How do owners of a sweet sixteen quilting machine found it to use?
 

Hi, my budget(my husband) and space in my home (still my dear HB) are telling me that a smaller machine is needed. i have looked into what it looks like. but need a few more answers, like;
can you computerise it,
have it on a smaller frame like about 8ft.
how have owners found it to use

any answers are very welcome


Jane

You can get the sweet sixteen as a sit down machine which of course takes up less room.

The sweetsixteen can be put on a frame but I don't know which one.

The sit down version now has aa stitch regulator.

hi, so the stitch regulator helps alot in just making the whole quilting experience smoother? i shall look into the frame too thankyou for your reply.

jane

I have a viking 18x8 on ten ft frame which can be taken down smaller, I really would not want to get smaller than the 18 x8. The reach is much better which allows for less rolling and larger designs. Just my personal opinion but you should really consider the reach of the machine before you invest your money. Good luck with what ever you decide on and most of all Enjoy!!!!!!!

I have a sweet 16 sit down. I tried long arm machines, but I discovered I really like the feel of fabric in my hands! It just feels "right". I have had no trouble with my machine, and I have used just about every type of thread possible including metallics. You have to get comfortable adjusting tensions,but that is a small price to pay for the variety you can use. I didn't get the stitch regulator -with practice you can quilt well without one, I am sure it would speed up the learning some, but the $1000 can cover a lot of practice!

Pam

I had an HQ16 (same company, earlier model) on a table top frame. That machine was wonderful. The only reason I sold it is that I found a used Gammill at a great price , local to me. I sold the whole set up to a friend and she loves it too...I had a stitch regulator and really liked it

main reason for wonting a sweet sixteen was the room it uses.
i do already have a janome horizon 7700 new last year.
just wonted some else that might stop the shoulder and head strain. and easier to see the quilting as i do it, as i said already it hard not having the room or money for a gammill. i have a budget of $9000 australian to spend about the same as usa money at the moment.
any more suggestions on mid long arm machine setups, that is good for the quilting side of things would be good space wise i have only 1 m x 2m..
thanks for all help jane

I purchased the Bailey 2 yr ago and love, it. Baileyhomequilter.com

I went to the Houston International Quilt Festival back in November. I saw the Sweet 16 and watched a demonstration of how easy it is to use. I like the fact that it has a small table and could be set up in any sewing room. Do not need a lot of space for this little beauty!

I was able to sit down and do some free motion quilting on the machine. My best friend bought one at the quilt show, lucky girl. I too have a limited budget and have been looking for someone in Houston who might want to upgrade to a different system and be willing to sell their gently used Sweet 16, but have not had any luck so far finding a used machine. Will keep looking though!!!

I've had one since August and really like it. I don't have room for a longarm but wanted a better way to quilt larger projects, and the Sweet 16 fits my needs very well. I don't have the stitch regulator, I just took a little time with practice pieces to get used to the feel of the machine.
The Yahoo group for this machine is a great source of information:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HQ_Sit...guid=532487568

hi thx heaps for the site i shall look into what they say too. and thankyou it seem that you got yours for the same reason as me. confirms the thought that it would be good to go to a dealer to look at one.

thx jane

I was told by the dealer the sweet sixteen is a sit down machine. There is an HQ Avante 18 in. on frame and I have a friend who has it computerized and runs a business on it.

I have had my HQ 16 for a while now. I have it on a 12ft frame, but the frame I got is in 3 sections. I could if I wanted make the frame a 12 ft, 8 ft, or 4 ft. I do not have the computerize on mine, I know you can get it. I didn't have the extra money at the time I bought the HQ16. I was hoping to get that later. The HQ 16 is great and I love it.

hi thats sounds interesting, that you can down size the frame when needed, i shall look into that.

thx heaps jane

I looked at the Sweet 16 and the Tin Lizzie sit down models. I ended up with the Lizzie. I've had really great rep support. She has been to my house 3 times (long story, solved now) and the machine stitches wonderfully. I love the machine and it's cheaper than the 16. With the difference in money, I purchased a Juki 2000 which I absolutely love.

I chose the Lizzie sit down instead because I liked the machine orientation, side to side like a home machine so that if I needed to move the handwheel, I would not have to get up and walk around the back to do that. I'm not sure what is available across the western pond but if you have the Lizzie option, I'd compare the two.

There is a yahoogroup full of happy Sweet owners. Everyone I know of that has had a HQ machine love theirs :)