Newbie at Handiquilter
I purchased a new to me Handiquilter 11 in July and have had clear sailing with it.
I mounted it onto a melamine board, atop two dressers that work great for storage of fabric.
I too am standing at the back of my machine so that I can quilt. In order to allow me to see
what I am doing I
(1) put a mirror the length of the table ( 12X 5 mirrors) that you can pick
up at any discount store walmart etc.
(2)Then I fashioned a stylus from a coat hanger that allows me to trace my pantographs
it is just taped in place as I swing it to the right or left of my machine
so that I can follow what I am doing. I bent the hanger so that it sticks out a few inches from the machine
this allows me to be able to see what I am doing a lot easier instead of being on top of the pattern
(3) I then bought a $1 laser pointer that is small- it was
on a key chain but I secured it to the hanger. Again working great.
Now for the finale. I drew my pantographs ( homemade) on large pieces of acetate- you know the
kind that they used on overheads when we were kids. I place it on the surface and trace it with my
stylus. Because I have mirrors under it, I can see the lines I am tracing as well as the quilting thread.
Boy reading this does sound like I am Mrs. CHEAP doesn't it
Hope it helps!