of thousands of dollars (depending on what you get). So, you want to be REALLY SURE that you want one. If you don’t run a longarm business or make a WHOLE BUNCH of quilts, then you’d be better off using the services of a longarm quilter, like me! (I’ve been professionally quilting since 2022 and you can SOON ship me your quilt from anywhere in the contiguous United States!)
Tip: Buy from a Local Dealer
If you’re sure that you want to buy a longarm, buy from a local dealer. Why? Because when and if you need service, you want a place you can get to in a reasonable amount of time, or have in person service should that need arise. I live in Georgia and bought my Bernina Q24 with Q-matic and the largest pro frame from the Atlanta Augusta Sewing Center. When I need help, someone is available with answers or service. That’s something that has given me peace and allowed me to get moving and creating with my purchases without concerns. I’ve actually been so pleased that I have upgraded from my Juki 2010q (a terrific workhorse, straight stitch machine), to a Bernina B480 (that’s an awesome portable machine) and then I traded that for a Bernina 770 QE Plus (it can embroider too). Amazing, that’s the owner of the 3 locations of Atlanta Augusta Sewing Centers, Nick and his Dad installing my longarm. My husband and I had such a nice day with them!
In other news: I was recently at Quiltcon and was talking to a longarm dealer, not Bernina, and that brand told me that they no longer have local dealers, but do offer phone help. They will send someone to your home for a fee, or send you to another person, like yourself, who has that machine and they will help you, in their home. I’m gonna say…I was pretty shocked to hear that. While I’m sure that’s fine with some people, I was like … that’s definitely not something I’m interested in. So, find the group that best fits your needs!
the MOST IMPORTANT thing to consider is SPACE!
It’s not JUST the size of the longarm to consider
One thing that people might forget to consider is that besides the size of the longarm, you need space behind it so that the head can move and in front of it, so you can move. Consider your own body being in front (or behind) the machine. You have to account for that or this quilting scenario can get kind of constricted.
Additional Longarm Accessories I Bought During Initial Purchase
Besides the Bernina Q24, the Large Pro Frame and Q-Matic, I also bought:
Gifts with purchase vary by dealer, time of year, and brand deals so keep your eye out for your best deals! September is National Sewing Month, and the 3rd Saturday in March is National Quilting Day. Whenever there is a major sewing or quilting show local to you, like the sewing expo, that’s a good time to see a variety of long arms and possibly get a great deal.
Longarm Quilting is Physical
The sewhead is really big! It moves very easily though. You could move it with one finger if you wanted the sensitivity set like that. This is not a tough machine to handle. However, longarm quilting on a frame like this is NOT (usually, I’m sure there can be exceptions) a sit down experience. You’re moving a lot. Walking, crouching, bending and stretching are common parts of a longarmmers day. If you are unable to do those things, you might consider a sit down model with a table.
Meeting Your Height or Space Challenges
The Bernina longarm can meet some very specific height or space challenges. If you will be using the longarm with another person, and you may need to vary the height, you can opt to purchase the frame with hydraulics. If you have space requirements where you can’t or don’t want to keep your longarm with enough room to walk all the way around it at all times, you can get casters. That’s what I did. HOWEVER, you can’t have both, so decide on your best use. I’m the only person using my machine, and I wanted to utilize the most space in my studio, so casters worked best for me. It rolls super easily on my floor, but I’m sure I wouldn’t have the same ease of movement if I had carpet. So, again, consider your specific needs. Definitely don’t make the decision based on someone else’s workspace, just consider yours.
YAY! After a little over 6 hours (chatting was also a theme, LOL) my Bernina Q24 was installed. Your longarm installation time can vary depending on what extras you’re purchased.
I’ve truly enjoyed having my longarm! This is my studio today. I don’t regret this purchase ever! I love creating my own quilts and longarmming them and feel super honored with every quilt I longarm for others. Let me know if you need me to longarm something for you!
I hope you enjoyed this look at my longarm delivery day and good luck to you if you’re on this same adventure!
