So you’re ready to purchase a longarm quilting machine. It’s getting exciting! You’ve looked around, attended a couple of quilt shows, maybe tried your hand on a demo machine or two at a local quilt shop – there are so many options! Here are some questions you can ask to find out which longarm quilting system is perfect for you.
Download the HQ Longarm Machine Comparison Chart or click here to see a comparison of the HQ machine features.
Survey results show that stitch regulation is the most requested feature on a longarm quilting machine. Stitch regulation provides even-length stitches at a variety of quilting speeds. Look for two modes of stitch regulation. In one mode, the machine stops stitching when the quilter stops moving the machine. The other mode allows the needle to continue stitching at a chosen minimum speed, so you can precisely position stitches at corners and along rulers. A machine that offers both modes of stitch regulation offers the most versatility.
Handi Quilter longarm quilting machines, HQ18 Avanté and HQ24 Fusion, each have two modes of built-in stitch regulation: cruise mode and precision mode. Even the HQ Sweet Sixteen sit-down machine has optional stitch regulation through the optional TruStitch stitch regulator.
Hands-on training should be included by trained dealers or sales representatives when you purchase your machine. A trusted warranty for mechanical, electrical, and the outer casting provides you a guarantee of quality craftsmanship when investing in a quilting machine. Reputable companies will also provide you with convenient customer support service and education options.
Handi quilter has a large network of trained retailers and customer service and technical support hotlines. In addition, an online discussion forum provides a community of Handi Quilter owners. Handi Quilter is committed to education and offers educational retreats, online education videos, and monthly educational webinars. Handi Quilter also supports our network of retailers with educators known for their machine quilting teaching and experience.
The throat space and quilting space are not equal. Be sure to ask about available quilting space. When considering a quilting machine, remember bigger is not always better. The best quilting space is always a comfortable distance for both sight and reach. The recommended distance is from a 12-inch through 14-inch reach for comfortably controlled quilting.
The HQ18 Avanté has 15 inches of quilting space. The HQ24 Fusion has 20 inches of quilting space. The HQ Sweet Sixteen has 16 inches of quilting space.
Making adjustments to your quilting surface, by either raising or lowering your quilt frame to provide a flat surface on which to stitch, each time you roll your quilt, becomes very inconvenient and extremely time consuming.
The HQ Studio Frame and the Fusion Frame enable you to squarely load your quilt for precise quilting. The latches and hand wheel make it easy to advance the project as you quilt. An optional 24-inch Super Leader replaces the 18-inch leader and eliminates the need to reach across the frame to attach the backing.
Machines that are built with the ability to upgrade when new technology or components are available provide you a better value as you will not need to purchase a new machine. Many machines can be retrofitted for computerized quilting. Integrated computerized quilting functions provide you better control, increased functionality, and more quilting options.
Handi Quilter offers HQ Pro-Stitcher. HQ Pro-Stitcher effortlessly integrates Handi Quilter’s world-class quilting machines with innovative computer and software technology to guide the machine to quilt any design you want to use, create, or customize. HQ Pro-Stitcher works with all of the popular Handi Quilter stitch-regulated quilting machines: HQ24 Fusion, HQ18 Avanté, and the HQ Sixteen.
Machines with exposed belts can be a significant safety hazard. Motors mounted inside the machine are safer and quieter than outside mounts.
Handi Quilter machines are both safe and quiet and have no exposed belts. They are very easy to maintain because the only place you need to regularly oil is the bobbin hook.
Lasers provide a convenient way to trace pantographs and patterns. Make sure that the laser is not battery operated and can work from the front and back of the machine. Micro handles provide you with a way to have additional stability and control when doing detailed work. Adjustable lighting and electronic fingertip controls are important features.
The Handi Quilter longarm machines include a laser and rear handlebars so you can use pantographs. Handi Quilter also offers many optional accessories to enhance your quilting experience, including integrated micro handles, additional lighting, horizontal spool pin for using specialty threads, rulers and templates, groovy boards and stylus, and more.
A machine that is too heavy will cause stress on back, neck, and arms. Test any machine for five minutes or longer to get a sense of what several hours of quilting might feel like. A comfortable weight is usually 65 pounds or less. Too much vibration can cause excessive noise and poor stitch quality.
Although Handi Quilter recommends that two people lift the machines when necessary, they are not excessively heavy. They are sturdily built and will provide years of quilting. Many Handi Quilter machine owners have stitched tens of millions of stitches with their machines.
A quilting hopping foot “hops,” eliminating dragging and unwanted folds in the fabric. This foot should be round with 1/4 -inch equal distance between the needle and the outside of the foot. The hopping foot should be thick enough to accommodate 1/4-inch thick acrylic templates and rulers to help quilters achieve precision quilting, including stitching in the ditch or echo quilting around pieced seams.
M-class bobbins are the largest in the commercial quilting industry and hold nearly three times as much thread as an L-class bobbin (depending on the thread weight). Large bobbins save time, while maintaining superior stitch quality.
Handi Quilter machines come with a 1/4-inch hopping foot and M-class bobbin. An external bobbin winder is included with each machine purchase which makes it easy to wind bobbins for quilting. An optional open-toe hopping foot is available for those who want greater visibility to where the needle is stitching.
If it’s important to you that your quilting machine is manufactured in the USA, then ask the question. A trusted warranty for mechanical, electrical, and the outer casting provides you a guarantee of quality craftsmanship when investing in a quilting machine. Reputable companies will provide and stand behind their written warranty and will provide you convenient customer support services.
Handi Quilter machines are manufactured in our North Salt Lake, Utah headquarters. We provide a comprehensive warranty and provide local support through our retailers and added support from our Utah offices.
Integrated systems are important because they enable you to control all of the functions of the computer and your machine from one location. This provides more control, better functionality, and precise quilting.
The Handi Quilter Pro-Stitcher software and hardware is directly integrated into your HQ machine. The software is managed from a small, conveniently mounted touch screen tablet on top of the machine. There are no large computer boxes or stands to work around.
Programs should be simple, intuitive, and easy to use. They may require you to learn a correct sequence in selecting, loading and changing your design, and which buttons to push to begin to quilt. Make sure you are comfortable with the computer screen, help menu, and quilting instructions. Try it a few times.
The Pro-Stitcher software has one of the most simple and well engineered interfaces of any software available on the market. In addition Handi Quilter provides both free online and in-studio training to help quilters understand and use the software’s full capability.
Warranties from reputable companies will provide you a list of specific items that will be covered for a specific time. Warranties for a computerized device should cover mechanical, electrical, and software components.
Handi Quilter machines are manufactured in our North Salt Lake, Utah headquarters. We provide a comprehensive warranty and provide local support through our retailers and added support from our Utah offices.
Ensure that basic updates to the software are provided to you as a courtesy for at least 12 months. Technology changes quickly and you don’t want to be purchasing software updates frequently.
Pro-Stitcher updates are always free and documentation is
provided for ease in installing new updates to your system.
Knowledgeable customer service and support is a must to help answer your basic how-to questions. Ensure that the company has dedicated technical support for software issues and questions that may arise.
Handi Quilter has a fully-staffed customer relations, education and technical support departments to assist you with any questions or problems that may arrise. Send an email to HQcares@handiquilter.com or call customer relations at 1-877-MY-QUILT (697-8458) or 801-292-7988.
Systems that have the ability to quickly switch between free-motion and computerized quilting will provide you with more freedom and satisfaction in your quilting. You don’t want to be limited by having to choose between computerized or free-motion quilting.
Pro-Stitcher can be easily engaged or disengaged by simply lifting two levers on the side of the machine. You don’t need to mess with belts or removing pieces. Switching between manual and computerized quilting couldn’t be much simpler.
It is best for a company to have qualified dealers who can assist in setup, especially if you are uncomfortable with doing this on your own. However, if you prefer to set up the system yourself, ensure that the company provides detailed installation instructions and technical support.
Handi Quilter has a network of trained local representatives who will assist you in setting up your system. If you prefer to take care of the installation yourself, the included documentation is easily understood and illustrated. The software comes pre-installed on the tablet. For new machines, you just install the mounting bracket on the machine, attach a few plugs, turn on the computer, and you’re ready to quilt!
In addition to creating designs, computerized systems should enable you to control and modify a design – rotate it, resize it, repeat it, wrap it, record your movements on the machine, trace the design, crop portions of the design, and retrace or track the stitching – all while you are quilting. On-screen or on-board controls are the better choices. Systems should include design software for creating and modifying both your own designs and purchased designs. It is extremely important to have the ability to quickly change digitized designs while quilting, since quilts and quilt blocks may be irregular.
Pro-Siticher is a rich, fully featured software with the
ability to easily mark an area and then fit the quilting design in it. Rotate, crop, resize, skew, and repeat designs to create unique patterns. The touch-screen interface allows you to quickly set up designs, select a quilting speed, and start and stop easily. You can also trace and draw your own designs right on the machine for fast and easy stitch-in-the-ditch and outlining. Learn more about the features of the Pro-Stitcher on our website.
All systems should come with some basic designs that are ready to use. Look for systems that include at least 100 designs.
Pro-Stitcher comes pre-loaded with over 200 designs and the accompanying Designer software allows you to draw your own designs and manipulate existing one. The possibilities are endless!
Look for systems that are able to read a variety of formats or file extensions to give you the ability to purchase designs from a wide range of designers. Some systems limit the designs you can use to only one file format.
Pro-Stitcher easily accepts any .hqf or .qli digital quilting file purchased online or from a third-party vendor.
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