I just purchased a Handi Quilter quilting frame.... older version will be looking for info from you gals that have experience with this frame. I have quilted on a machine frame at the local quilt shop but I am going to try at home. Any advice?

Wish I could help but I am learn myself. Will be watching to see what others will say. Good Luck!!

I've heard that once you get used to it they are nice, but I've never tried one.

Be interesting to hear the responses though.

Thanks maybe we can learn together ....someone out there that can give us advice

:P

I don't have a Handi Quilter frame, but a Super Quilter table top frame. As with most of us that use a domestic sewing machine with these frames, I want 'bigger', but it is a lot nicer to be able to quilt my tops on a frame instead of tugging the quilt around by hand. The only problem I have is the quilting room at the end of the quilt. I try and start with my quilting the same way I will have to end it.

The hardest part about the table top quilters is to get a sturdy table to put it on and to get it level. My DH bought me a solid core door and we put it on 2 wall cabinets that we bought at a second hand construction store. Spent about 70 dollars for the cabinets and door and my frame cost me 400. Then electrical cord, PVC pipe and switch for 'handles' was about 20. Not a bad deal.

thanks for the pic and info, I had never thought about the leveling. i too was going to use a door on top of a table for stablity, what is the mirror for?

:-P

How do these things work?

Some really nice person recently gave me one of the older HandiQuilter frames. I got it set up (with only a few trials and errors). Found there is definitely a learning curve. I have a Janome 1600P. Having problems with thread breaking, but I remember a conversation about thread brands which I am going to try and find and see if there is a fix there. Then just the FMQ is a skill that takes lots of practice.

HOWEVER, the feel of the machine and ease of movement is really, really cool.

Hope this remains an active thread and all us newbies can learn together.

Try a 100 Needle. this is a little heavy and should solve breaking thread

I have a "b-line" (I think thats the name) table top frame and I have it sitting on 2 solid wood kitchen tables - my only problem is how to anchor down the 4th corner that sits in the middle of the table since the two tables are a little bit to long. Thanks for your picture - I never thought to put a mirror underneath laying on the table - great idea ! Thanks. What is everyones system for loading the quilts onto the poles ?

Yes, I definitely hope this thread stays active - I will put it on my watch list for sure. There is very little help out there for us who use these kind of frames. I did have a problem with breaking threads too and found I had the needle thread backwards - Im used to front to back threading on my bernina and was a little thrown with the side to side threading, but once its right, it purrs.

I have owned my Handi Quilter Frame for several years. I tried it, didn't like it, stashed it away and only recently got it out and am trying it again. I have it on a heavy board on top of a heavy folding table and am using my Bernina. I like it except I am trying to quilt from behind the machine since I haven't been able to find handles. I have trouble seeing to follow a pattern. I'm curious ... sounds like someone made handles from PVC? Hints?

Also, hand anyone used "Red Snappers" to attach their quilts to the leaders?

If you use a small throat machine (9 in.) you have to be careful what you use for anchoring your leaders.
Red Snapers,Velcro,etc. are bulky and take up to much space on the take up rod. The other rods work fine with these just not the takup rod.
My table came with plastic tubes that fit into the rods to hold the leaders in place but this is not how I want to attach and undo for every quilt. Right now Im just pinning to the leader since it dosnt take up much space and I dont have to take off the leader.

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!

My DH bought me a Flynn's Multi quilting frame. It sits on a "sturdy, stable" table. I can use my Brother ULT2003D and one sits in front of the three rolls with the frame itself on rollers. So instead of moving the machine, I move the fabric, batting and backing. No need to baste. I only just got it, but from what I've seen, it seems to be easier to move the fabric than the machine.

I have an older Handiquilter carriage system with Handi Handles attached, works for the Brother 1600 machine. Anyone interested in it. Cleaning out the garage of old stuff, not sure what happened to the bars and sides. Free, just pay shipping. Will ship via UPS as that will be the most economical. [ATTACH=CONFIG]304207[/ATTACH]

Just wondering if you sold this unit. I have the rails and all but not the carriage. Thanks.

I also have this carriage and handles (and not using it since I got a new one to work with my machine). Jsut PM me if you might like it -- just for postage.

Can't help you since I hand quilt.

When I first started using a tabletop frame, my thread kept breaking. Asking around I finally found out why - I was winding my quilt way too tightly on the frame. Since then, not one breakage!

How big can you roll your quilt through your machine.

I have a handi quilter table top frame as well. I love it! The biggest quilt i got on mine has been 73 x 90, and that is tight, but doable. I also use a pantogram with laser and stitch regulator... Love love my set up :)

I know that this is an older thread. I wondered if you could tell me why do you use the mirror? Thanks

HQ table top track
 

Dose anyone know where I can find track for my HQ table top ?

I have the Handi quilter tabletop system, but I don't use the plastic tracks. I bought some carpet edging? I don't really know what it is called, but it is rigid and sturdy and I was able to get it in 6' lengths, which is the size of my table. I nailed them to a 6' board then clamped it to the table, I put a little piece of wood at each end the thickness of the carpet edging, so when I tightened the clamps it didn't put pressure on the edging. They work great! So smooth.