Grace Quilt Frame ideas?

A few years ago, I bought a used Little Gracie which I use with my Juki TL98E (by the way, these were the two best craigslist purchases EVER).

Even though the Juki has an 8" throat, with the take up rail running through the throat, I can only quilt about 4" at a time. Don't get me wrong, I love my Little Gracie set up, and there is no way I'll ever buy a long arm ($$$). There are a few YouTube videos showing someone quilting on a Little Gracie, and the techniques used with so small a quilting space are quite different from Long Arm techniques.

Anyone else have a Little Gracie -- or some other similarly limited throat space on a frame? How do you live with such a short vertical space? What do you use for stencils or pantographs? Do you have any favorite quilting techniques you use?

I am looking forward to hearing everyone's ideas!

I have the original handi-quilter frame and I put a Janome something on it about 3 years ago. It has a 9" throat and only does free motion and straight stitch. The last time I used it was about 2 years ago (I hadn't made a quilt since then) and I loved it. I'm still a newbie when it comes to FMQ and plan on getting lots of practice this year. I have 3 lap quilts ready to be quilted this month. My more experienced friend had used it for 3 lap size quilts and mentioned that a full length quilt would probably have to be turned around on the frame to finish it.

I'm not sure this will help you. I'd like to know how other quilters handle this.

Anyone? Joyce, maybe?

I have the same set up and machine. I quilt about five inches at a time before rolling up to do the next five inches using a meandering stitch. I have the hard plastic pantograph with the stylus. It has eight different patterns. You can get the paper four inch pantograph to use. I am very satisfied with my set up as I could never afford a longarm.

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Originally Posted by madampolo

I am very satisfied with my set up as I could never afford a longarm.

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That's exactly how I feel. The 5" limitation means I have to think sideways, always sideways. But there will never be a longarm in my future unless I inherit one. And since I'm the only quilter in the family, I will never inherit one! I love being able to "drive" my sewing machine as if it were a jet plane, and the Little Gracie gives me that feeling.

Thanks for the input. And Happy Quilting!

Don't say never, look at Baileys long arms quilting machines for fun. Then when your looking at Craigslist or such you might run across a used one. They are great I use a friends and I'm buying one next month with a Gracie frame.

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Originally Posted by Davidsgirl08

Don't say never, look at Baileys long arms quilting machines for fun. Then when your looking at Craigslist or such you might run across a used one. They are great I use a friends and I'm buying one next month with a Gracie frame.

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I envy you! I was looking at the Grace site. What I have is the Grace King; however, it is set up as a Queen because of space limitation. When I bought it, a man delivered it from 50 miles away. I actually thought he had made it, but not so. My ex-son-in-law spent a good while putting it together for me. I am thankful for that.

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Originally Posted by Davidsgirl08

Don't say never, look at Baileys long arms quilting machines for fun. Then when your looking at Craigslist or such you might run across a used one. They are great I use a friends and I'm buying one next month with a Gracie frame.

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I haven't heard of Bailey's. Are these regular sewing machines with a deep harp?

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Originally Posted by GuitarGramma

That's exactly how I feel. The 5" limitation means I have to think sideways, always sideways. But there will never be a longarm in my future unless I inherit one. And since I'm the only quilter in the family, I will never inherit one! I love being able to "drive" my sewing machine as if it were a jet plane, and the Little Gracie gives me that feeling.

Thanks for the input. And Happy Quilting!

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You made me laugh. Being the only person in my family that even sews. LOL. Does everyone call you for projects? Mine used to. Some would even just show up at the door with something to sew in hand. LOL. I finally just told them, I do quilt tops.

Now they hire someone to do their sewing. Strange, no one ever offered me money to make their blouses or hem their pants or shorten their curtains. ROTFLOL, I don't resent it. I'd much rather not do it and not have the stress. I only sew for my daughter now.

I sure would have loved to spend time quilting with my great granny or my grandmother though. They did beautiful hand work. I did inherit some quilt tops. But, I ramble, just wanted to say you made me laugh with your "Inherit" thought. It's so true.

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Originally Posted by GuitarGramma

I haven't heard of Bailey's. Are these regular sewing machines with a deep harp?

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Yes, they are American made in NY I'd post the link but I'm on my phone. He has 13, 15 & 17" throat machines. I needed something affordable. My friend has the 15 pro on the majestic frame and I have been using it for months. Great machine. I'm buying the 15" with the Gracie queen $2500 package. I'm happy. He sells the machines alone as well for under 2,000. I'm just glad there's an affordable option.

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Originally Posted by madampolo

I envy you! I was looking at the Grace site. What I have is the Grace King; however, it is set up as a Queen because of space limitation. When I bought it, a man delivered it from 50 miles away. I actually thought he had made it, but not so. My ex-son-in-law spent a good while putting it together for me. I am thankful for that.

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Glad my husband can put it together lol I chose the queen for that reason as well. Plus the army moves us every few years so I have to plan for space limitations. Never know what size house were going to live in.