I wish I had taken a picture with Shirley from OK who bought my Millennium but we were talking and laughing and she was so excited about getting the new machine and I was happy for her but kinda not happy at the same time. I loved that machine and I’m pretty sure that APQS machines are always perfect in every way but that machine was the perfect machine for me and I always worry that if I sell something I love so much, I might be sorry but . . I couldn’t get a new machine without selling the old machine.
Good luck to Shirley! I hope she loves it just as much as I do.
And we had a little issue around here . . I think it’s that Mars/Venus thing but when APQS first announced the new Millennium, I sat down and had a conversation with Vince about it and he said it was fine if I ordered the new one but he wanted me to only do it after the old one was sold. That was my intention so we were good to go.
Earlier this week, when I told him that my machine was sold and we had to take it all apart and get it wrapped and ready to send to its new home, I wish you could have seen his face! He wasn’t so happy with me. I kept saying “But, you said it was ok!” and he kept saying “But I didn’t think it would sell!” That made no sense to me but we worked through it and the new Millennium got ordered about 3:30 yesterday afternoon.
I was so back and forth about the bobbin size. APQS machines have always had the smaller Smart Bobbin size L. Many other longarms had the large “M” size and some folks wouldn’t buy APQS machines because of the small bobbin. I researched and read and could not decide which bobbin to get. I placed the order with the larger size and then kept re-thinking it and called and changed it to the smaller size. There are reasons but it’s one of those things people want to debate and since it’s my decision and it’s made and it’s the smaller bobbin . . end of that story.
I did add the Bliss Drive system. I almost didn’t. My machine was so smooth . . I can’t imagine that I needed for it to be any smoother but figured . . this will be my last machine so I’ll go for it and add Bliss.
Not sure if the new machine will get shipped next week or the next week. My guess is it will arrive around April 8 or 9. Whenever it gets here, I’ll be real happy to see it and get it set up!
Congratulations! I was hoping you’d order it right away and I hope you are just as happy with the new as you were with the old. Is there a learning curve in the change? I bought an Avante18 6 months ago and for me the curve is high! Micki
i’m glad you got your new machine ordered! congrats! don’t fret over the L bobbin. if that’s what you had before, you know how long you can quilt before having to change bobbins and know what to expect. i hemmed and hawed over an M or L, but since i was buying a used machine, when the perfect machine popped up with an L bobbin i jumped on it. haven’t regretted it yet!
Yea for you! I look forward to seeing how quickly you fall in love with the new machine!
Congrats on taking the plunge. I can’t wait to read your review once you get it set up and take it for a test drive.
You will love the Bliss System. My friend Gail ordered her mew machine a year ago and really likes it. She also has the Blixx system. When I win the Lotto I’ll be able to upgrade my Ultimate one just have to remember to buy a ticket.
That should be Bliss System.
Just get Shirley to send you a photo of the old Millenium in its new home! Perfect end to your story and the new beginning to hers!
I added the bliss system to the machine I got in 2000, It is wonderful. I thought my machine was smooth too, but the difference is like night and day.
My old machine had the L bobbin. My new machine has the M bobbin. The bobbin was so important to me that I didn’t even know it had an M bobbin till my dealer set it up and showed me. I do love my bobbins that I have now but I loved the L bobbins, too – that’s how important this bobbin issue is! I found I had a learning curve on my new machine but it’s a different brand than my old one so you might not have any learning agonies. I am sure you will bond with and love your new machine just as much as you loved your old one! Congratulations!
I am still on the fence about upgrading… I love my Millie, but I have played with the new version and love it too. But I did order Quilt Path. I tried really had to justify both, but I still quilt for customers and that QP is going to come in handy. I am sure I will kick myself later for not upgrading my longarm. Like you I would order with an L bobbin. I am sure that you are going to love your new Millie.
I knew you’d order it yesterday!! Congrats on the new baby.
You didn’t last as long as I thought you would. =) After listening to Mark’s explanation of the M and the L, I would definitely go with the L, so good for you. I look forward to all the posts as you break in the new machine! I tried two machines at the Smoky Mountain Quilters show today, but apqs wasn’t there. I’ve about decided that the differences are in the small details, and that’s what can trip someone up!
Oh what fun! That’s too funny that Vince didn’t think the machine would sell. I’m glad he was okay with it in the end. If you had stayed with the M bobbin case, you know you can still use L bobbins in it? Well, at least the magna glide ones I use. I took my L bobbins with me for the class I taught last year at MQX and had an Innova with an M bobbin case, but all went well. I hope you love your new machine even better than the last one!
Hooray! I just bought an apps machine, and I went with the L bobbin, too! Exciting for you!!!