Got my Sweet 16 sitdown today!!
 

Feeling so blessed... My husband always says to use the right tool for the job, I took him at his word LOL! This will be so much nicer than wrestling my quilts in my Bernina's tiny throat area. I got the hideaway table too, the machine is on a powered lift that lowers so the table can be used for cutting or other work surface.

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Now the bad news - we are leaving for vacation in the morning for a week so I won't be able to play with her! :( The dealer is coming next Tuesday to go over the setup with me. It is going to be tough to wait!

Congratulations and enjoy! I've had mine about 2 years and can't imagine trying to quilt anything on my DSM. I really like the table set-up you have. Is that new from the dealer or from HQ? You're going to love it. Have fun on vacation but let me know how it goes once you get quiltin'.

Wow, what an amazing set up. Hope you manage to enjoy your vacation. Perhaps you could take the manual with you just so you can believe it's there waiting for you. Lol!

I still am quilting on my Bernina and the throat size has never bothered me but then I didn't do any king size quilt. Enjoy. Just don't understand how you support a quilt on that small table.

Very nice, good for you! You'll be able to enjoy your vacation just knowing she'll be home waiting for you, maybe you'll get to visit at least one fabric shop! LOL!

How exciting! Enjoy the new adventure once you get home!

Wow, good for you. Can't wait to hear how it works for you.

Congratulations! I see you having a lot of fun with it.

Welcome to the club! I love mine (her name is Hannah)...... Not a single issue in the almost 4 yrs I have owned her.

Enjoy!

Congratulations!! I am still dreaming of one. Maybe I need to start playing the lottery, or (gasp) get a job

Congratulations . . .she's beautiful! I got my Babylock Tiara a year ago this month and get a tremendous amoiunt of enjoyment from it. It's nice that the dealer is willing to come help with the set up, but honestly, it looks like you already have the hardest part done. There's some great videos on YouTube. Because HandiQuilter makes the Tiara too, I was able to watch their videos to get me over the hump. Have fun

Oh, congratulations!!! That's my some day dream. I've tried that one out at a quilt show in the Twin Cities a couple of yrs. ago and loved it!!! Just can't justify spending the money (which I don't have right now), but hope to be able to purchase that same set up some day.

Congrats! Let us know how it goes once you get back from your vacation & have a chance to try it out. I'm still dreaming of getting one -- maybe in the next 2 years. Right now I'm just shopping for a good piecing machine (used) with the hope that some day I will be able to put a bunch of money into a nice mid-arm.

So excited for you! Enjoy!

That table set up is great that it's so versatile. Really makes it better for some of us with confined spaces. Enjoy

I've had mine about three years and love it. My only regret is I wish I had gotten it sooner. Enjoy!!!

Congrats! What fun! Enjoy your vacation, and the machine! :)

Awesome! You are going to love it. I've had mine for just under a year and can't seem to go a single day without doing some stitching. I am truly addicted.
There is a yahoo group for Sweet 16 and a spin off on facebook. Super groups with tons of information and they will answer any question you might have and probably many you haven't thought of.
Enjoy!
Jane in AZ soon to be OR

That sure is a nice set up. Enjoy and post pictures of the works of art.

I keep dreaming and working and one day hope to have one also. Enjoy your new machine and I look forward to seeing all of the fun creative quilting that you do with your new girl.

Very nice.
I would need a lot more room on the left side.
I have two 9" throat machines and cant quilt a queen size with no problems. Most of mine are double size quilts.
I am now making lap covers a bit less than twin size for Christmas donation.

Congratulations! I think it's a great machine. I put a card table to the left of mine to hold the bulk of the quilt. I'm sure you will love it.

Congratulations! Keep us updated on your learning curve and progress.

Oh Boy!!! You are going to be busy now. Congrats and have fun

WOW, Congratulations. I'm happy for you, but also a little jealous (well, just a little, as I don't have the space for it at this point in time - maybe later). Enjoy your vacation and look what you have to look forward to when you get back. Enjoy getting acquainted with your new best friend. It looks like a great setup.

Wow! Very nice set-up. I would love a machine & table like that. Maybe someday but for now it's out of the question. Have fun on vacation & enjoy your new machine when you get home. It will sure make those bigger quilts easier to handle.

I love my Sweet 16! If you have only had newer domestic machines, you have to get over the fear of adjusting both bobbin and top tension in order to use all the wonderful threads out there. I had some vintage machines and a multi-needle embroidery machine so I was used to playing with tensions ! ;) Do you have the stitch regulator? It wasn't available when I got mine so I learned to quilt just fine without it. It just takes practice. The only thing this type of machine doesn't do easily is straight lines. I would recommend your first ruler be the "Line-Tamer" which is by far the easiest one for straight lines.

While you're gone, you can look at the many lovely videos available. Have fun!

Pam

You are in for a lot of quilting fun! I've had my Sweet 16 for a couple years now and just can't get enough of time using it.

My personal advice is to watch all the HQ videos that apply to what you want to do with your machine. And don't, simply don't miss Jamie Wallen's videos. His videos helped me more than the HQ videos--although HQ has added many new videos since I purchased my machine.

Happy Quilting!

I am back from vacation now but still doing laundry and cleanup, so no sewing yet.
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions, advice and experiences, I appreciate the info!
I did get the stitch regulator, but I hope I can become consistent enough to sew without it eventually.

The table is bigger than it looks but folds down to a very manageable 28" x 36". Open is 5' x 3' and the doors support the side extensions. A smooth plastic overlay covers the seams of the extensions. When the doors are open, there is dead space about 20" square behind the open doors, so I am going to look for some storage units to fit.
The builtin storage is minimal, there are 6 small swing-out plastic bins to hold small things.
Also came with a bobbin winder.

I need to pull out a UFO for my first practice session! I will try to post some pictures of my learning process.