Quiltingboard Forums - Made half doz tops now. Is it silly to want a HQ Sweet Sixteen to learn to quilt on?

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Quilting on the HQ SS is different from quilting on a DSM. So ... if you have the $ and space go for it. You may get a good discount on a show machine or find, maybe even through the dealer or on your own, a used HQ SS from someone who traded up.

I have the HQ 16 and love it. Have gradually enlarged the length of the bed to as long as my studio will allow. Darn it not full length.

HQ's are considered mid-arms but function as long arms. Only the elite get upset by this though as the results are the same,. The only difference being size.

Heck, I couldn't even get the full grown HQ 16 in my living room, let alone a long-arm, due to all the doorways the thing would block. However a friend did install her Statler Stitcher in her living room and there is a narrow area around it to work and to get into the rest of her home. She does it for income though.

ali

If you have the funds and space GO FOR IT! It is so much easier to learn FM on a LA (midarm). I have the HQ16 and love it. We always eat in the kitchen so took over the dining room for my machine. I have quilted on my domestic and find it so much easier on the LA. JMHO

Mal

I have the Janome 6600 and I FMQ on it. I also tried the HQ Sweet 16 (and the Baby Lock Tiara) and both are lovely machines and I want one! I have a hard time *justifying* the cost of a machine that "only" quilts ... but seriously ... the more I think about it the more I want (need) it!! I simply don't want to donate the space that a long arm on frame would take so the table model mid/long arms are the perfect answer for me.

When I sat down at the Sweet 16 I was right at home as the set up (being a table mounted mid-arm) is identical to how I learned to FMQ on my Janome with a few slight differences - beneficial differences!!! The first difference is obvious ... space! The second difference is the speed control on the machine which I loved. I did not like the stitch regulator at all ... so suggest you try that and see how you like it. You might be able to save $1200.00. Using the Sweet 16 with the stitch regulator was to me a much different experience than FMQ on my Janome. Using the machine with the speed control was very similar - with more control - as FMQ on my Janome.

If I were you I would at least make a few small practice sandwiches on your Janome (have you done that yet?) and see how you like FMQ. Just make a few 9" samples ... try writing your name, stipling, and perhaps one or two other designs. Some people never take to FMQ so it would be wise to at least try it (assuming you haven't yet). It doesn't have to look right at this point, it only has to FEEL right to you. You need to be able to say "yes - with practice it will look right!!". If you can do that, then spring for the Sweet 16. Once you have it, you can further hone your skills.

BTW - I'm sure you've figured it out, but a lot of the previous comments made by others are applicable to a standard long arm on a frame - not the sit down mid/long arm models that we are talking about. FMQ on these sit down machines is almost identical to FMQ on our domestic because we move the quilt ... not the machine head. I have tried - and HATED - the standard frame mounted machine heads.

I have a Janome 6600 and have quilted huge quilts with it and have no intention ever to send out my quilts to be done by someone else. The biggest quilt I did was a super queen size and it had more than one inch thick appliques on it. While I admire a lot of the beautiful long arm quilting that is done today, it does not always complement the basic pieced quilt. Some quilting makes the pattern fade, rather than enhancing it. I guess my answer is, if you are rich enough, and feel the need, go ahead and get a long, or mid arm. If you feel good about what you have been doing, stay with it. The Janome 6600 has a nice throat area, but it isn't a long arm by any means. Don't get a new quilting machine just to be in the "current fad". That's not worth it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tartan (Post 5649065)

If you have the room and can afford it, GO FOR IT! I do a fair job on my domestic machine but boy if I had the room, I would have a long arm.

ME TOO! Larger throat, stitch regulator and it is always set up for the quilting and then go back to your Janome which is set up elsewhere in your room for piecing and other sewing. WIN WIN all around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashnquilt (Post 5649244)

My sister and I learned FMQ on our domestic machines. We went to a show and Sis bought the HQ sit down model and I bought the HQ with frame and table. Both of us came to the same conclusion, WHY DID WE WASTE OUR TIME USING OUR DOMESTIC MACHINES?! There is no comparison between domestic and longarm. These are two totally different experiences. On the sit down model you do not get "drag" on the quilt like on the domestic. If you are using a high loft batt, you can adjust your hopping foot height on the HQ. Sis has the sit down model and LOVES LOVES LOVES IT. She doesn't have to "battle" the quilt like you have to with a domestic. In fact, sis even replaced a heavy zipper in a coat with her HQ. She said it went in like a breeze.
I hope this info helps. Regarding the resale value, I really can't give any advice there. Also, you might take a look at the HQ website in the forums. You might be able to find a really good deal on a used machine.

I have to agree with all of this. I quilted 4 quilts on my domestic machine and then bought a long arm machine on frame. There is no comparison and I will NEVER quilt another quilt on my domestic machine. If I ever haved to get rid of my long arm for any reason, I will be a HQ Sit Down in a heart beat!. Quilting on a long arm is completely different than quilting on a domestic machine--so I wouldn't even bother with the domestic. If you have the funds, I would buy a HQ 16 or HQ Avante. There are many peole who buy them and then decide to upgrade to a longer troat--so you can find very good deals on used ones. If I were you, I would look for a used one--if you are purchasing to quilt only for yourself. My friend has had a HQ Avante for 2 years and does some quilting for others besides herself, and loves her machine and has had no problems with it. Good Luck.

Sounds like you are very excited about the HQ16. Seems like just what you want. I say go for it. You can always find a bigger and better one and keep looking for a deal, but you already know what you want. If I were you, I'd just go ahead and get it. Don't start thinking about bigger throats and different machines. You are already excited about this machine. It sounds like you did enough research to know it's the one for you. So buy it and enjoy it!!!!

I quilted 4 quilts on my domestic machine. The last one I did was about 60 x 60 and I cussed a lot! I saw the sit down sweet 16 and I bought it. It doesn't take up the huge space a long arms does, yet I can work on big quilts easily. My FMQ improved because I could concentrate on quilting rather than continually repositioning my quilt. The table isn't that big, but for large quilts you will probably want to add some surface area to the sides. Lots of people make do with ironing boards or $30 tables from the big box stores. I tried long arms, but I prefer the tactile feel of the fabric under my hands rather than handles - YMMV.

Pam

If you don't like FMQ sit down style you may not want to invest that much money, try on your machine first to see if its something you like because the only difference is more harp space you might like Laq better than than the sit down machines.

I love love love my sweet 16