carolstickelmaier

can I ask about what you paid for it... I have been looking but not ready to spend the $$$$

Spice

If you find one you think you might like, call the manufacturer and see if anyone has one near you. Call them and get their opinion and ask if you can see and test machine. I think most quilters would be happy to find someone else interested in quilting and in their machine. I know someone that has a long are and she knows others that have them too. Once a year they schedule maintenance at the same time as the person has to come some distance to do it and it makes it easier to do several in one area at a time.

granny_59

Hi Spice

No longarms in this part of the world! I found four people in switzerland and germany that custom quilt on big APQS machines and thats why we have to pay for the quilting $ 400 and up for a queen.............
The biggest it gets here is Pfaff grand quilter and Janome 6600. I want it bigger, much bigger :lol:

LindaR

I have one concern...I could not get the concept of free motion quilting on a regular sewing machine...just couldn't do it...what is different on the sit/down HQ16? don't you have to move the quilt around the same way?

granny_59

yes you have to move the quilt. I am very inexperienced in FMQ but I am sure that it is not more difficult than moving the machine.
I even think that moving the machine is more difficult unless you have all this computerized help.
It is just the matter of having enough space to move the quilt.

quilterella

I have been researching sit-down longarms for a couple of weeks with my DH's help. We have looked at various longarms, Nolting Quilting Bee, Bailey's, Husquvarna(spelling?), Baby-locks...you name it. Even if only the domestics had a larger throat. Anyway, we both have always comeback to the HQ Sweet Sixteen, with the table and atleast one extension. The price is reasonable ($5000.00) and it offers everything one could hope for. I do very little FM mainly due to the lack of arm strength, so mainly do echo stitching. We are hoping to purchase this later in the spring 2011. I always thought I wanted a machine and frame, but, this HQ sweet sixteen is a wonderful compromise.I emailed HQ two days ago and requested a list of dealers in my area. I received an email yesterday giving me the only two shops in a 500 mile radius. I was so impressed that they took the time to send this to me. Another plus for the HQ Sweet Sixteen campaign!!!

Lacelady

I ordered it at the Festival of Quilts in August, and paid a deposit at the time. The quoted a price of $5000 initially, but with £300 off as a show price. In the UK it was delivered free, so they deducted that amount from the shipping costs to Ireland. The best part was after it had arrived, and they then rang to tell me they had at last received invoices for these machines. Apparently when I tried mine, it was still a prototype and they didn't have final figures. They REFUNDED $700, I was bowled over.

I know it's dearer than in the US, but then it still has to be shipped to the UK, and it is all cleared for European standards, and runs on 220volts.

I have no problem at all sitting at the pointy end - the part the needle gets mounted into (sorry, forgot the name) is taller than on my Bernina, so I don't have any problem trying to see, and the lighting system is brilliant - I think there are over twenty LED's. I've just taken some pics, so I'll try and post them here soon.

The winder will wind two bobbins at once, though I have only done one at a time, and it's a lot easier than the one shown on the HQ website - no real adjusting at all. It also has a longer lead on it than the owners on the HQ Yahoo site were grumbling about.

I think if I could change anything at all, I would have put perhaps another two inches of table along the front, so that there would be a little more room to rest my forearms when doing micro stippling, but that might just be me. It is possible to buy extra leaves that clip on to either side of the table, but I don't think I will need one, even when doing a big quilt. So far, I have only quilted lap sized or smaller ones. I am working up to a bigger one.

granny_59

Dear Lesley

your quilting is great and thank you for taking the time to write. I will contact cotton patch and ask about the price. Their website quotes almost 4000 pound!?

Granny

LindaR

I have the juki on a grace frame and have no trouble just moving the machine...it takes practice but the stitches are pretty even. Just not a lot of room to quilt...6" at the most

quilt3311

I have the HQ-16 sit down model and just love it. If possible test drive one at a dealer or at a show where they exhibit. It was a bit of a learning curve, but didn't take long to get comfortable with it. Mine is 6 years old now and still runs like the day I got it.