Has anyone used this machine / frame or is still using it.
If so, what are your thoughts? any pitfalls or complaints, what do you like about it?

It's a machine manufactured in Waverly, TN.


I test drove it today at the Quilt Fest in Jacksonville, FL. I really liked it!

Here is a link to the site:

http://www.fabricartshop.com/sunshine16.htm


Thanks for your time!

Oh lynn, I was there and test drove a couple and I am hooked! I want one so bad now. It was awesome wasn't it? There were so great quilts there too. That was the first time tired the long arm machines. They were so smooth to run, compared to my little brother machine :)

This was a day of firsts for me.. first time going to a quilt show, first time test driving a long arm (actually tried 3).. and the first time I thought I could actually be able to operate a long arm..
I"m hooked too! I'm thinking about dragging the hubs up there tomorrow =)

A girl's gotta dream =)

OH OOOPPS, I surely did not mean to post three times. Sorry about that.

You are funny! My hubby was there and he was having fun too. We were both pretty impressed with the long arms.

The one you mentioned here, I did not test drive. Does it have the stitch regulator? I hope to hear some responses about it as well.

Yes, a girl's gotta dream :)

I've never heard of them, but the prices don't look too bad at all! :)

I couldn't resist stopping on my way home from work..I work in Regency, so I came home through downtown and stopped at the Osborn. I thought I would be saving the drive back downtown Saturday... now I REALLY want to go spend the day there!

The Sunshine 16 did not have the stitch regulator, it was a plain jane/straight stitch machine. But, it was very easy to use and not hard at all to keep the stitches even. That is why I was so impressed. Granted, I have NEVER used a long arm before, but this machine truly felt like it was floating over the fabric, was VERY easy to control stitches and loved the fact that you could sit down to use it. (back issues)

I would love to hear from someone who has this machine.
Of course the sales rep said she owns one... but she's the sales rep.

I tried it at the Philadelphia quilt show a week ago. I liked it, it was easy to use. BUT, and this is a big 'but' for me, it vibrated a lot.

My hands can't take the vibration. It sets my fibromyalgia off and I am miserable for a while. I hate to push shopping carts across the parking lot because of the vibrations from the rough parking lot surface, it's that bad!

Jerry, the guy who makes them, said all long arms vibrate. I tried a couple of others while at the quilt show, and they vibrated, too. I've heard from long arm quilters that if the machine and frame are balanced right, there is no vibration.

The machine did look very sturdy. Jerry told us that it is made from parts that can be purchased locally at Lowe's or Home Depot, so their is less dependence on the manufacturer for proprietary parts. My husband liked that!

I tried it at the Santa Clara, California show yesterday and I was really impressed. I do not want to send out my quilting for someone else; I want to do it myself. But the long arm machines are so expensive. This was reasonable and seemed like something I could do, plus was small enough that I would have room for it. I would like to find someone who has one and has quilted a whole quilt with one. Anyone . . . .

I'm wondering about this set-up too. Any thoughts from someone who owns one?
Thanks in advance.

I've not tried this machine BUT the only thing that worries me is LIMITED WARRANTY. Before plunking down the dollars I would ask to see a copy of the warranty, read it and ask the owner to explain it to me. Then ask questions of:

How often does it need service?
Where can I have it serviced?
How much is servicing?
How expensive it is when a belt breaks?
What type of needles does it use?
Where can I purchase the needles?
How expensive are the needles?
Can I re-time the machine myself?
Am I limited on the types of threads I can use?
What kind of "home maintenance" is required?
How often do I do "home maintenance"?
What kind of "after" support comes with the machine?
Does the warranty have an "hour limit" built in?
Does the machine have to be on a surge protector or UPS?
If the machine has to be shipped back to the factory who pays for the shipping?

I don't mean to be a downer, but any one of these questions can make or break a warranty. I am just speaking from personal experience as well as a former business owner. These are things you need to be aware of before making your purchase.

CathyVV, on all machines you are going to feel some motor vibration thru the handles. This is not hard vibration but still you are going to have some sensation thru the handles of the machine.

When a machine and frame are balanced, you do not feel a great deal of vibration or "machine jump". I have my husband check the level on my machine and frame every couple of months.

I have the HQ16 and if I run it at a slow speed, 35% or lower, or if I have it at a high speed, 70% or above, I have very little sensation at all. But in between those speeds I do feel motor vibration in the handles.

I hope this helps you.

I stopped by the Fabric Art Shop (dealer for Sunshine 16) in Lake City, FL. The ladies were so nice. We were heading back home (S.FL), and stopped in at 2 minutes to 6 pm. The ladies opened the shop and let me and my husband test drive the Sunshine 16. I am going to test drive it again at the West Palm Beach Quilt show this weekend. Might have to have some "sunshine" in my house.

Let us know how you like it after you test drive it again in Palm Beach, I tried it at QuiltFest in Jacksonvile and loved it.
I'm going to take a drive to Lake City to the Fabric Art Shop and test drive the Sunshine again... and ask ALOT of questions.

Have a good weekend!

I ordered one and should get it in a few weeks. I have a pennywinkle frame that I got in 2002. It still looks like new and I have used it a lot. Right now I have a Janome on it but I can't wait to put this Sunshine 16 on it.

I saw and tested this machine today at the Minnesota Quilt Show here in Rochester - actually liked it better than the Sweet 16 - as with other folks, since it's a name I had not heard of, I was and am on the fence about getting it - anyone have one now? I see the posts to this are a couple years old.....

So I saw the Sunshine 16 machine at the Milwaukee Show two weeks ago. After some research, since I hadn't heard of them, I called them to order one today. I think they went to the show in Michigan, so it may be a while before I hear. I don't mind. I was very impressed by their table with the borders, so you're quilt won't flop over it. I also liked the fact that it was simple. No computer to mess up, nothing that a good repair person couldn't fix if necessary. Simple to maintain myself most times.

I bought one of these machines at the Des Moines, Iowa show and I love it, it was in the ball park money wise for me and I get along with it just fine. There is really noting I don't like about it. I would some day like to get a stitch regulator but right now I am very happy with this machine.

Hi I see you were thinking of buying a sunshine 16 a few years ago. Did you purchase one? I live in Folkston and would love to compare experiences. I purchased one in 2013. I purchased mine in Lake City, Fl but they no longer carry this brand

I'm curious if anyone test driving Anywhere, was able to test drive on patchwork rather than top and bottom solid fabric?

I would think that is where the real equipment is separated from the party girls so to speak, test driving on real world type quilting.

Now that's something I didn't think about when I was test driving at the Expo last week or at the two other places I tested machines. It is something I'll ask about at my nest test drive.

Cari