No buyer's remorse with my HQ Sweet 16

HQ Sweet Sixteen (stock photo)

I purchased a Handi Quilter Sweet Sixteen mid-arm quilting machine at the AQS Show in Des Moines in October. Several have asked for my opinion of it. 

The features that convinced me to buy it:
1 -- The table it sits in is compact, 30" x 36" -- (I don't have room for a long-arm machine.)
2-- This is a sit-down machine, and the table height is adjustable for my comfort.  I do not want to stand and quilt, . 
3--The machine stitches from 10 to 1500 stitches per minute, easily adjusted on a touch screen.
4--The generous space between the needle and motor, (16") plus the roomy flat surface, gives me plenty of room for quilting even large quilts.
5--A heavy duty bobbin winder for the M class bobbins is included.
5--The machine is less expensive than long arm machines.
6--It's manufactured and assembled in the USA, and each machine undergoes thorough testing before it's shipped.
7--A local HQ rep came to my house to train me with my machine.  She was patient, thorough, and a great teacher.  The company knows that a well-trained owner of the machine will be happier with the product.
8--This machine can be upgraded in the future with handles, framework and a computer package to become a long arm, if I'm interested.

extension added to R side of table; adjustable legs

I like to be prepared, trying to anticipate the future.  (sometimes a good trait, sometimes not)  At the AQS show, I purchased extra bobbins, an open-toe hopping foot, a horizontal spool pin, mass quantities of size 16 and 18 sewing machine needles, and two 18" extensions to add to the sides of the table.
That last purchase was a mistake.  I quilted my first large project before I had an extension attached.  I set up our card table on the left side.  It was the same height as the HQ table and worked great!   DH has since added the hardware so I have an extension added to the right side of the table.  It can be extended to support the quilt, or it can hang down, out of the way. 

And I now have one extra, unused, unwanted extension.  If anybody in northern Iowa or southern MN wants to buy it for a good price, let me know.  It would cost me $$ to send it back to Utah. 

touchscreen and good lighting (stock photo)

My impressions after using the Sweet 16 to machine quilt--
The visibility is wonderful!  When quilting with my Brother 1500, an extended arm machine, I'm always dipping my head, craning my neck, peeking around the machine, looking to see what I've done, where I've been, where I'm going.  With the Sweet 16, I just shift my eyes and I can immediately see my progress.  A light ring with 28 LEDs aids visibility while stitching.

The bobbins hold a lot of thread, more than the standard bobbins I'm used to. On my first large quilt, I barely started a third bobbin.  Large bobbins save time.

The biggest difference, which I'm not used to -- there is NO presser foot.  I still reach around behind the needle now & then to raise the presser foot lever, and there is none.  Oops!

Love the color touch screen.  It's a multi-purpose tool.  I can change my speed easily, save 3 favorite speeds, needle up or down, change light brightness or volume of the beeps, troubleshoot with diagnostics that check quality of performance, and my personal favorite -- keeping track of # of stitches.  It's like the odometer on a car.  I reset the stitches each time I start a project, but the total  stitches in the lifetime of the machine continue to add up.   In a couple weeks, my total is over 300,000 stitches.
  
Maintenance is basic.  One drop of oil in the bobbin case area after 2 bobbins' worth of sewing.  Gently brush lint away.  Replace needles regularly.  If there are problems, the diagnostics on the touch screen can help.  The HQ rep is available to give advice, and there's tech support available online or by phone.  

Easy set up and take down.  I can do it myself, or DH helps.  Machine is 53 pounds, and the table may be just as heavy.  It's a strong, solid table and does not shudder and shake when I'm quilting at a high speed.


This machine is not a magic tool for perfect quilting.  I did not buy a long arm machine.  I did not purchase a stitch regulator (though that can be added for an additional price). There are no plug-in pantographs.  I'm responsible for the quality of my stitches.  I'm responsible for the length and evenness and direction of the stitches.  While quilting  in the middle of a large quilt, I still have a lot of quilt to settle on my shoulder until I've quilted away from the middle.   I'm in charge of manipulating the quilt, balancing its weight, and controlling those stitches.   HOWEVER -- that 16" space and the flat surface make it so much easier than quilting with my other machine, which sits up on our dining room table.   

If interested, you can read more about the HQ Sweet Sixteen machine on the HandiQuilter website here.  There are a couple introductory videos, Getting Started #1 and Getting Started #2.  You can find the location of dealers (including Australia) and there's a map of where machines have been shipped. (updated periodically)   Plus quilters who have bought Handi Quilter products have sent their stories to the website.

BTW--I'm just sharing my comments and observations here.  I have no connection with the HandiQuilter company, other than I bought one of their machines, and at this point in time, I'm very glad I did.