I think you will love the HQ sixteen. I had the first HQ sixteen that came out loved it. Moved sold it, moved to a
A-1 had it four years, went back to HQ Fusion loving it I can use any thread. My A-1 would not take a lot of thread.

I was told to use the king tut with my sweet 16 so I'll prob stick to that

Hope you let us know how things go with the Sweet 16 - I planned to get one last year, but other things came up - We are having the Minnesota Quilt Show here in Rochester next week, and I can't wait to see if the Sweet 16 will be there, or what other machines will catch my eye - I need a sit down type too.

I am also going to the MN Quilt Show this week, even though I live about 3 1/2 hours away. (Any hints about where I should park? That is my biggest fear about going.). Anyway, I would think that HQ wiould have their Sweet Sixteen Sit Down machien there that day. I think HQ is a sponsor for the show, also, so I would think they would halve all their products there.. If I ever have to get rid of my long arm for any reason, I will be buying a Sweet Sixteen Sit-down (even though I own an APQS longarm). I think the Sweet Sixteen sit down is an awesome machien for anyone who quilts--but doesn't have space (or $) for a long arm set up. Have fun at the MN Quilt Show.

I have honestly heard they are the best sit down machine out there p,us now u can buy the stitch regulator to go with it

I tried out a sweet sixteen sitdown and LOVED it. Thats what i would go for also.

I got to take a class at LQS on a Handiquilter with a friend who had previosly used aTin Lizzie and she said she thought the HQ was so much better. Even a nube like me was able to do pretty well on the HQ.

I love, love, love my Sweet Sixteen.

I took a couple of long arm classes when looking for a longarm machine. The teacher told me that the Tin Lizzy's are harder to use and learn on. She said they can be troublesome, but once her students got used to them they were okay, but not easy for a beginner - frustrated her students so much they were not enjoying the process. Handiquilter has a great website and customer support. Most Handiquilter dealers will come out and set up your machine for you and give you a lesson. Check with your dealer to see what their policy is. I have two dealers near me (one south of me and one north of me). One dealer would set it up and give an in home lesson and continued support for the same price as the other dealer who just sent it home with you and you were on your own to set it up and learn. So, check out what your dealers offer.

Definitely buy with dealer backing. I had tried both the Tin Lizzie and the HQ. I would have chosen the HQ over the Tin Lizzie. I was able to afford an Innova, but I definitely considered the HQ over the Lizzie, if I couldn't buy the Innova. The HQ felt like a better machine. When my old LQS started carrying a home LA (they have 2 Gammills in store), they chose to carry HQ's.

One of the LQS's near my house changed from a Tin Lizzie dealer (which they also rented time on the store machine) to a Gammill dealer (also renting time on the store machine after taking a store class).