Sit-down Handiquilter
 

They just delivered my new Handiquilter my DH bought me! It's all set up & I am so scared that I can't do it right! I've made a dozen practice pieces & trying to get the hang of speed & moving the quilt around at the same time! Any suggestions that would help me is appreciated!! It was so easy to set it up & sewed wonderful right from the start! I think I made a good decision in getting this particular one as I can't stand up for any length of time! Very comfortable sitting down !

Congrats on your new HQ!!! You will love the machine! It will just take a bit of time and some practice, and also remember to breathe! ;) I have the HQ!16 with a 12' table~

It helps to throw concerns about precision out the window too! i found i do much better on my HQ 16, when I don't worry about it as much, the big picture (i.e. the whole quilt) will look fine at the end if you don't concentrate on the few mess-ups. Just let yourself go and remember to relax your shoulders or else you'll pay for it tomorrow!

I learned yesterday that you can slow this machine down to your comfortable speed. It's not like most quilting machines that the faster you go the better. Just find something you like and stick to it and do a good job. Then when you are comfortable move on to another design. They seem to be very nice machines - Congratulations! Have fun quilting!

have a look on Leah Day web site, although she is only using a DM you can get some very useful tips from her. My quilting has improved so much since I have been watching her weekly online lessons

You might want to look at: http://painfreequilting.com/products.html Carole wrote well on ergonomic quilting and actually is a HQ vendor.

She has great ideas on using the sit down HQ16.

You will use your machine more and enjoy it more if you have good ergononics and helps.

ali

Try sandwiching fabric together to make a small quilt for a child you know. Kids don't care what it looks like they'll just love it. This will make it easier for you to relax and just do your thing and when you are done with this; move onto the next biggest thing. You'll be fine. No harm no foul.

I'm curious.
 

how does the hq16 work? Do you move the machine arm and needle over the quilt or do you move the quilt under the needle? I have never seen this machine working. Thanks!