You are not logged in. Login or create an account
|
Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 2, 2010, 12:04 PM
|
| I regularly visit another forum on which there is so much more activity, sharing, problem-solving, etc. I also log on to this site regularly, but there are weeks that go by with no activity. Where is everyone? Is there something about this site that would entice you to be more active? Maybe Handi-Quilter could update this site to make it more user friendly so we could be a more "active" forum. I enjoy all the friendly banter, helpful hints, and general comeraderie (sp?) of the other forum I visit and would like to see that here also. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 4, 2010, 6:59 AM
|
| This used to be a very chatty site until the most recent site upgrade. I used to log on every morning and find new subject and discussions. I really miss my morning chats. I like that we can get an answer from HQ16 support pretty quickly, but miss my friends in quilting. Don't know what the problem is but would like the name of any other chat groups that discuss HQ16s. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 4, 2010, 7:35 PM
|
|
I'm new here! I'm Parm and I have a problem.......no I mean I have a HQ16!
I love my machine, still learning how to use it properly. Purchased my machine in 2008, but haven't really used it except for some ppp, how sad is that, lack of time (what an excuse!). This year I promised myself I will use the machine but first I need to piece some tops. So right now have 3 quilt tops on the go. Will post pics as I go. I sure do love the new HQ Fusion though, one day I will definatley upgrade. (Is there a problem with this site, sometimes the forum messages take forever to load, maybe that's why users don't post much). Parm |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 6, 2010, 2:46 PM
|
| I will say the slowness of the site is one of the reasons I don't post. I even have high speed. Going from one screen to the next takes only a few seconds but when I am sitting here awaiting to want to read entries those seconds seemed like minutes. I too am a real new HQ user. I don't have one of my own. I rent the use of one at my local quilt shop. I need to get used to it. Based on what I have been reading from others, it is like flying. The more hours you put in the better. Since I have four little boys I have a very hard time to get away for any length. It doesn't stop me from continue to piece tops together. I am hoping that when the weather is better I will have more opportunities. The quilt shop that has the HQ is located in the mountains with odd hours. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 7, 2010, 8:02 AM
|
|
For Pam and Sabrinaquilts--
No practice is wasted time or effort. I'm new, too, and all my "practice" pieces are quilts for charity. It's great practice and you can get sheets at garage sales or thrift stores, put a couple together with batting between and practice to your hearts content. And when you are done, you have a nice warm quilt to donate to a homeless shelter or other charity. I've done some that turned out so nice I kept them! I know it's hard to find time to quilt when you have little ones - I kept saying "one of these days when I have the time", now my youngest is a senior in high school and I actually DO have the time and it is great!! Keep at it and you will have lots of tops to quilt when you finally get the time. But enjoy this time with your little ones, too. Making memories is sometimes the most important thing! |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 7, 2010, 4:41 PM
|
| Thanks for your wise words! That is what I keep telling myself. As you know with children, you have good days and you have bad days. I can't wait for my kids to be grown and moved out. I already have plans on what each of their rooms will be like a HQ 16 quilt room. The best I can say for myself is that I am managing. I know others can and have done better. I am interested in all of us aquiring good memories while growing up. My New Year's resolution is to quilt happier. That means to organize my makeshift sewing room better so that I am not just moving piles around to get to use that surface. Questions: How many quilts later did it take to feel like you can hop onto the HQ and go without having to go through a mental flight check list? What are the quilt sizes? Did you quilt continous patterns in the beginning or did you do fancier stuff? Inquiring minds want to know! |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 8, 2010, 1:38 PM
|
|
Sabrinaquilts,
Thanks for your reply. As I said, I am a new to the Handi-Quilter, too. I'm still at the practice stage, and I am doing mostly freehand loops and meander with a secondary motif thrown in, like a heart or a star. I have done some ruler work, and that was a lot more difficult. My HQ-16 is in the sunroom, so right now it is pretty cold in there (central Indiana), so if I intend to quilt, I have to plan ahead and heat up the room. Hopefully it will warm up to above freezing one of these days and then I can get back out there!! I want to try the Continuous Curve or Terry Twists that I've read above on another forum (APQS), and that's what I think I'm working up to. Right now I'm working on a T-shirt quilt for my son who will graduate from law school in May and I think I will just meander that. Also have promised 4 memory quilts to my aunt to be made out of my uncles clothing, but haven't started that yet. I will probably do something simple on that, too, as it will go faster. What are you working on? I like to know what others are doing also. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 8, 2010, 4:02 PM
|
|
Wow! You are more skilled than just a beginner. I am still getting the hang of meandering. When I get the chance to rent the HQ 16 again I think I might try some motifs or maybe a feather border. I am not sure. I know my biggest problem when it comes to quilt is deciding on the design. I bought the three CDs to help me get ideas. I have yet to stay awake through all three. The ruler method was demonstrated on the CD. It looks very easy but you said it was a little difficult. I thought I can always fall back on that but I guess not if that will take some doing too.
I had completed several quilts over Christmas so I have been busy stitching up labels. I have several projects in certain stages because of ongoing quilt clubs. Several of them I had to quilt because two of my four boys will be starting basketball and their games are on Saturdays for the next few months. I am not as sad because those clubs turned out to be too expensive and too much work. One I thought was going to be a $5 quilt club turned out to be $12.95 a month for what I do not know. I have already bought the book and all the fabrics as well as templates. As far as I know we were suppose to bring 8 blocks completed each month and then sit to listen to her talk. I haven't decided what to work on, finish, or continue yet. I had always wanted to make a quilt out of my boys baby clothes. I have the ones I like saved up. I saw in a quilting magazine that someone had made one out of T-shirts. Did you get the idea from there too? The magazine said to fuse the shirts to muslin. Did you do that or do you have your own method? Any tips you can share I would love to read! |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 8, 2010, 8:25 PM
|
| Hello Pam, Sabrinaquilts, and Campbellkid! I have been piecing quilts and handquilting them since 1992. I bought the HQ16 in the fall of 2007 and have quilted a few quilts on it, but with teaching (and now going back for my masters degree) my time is limited. Even though I have had my machine for a couple of years, I still feel like a novice with it. Quilting is my hobby and relaxation, but there are just not enough hours in the day. I do some meandering, but have also used the HQ rulers quite a bit and the groovy boards. (Keep working with the rulers. It does get better.) I am very critical of my work and always think while I am quilting that it is not good enough, but I will admit that once the entire quilt comes off the machine it does look pretty good, or at least that's what my daughter says. My husband did buy me the micro handles for Christmas this year, and I have played with them a little bit. I do think they will give me more control when following drawn quilt designs, meandering, and freestyle. I am excited about having other fairly new HQers to correspond with! When HQ changed to this new forum not as many people seem to "talk" on it. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 10, 2010, 6:14 PM
|
|
Hello everyone.
Snowlady, how do you like your groovy boards? I haven't invested in any yet as I didn't know how much I would use them. I only do quilts for myself and for charity. Which ones do you have and what would you recommend for a beginner? I think they are too expensive and take up too much room to have too many, so I would need something that would be all-purpose. I haven't tried a pantograph yet either, but I just got my machine in October. Good to hear from all you HQ-16 users. Happy quilting! |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 11, 2010, 3:51 PM
|
| I have the Feather Border and Feather Corner, and the Rose Garden from Handi Quilter. You may also want to try "RNS Design" on the web. I have quite a few of their boards. My kids just gave me the Holly & Ivy ones for Christmas. They have many more to chose from and their prices are not quite as expensive. Their stylus for following the boards is also not has expensive. Since I do not feel that I am very qood at following pantos yet, the boards are a good investment for me. I have read one lady's comment about liking the Baptist Fan groovy board. She stated it works well with lots of quilt designs. Hope this helps. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 11, 2010, 6:16 PM
|
| Thanks for the info about RNS Designs -- I have checked them out and they are having a SALE! (magic word) I'm going to look around there and maybe order some as well as the stylus. How many boards of a design do you use. I am thinking you would need at least two to put together. Is this right? Thanks again for the information -- must get back to shopping! |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 11, 2010, 7:23 PM
|
| Yes, the one's that have a running pattern you want two of. They give you the little rings that connect them together. Once you have followed the first board and are on the second one, you in a sense "leapfrog" the first board down to the end of the second board. Of course, the boards that are designed to be used in the center of a block you will only need one of those. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 12, 2010, 10:25 PM
|
|
I usually don't have time to check much-I m too busy quilting! I have a line up of quilts to quilt for a lot of my friends. As far as I know, I am the only one in HK with a long arm and my friends all quilt at my house and I end up doing the quilting for them. I do have a question,though-does anyone pre-shrink the warm and natural- I have never used it in my quilting here as it was hard to find, but a store went out of business and I was able to get some for a good price.
sewingmom3 |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 15, 2010, 3:02 PM
|
| I haven't read the label since I had first bought them in a package but I believe you don't need to pre-shrink the Warm and Natural batting at least the cotton batting. I usually buy mine cut from the bolt at a local quilt shop. By the way you said you are in HK? Where is that? |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 15, 2010, 6:56 PM
|
|
[quote id="3965"] Sabrinaquilts,
Thanks for your reply. As I said, I am a new to the Handi-Quilter, too. I'm still at the practice stage, and I am doing mostly freehand loops and meander with a secondary motif thrown in, like a heart or a star. I have done some ruler work, and that was a lot more difficult. My HQ-16 is in the sunroom, so right now it is pretty cold in there (central Indiana), so if I intend to quilt, I have to plan ahead and heat up the room. Hopefully it will warm up to above freezing one of these days and then I can get back out there!! I want to try the Continuous Curve or Terry Twists that I've read above on another forum (APQS), and that's what I think I'm working up to. Right now I'm working on a T-shirt quilt for my son who will graduate from law school in May and I think I will just meander that. Also have promised 4 memory quilts to my aunt to be made out of my uncles clothing, but haven't started that yet. I will probably do something simple on that, too, as it will go faster. What are you working on? I like to know what others are doing also.[/quote] |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 15, 2010, 7:05 PM
|
|
Where are you located at in Indiana? I am close to Peru, IN. I have had my HQ since 2007. Every quilt has been a learning experience but very enjoyable.
Carolyn |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 16, 2010, 5:25 AM
|
| I'm in Russellville AR, anyone else nearby? I swear I'm out in sewing never never land, LOL |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 16, 2010, 5:16 PM
|
| Hi, Carolyn -- I'm in Tipton, IN. I'm piecing right now, but enjoying that process, too. Wonder if there are any other HQ owners in central Indiana? |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 23, 2010, 12:23 AM
|
| I am living in Hong Kong. I have been here for 23 years. I bought my HQ16 in 2008 and brought it over as luggage, only had to ship the table, the box was too long for the airlines. My husband works around Asia as a computer consultant for some banks /corporations against computer hacking. I have attended 2 of the retreats and will do the pro-stitcher one in April. To date I have done 60 quilts on my machine, and love it. I always seem to have a pile of 5/6 quilts to do, a lot of my friends piece them and I get to quilt them. At least it is helping to pay for my machine! |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 25, 2010, 3:35 PM
|
|
Dear sewingmom3,
Wow Hong Kong! Now that is far. I was born in Taiwan myself over 30 years ago but I grew up in America where I am still residing. My current sewing machine is starting to wear out because I use it at least 3 hours on most days. I not only use it for piecing but also free motion quilting. I have been checking out a Bernina as my last sewing machine I will ever buy. They make a big one that would stitch free motion quilting that looks like a long arm. This Bernina is as expensive as a long arm. I am tired of the sandwiching process on the floor which was why I had been checking out long arms. I was wondering whether I should get this Bernina and pass on a HQ16 or should I purchase a cheaper Bernina with not quite the kitchen sink and get a HQ16 to do all my quilting? I do have room in my house for the HQ16. I mostly quilt twin size to king size. I like to make quilts for usage. I have decided that if I do purchase a long arm I think I would get a HQ thanks to everybody's suggestions. I feel like you might be a good candidate to ask my question. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 26, 2010, 5:55 AM
|
| sabrinaquilts- I love my HQ16, I haven't really done much machine quilting, I did all of my previous quilting by hand, on my great grandmother's frames. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 26, 2010, 3:12 PM
|
|
Dear Sewingmom3,
I have to laugh. It figures that the answer to my questions turned out to be hand quiting. I am envious that you have your Grandmother's frame. I have been dabling in hand piecing and discovered that it can go pretty fast. I discovered things like Y-intersection piecing was a lot easier by hand. I would like to try hand quilting one of these days. It sounds fun and theraputic. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 28, 2010, 5:38 AM
|
|
Sewingmom3, I think you would be delighted with one of the HQ machines. I'm totally with you on the floor/sandwiching process. I have had my machine since Nov. '09 and I LOVE it!! If you are going to be doing quilts to use, this is what you need. You can quilt a whole quilt in one day and love doing it! If you have experience with free-motion quilting on your DSM, you will have no trouble getting used to using a longarm machine. Freehand meandering and loops are very fun to do and you will get a lot of quilting done very quickly. You will be standing, however, but if you have your table adjusted to the proper height, you will not have back/arm problems. Of course, frequent rests are necessary if you will be quilting all day, but the great thing about being at home is that you can take rest breaks and still get your other work done around the house, like doing a load of laundry. As for getting a new machine for piecing/sewing, try checking out Janome machines. I have three of them and love, love, love them. This is just my "two cents worth" :)
Sarah in Indiana |
|
Re: where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 28, 2010, 6:30 AM
|
| Sarah- I already have a HQ, have had it for 2 years and love it. I was replying to sabrinaquilts. I previously did all my quilting by hand on my great grandmothers quilting frames, haven't done much quilting by sewing machine.Keeping busy quilting here in Hong Kong for all my friends.I have posted pictures on my glog-quilting in HK. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 28, 2010, 3:31 PM
|
|
Dear Campbellkid,
Thanks for the suggestion of checking out Janome. I did not think about them because I had seen the platnium and the gold line models and I was not too impressed. I do want to make this my last sewing machine so I will take the time to check out Janome. After my last entry I thought about owning a HQ myself some more. I liked the idea of being able to leave my work on the rails for a few days. As is, if I want to use a HQ I will have to rent time on one from a quilt shop. Eventhough I have my own set of leaders I will still have to remove them from the rails to take them home if I did not finish quilting by the quilt shop's closing time. Just thinking about having to reattach the leaders back onto the rails at my next renting time I can see problems there. I think you might be right about owning my own HQ. Even if I buy the Bernina that I had mentioned that would sew stitches that looked like I had used a long arm, I will still have to sandwich my quilts on the floor. My knees ache just typing that out. Is there a particular model of Janome that you especially like? Bear in mind that I am looking for a last sewing machine I will ever need to buy for piecing. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 28, 2010, 5:05 PM
|
|
sabrinaquilts
thanks! I do have the pro-stitcher,too, that helps a lot with the block,borders,etc. I still do some of it manually. I go to the next retreat with HQ the end of April, so looking forward to that. They are great. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Jan. 29, 2010, 7:32 AM
|
| Good morning ladies, I stumbled into this forum topic, enjoyed reading your posts and thought I might share my HQ life. I bought my HQ in 2005, quilted my own quilts and some charity but never got good enough to quilt for others. So 1 year ago I bought the ProStitcher and my quilting life changed drasticly. I now quilt about one quilt a day for a living. The PS is wonderful and the updates (once the bugs get worked out) to the software continually improves its performance. I knew I was in trouble when I saw the Avante and Fusion. Well, tomorrow the Fusion will be installed and I am soooo excited. The Avante is cool also but I figured that if I was going to upgrade, I might as well go all the way. Besides, it wasn't much more $$$. I sold my HQ w/PS in one day. Hugs, Connie |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Feb. 2, 2010, 3:47 PM
|
| So the ProStitcher makes all the difference? The HQ I rent at my local quilt shop does not have it because it would have cost the owner just as much as the machine however the owner did get the laser stylus. I will keep the ProStitcher in mind when I decide to buy a HQ for myself. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Feb. 13, 2010, 3:12 PM
|
| I'm a new HQ16 owner. I purchased mine in October of last year. I'm from Indiana, about 8 miles east of Scottsburg. I really like my HQ but I have so much to learn. It seems so overwhelming. I want to learn to make about everything I see. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Feb. 13, 2010, 8:34 PM
|
|
Hi CHigdon, I'm from Indiana, also and I also got my HQ-16 last October. I just keep practicing and I hope I am improving. Having fun and making charity quilts for practice.
For all -- I'm looking for a source for quilting designs. Has anyone used any of the Quiltmaker Quilt Design CD's? Any other suggestions on where to get ideas for quilting designs. I see things I like, but can't remember them when I start quilting. Some kind of reference book would be great. Sarah in Indiana |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Feb. 14, 2010, 8:02 AM
|
|
Hi Campbellkid,
Thanks for the reply. I found a magazine on the internet that is wonderful for longarm quilters or any quilter, actually. It's called Unlimited Possibilities. They had some back issues they wanted to get rid of (6 for $15) so I ordered them. As a result, I have ordered a subscription to the magazine. It has so much information in it, websites for CDs, DVDs, books or all kinds related to longarm quilting, etc. I don't think you can go wrong with this magazine. A few of the websites are Kimmyquilt, aquilterschoice, villagequiltworks (has a chart for pros and cons of all the different types of battings), etc. I could go on and on. Hope this will help get you the info you'd like. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Feb. 15, 2010, 11:45 AM
|
|
Thanks so much for the information!! I'm going to check it out right now!
Have a great quilting day! Sarah from Indiana |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Feb. 15, 2010, 5:34 PM
|
| I've been looking at some of the books and CD/DVDs available for longarm quilting. Some I'm interested in are Twirly Whirly Feathers (book & DVD), Renae's Amazing Ways to Use Circles & Rays (2 DVD set), Blooming Background Designs by Irena Bluhm (book). I also found a website "www.deloasquiltshop.com" that demonstrates different types of rulers on utube. I've done some quilting on my HQ with just a straight ruler and one called Handi Gadgets. I really like ruler work so would love to invest in a couple more at some point. There are so many tools, templates, etc. available for longarm quilters. I also have the ProStitcher and used it for a table topper. I really like it but would prefer learning to do more freehand quilting. Hope some of this info has been of some help. Keep in touch. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Feb. 17, 2010, 3:33 PM
|
| This might be a stupid question but the rulers being used can they be any type of rulers? Or do they have to be for long arm quilting? I wanted to know if I do want to try quilting with rulers can I try it first with the regular square/rectangle rulers I use for cutting fabrics? |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Feb. 17, 2010, 5:30 PM
|
| I've only been using a longarm since October so I don't know how qualified I am at giving advice but I'm sure I would not recommend using regular rulers for a longarm. The longarm rulers are at least 1/4" thick so they are not as likely to get under the hopping foot and knock your machine out of time. I like using them and think they are a fantastic tool. I wouldn't attempt SID without one. Maybe more experienced quilters don't need them, I don't know about that. I think I just gave $16 - $18 each for the two I have so they're not super expensive. Hope this info was of help to you. |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Feb. 18, 2010, 4:19 PM
|
| Thanks for your input. I thought about the thickness later on in the day. I am not sure what the thickness difference between the long arm quilting rulers are in comparison to the regular rulers used to rotary cut fabric. If anybody else has a better idea please feel free to chime in. I would love to read more on this. Thanks! |
|
Re: Where are all the Handi-Quilter Owners?
Posted: Feb. 19, 2010, 3:21 PM
|
| You forget to mention that bodies will be dropping to the ground from all the flying plastic and machines parts. I have to laugh. I wasn't sure whether the long arm rulers are thicker than the regular ruler used for fabric cutting. That was why I asked. Don't worry I don't own a long arm machine or rulers for them. I have been renting the machine and I am pretty sure the owner would stop me vehmently. Thank you for your help. |
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
See our clips on YouTube