simply sixteen long arm quilting machine reviews/advice
 

Just recently was able to sell my Handi-quilter sweet sixteen sit down quilting machine and thinking about purchasing the simply sweet sixteen by Handi-quilter. Could not get used to moving the quilt when quilting and thought it would be easier, with practice, to move the machine. There are so many small long arm machines available and would love to hear from our members with some advice as the pros and cons of the different companies. I have limited space and can't have a real long arm frame machine and the baby lock and Handi-quilter seem to fit my bill. I got a good price for my sweet sixteen and it is being shipped to Arkansas from PA this week. So I will have the funds to put toward a newer machine. There will be a quilt show in March in Lancaster PA and will be able to check out other companies. I want a company that will stand by their machines and be able to have good service when needed. So would appreciate some feed back. Thank you in the meantime.

I'm interested in replies. Hubs is talking long-arm. Not sure where to put it. More his idea than mine.

I am also looking at the SS and trying to decide if I really want to get it. I will be interested in the replies.

Handiquilter is a great company to work with. I just upgraded from my sweet sixteen to the Avante last year. Have always been happy with the company, customer service, tech support and my machines.

For me it was definitely easier to move the machine instead of the quilt. If you liked your Sweet Sixteen you'll like the Simply Sixteen, they are the same machine. I have the HQ Avante and love it. I bought the 12' frame and have it set up at 8', plenty big enough for me.

Cari

Much easier to move the machine....I started with a HandiQuilter 16 - upgraded to Avante 18, then made the move to the HandiQuilter Fusion...I think that HandiQuilter is a great machine and if the need arises to call the company they are wonderful to work with. I test drove several other company's makes and models - but came back to the HandiQuilter. Loves these machines. I would suggest that you purchase the largest machine that is possible for you...good luck with your decision.

The limitation of the Simply 16 is the 5 foot frame, which would require removing the quilt and reattaching it to move to another section. I don't think I would like that personally and I make larger than crib quilts most of the time.

I have the Simply Sixteen on the Little Foot frame. Handi Quilter makes a quality product and good customer service. If you have already owned a Sweet Sixteen you are already familiar with the company.

The advantages of this set up is that it is significantly less expensive than full sized long arm machines of the same quality, and takes up significantly less floor space. The floor space was the selling point for me.

So what do you give up for these advantages? Rear handles, which are important if you want to use pantographs. (Rear handles can be purchased, but will result in needing more floor space.) Also, the quilt must be removed and re-attached if the width is greater than the quilting area of the frame. If you are doing free motion edge to edge you may want to stagger your stops and starts to avoid having an obvious line of demarcation. I think that if you are working one block at a time, either free motion or with rulers this shouldn't be a problem. I would avoid doing horizontal across the quilt straight line, as I can't imagine not having obvious stops and starts. As straight line is not my thing, I am not concerned with this. I do love that the machine has both manual and stitch regulated mode.

Overall, I am very pleased with the Simply Sixteen as it fits my needs both space and dollar wise. I am (slowly) developing my skills. If at some time in the future I develop the proficiency I would like, and have a larger space I will consider upgrading to a larger machine/frame. For now, I am a happy customer.

I just did the same thing. Loved the HQ16 though. Did a multi-point trade/sell. Sold my HQ16, bought a friend's used HQ Avante, who bought a HQ Fusion, that was sold by another friend.
Am glad I started with the HQ16. Took up less room. Easy to learn on. Once I made the decision to keep on using it, traded up.

Just want to say thank you for the replies. I plan to attend quilt show in Hampton, VA next month and the Lancaster AQS show in Lancaster Pa in March. It is a lot to think about. I purchase my Handi Quilter Sweet Sixteen from Hayes Sewing Center in Wilmington DE two years ago and they have been great. I don't intend to quilt large bed quilts as I have a great quilter friend that has an Innova top of the line quilting machine and does my quilting for large quilts as it is her business. So I thought the Simply was what I could use plus I am limited to space. But I am not hurrying into until I do my Homework at the shows. I presently have Bernia 440 quilter edition and really like it. Looking forward to moving the machine and not the quilt when I make my decision. Just printed out "Are You Thinking of Purchasing a Long arm Quilting Machine "by Cindy Roth, Long arm University. It is very informative and is helpful. So Happy Quilting!!!

Are you saying you can set up a 10 or 12' frame to be an 8' frame if you wanted? That could solve so many space problems for so many people.

You need to go somewhere that will let your try a long arm for a while, at least 30 minutes. The size of the machine isn't as important as the whole "guiding the machine instead of the fabric" idea so it doesn't need to be a Simply 16. Make sure you like long arming before buying any machine at all.

Same here! My husband sees me wrestling with bigger quilts on my Juki2010Q and wants me to get a longarm. But I am totally confused. I don't know if I really want it. I use a friend's long arm once in a while (when I have a huge quilt to quilt...) and it only does about 13" of working space per pass. That drives me crazy to be so limited in my movements and patterns that I have to keep it to 13" horizontal at a time. I'm thinking about sit down machines so I can move the quilt any way I want to, but then I will still have to sandwich! I keep thinking the right machine and set up will 'come to me' eventually, but so far nothing has 'jelled'. :(

I have a friend who bought the HQ Simply 16 recently. She likes it but you must baste it before quilting. She does smaller quilts and sprays bastes.

I have the orignal HQ 16 with poles that are in 3 pieces. I could make it smaller but have enough room to use all the poles. I would HATE having to baste before quilting.

I have 3 friends who have bought the Block Rocket and are very happy with this machine.

You can buy an 8 foot frame or, if you already have a frame that is longer than 8 feet, buy rails for 8 feet.

I have the original HQ16. It can be used on a sit down table or on a frame. When I purchased it, 2nd hand, I had no idea what I was doing and went through the usual trial and error. while learning. Other than operator error, I have had no problems with it.

It is on an 8 foot frame - 96", but I wouldn't do more than a 90" quilt on it, and that might be a bit of a stretch.

MY HQ also has a pcquilter - robotic, computerized quilting. It works very well. However, I only do end to end patterns. The pcquilter runs with an old XP pc which is nearing the end of it's useful life. When it goes, I will upgrade everything. Haven't decided what to...yet.

The HQ throat is 16", but on the frame only about 12" is useful for quilting. It works well for me, but I would really love more throat space.

DH has maintained it for me since it was purchased it used in 2010. All that it has ever needed maintenance-wise was cleaning in the needle area, but of course, he opens it all up and cleans and inspects.

I suspect the Sweet 16 could have been used on a frame with a few modifications.

The 12' studio frame comes in three 4' sections, I opted to just set up two sections of it but I can add the last section to make it 12' if I want to. For the 10' studio frame you can purchase an optional 2' section to make it a 12' frame.

Cari

Thank you so much! It might be do-able that way! It works the same way, just a smaller frame?

If you are going to the Lancaster AQS show I suggest you take at least one long arm class. I am a sit down quilter but take long arm classes to learn as much as I can so when I can afford to switch over I will not be a complete beginner. Last 3 years the classes used HQ Avantes and you were able to purchase the class machines for a discount. Take the machine home with you and have the frame shipped. Unless it is already spoken for you can actually get the machine you worked on. Also the HQ rep in the classroom will give you information you might not get from the sales rep on the show floor. Plus you get plenty of time on the machine to decide if you like it and like long arming. I enjoyed using the Avantes and now have a sweet sixteen that I love.
Your VA show may have a similar set up if classes are given so you might look into it.

I bought the Simply 16 with the Studio frame. I have it set up in the 8' configuration. I also bought the rear handle bars. It's wonderful!

Just be sure you want to cut your frame size down, as minimizing the table is no problem, but you will have to cut your rails down to fit the smaller table. If you decide to go back to larger table, then you have to buy new rails. The rails are what the machine carrier rolls on and they cannot be joined in pieces. I have an 11’ table and I just load on one end of the table for smaller quilts. Good Luck!

No, with a Handi Quilter frame you don't cut it down. The poles come in sections that you put together to get the length you want. My Studio frame is a 12' frame so everything comes in 4' sections. I chose to only set it up at 8' but I have the last section(frame, table and poles)should I decide to make the frame 12'.

Cari

I test drove the HQ 16=on the little foot frame, I’m in UK and houses here are smaller than US, the sewing area is about 13” by 46”. The girl who was showing me the ropes was in a quilt shop near me and independent from seller. She does king size quilts by repositioning the quilt, she also showed me loading the quilt on the bias to use the plastic patterns using the stylus with the rear handles. All in all I’m impressed and will purchase as soon as my dads estate is settled. I decided against the sit down types as I would still be hauling a load of quilt around as I find that tiring and sore on my arms and shoulders.

I am considered purchasing this same machine. I was wondering if you ever got it and how have you liked it? I’m afraid of making the investment and not being happy with it.

Did you ever purchase the Simply Sixteen?

I had to sell my Gammill last year (after four years with it)
due to a move we made to a home without a studio. After a lot of internet searching I finally got the chance to try the HQ Simply Sixteen. After twenty minutes I was convinced. I’ve had it for a little over a month and love it!! The machine and frame are solid, no wobbles etc. The support from their site via YouTube makes setting it up and learning the ‘how to’s’ a breeze. I have been able to use stitches I never could really master before (think classic feathers) because of the smoothness and nice weight of the machine. I absolutely love this machine. It’s not a beginner machine, it’s a machine for smaller spaces. Advancing the quilt with the clamps isn’t hard and I’m currently working on a 75” by 80” quilt with no problems. You can even set up the quilt with just spray adhesive and then baste on the frame. Plus, there are several sizes of frames. I took the 5’ due to my space but they have a 10’ one as well. I think there is one more size. I have no affiliation to Handi Quilter so this is my unbiased opinion.

When you bought the Simply 16, were you able to buy the machine without the Little Foot table, since you bought a Studio Frame?? I want to do same thing you did, but not be stuck with a Little Foot table.

I purchased the Simply Sixteen and the 12’ studio frame. I use it as an 8’ frame and it works beautifully. I use a lot f the groovy boards. There is no learning curve. You can just start quilting!

I am thinking of dipping my toe in the longarm waters...I take it stitch regulation is built in? Can someone explain the two modes?

Also if you have the 10' or 12' tables, you do not have to shift the quilt to quilt across the whole width of the quilt?

Finally, what is the basting setup on the long tables? Is it a three bar, no baste setup or do you have to baste before loading the quilt?

Many thanks all!

The HQ Simply Sixteen now has a Little Buddy system that you can add to the Little Foot frame. So, you can quilt in smaller sections, but attach it to leaders and poles that roll. Here's a link: https://handiquilter.com/product/hq-little-buddy/

Does it still require you to baste the quilt sandwich before loading it? That's one of the downsides to a LittleFoot frame - you can't avoid the basting process.

The only review of this add-on seems to indicate that it's only for smaller quilts. If you have a larger one you still have to baste the quilt first.

I've had my Avante for several years and wouldn't hesitate buying from Handiquilter. I've had great service from them.

If you're quilting a small quilt or "divide and conquer" a larger quilt, you don't have to baste.

I take it the long frames allow you to not baste??

On a frame long enough to fit the entire quilt, you load the back, batting, and top individually, so no, you don't have to (and generally don't want to) pre-baste.

It sounds like this accessory for the Little Foot frame also allows you to do that if your quilt fits the width of the frame, where without it you have to pre-baste those small quilts as well. It does not sound like it would work at all for larger quilts that are wider than the Little Foot frame (and would have to come off for those)