Lori Posted April 16, 2013 Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 Help! I'm getting ready to finalize my order today, and someone put the bug in my ear that I should consider the Millenium with V and H channel locks, as opposed to the Freedom (which I was planning on ordering), which has only the horizontal channel locks. Can I please get some input? opinions? advice? Is it worth the extra $600? HELP!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted April 16, 2013 Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 the other feature that the Millennium gives you compared to the Freedom for the $600 price, is the lower thread cutter. I guess I see it this way, the cost is a drop in the bucket now compared to wishing you had them later! i rarely use my thread cutter or vertical locks...but i wanted to have all the features when i purchased my Green Millennium. I then purchased the Liberty secondhand, and it doesn't have either feature and I am okay without them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgardog Posted April 16, 2013 Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 I just got a new Freedom myself. If you ever plan on going with a computer, you don't need the locks. My Intelliquilter has them built in. Thanks to Bob Ketcham for saving me the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirleyl Posted April 16, 2013 Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 Personal choice. I do use my channel locks but not the thread cutter. If it is in you budget do it and if its not there are clips and clamps you can use to do it it just takes more time. I know not much help. I don't use them a lot but I do use them. Shirley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janette Posted April 16, 2013 Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 never needed them myself..... ask yourself when you would need them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apylinski Posted April 16, 2013 Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 I have both H and V locks and the lower thread cutter. Love them all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltlover03 Posted April 16, 2013 Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 I have used a Freedom since 2007. I make a lot of whole cloth quilts and coverlets and when I need the channel locks, I just use clamps. The price difference as well as the lighter weight of the Freedom over the Millennium are a consideration for me. If money is no object, or weight does not figure into the equation...go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janice Posted April 16, 2013 Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 I have a Freedom and love it. I never miss the chanel locks or the thread cutter. I hope this helps. Janice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg Posted April 16, 2013 Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 I have a freedom and use clamps when I need them. It is no big deal. But, I know I would use them if I had them. If you can afford it, get them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted April 16, 2013 Report Share Posted April 16, 2013 I use the channel locks on every quilt. For stitching they are invaluable for piano keys and close parallel lines. For keeping the quilt square and controlling fullness in blocks, I use the locks to run along the seams and pin into square. I use the thread cutter as well but it's not essential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachside Quilter Posted April 17, 2013 Report Share Posted April 17, 2013 Like Linda R, I use my channel locks with every quilt! I wouldn't be without them; they are one of the reasons I chose APQS! Love them!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delld Posted April 17, 2013 Report Share Posted April 17, 2013 Ditto Linda and Vickie!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anniquilter Posted April 17, 2013 Report Share Posted April 17, 2013 Ditto Linda, Vickie and Dell! Hardly ever use the cutter but I use the channel locks with every quilt just to keep them square as I baste the horizontals and verticals and with many quilts throughout the quilting. Would hate to be without them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted April 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2013 Thankyou so much everyone for your input. I've really come to rely on all of you out there when I have a question. All of the different answers are great, because then I can make an informed decision. Lori Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda G. Craig Posted April 17, 2013 Report Share Posted April 17, 2013 I use my channel locks on every quilt. I find them invaluable for keeping each quilt square, as well as design work. Never use my thread cutter. Best wishes on your purchase! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stagecl Posted April 17, 2013 Report Share Posted April 17, 2013 I'm probably late for a response, but I'll give mine anyway. I have owned a millie, now a I have a Freedom. I don't miss my channel locks, never used the thread cutter and I prefer the weight of the Freedom. I also feel the Freedom moves more easliy for me. Good luck with your decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandyK Posted April 17, 2013 Report Share Posted April 17, 2013 Here's a tip that APQS put up on Facebook this morning: Care and feeding tip: Positioning a new pantograph on your APQS longarm quilting machine is easy with your channel lock. Place your pantograph on the table, move the laser to the bottom edge of the pantograph, turn on the channel lock and move the machine down the table – adjusting the paper pattern as you go. You know your APQS table is square and true, so by using your channel lock you can ensure you've laid the paper pattern out straight on your frame. Once you have the pantograph positioned, you are ready to start stitching! I have a Millie and do use the thread cutter all the time. One of my reasons for buying a Millie, is the resale down the road if need be for upgrades or whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K. Szymaszek Posted April 17, 2013 Report Share Posted April 17, 2013 I have a Millie and do use my channel locks on each quilt. I do not use the thread cutter at all. I'm sure whatever one you chose will be the right one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra Darlington Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 My Liberty only has a manual horizontal channel lock, but I would like to have a vertical channel lock, too. I think it would be very helpful. I don't think I would benefit from the thread cutter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathyh Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Like other Millie owners who have weighed in here, I use both channel locks on every quilt. I never use the bobbin thread cutter. Well, okay, once in a blue moon I use the thread cutter..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IQuiltToo Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 I also have a Millie and use my channel locks on each and every quilt. I also use my thread cutter a lot of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheagatzi Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 I just got my millie a few months ago, and I love my channel locks. I use them to straighten up a quilt if the seams are a bit wobbly, to square it up, etc. I wish there was the option to have the locks without the thread cutter, but I'm glad I went for the full package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oireachtas Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 I thought that channel locks were something I didn't care one way or the other about. I am surprised at how useful I have found them to be. I think they are one of those things that if you have never had them you won't miss them but once you start to use them you find them to have many uses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 well...my thread cutter just came in handy. i inserted a fresh bobbin, and the thread got wound around the spindle to where I couldn't pull up the bottom thread...so I used my trusty thread cutter so I could move my machine and fix the bobbin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltedsunflower Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 I have a Freedom and use the horizontal lock on every quilt. I do like the lighter weight of the Freedom over the Millie. Guess you can't have everything. Don't think I would use the thread cutter from what I'm hearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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