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Welcome to the Handi QuilterEducation WebinarMay 10, 2012HQ Sweet SixteenWhile  you’re  waiting  for  theWebinar to begin, make sureyour computer speakers are on,so you will be able to hear us.Quilted bags by Karlee Porter,free-motion quilted on the HQSweet Sixteen, original designs.

Your presenter today isVicki HothHandi QuilterEducation CoordinatorAssisting her isKarlee PorterHandi QuilterTeam MemberWhile we welcome your questions, we have a lot ofmaterial to cover today and may not be able to answerall of them. If we miss your question, please post it toAsk an HQ Expert on the Forum on HandiQuilter.comwhere it will get the attention it deserves.

Who wants to quilt with a Sit-down Longarm?1. A Quilter who already hasthe skill set for free-motion“push-through”  quilting  anddoesn’t  have  the  time  orinclination to tackle stand-upcarriage-style quilting.2. A  Quilter  who  doesn’t  havethe physical stamina to standup to quilt all day.3. A  Quilter  who  doesn’t  haveroom for a 12-foot frame (theHQ  Sweet  Sixteen  has  a  30”  x36”  footprint).

What quilt size limitations are there with theHQ Sweet Sixteen?1. There are no limitations to quiltsize.2. The important thing to rememberis: NEVER LET YOUR QUILT HANG OFFTHE EDGES OF THE TABLE.3. For large quilts, you can accomplishthat by using table extensions(available from Handi Quilter) or byplacing the table up again furnitureyou already own.

What accessories are available for theHQ Sweet Sixteen?1. Every quilter would benefit fromowning the HORIZONTAL SPOOL PIN.This handy thread holder is perfect fordelicate threads, threads that feedbest horizontally (as opposed to beingfed vertically up and away from acone) or for using up those smallspools of thread you have left over.2. The OPEN-TOE HOPPING FOOT is agood choice for thread-painting,quilting around appliqué or printedlines or for anyone who wants morevisibility of the needle area.

Does the HQ Sweet Sixteen have stitchregulation available?1. Yes  it  does.  TruStitch  stitch  regulationwill be available June 1, 2012.2. If your Sweet Sixteen was shipped afterApril 10, 2012, it is TruStitch-ready and youcan  “plug  and  play”.3. If your Sweet Sixteen was shipped beforethat time, it will require a factory-installedsoftware upgrade. Both the upgrade and theshipping are free to U.S. owners. (Overseasowners must speak to their local distributorsfor details. There may be a charge.)

How does TruStitch work?1. TruStitch is a full-visibility stitchregulation system.2. Components include the Controller,the Receiver, the Magnet and theCoaster, plus the power supply,charging cord and other items neededfor installation.

How does TruStitch work?1. The wireless Controller isplaced under the quiltsandwich and is held in anatural position with yourhand while free-motionquilting.2. The Controller tracks itsown movement across thetabletop and sends messagesto the Receiver, whichtranslates the motion intoeven-length stitches.

How does TruStitch work?1. The Magnet holds theController in place on thequilt sandwich, allowing for“hands-free”  operation.

How does TruStitch work?1. The Coaster allowsyou to use theController whenquilting borders andnear the edge of thequilt sandwich.

Is TruStitch compatible with my older-style HQSixteen Sit-down machine?1. Unfortunately, notat this time. HandiQuilter hopes to beable to offer a versionthat will work with theolder-style machines,but  there  isn’t  atimeline available.

When will TruStitch be available?1. TruStitch will beginshipping to HQ Retaillocations beginning June1, 2012.2. MSRP is 995.00 USDplus tax and shipping.3. HQ Retailers areaccepting pre-orders rightnow.

How  do  I  know  how  fast  I’m  stitching?1. The HQ Sweet Sixteenhas speed-control, whichenables you to focus onstitching and not on whatyour foot is doing.2. The machine stitches1500 stitches-per-minute(SPM) at top speed 100%3. Speeds are set aspercentages. For example,50% 750 SPM

What are Presets?1. The three blue buttonson the main screen areuser-defined presetspeeds. YOU choose yourthree  favorite  “go-to”speeds.2. Some people like tostitch at 20% aroundappliqué for greatercontrol.3. The same quilter maychoose 75% for largeoverall meanders.

What’s  the  difference  between  the  NeedleUP/DOWN button and the Needle Icon in theCenter of the Screen?1. The Needle UP/DOWN setting enablesthe quilter to set the default for where theneedle lands each time you stop stitching.2. The Needle Icon is a toggle button. Itmakes the needle take a half stitch. If theneedle is up, it will go down when youpush the button.3. Use the icon button to bring the bobbinthread up for starting and stopping.

How do I Start and Stop a Stitching Line?There’s  no  reverse  on  this  machine.1. Because there are no feed dogs on theHQ Sweet Sixteen, there is no way toprovide a reverse action except to produceit by moving the fabric back and forth.2. We recommend that you stitch tinystitches in place to lock your stitches whenstarting and stopping a line of stitching.3. You can also start a line by stitching tinystitches and allowing them to get longer asyou move away from the starting point.

Won’t  that  Leave  a  Knot?1. Yes,  it  does.  For  casual  quilts,  this  won’tmatter.  But  if  you’re  doing  work  to  enterinto judged competition, consider adifferent way to start and stop.2. Leave long tails of thread at thebeginning and end of each line ofstitching.  After  you’ve  finished  quilting,thread them into a hand needle and burythe stitches in the quilt after taking sometiny, invisible stitches to hold the stitchingin place.

The Table: Adjusting the Table Height“Having  the  table  set  to  the  correctheight for your body helps to preventfatigue  and  body  aches.”Sit in front of the table and bend yourarms at a 90 degree angle. Your handsshould be able to rest flat on the tableor just slightly drop to the tabletop.Determine how much you need toraise or lower the table and adjust thelegs accordingly.

Adjusting the Table HeightWith a partner lifting one end of the table (to take the weight off the table feet),kneel beside the table legs and squeeze the adjustment knobs together to loosen thetable feet.

Adjusting the Table HeightRaise or lower to desiredheight and release knobs.Partner gently lowers tableto floor. Repeat for otherend.

TNT: A Quick Look at Threads,Needles and TensionUnlike your domesticsewing machine, theHQ Sweet Sixteen usesa round shank needle.The round shank makesit easy to adjust theneedle in case ofstitching problems.Go to HandiQuilter.com/Webinars to seethe TNT Webinar for more information.

TNTThe round shankmakes it easy toadjust the needlein case of stitchingproblems.However, it alsomakes it easy toput the needle inwrong.Go to HandiQuilter.com/Webinars to seethe TNT Webinar for more information.

TNTThe Groove is theindentation inthe front side ofthe needlePhoto shows HQ18 Avanté machine. AllTNT information is the same for all HQmachines.

TNTIt is important tochoose the rightsize needle foryour threadweight, so thethread will ridecomfortably inthe groove as itgoes through thefabric.Thicker thread larger needle size(bigger number)

TNTThe SCARF is acut-out portion ofthe back side ofthe needle,positioned in themachine so thatthe hook passesby it and catchesthe thread loop.

Positioning the NeedleThe placement ofthe needle in themachine isimportant. In HandiQuilter quiltingmachines, thegroove goes to thefront of themachine, with thescarf to the back.GROOVE TOTHE FRONTSCARFTO THEBACK

The Basics of Stitch FormationAs the needleenters the fabric,the thread iscarried along in thegroove.

The Basics of Stitch FormationWhen the needlecomes back up,friction holds thethread below thequilt sandwich,causing a loop toform.The rotary hookthen rotatesaround, grabs theloop, bringing itaround the bobbincase, making thelock stitch.

Positioning the Needle.It is very important that theneedle be inserted all the way upinto the needle bar.Handi Quilter machines provide a“sight  hole”  in  the  needle  bar.Look into the hole to confirm thatthe butt of the needle is insertedall the way.

Positioning the Needle.Because the roundshanked needle will fitin the needle bar in anyorientation (unlike a flatshanked needle whichfits in only one way), it isimportant to positionthe needle correctlywith the eye of theneedle  in  the  “6  o’clock”position.Using a pin in the eye of the needlehelps with positioning.

Positioning the Needle.Sometimes, if youexperience skippedstitches, slightlyrotating the needleto  the  “6:30”position will solvethe problem,because it allowsthe hook to catchthe loop sooner.

Positioning the Needle.If you experienceshredding, slightlyrotating the needletoward  the  “5:30”position might solve theproblem, because itwould delay the timewhen the hook grabs theloop.

Needle SizesIt is important to purchaseneedles that are the rightneedle system. HandiQuilter uses the 134(135 X 7) system.Using the wrong needlesystem is a recipe for bigproblems.Handi Quilter sells needlesfor their longarm quiltingmachines in sizes 12, 14,16, 18 and 20 (125).

A Threading TipThe thread path on theHQ Sweet Sixteen ispretty traditional, butsome quilters miss thefinal thread guide.There is a collar on theneedle bar, just abovethe needle. Make sureyou thread the threadthrough the hole in thecollar, before threadingthe needle from front toback.

Threading Tip: Horizontal Spool PinFor threads on spools,especially delicatethreads, werecommend using thehorizontal spool pin.This allows thethreads to bypass twothread guides, whichmeans  there’s  lesstension on the threadto start with.

Thread Tip: Start with the BobbinIt’s  important  that  bobbins  arewound properly.A  “soft”  bobbin,  one  that’s  woundtoo loosely, will be spongy.When a soft bobbin unwinds, theindividual thread is pulled downinto the bobbin and it snarls andjams, causing feeding problemsand skipped or broken stitches.

Adjusting Bobbin Case Tension is theFoundation of the Perfectly-BalancedStitchWhen adjusting tensions the HQ SweetSixteen,  it’s  important  to  remember  thispoint:START WITH THEBOBBIN FIRST!Go to HandiQuilter.com/Webinars to seethe TNT Webinar for more information.

The  “SECRET”  to  Perfect  TensionOnly after thebobbin casetension is set, doyou adjust thetop tension.Lighter-weight threads will need a lightertension both in the bobbin and on top.

Checking Bobbin TensionPlace the bobbin in the case and bringthe thread out through the slit.Check to see that the bobbin turnsclockwise when pulling on the thread(and viewing it from this side).Starting with a FULL bobbin gives youthe correct weight when checkingbobbin case tension.

Checking Bobbin TensionUse the Drop TestLift up the thread. Whentension is set correctly, thebobbin case will lift from yourhand, then will gently fall backto your hand, like a spidercrawling down its web.PERFECT TENSION:Bobbin case falls slowly back down tohand without jiggling or bouncing.

Checking Bobbin TensionIf the bobbin case does NOTfall down to your hand, thetension is too tight.TENSION TOO TIGHTBobbin case does not come down

Checking Bobbin TensionIf  the  bobbin  case    won’t  liftfrom your hand, the tension istoo loose.TENSION TOO LOOSEBobbin  case  won’t  lift  from  hand

Adjusting Bobbin TensionThere are two screws on the side ofthe bobbin case. The adjustmentscrew is the larger of the two andhas  a  “circle”  around  it.Turn the screw right to tighten; leftto loosen. The adjustments areminute.  Think  of  them  as  “ticks  of  aclock”.RIGHTY TIGHTYLEFTY LOOSEY