hobbykat1955

Does anyone have one and what are your thoughts and/or reviews on this sit down quilting machine. Is it worth considering. My only other question is if you have one it’s showing front load bobbin. If in the table how do you put in new bobbin without lifting it out of the table.

mkc

Some prior discussion:

Advice on Sit Down Long Arms

I don't think anyone identified what company made it for Janome. The 18 was a rebranded Tin Lizzie.

Still Sew N

I have this machine and have owned it for almost 8 years. I am the original owner. It has been a solid machine. I am always working on a quilt and this machine always seems to be in use. It is a very simple machine. I learned about tension from a YouTube channel from Jamie Wallen and follow his directions to this day for the best tension. Almost immediately, I purchased a stand alone bobbin winder as the winder on the machine just didn't make sense to me. The manual showed three places to oil but actually there is a fourth place located on top near the bobbin winder. I keep it clean and well oiled. My girlfriend bought the same machine on the same day and she is very satisfied with her machine as well. I was not interested in any computer program and am very satisifed with creating my own creative quilting stitches. They no longer make this machine and it is the same machine as the Tin Lizzie. Here is an address and phone number to a sewing machine repair shop that knows the ins and outs of this machine as he is a grandson of original maker/designer of this machine. Ammon Floyd - Floyd's Sewing Repair - 2263 West 7800 South - West Jordan UT 84088 801-255-4130.

Still Sew N

P.S. I'm sorry. I didn't answer your first question. The bobbin in located on the left side of the machine under the table. I have replaced the bobbin by "feel" and by never lifting the machine out of the table. It will become second nature to slipping the bobbin back in the bobbin case. No need to lift the table at all. Hope this information helps you.

mkc

The Janome SD16 is absolutely not the same as the sit down 18/Tin Lizzie clone. Its closest similar unit is a HQ16-based machine (Sweet Sixteen, Babylock Tiara, Pfaff Powerquilter16). The primary difference is that's it's oriented like a typical sewing machine - needle to the left and body to the right, vs the HQ-built machines which are needle close to you and body away from you. The specs are identical to those HQ-built machines in all other aspects, but I've never seen confirmation that it was built by them for Janome. That said, it came out about the time HQ started selling rebadged Janome sewing machines under the HQ Stitch name.

Still Sew N

I stand corrected. In my old age, I read "16" as "18". Probably need to be more careful with my understanding of numbers! I certainly hope original creator of SD 16 question reads this post. I have no knowledge of Janome SD16 and am glad I came back to this particular question. Thank you for your intervention!

aashley333

I just bought the Q16 Bernina. I have sewn on the same 830 Record for 40 years with nothing more than a cleaning and oiling! Many features on the sit down longarm were second nature. The bobbin underneath just takes a learning curve. For now, I bend down to see where I'm putting it. Soon, you can just feel where the bobbin goes.

KBarm

I have a Bernina QE 440 and it is jerky when I do free motion. I bought it used and the seller admitted it is not smooth but
an unsolvable problem. I tried out a Janome and thought it was a nice machine but no stitch regulator. Does it take
a lot of practice to get good on a Janome? Like the thread space.
Sorry but new to this quilting board and could NOT find where I do my own inquiry. Maybe someone can help me with that issue.
Thanks