Does anyone quilt on a HQ Sweet 16?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 7
I have my eye on a Handi Quilter Sweet 16 sit down mid-arm machine. I know I will never invest the money or space into a long arm machine, so I wonder if a mid arm machine would be the next best thing. Does anyone have a Sweet 16? Would you recommend it? At $4,999. is it worth the investment? I currently machine quilt on a Janome 6600. Would the Sweet 16 give me a lot more flexibility?
#5
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 7
Thank you for your feedback. The Sweet 16 is an upgrade from the original Sixteen and it has only been on the market for less than 6 months. Since these machines ONLY free motion quilt, having no feed dogs, you can't do piecing, or even sew a straight line (as accurately as on a regular sewing machine). They don't have any built-in stitches, or bells & whistles. Why are they so expensive? I would think they would cost less than a good quality sewing machine since they only do one task!
#7
I got mine in November last year, and I think it's great. If I had a long arm set up with the frame, I wouldn't be able to stand at it for very long, so sitting down suits me fine. I recently finished quilting a king sized quilt on it, no problem at all, but then I am used to FMQing, so moving it under the needle wasn't strange to me.
I have also used a short ruler (don't forget you still need 1/4in thick ones), and I bought a set of circles and squares that have come in handy too. - you just have to hold onto the ruler and quilt at the same time, while moving it under the needle, but I managed it very well.
I like the ability to dial in a speed, and gradually built up from about 30% at first, to about 60% now - any faster and I don't seem to be able to move the quilt quick enough. What it means is that the machine will go at the speed you dialled in, and you just press the foot pedal all the way down. It' s much easier than trying to keep the pedal in a set position while moving the quilt at an even pace as on a domestic machine.
I've had absolutely no problems with tension either, and I've tried several different makes of threads so far, from bottom line to cotton to rayon and poly cotton.
See if you can't try it out somewhere just to make sure you are happy with it - by the way, I forgot to say that the table is height adjustable, so I put it at the same height as my machine cabinet, and then I just slide my chair from one to the other. Having all that room is an absolute luxury for me, I have no regrets buying it at all.
I have also used a short ruler (don't forget you still need 1/4in thick ones), and I bought a set of circles and squares that have come in handy too. - you just have to hold onto the ruler and quilt at the same time, while moving it under the needle, but I managed it very well.
I like the ability to dial in a speed, and gradually built up from about 30% at first, to about 60% now - any faster and I don't seem to be able to move the quilt quick enough. What it means is that the machine will go at the speed you dialled in, and you just press the foot pedal all the way down. It' s much easier than trying to keep the pedal in a set position while moving the quilt at an even pace as on a domestic machine.
I've had absolutely no problems with tension either, and I've tried several different makes of threads so far, from bottom line to cotton to rayon and poly cotton.
See if you can't try it out somewhere just to make sure you are happy with it - by the way, I forgot to say that the table is height adjustable, so I put it at the same height as my machine cabinet, and then I just slide my chair from one to the other. Having all that room is an absolute luxury for me, I have no regrets buying it at all.
Convergence quilt done on Sweetie.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]122684[/ATTACH]
#9
If you are going to buy one (and I want one sooooo bad!), check the prices from the dealers. I saw one advertised at Ken's I think for $4,000. I was in awe.
Also, I saw one advertised on QuiltersFleaMarket for $3,000, never been out of the box.
I'm renting one from my LQS for $15 per hour. I want to try for a long time before I invest that much.
Also, I saw one advertised on QuiltersFleaMarket for $3,000, never been out of the box.
I'm renting one from my LQS for $15 per hour. I want to try for a long time before I invest that much.
#10
Very True, I purchased mine less than a year old, for 4500, including the complete ppf. Mine is the HQ16 and is stitch regulated, I have not had any problems with it since I got it set up and have done seven quilts on it since getting it in November. I actually love it, thought I wanted a larger throat since I got it, but have since learned that one can still only quilt the reach of their arms (and being able to control it the more you outstretch your arms)
Originally Posted by purplemem
If you are going to buy one (and I want one sooooo bad!), check the prices from the dealers. I saw one advertised at Ken's I think for $4,000. I was in awe.
Also, I saw one advertised on QuiltersFleaMarket for $3,000, never been out of the box.
I'm renting one from my LQS for $15 per hour. I want to try for a long time before I invest that much.
Also, I saw one advertised on QuiltersFleaMarket for $3,000, never been out of the box.
I'm renting one from my LQS for $15 per hour. I want to try for a long time before I invest that much.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Lillymolly
Main
18
04-03-2014 01:40 PM