Mine is an "old" HQ16, too. My frame is TERRIBLE. The poles droop so badly.
I think part of my problem with meandering (not stippling, shudder!) is that it is too dense. I am not one for heavy quilting. I have seen what I think are beautiful quilts but I think the quilting is too dense and distracts from the quilt.
I finished it in about 30 minutes more but I have three places were I looped over the thread and there is a small wrinkle in the batting right in the middle of it. Sigh....Each one is a learning experience!
I also may have problems with it because it requires me to look at the quilt and I don't like a lot of light and sometimes can't see where I have been quickly enough. I think it is just not for me in large quantities. It had been a year since I had done a quilt with it and hopefully it will be a couple years before I have to do it again!
Thanks for your comments and support.
Mary