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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 12, 2007, 6:53 PM
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| I don't have room, (nor the cash) for the regular HQ-16 machine, but I do have room and the money for the sit down one. Do any of you have that model and if so how are you liking it? |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 22, 2007, 11:51 AM
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This is the third time I have tried to post an answer to your question. So my answer will be short, since I forgot to copy the text first, I don't want to have to rewrite the whole thing again without knowing that it is going to post. I have the HQ sit down and really like it. I will write more specifics once I know everything will post correctly. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 22, 2007, 11:55 AM
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| This is a pic of me at my HQ. After doing some extensive looking, I decided that I would not want to stand up to quilt all the time. Also raising my arms to hold the handles and guide the needle was pretty hard on my neck and shoulders. The table is a nice height and I will have a custom set of shelves or table on each side of the machine, even with the table height, to keep the weight of the quilt evenly distributed and so it does not fall off the table. Right now I am making do with some cheap shelving. I will write more later once I hear from you. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 5, 2007, 7:04 AM
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| I have a quick question about the sit down version....does it have the stitch regulator? and if not, can it be added? or even should it be added? (ok, I got carried away, that's 3 questions!) Thanks in advance for any info |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 6, 2007, 9:36 AM
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The sit down version does not have the stitch regulator. I don't know if they will try to have this as an added feature in the future but for now the sit-down version's stitch regulator is YOU. The needle down function enables you to tap the foot control for "stitch at a time" at the beginning and ending of your quilt line, which is good. That being said, the HQ foot control was my biggest problem in the beginning. It was either one stitch at a time or 90,000 MPH... I called customer service here and they were nice at giving me some tips but I still struggled. Finally, I think I whined about missing my Bernina foot control since that gives me a lot better control. The fellow at customer service told me that my Bernina foot control fit the HQ. I tried it and it was like a new machine! Motor speed control is a big part of even stitching and once I had that down I could focus on moving my hands at a proper speed that was consistant with how fast I was operating the motor. I recently purchased an extra foot control so I didn't have to switch back and forth with my Bernina. If you have a Bernina electronic foot control (comes with mid-line machines and above), you're in like Flint. If not, ask if your machine's foot control will work. If you would like to try a Bernina foot control, you can check with a friend who has one or simply purchase one from a dealer. They are around $100. Even purchasing the Bernina foot still puts the HQ sit-down machine and table far below the price point of other comparable machine setups. I can do small projects with my Bernina 200 with Stitch Regulator but it takes some time going back and forth between the two machines. I still like the HQ for larger projects and for free motion quilting by far. A little warm up with a fat quarter sized quilt sandwich and I am ready to go. This machine is solid, smooth and I am really glad I have this set up. Standing all the time machine quilting would kill my legs. I also like the way the machine fits in the table. You stitch at the head of the machine (see picture) and have lots of room both left and right of the needle. No bumping into the side of a machine. Though the table is small, it is solid (and heavy) and I am simply using some cheap shelving on each side until I figure out the kind of custom side tables I want, even height with the machine table. That will keep the weight of the quilt even as it slides off the table. They will go on both sides of the machine. I think I will want them on rollers so I can easily move them for whatever reason. Shouldn't be too expensive. Since this is the top model HQ, the stitch regulator can be added if you upgrade to the full pole/handle setup. This was a nice option to have in case I ever change my mind and go to the full package. The only way I can envision that for me is to get a bigger sewing room AND HQ revamps the pole systems to where you can sit down in front of it and be close to the needle. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 2, 2008, 10:08 AM
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| CherylKT, I am a new owner of the HQ16 sit down model. I really love this set up and I am very interested in the Bernina foot pedal you mention using with your machine. I am doing OK with the pedal that came with my machine, but I can see how I could improve if I had just a little finer control. Could you tell me what model and where you purchased the Bernina foot pedal that fits your handiquilter. My HQ foot pedal has an plug that resembles the serial port on a pc. I that what yours looks like? |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 2, 2008, 5:39 PM
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I think so. The foot pedal that I bought is the same one that I use on my Bernina 200E. However, I believe that the same foot pedal goes with most of the Bernina models, it's just standard on Aurora through Artistas and optional on the 220-240. I bought mine from my Bernina dealer. It was well worth the cost of the foot control since I can have one stitch at a time by tapping on the top of the pedal and 1/2 stitch x 1/2 stitch by using my heel to tap on the bottom of the pedal. When I use the needle down function, this is a nice feature to raise the needle when I want to secure or end a row of stitching. Just an FYI, the HQ staff was very helpful when I was asking about this and there may be other foot control units that fit the HQ. You might want to call them to ask just in case you are used to another machine brand and their accessories. I just finished a huge 120 x 120 patchwork quilt with my sit down model. I wish I could say that it was fancy stitching but it was straight line quilting all the way. It was definitely a learning experience but I feel much more comfortable doing straight line quilting than before. There are small rulers you can use but this was such a large project that I just learned to carefully start and stop along with looking ahead of the needle rather than right at it gave me the best results. I hope you love your sit down HQ as much as I do. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 3, 2008, 1:08 PM
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Thanks for answering so quickly. I really love my HQ-16 sit down machine. I wanted something that I could free motion quilt on but had a little more room for the quilt. This has been my wish ever since the Bernina BSR came out. I was looking at a Bernina and complaining about the harp size. When I told my dealer that I was fairly comfortable with being able to regulate my stitch length my dealer told me about the HQ-16. I tried it out and it was instant love. I have had it for about a month. I have been mostly perfecting my technique. I am an art quilter but I am fairly new to free motion quilting. I can see the big improvement in my technique already. Before now, I had not considered a long arm because of price and space. I have no desire to quilt with templates and prefer to just "draw" free motion style. I hope to hear of other sit down quilters and their experience. So far I have had excellent luck with trying different kinds of threads including rayone and different size needles. I did not like the holes left by the size 16 and 18 but have found that I can use smaller sizes with good success. I hope to see your comments and others on this forum. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 9, 2008, 3:27 PM
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picking up on your discomfort with holes from 16 and 18 needles, where did you find smaller ones? i bought my machine in houston and they only had those big ones. i'd like to find smaller ones, too. thanks. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 9, 2008, 5:27 PM
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re: foot pedal i called handi quilter customer service to find out which model of bernina foot pedals were compatible. i think their lawyers must have counselled the service reps since the previous posts. they can "acknowledge" that people use bernina foot pedals, but they can't "advise" as to any specifics because they don't "warrant" the parts being used together. bla bla. no help there unfortunately. so i called my bernina dealer. she wasn't familiar with the hq16 but was willing to look into it for me. i e-mailed her a picture of the back of my machine and the relevant portions of CherylKT's post describing model numbers. my dealer responded that "she must have a different model HQ than you because the foot control for all (except one) Berninas has a "two plug" end like the picture." so here's my question: does the plug on your pedal look like this? i don't think there's more than one model of hq16, is there? any ideas? thanks. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 10, 2008, 10:00 AM
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I called Handi Quilter to ask about using different needles because they only sell the 16 and 18's. They said they only stand behind the needles that they sell but that it would not harm my machine to use other needles if they are of the correct type. I did a search for the 135x5 needles and found that Organ makes that size in a titanium clad needle. I bought them form Allbrands and have not had any trouble with them. I too called about the Bernina foot control and was told the same thing. I first thought the plug needed to be the "serial" style that my foot control plugs into but then I noticed a small round port beside that and decided that it must use the single plug type. I have not gotten any further in my investigation. CherylKT, if you could comment more about the plug, it might help us newbies find the nirvana that you have found with your foot control. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 10, 2008, 3:41 PM
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| I also did the debate about a sit-down or stand-up mid-arm machine. I measured the footprint I would need for the large table and opted for the stand-up version since I had the space. I decided that since moving the quilt under the needle was so exhausting (I usually make large quilts), it made more sense for me to get the stand-up machine. What I have found is that the quilting goes so much faster when I'm moving the machine instead of the quilt, I can take all the breaks I need and still finish a quilt sooner with the stand-up machine than I could with my regular machine. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 10, 2008, 4:35 PM
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| I have been looking at the 135 x 5 Organ needles and thinking of trying the size 70. Do you think that is too small? What size would be recommended? |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 10, 2008, 5:30 PM
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i was looking at the 12/80 needles based on the needles i'm used to using on my juki (schmetz 75/11's, sometimes the 90/14's). maybe quiltgeek can shed some light on whether the needles translate directly from a regular home machine to a machine with a more industrial feel like the hq16, or whether we need to adjust one way or another. re: stand up vs. sit down. some of it depends on the kind of quilting you'll be doing. if you're using pantographs and groovy boards and doing all over designs, then having a frame probably works better. i've certainly heard stories of amazing efficiency using that method. on the other hand, some of us don't have our quilting plans so neatly set out before we begin. one part of the quilt usually speaks to me and i start there and then move around as i'm inspired. rolling the quilt through would feel limiting to my make-it-up-as-i-go approach. even though i've never had the frame urge, i think it's neat that handi quilter gives you the option of easily upgrading from one version to the other. the other issue is a physical one - does it matter to you whether you stand or sit for extended periods? |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 10, 2008, 9:23 PM
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I do not have extensive experience yet using the various size needles; however, I have tried size 11, 12, and 14 and have had good success on my practice quilt sandwiches. I am experimenting using the superior Bottom Line and Invisifil threads as well as the rayon threads and have not had any problems. I probably have gone through 10 to 15 practice sessions using alternate needles sizes. My quilts are generally not bed size but wall hanging size as I create art quilts. I know some threads are not recommended for Long Arm quilting but I like to try everything. In using the sit down model, I figure that I might go somewhat faster than on my home sewing machine, but I probably do not go as fast as someone with a standup model and therefore I might get away with some threads that are not appropriate at faster speeds. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 16, 2008, 9:57 PM
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add my thumbs up for smaller needles. my allbrands.com box arrived today and i just took my size 80/12 needles for a test drive. yli on top and bottom line underneath. everything looks very good. yay!! thanks, quilt geek. the size difference becomes more noticeable when i'm stitching through fused fabrics. since i use fusible often, this is a big deal. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: June 27, 2008, 1:46 PM
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Om'gosh. I didn't realize that so much time had passed since Ilogged on to the forum and missed so many posts! As for the foot control, the one that came with my HQ has a 9-pin plug on the end and is insertered underneath the hand wheel. I put my Bernina foot control in a single hole plug directly underneath it. The current Bernina foot control for my 200 is the same type of single plug. The picture you posted looks like the end plug of the power cord. One end looks like your picture (that's the end to goes to the machine) and the other end plug into the wall. The end plug that goes to the foot control is a single plug and looks similar to the power cord of a computer. My foot control is the current one used on most every model I can think of. It is optional on the current line of Activas but the end plug is still the same. I am attaching a pic to show both the foot control and HQ "plug site" Hope this helps. ***I am also interested in the smaller needles you were discussing. Are they still working pretty well? Thanks for the info. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 1, 2008, 11:35 AM
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cheryl KT, you are the woman!! thanks for the info on the foot pedal. the picture was really helpful. i just placed my order. very exciting! re: needles. i haven't done a lot since my last post, (i'm working on a new top, so no hq action quite yet), but here's a little experiment i did playing around with a new method. it's about 4" in real life. there are only a few pieces of fabric: a yellow head, a white beak, and a blue neck. and lots of little snippets of white fabric for the back. all the other detail - highlight, shadow, eye, beak color - is thread. i used plain old sewing thread - gutermann and coats and clark- and some sulky embroidery thread (30 and 40 wt). i layered one color of thread over another, which is usually a good workout for any needle. the new smaller needle (80/12) worked perfectly. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 1, 2008, 3:20 PM
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Maureenielh, I saw your post and I had to comment. Your "pelican experiment" is fabulous! I hope you will share other creations with us. I have nothing right now to share but I hope to some day have some art work to put up. I too ordered the Bernina foot controller. (Thank you Cherylkt) It has not come yet. I do not have a Bernina, so learning to use this foot pedal will probably be a learning curve for me but I know I will have finer control. I tried a friend's and I could immediately see a difference. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 1, 2008, 4:01 PM
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| When I grow up, I want to quilt like that!!!! Great job Mareen. I will see about those needles. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 2, 2008, 7:50 PM
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you guys make me blush. thanks for your kind words. i'll check back next week after my foot pedal arrives. (the holiday is pushing the deliver back. torture me!) in response to cheryl's request, here's another quilt that i did on my hq. keep in mind that i'm not even a little bit religious. this was a commission by a local church. they asked me to interpret their glass window in fabric. i did quite a bit of bobbin work and changed the tension back and forth frequently. you know how you always read that you should have a separate case for bobbin work? it's true. i just ordered another case so i don't have to put more wear on the tension screw. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 2, 2008, 7:51 PM
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| i thought i attached two images but only one showed up. here's the full shot. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 2, 2008, 8:57 PM
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Oh my gosh! That is absolutely incredible! Thanks for giving us all something to which we can aspire! Molly |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 7, 2008, 12:46 PM
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Maureenielh Your work is wonderful. I can tell you really love what you are doing. You have contributed so much as well as everyone else to this forum. I am interested in how you attached the "fence" around your table. I think that is a great solution. I too ordered the Bernina foot controller. I have not received it yet but I can hardly wait. I will report back after the arrival of my new foot controller. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 7, 2008, 7:52 PM
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my fence is simply screwed on with plain old wood screws. the back section is made of a wider board than the side - the back hangs down lower. the screws go through the back board and into the skinny edge of the table. along the side, i've got a couple of screws that run up from underneath the table and into the skinny edge of the fence. sounds confusing, but it's quite simple. this is one of those times when a picture is worth a thousand words. i did this very quickly when i was trying to finish a quilt for a deadline, so it's functional but far from beautiful. i have another sewing table that has a bigger fence AND it's painted to coordinate with the desk. i'll attach a picture another day when i'm in between projects and clean off the desk! thanks for compliments everyone. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 7, 2008, 7:56 PM
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| one more thing. i mentioned that i made the fence in a hurry. the sides are made of 1x3's - they're 2 1/2" tall - only because that's what i had laying around. my other desk has 1x 4's (3 1/2" tall), and i recommend that. that one inch makes a difference and does a better job containing the quilt. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 8, 2008, 5:58 AM
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Thanks again for the great pics. Your commission quilt is wonderful! I was glad to see that the side rails did not have to be screwed into the table itself. I was sure I would mess up any attempt to do that. Got to show that to a carpenter. Will leave DH out of this project altogether! Thanks again. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 8, 2008, 11:20 AM
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my foot pedal arrived - and i don't need to use it for a long time to know that it's wonderful!! it's like i got a new machine. aaah. it has its own feel, and it will take a little time before it becomes natural, but i was doing things right out of the box that i couldn't do with the hq foot pedal. thanks again cheryl for helping me find the bernina info. maureen |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 8, 2008, 12:46 PM
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| I have my HQ16 on a frame with the stitch regulator - if I switch to sit down quilting and get the Bernina foot controller, do I have to disconnect and/or remove the regulator? |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 8, 2008, 2:41 PM
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Mareen and Debbie I am so glad that you like the new foot control. I was already used to my BFC since I already have a Bernina but I am glad that it works for you too. Debbie - You already have the full set up so I am a little curious why you would go for the sit-down model. I just can't stand for long periods of time and my space is severely limited so it made sense for me. There is no Stitch Regulator capability with "sit-down" quilting. It's just the basic machine, table, foot control and you. I would recommend their table. It's solid. I like the way it positions the head of the machine right in front of you with open sides. I don't have to worry about the side of the machine at all and the foot control (HQ or Bernina) can give you the "one stitch" ability to pull up bobbin threads, etc. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 9, 2008, 4:27 AM
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| I'm considering changing to the sit-down version because I do much better quilting sitting at my Juki than I do moving the HQ on the frame. I would like to keep the HQ though for the additional throat space. I have back and neck issues so I'm not sure the frame is going to stay. It fits in our spare room so space is not an issue. I bought it used at a great price so that doesn't affect my decision. It basically boils down to the fact that my quilting results are much better when I move the quilt instead of moving the machine. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 9, 2008, 10:03 AM
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It is my understanding that you can't use the stitch regulator in the sit down mode without the frame. I think the stitch regulator works in conjunction with the movement of the machine. We are using the machine in a table and the machine is stationary. The method is the same as a home machine but the throat space and speed is greater. I hope this explanation helps. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 9, 2008, 10:16 AM
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I realize the SR won't work on a table set up - I was just wondering if I have to unplug or disable it to make the Bernina foot pedal work on it. Should I be looking for the foot controller that you use your heel to move the needle or will the other one work? I found a lady with one for sale but it doesn't have the dual function on the pedal. She says she doesn't think the dual function will work if you aren't using it on a Bernina. The foot pedals brand new are $150. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 9, 2008, 6:15 PM
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debbieG, I am sorry. I misunderstood your question. I do not know. I am curious though as to what port the stitch regulator plugs into because I thought the Bernina foot controller plugged into the same port. I do know that not all of the Bernina foot controllers have the same kind of plug. Check to make sure that the one you are purchasing has the same kind of plug shown in CherlyKT's picture and not the "double end" plug. CherylKT and MaurinieLH both have the Bernina foot controller and could give you better advice than I could on that subject. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 9, 2008, 8:48 PM
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I believe you need to take off the handles/SR because that is where you can attach an Ott-Lite in the same spot. Unless you have GREAT lighting already, this light is really helpful. It's not the only Ott-Lite I use but it is really helpful. Since you bought the machine used, these items would have to be purchase "ala carte" but the light came standard when I bought my sit-down model initially. If you check my pic, the light is just above the machine. In Mareen's pic, it's been moved to the front. The light is flexible and large. It's cool! Does this help? |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 10, 2008, 1:08 PM
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i just got my bernina foot pedal and it has the dual function - the heel moves the needle up/down, and the toe works like, well, the regular toe end of other foot pedals. it plugs into the single hole on the back of the machine, which is just under the nine-pin hole where the hq foot pedal plugs in. the hq foot pedal will also give you the needle up/down function, but i get much better control of my stitching with the bernina foot pedal. the hq has that delay and then wants to go from 1-60 in nothing flat, and, especially with detailed work, i want to be able to start more gradually. the bernina allows me to regulate my stitch length better as a result. and not to confuse the issue, the stitch "regulator" i'm referring to here is my hand-foot coordination. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 10, 2008, 5:13 PM
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Who has the best price on the Bernina foot controller? Thanks. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 10, 2008, 5:27 PM
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someone out there may correct me, but my understanding is that bernina is one of those brands that require you to go through a distributor and forbids their distributors from putting prices of their machines on the internet. with that said, i did find one distributor who had a foot pedal on his website, but he told me it was the last one he had and that he was going to start special ordering them in the future. dealers will generally negotiate, but i don't know how much wiggle room there is on what to them is a relatively small purchase. with shipping, i think mine was $150. and worth every penny! |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 10, 2008, 7:54 PM
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| I don't know if anyone out there other than authorized dealers sell but I did attempt to buy from a website (not a Bernina dealer). I placed the order and my credit card was charged right away. I had asked to be notified when they shipped but was never notified of shipment. After several weeks went by, I tried to contact the dealer to no avail. I tried calling and could not get through due to their mailbox being full or I got a message. I left numerous messages when I could. This same dealer was given a bad review on Pattern Review. Finally I asked for my order to be canceled and I contacted my credit card company and asked that the charges be reversed. I ordered mine through my local Bernina dealer and the price was about the same as on the website. I learned my lesson. Try to find out about the dealer before ordering and check with your local Bernina dealer first. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 11, 2008, 11:29 AM
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| at the risk of the forum police arresting me for not staying on point, i wanted to pass along an interesting find. i know that i've read somewhere on this forum that some of us also have babylock embellishers. i found a place that sells needles that they "cut" themselves. instead of $3.30 apiece for babylock needles, these are 5 needles for $6. i've been using them and can't tell any difference from the originals. the site is kindredspiritdesigns.com. fyi, the shopping cart automatically adds on a shipping charge, but if you call them, they'll charge you minimal shipping because the needles just go in an envelope with a stamp on it. they're very friendly to boot. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 12, 2008, 9:41 AM
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| Thanx Maureenielh for straying just slightly. I personally feel if it is fiber related it is not too far off topic. I hope to at some time use felting in my quilts. That is a great tip. I would like to think that the forum police read all of our ideas, and take note of our interests and needs. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: July 14, 2008, 2:56 PM
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if what you say is true, then i hope that they take note of just how much i miss the thread cutter on my juki, she says not so subtly... :) and does anyone know whether it's possible to adjust the height of the hopping foot? |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 1, 2008, 5:40 PM
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Hi Ladies! (and gents, if we have any here) I just purchased a new HQ in the sit-down table last weekend at the Long Beach IQA show. It hasn't arrived yet but as you might imagine, I'm getting very excited and anxious. I called and they said it would be shipped out on monday. I've been reading some of your messages below and I found the discussion about the Bernina foot very compelling. I may just have to get one of those! We do have a Bernina Dealer locally so it shouldn't be a problem. You said it is the foot that goes with the Artista? I'm a Janome girl so I don't know the different Bernina styles. I also saw the discussion on needles, and I see that some of you are using smaller needles in your machines. This was a concern of mine too, when they told me of the size they are sending with the machine. I, too, work with fusible on occasion, and a size 16-18 can leave a pretty big hole! I got confused when you started discussing whether or not the regular home sewing machine needles will work. So that is my question....just what kind of needles DOES this machine use? Are they round on top, or are they like the home machine needles and flat on one side? Also, about the bobbins. I'm assuming that the machine uses a class M size bobbin and I'm not sure what those bobbins look like. I have a whole box of bobbins that I bought on ebay to go with my Juki, and then later with my Janome 1600P...they are a metal bobbin, solid on the sides...is this the kind that the HQ uses? I can't remember if those were a class M or not. My other concern is with the size of the table. I see that some of you are making some pretty good size quilts with your HQ. One even mentioned a 120"X120" quilt! Did you have any problems keeping a quilt that size on the table or did you have to butt some other tables up to the side? I see one of you installed some fencing on the side...would you be able to quilt a king size quilt now that you have that fencing up? I hope I haven't asked too many questions and I hope someone is hanging around that can answer! Thanks for any help you can offer. I can't wait til I get my machine in and I can join all of you in singing its praises! Janis...aka Stitchinfool |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 1, 2008, 7:52 PM
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I don't have the sit-down version of the HQ16, but I can answer a couple of your questions. The HQ uses the kind of needles that are round on the top, not flat. I haven't used fusible with my HQ yet, but I have used size 16 and 18 needles on several quilts. I wash the quilts afterwards and the holes disappear. (I admit I was nervous about the holes when I saw them.) The bobbins that came with my machine are metal and solid on the sides. I'm sure someone else will pop in and answer your concerns about handling large quilts with the sit-down version. Good luck and have fun! Molly |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 2, 2008, 9:44 AM
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Welcome Stitchinfool, I too have the sit down model and I am having great fun. The needle used in the HQ Sixteen is round at the top. The numbers you should look for are 135x5. I called HQ support and they assured me that I could use other needles if I used the correct type. I use smaller needles because I am doing art quilts which might not get washed. I also use a variety of thread types and sizes and feel the needle should fit the thread. I also made a frame for my table similar to the one that Maureenielh shows. I modified it slightly and will try to get pictures up. I did not want to have my machine next to a wall and did not want to put more table space in as that would defeat the purpose of having a smaller table so when Maureenielh showed her brilliant design I was excited. My modification is to have the frame sit on the table and the "fence" over the edge. I can just lift it off if I want. I have a rounded edge across the front. I don't usually do large quilts but they occasionally are larger than the table. This solves any problems with the quilt hanging over the edge to cause drag. The Bernina foot controller is not a necessity and I have sewn with the original foot controller with pretty good success. That being said, I purchased a Bernina foot controller because when I tried one out, I felt I had finer control over the speed. The ramping up of speed was very smooth. I now have a Bernina foot controller and I can't be happier. I can't tell you much about the bobbins except that they are M class which is quite large. When you get your machine compare them with the ones you have. The other size frequently used in some machines is the L class and they will not fit our machine. Well that is all of the information I have except that I encourage you to call the HandiQuilter support with questions. They are very nice and helpful. I have tried to be accurate and I hope others will chip in on their advice for you. Please share your experiences with us as this forum has helped me tremendously. Good luck. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 4, 2008, 5:41 PM
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Thanks so much ladies! I do appreciate your words of wisdom. I just got my shipping notice from Handi-Quilter, well, actually from UPS, and my machine and table will be here on wednesday. I'm all excited. I'll be looking forward to coming back here and sharing my experiences with you and I'll probably have a few more questions too. I'm still a bit curious on how others handle the larger quilts on this table too, if anyone else has any input on that I would appreciate hearing it. I have a couple queen size and one king size bed quilt that I wanna get quilted up before I plan to get back into art quilting, although I do plan to make some large art quilts too. (Think Velda Newman size...LOL) So how others go about preventing drag on such a small table is of interest to me. Again, thanks so much! Janis aka Stitchinfool |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 8, 2008, 11:33 AM
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| I am a fairly new HQ owner and have been enjoying reading forum comments as I have stumbled through the learning curve! I bought the sit-down machine as I have space issues with my quilting - my husband won't let me have any more rooms of the house! When testing the machine in the shop I wasn't comfortable with the front-on use of the machine so I ordered a plexi-glass table that allows me to orient the machine in the conventional side view. This has tuned out to be VERY comfortable and flexible as I can add table space in order to quilt larger projects. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 8, 2008, 11:17 PM
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when i bought my sit down machine, i was really leaning toward turning it sideways, too. sometimes i want the needle right where i want it, and i assumed that i was going to need to be able to reach the hand crank like i've always done on other machines. well i haven't yet put on my carpenter's hat to re-do my good sewing table so that the hq will fit. instead i've been using the handiquilter table for several months now and am frankly surprised at how i've developed the ability to hit the spot without using the hand crank. at this point i'm not sure how i'll orient the machine when i make the switch. on a different note, has anyone tried thread from threadart.com in their hq? |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 8, 2008, 11:34 PM
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re: the question about whether i can do a large quilt with the fencing up. the short answer is "i don't know." i rarely do bed quilts. my guess is that it would work just fine. you might need higher fencing to contain it. i did quilt one queen size quilt before i put the fencing up, and the drag as the quilt spilled over the sides of the table was awful! i think we can scrunch up our quilts all we want so long as the relatively small part that we're working on is flat. i think my queen size quilt would fit within the fencing with no problem. the last quilt i did was 48"x48," and i found myself wishing for an even smaller table. part of the problem was the technique that i used for the top made it pretty stiff. but generally speaking, the more i can get the quilt all bunched up in a nice "bowl" around the needle, the more precisely i feel that i can quilt. when it's all bunched up, i'm not moving the whole heavy quilt, just the few inches that are in play at the moment. when the quilt is more spread out, i have to tug a larger part of the quilt and i feel like i lose some of the fine finger tip control. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 8, 2008, 11:38 PM
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and since i'm on a posting roll... i think we could use more show and tell here. i know that there are people finishing quilts out there. or just doing experiments. come on ladies, show and tell is the best part of quilting get togethers!! |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 8, 2008, 11:39 PM
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| sometimes i hit "send" too soon. my encouragement extends of course to any gentlemen reading this as well. there are some really awesome guy quilters out there. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 9, 2008, 6:45 AM
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I quit checking for a while and saw all kinds of posts for the sit down thread. Congrats Janis on your new purchase. While the table orientation was right for me from the start, it's fun to see how people arrange their perfect set up. My main reason for a larger machine was because most of my quilts are bed size quilts. My pic from June 22...long ago shows by improvised "extensions" using a couple of cheap shoe shelves on both sides of the machine. While they are far from perfect, their intended purpose was to keep the quilt from dropping of the table and creating the pulling and jerking that might occur when I am stitching. I have them on both sides of the table. When working on my 120 x 120 quilt, it did help but you can understand it's limitations since the height difference is pretty big. I originally thought I wanted long table extensions on both sides of the table so I could slide down my quilts from one side to the other but after living for this a while, I realized that I did not need such big extensions. Mareen's side fences were a great idea. My goal now is to have two 12" - 14" table extensions (with fences) that slide up to the sides of the HQ table and are the same height as my table. But that takes a carpenter (for our family) and I haven't quite decided if I want to have shelves underneath or wire baskets, etc. The additional table length would provide plenty of room for scrunching large quilts around as long as it had something to prevent it from falling off the table. Stil haven't gotten around to trying new smaller needles or new thread for that matter. I am way behind. Glad to see others are getting things done. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 10, 2008, 3:28 PM
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| Hi Again fellow HQers. Thanks for the input Cheryl, and others. I'm having a hard time responding to posts as they are on another page now and I can't just scroll up to review them as I like. Plus, I agree with the other poster that suggested that we need more show and tell here. So I took the liberty, just now, of setting us all up a group on Yahoo. Thats a format I'm used to...and so much easier to navigate. You can access this new group by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HQ_Sit_down_Model and clicking on JOIN THIS GROUP. I set it up for those of us with the sitdown models only, (or for those interested in buying the sit-down model) as I know that there are already a number of yahoo groups for HQ owners that use the frame. I hope you will consider joining. I've set it up so that anyone that joins will have to be approved. I own another group so I'm experienced in running them and I am diligent about protecting the group and its members from spam and such. On the yahoo group we'll have access to a place to upload and share our photos, and any files we may want to share. I don't expect the group to be real big because I don't suspect there are all that many of us that have the sit-down model. Plus we can choose our mail priviledges...we can have posts sent to us by individual emails or daily digest, or even just go read the posts at the home page like we do here. I have a couple of questions, one about needles, and another about bobbins, and I'd really like to talk to Cheryl more about her set up for quilting large quilts, but I'll address that at the other group now since I can't see her last email anymore anyways. I hope HQ won't mind that I am opening this other group, I can't see any reason why they would, as it can only promote it! Hope to see you all there! Janis aka Stitchinfool |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 10, 2008, 5:53 PM
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| I was unable to find the yahoo site you mentioned. I even copy/pasted the info and did not get any matches that you suggested. I found HQ16 but was unable to go anywhere else. I have never done a yahoo group and not sure I would be able to find my way around. I might try again tomorrow. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 10, 2008, 7:47 PM
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CherylKT, I was able to find the site using the following. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HQ_Sit_down_Model I hope you will try again. You might have gotten an extra space at the end or something. |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 11, 2008, 7:20 PM
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Welcome TerryK I saw your post and was interested in the plexiglas extension you bought. Although I am satisfied with my setup, I am still curious and interested about the way other have customized their sitdown HQ 16. Is this something you had custom made or was it offered someplace? I know Patsy Thompson (Patsythompsondesigns.com) has her husband demonstrate how to make a plexiglas extension for sewing machines on one of her DVD's. Does yours work like the quilting extenstion tables or does it fit into a table? Helen |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 13, 2008, 9:19 PM
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i'm curious too about whether access to the bobbin becomes challenging when the machine sits in the traditional/sideways orientation. is there access from the top? i noticed that hollis chatelain has hers turned sideways (see photo in the "ambassadors" section) but i can't tell whether the table has anything to accommodate the bobbin access. the same access issue comes up for oiling. and of course the occasional tangled thread that needs to be fished out from underneath... will you attach a picture of your fiberglass table, terryk? hope so. thanks, maureen |
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sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Aug. 14, 2008, 9:22 AM
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QuiltGeek - I ordered a custom "Sew Steady Portable Table" from Dream World. It is 36x24 and sits on top of a table I have my sewing room. I have the table up against the wall so larger quilts can't go far and the space under the "table" allows me a handy place to put tools and things I use while working on quilts as well as a secondary light table. My sewing room is rather small so I need multi-task equipment. |
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Re: sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Dec. 10, 2010, 8:03 PM
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| Can someone tell me how to post a question? I am interested in purchasing a new Sweet Sixteen sit down. Thanks! |
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Re: sit down HQ-16 version
Posted: Dec. 17, 2010, 4:31 PM
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Question:
Can someone tell me how to post a question? I am interested in purchasing a new Sweet Sixteen sit down. Answer: You posted a question the correct way. If you are interested in purchasing a machine, you can call into Handi Quilter and ask Customer Relations where the Rep closest to you is located. Our phone number is 877-697-8458, Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM MST. The Sweet Sixteen is a really nice machine. I think you would love it! Kathi Salter Handi Quilter Studio Educator |
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