When it came to choosing a Long Arm quilting machine I had two requirements.

1. I wanted something I could get in Poland. I did not want to import it from the USA or drive to the the UK and get one due to complications of customs and taxes. (If I were an experienced LA quilter, I might consider being brave and doing this for a decent price and an upgrade. Being a newbie, I am not interested in maneuvering through the hoops all alone.)

2. I wanted robotics.

I had 5 brands to choose from here in Poland.

Bernina

Juki

Janome

HandiQuilter

IPQS

So here goes. Let’s eliminate:

Janome -

I hadn’t even heard of anyone in Poland with a Janome Long Arm nor have I heard of them in the states. I decided that while I’ve used my Janome Horizons (7700, 8900, 12000) quite a bit, I didn’t want a Long Arm from that company. I’ve had to send my Horizons back for service (esp. the 8900) simply too often. Just didn’t want that.

IPQS -

IPQS I just learned about being a possibly. I hadn’t considered it. To me it is too much machine for my needs/skill level. I don’t even know what IPQS stands for! I do know it is not a beginner machine.

HandiQuilter

I am sure this machine is a good one but the price point was high - and was not at all close to where I live. I was trying to visualize getting help. It was a possibility. However, I did not see any robotics with it in the website. I did not ever seriously consider this one due to the distance from the dealer though I may have been convinced if I had known the dealer or had had some previous contact with that person. It was sort of a black hole in my mind. I had never seen a HandiQuilter at work in the USA, I don’t think.

This leaves the choices down to the Bernina or the Juki.

Both of these machines got examined at length.

Bernina

I was given a lead for a second-hand Bernina Q24 down in Krakow. I got very excited about this one due to the beauty of the machine and the size of the throat and it does look easy to use. I watched some You Tube videos about it. I then contacted the group who had it - and they did not get back with me about this machine. However, I did talk with a sales person about one as I could get a new one. It remained a possibility. The price did not seem crazy high - less than I had expected.

My only negatives were that the frame seemed to be too big (12’) for my room. That, or too small (9’). I wondered if we could customize one just for the room (from 10’-11’) - and I actually figure it could happen. Then, when I asked the Bernina sales person in Krakow about robotics, he told me that I couldn’t get robotics in Poland - would have to buy it in the states and bring it over. Hmm. I was disappointed. I convinced myself I could do it next time I go back to the states. Then I came to my senses - did I really want to mess with customs or trying to bring a 15K program and such over and try to maneuver this ‘on my own’? I could…I think….but it got moved to the BACK of the line due to these two things - the size of the frame (too big) and no robotics easily available here. Both were hurdles that could possibly be faced and crossed, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to face them.

Juki

That left me the Juki. I had seen this modest Juki back in 2018 at the machine expo we all went to in Lodz when my son and his wife were here. I had even been able to touch it and use it a bit. I liked that it wasn’t “so” big! Some machines seem gigantic and it seems hard to even get close to the quilting you are trying to do.

Anyway, I contacted someone that a lady from our Polish patchwork group suggested via Fb chat. I knew that this is was the main dealer in the area for machines and his wife does gorgeous free motion quilting. I had previously contacted Juki in Warsaw (a few years ago) and knew that they do have robotics here available. That was not an issue.

The guy on FB chat got back with me on Monday morning first thing and told me he would put me in contact with his co-worker, Damian, as he knew more about the machines. Either the next day or later that day, I got a phone call from Damian. After chatting for probably an hour about different machines and my needs and wants, he told me that he knew of a second-hand Juki available and could see about getting it for me at a good price. It was almost unused - only about 50 hours of use. (I’m going to say he’s puffing and double that - to 100 hours.) To make a long story short, this machine has the 10’ frame AND robotics. I could get it all for just under 10K USD. Not a steal, but a price point I was happy with. They will set it up for me. VAT taxes in Europe are notoriously high (about 23%) so that drives the price of these machines up even more. It’s significant.

I told Damian to “go for it” and I would go and pay for it up front - after I picked up my residency card. I had to go pay for it before they would move forward with getting it from the business they had sold it to 3 years ago.

And that is where we are. They were going to get the machine back from the people they originally sold it to, put it through a rudimentary clean up, oiling and check and then come to our house to set it up for us. Mike and I both wanted him to be here.

We had thought it would happen on Friday, however, the courier didn’t pick it up on Friday as scheduled. So, hopefully Monday or Tuesday.

Damian said the Juki Long-Arm is made with the quality of their other machines. Industrial. He said it is ugly but if I didn’t care - then this could possibly be a good choice for me. (In contrast, the Bernina is a very attractive machine.) I told him I wasn’t going to show the machine (!) (or my work in shows) - and I needed a workhorse as I literally have hundreds of tops waiting for me to finish.

The Bernina has a big throat - the one I was told about - a 24” throat, and the Juki only an 18” throat. I know that is a negative - but it is what it is.

So…I wait.

There is so much I don’t know about these machines- that all the specific terminology about them kind of goes over my head. Once I get to play with it, then I can see what others are talking about and figure it out - both the simple quilting part and the robotics AND even something as simple as putting the quilt, batting and backing on the machine.

So there you are…how I chose WHICH machine to get. Compared to most of you - the decision was basically ‘made for me’.

And I found out that the machine I’m getting only came available in July. Originally I wanted to buy in January - when I had thought I would get my residency permit. However, this one wasn’t on the market yet. I guess the business that has had it only decided to give up on their selling personalized quilted play mats in July due to a lack of interest by their customers. Over the 2 or 3 years they’ve had it, they’ve only made 30 with it. So, it’s been a giant dust collector (at least that is what I was told).

And that’s all I’ll say for now. I don’t want to start babbling on about this machine as I’ve not even seen it yet.

I just hope and pray it will meet my needs. I can’t help but see that the Lord has opened the door to me to get this one - in so many little ways - the timing, the money part, the size of the frame, the fact that I’ve seen another one like it before etc.

So…I will let you in on what happens from now on. Later.

Thanks so much for coming along on this journey with me! Thanks for reading!

Have a great day wherever you are reading!

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