Used Handiquilter Stitch Count
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 26
Used Handiquilter Stitch Count
Hi,
I am thinking of making the leap to purchase a used Handiquilter Longarm with a frame. I have recently found a used one that is about 50% of the current retail price of the current model. The machine has been used as "demo: machine at a dealer, but it has 78 million stitches, so I suspect it was used to quilt customer quilts in addition to "demo". It has been maintained by the dealer and will include a full day of lessons and complete service prior to pick up. Yes, we will be picking up from the dealer who will walk us through the disassembly and then assembling it ourselves at home.
Am I looking at a great deal or should I pass on the machine due to the high stitch count? This will be for my personal use and maybe do a few friends quilts, so less than 12 a year.
Any other questions I should be asking the dealer?
If you think I should pass, where is the best place and time of year to look for used Handiquilters?
Thank you for your advice!
I am thinking of making the leap to purchase a used Handiquilter Longarm with a frame. I have recently found a used one that is about 50% of the current retail price of the current model. The machine has been used as "demo: machine at a dealer, but it has 78 million stitches, so I suspect it was used to quilt customer quilts in addition to "demo". It has been maintained by the dealer and will include a full day of lessons and complete service prior to pick up. Yes, we will be picking up from the dealer who will walk us through the disassembly and then assembling it ourselves at home.
Am I looking at a great deal or should I pass on the machine due to the high stitch count? This will be for my personal use and maybe do a few friends quilts, so less than 12 a year.
Any other questions I should be asking the dealer?
If you think I should pass, where is the best place and time of year to look for used Handiquilters?
Thank you for your advice!
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,006
That said, I'll have to look at my Amara later today, which is not quite 3 years old, and give you an idea of stitch count.. I've done 6-8 large throw to 96 x 96 bed quilts on it and I think I have around 2 million stitches on it.
If this isn't MK Quilts in Florida, check with them on demo machines. They regularly cycle through machines and their demos should have fairly low stitch counts and come with the full 5 year warranty.
Also, which model Handi Quilter are you looking at?
Last edited by mkc; 06-29-2024 at 05:14 AM.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Posts: 418
Teesside, I'm curious. I have many questions. Are you wishing specifically for a Handi Quilter? Which machine and table (size wise) would you prefer?
What accessories come with this one you're looking at now? Are the sellers offering 'help' as well as classes? Ideally, do you want the computer option? (can an updated version be added later?)
Do you live near Connecticut?
Longarm University is a great place to start a shopping search for a used longarm.
Right now, I see an Avante listed for sale in connecticut...you can compare prices, stitch counts, etc. to the one you are considering.
https://longarmuniversity.com/MachinesForSale.html
This web site will give you an idea of what is available out there all across the US, asking prices of different brands, different configurations, stitch counts, different ages, etc. That all makes it a good starting point in my eyes.
What accessories come with this one you're looking at now? Are the sellers offering 'help' as well as classes? Ideally, do you want the computer option? (can an updated version be added later?)
Do you live near Connecticut?
Longarm University is a great place to start a shopping search for a used longarm.
Right now, I see an Avante listed for sale in connecticut...you can compare prices, stitch counts, etc. to the one you are considering.
https://longarmuniversity.com/MachinesForSale.html
This web site will give you an idea of what is available out there all across the US, asking prices of different brands, different configurations, stitch counts, different ages, etc. That all makes it a good starting point in my eyes.
Last edited by 1CharmShort; 06-29-2024 at 06:23 AM.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,591
I think stitch count is an embroidery machine thing? I can easily put 300K to 600K stitches on a single quilt, depending on size of quilt and density of stitches. I know a few show quilters who can put over a million stitches on one quilt.
When I was shopping longarms, the first thing I did was check around with all my longarm quilting friends (about 20 of us) to see what they had and what they liked/disliked. Most of them, over several years, moved from various brands (Nolting, APQS, Voyager, A1, etc) to one single brand (Innova) and were very happy. (We are all now Innova owners with 2 holdouts - one Gammill and one HQ.)
The next thing I did was take a 5-hour class that was designed to teach you how to use the longarm in preparation for renting time on it. The instructor had us doing EVERYTHING on it, from winding bobbins, loading the quilt onto the frame, adjusting tension, troubleshooting, to actually quilting, FMQ, how to use rulers, and she gave us little quilting assignments that essentially had us putting the sew head through its paces. The only thing I didn't play with was robotics because I already knew I wasn't interested in them.
Once I decided on a brand, I shopped all the used market machines. My dealer is amazing - I'd see a machine for sale somewhere and call him up to ask him about it. He could tell me how old that machine was, when the machine was last serviced, if it had had any past issues, if the owner used it for hobby quilting or was a professional, etc. I remember calling him about one advertised on Craig's List. He looked at the picture on the listing and told me it had been purchased by a quilter who had unexpectedly passed about a year after purchase, so the husband donated it to their church. It had been used to quilt maybe 10 quilts before the church decided to sell it.
So in short, I guess my advice is to take a class that gives you at least an hour to putter on the longarm, make friends with your dealer, tell them what you're looking for (and be patient for it). And go to all your quilting friends houses and look at their setups. Ask them what they like the best about their longarm and what they would change or do differently if they could. I think the most common "regret" I've heard is getting too small of a machine head, frame, or both. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
My husband actually bought a new Innova for me for Christmas. He consulted my closest quilting friend to ask what he should and shouldn't get as far as specs and accessories go, and if she didn't know the answer, she was very good at sneakily asking me the question without giving me any hints. So I ended up with a light bar, hydraulic lift, and a 26" sew head. I didn't think I'd use the hydraulic lift much, boy was I wrong.
When I was shopping longarms, the first thing I did was check around with all my longarm quilting friends (about 20 of us) to see what they had and what they liked/disliked. Most of them, over several years, moved from various brands (Nolting, APQS, Voyager, A1, etc) to one single brand (Innova) and were very happy. (We are all now Innova owners with 2 holdouts - one Gammill and one HQ.)
The next thing I did was take a 5-hour class that was designed to teach you how to use the longarm in preparation for renting time on it. The instructor had us doing EVERYTHING on it, from winding bobbins, loading the quilt onto the frame, adjusting tension, troubleshooting, to actually quilting, FMQ, how to use rulers, and she gave us little quilting assignments that essentially had us putting the sew head through its paces. The only thing I didn't play with was robotics because I already knew I wasn't interested in them.
Once I decided on a brand, I shopped all the used market machines. My dealer is amazing - I'd see a machine for sale somewhere and call him up to ask him about it. He could tell me how old that machine was, when the machine was last serviced, if it had had any past issues, if the owner used it for hobby quilting or was a professional, etc. I remember calling him about one advertised on Craig's List. He looked at the picture on the listing and told me it had been purchased by a quilter who had unexpectedly passed about a year after purchase, so the husband donated it to their church. It had been used to quilt maybe 10 quilts before the church decided to sell it.
So in short, I guess my advice is to take a class that gives you at least an hour to putter on the longarm, make friends with your dealer, tell them what you're looking for (and be patient for it). And go to all your quilting friends houses and look at their setups. Ask them what they like the best about their longarm and what they would change or do differently if they could. I think the most common "regret" I've heard is getting too small of a machine head, frame, or both. It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
My husband actually bought a new Innova for me for Christmas. He consulted my closest quilting friend to ask what he should and shouldn't get as far as specs and accessories go, and if she didn't know the answer, she was very good at sneakily asking me the question without giving me any hints. So I ended up with a light bar, hydraulic lift, and a 26" sew head. I didn't think I'd use the hydraulic lift much, boy was I wrong.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2022
Posts: 418
Totally agree with Peckish....the dealer is one of the most important elements of a longarm purchase in my eyes too.
I had intended to buy an Innova, but there were no dealers within 50 miles of me. Accidently met the dealer that sold me the HQ, and she convinced me to go for the Avante. Truly happy about that decision!!! The dealer offered free classes, helped me set it up, came to my home to service it, and she became a close friend.
Then
she moved to another state...far, far, away.
still love this Avante....
I had intended to buy an Innova, but there were no dealers within 50 miles of me. Accidently met the dealer that sold me the HQ, and she convinced me to go for the Avante. Truly happy about that decision!!! The dealer offered free classes, helped me set it up, came to my home to service it, and she became a close friend.
Then
she moved to another state...far, far, away.
still love this Avante....