Title: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: niagara fish on December 01, 2007, 10:44:57 AM
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I may have an opportunity to pick one of these up really cheap
https://www.handiquilter.com//index.php?a=VC&id=4Is anyone familiar or have one that can advise how well they work ?
I would be using it with my machine , Singer 7468
I'd appreciate any feedback
thanks !
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: golo on December 01, 2007, 10:53:37 AM
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I own one... and have only quilted one quilt on it so far... but since then I have bought the handles to put on my machine so it should be alot easier... looking forward to trying it again... if you're getting a good bargain, it might be worth it... golo
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: stitchinjj on December 18, 2007, 11:47:18 AM
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I replied the other day and then got deleted so will try again. I have a Pfaff Grand quilter and an Inspira frame that I really like. It has it limitations though and one being I can't do a large quilt, larger than queen size on it without doing it in pieces. I would think that the handiquilter is similar. If you can get it for a good price, I say go for it! I was paying a quilter 100-200 bucks per quilt to do mine. Now it does takes some practice, but after I did practice I am now doing them myself. So I figure I have already saved myself the cost of my setup.
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: betweens on January 01, 2008, 03:54:45 PM
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Niagarafish.. I am not to familiar with that brand.. but if you can get it for a song.. why not?? if you don't like it you can always resell it.. but I think it would be worth your investment if you have the room for it..
Deb
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: LEM on January 02, 2008, 12:58:33 PM
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Niagara Fish,
I just sold the set up that I had. I had the HQ frame and a Juki machine. The set up I had even had a speed control which I highly recommend. Speed control is NOT the same as stitch regulator though. But with a little practice, I think it works out great.
The set up works great for small quilts -- baby quilts and some small lap quilts. If you are thinking about using it for a bigger quilt, it would only do well on the first few rows or so. There are two problems with the set up I had. (1) the actual quilting space is fairly small - about 12 to 14 inches deep. (2) As you quilt and roll up your quilt on the take up roller it fills the throat space on your machine making the quilting area small and smaller with each roll. After a couple of rolls, you are left with just two inches of workable space. The solution provided by the HQ folks is to take the quilt off of the frame, turn it around and work the rest of it from the bottom up.
If you are okay with the limitations of the system and don't plan on making large bed sized quilts, then it should work out fine. Just make sure you are very happy with the machine you are going to use with it. Get one that has the largest throat possible.
That's my two cents.
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: stitchinjj on January 03, 2008, 07:22:17 AM
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That throat space issue is what I have with my machine. But if I put a queen size quilt on with the long side on the rollers, so there is less to roll up. And I follow a 2-3 inch pantograph, then I can make it work just fine. I like the closer quilting with the smaller pantographs anyway. I don't do free motion, only pantographs. My daughter just got a king size bed. I plan to quilt her quilts by doing the center and then the borders, then attaching then quilt as you go style. So if you don't mind doing things that way, and don't want to spend more $$ for a larger longarm, then it will be fine.
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on January 03, 2008, 08:02:55 AM
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I sure wish I could get the hang of the pantographs. Mine lay on a shelf above my machine which is just too far from what the needle is doing! :santa_shocked:
I have tried more than once to master this but so far I seem to be missing something. I also have problems re-aligning for the next row. :santa_sad:
But I do very simple free motion pretty good and am more relaxed when I am not worrying about a pattern.
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: stitchinjj on January 03, 2008, 12:29:20 PM
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Freemotion is too much for me to think about! My pantograph shelf is above the machine too. It is just the right distance for me to see it easily. I just follow it along and don't look at the quilt. To realign you have to stop on one of the alignment dots, roll the quilt and get it back to the dot. I don't know if I typed that in a way you can understand. Will try and find my instructions if you would like some help.
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on January 03, 2008, 04:33:34 PM
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Dots huh? Do my graphs have dots? :santa_huh:
May be I should check :santa_grin:
My biggest problem is resisting looking at the quilt. I have this intense need to watch what my hands are doing. :santa_shocked:
I have seriously thought about running my pantagraghs through my machine without thread and turning them into stencils that I could use to pounce right on the quilt. That way I could use my graphs and watch my hands at the same time! :santa_cheesy:
(My sister has a laminating machine and I thought if I laminate them before punching out the pattern, they wouls last a long time.)
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: stitchinjj on January 03, 2008, 09:09:23 PM
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In order to follow the pantograph nicely, you really have to keep your eyes on it. At least I do! And yep, they have alignment dots. I stop on the bottom dot. With the needle down and foot down I roll the quilt up until the laser is back at the top dot. It works very well. Give it a try, it is way easier than marking your top! :santa_afro:
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: TxMaryQuilts on January 04, 2008, 06:01:07 AM
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Thanks for the tips.
Now if someone could figure out how I can find more time to practice---I would be good to go. :santa_tongue:
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: stitchinjj on January 04, 2008, 06:06:16 AM
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I hear ya! Practice is the key to our machines I think. I try to get some practice on it every couple of weeks. If I don't have a quilt top ready, usually I don't--I have some cheater tops ready to quilt and donate to charity. If I don't practice, I totally forget all the little things!
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: Marian on January 10, 2008, 04:50:57 AM
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I agree with LEM, if you are getting a machine as well, get one with the bigger throat space. I have a gracie frame, the larger one and I love it. I am saving now to buy a long-arm machine to use with it so I don't have to keep taking mine out. Anita, was bad and took me to a quilt store when we were out shopping and I found the machine I want and I am now saving for it. She's a bad influence on my I'm thinking!
Marian in Ohio
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: stitchinjj on January 10, 2008, 06:34:57 AM
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Aw come on, Anita was just being helpful! What machine are you thinking of getting?
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: Marian on January 10, 2008, 02:58:00 PM
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I was actually very happy Anita took me there to see what they had. The gentle man who runs the shop was quite helpful. I was looking at a Janome 1600P Series. It has a load of special features with it. The throat space is bigger than mine and will work for what I would use it for. It's almost comparable to an industrial machine, but cheaper. Still have to save more for it, but working on it. It will be fun to play with a new toy!
Marian in Ohio
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: stitchinjj on January 12, 2008, 07:17:23 AM
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I think that is the same machine as my Pfaff Grandquilter? It does have a larger throat space, but I wish it also had a taller space there for rolling up the larger quilts. When I put a queen size on, I can't quilt a large pantograph or large area as the quilt rolls. I wish someone had warned me of that before I bought.
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: Merry Bee on January 12, 2008, 08:21:07 AM
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You are right, Stitch, I have a very nice machine, but if I ever get another, I will make sure it has a really big space under the throat, because the queen quilt is a wad to put through there. You use the Betty Cotton method a lot, didn't you say? I think her style is very attractive, but had a problem with the feel of those intersections being a bit stiff. I say the bigger the neck of the machine, the better! Then you have the option of stuffing a big quilt under or not.
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: quiltermarynel on January 12, 2008, 10:31:48 AM
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That is one of the reasons I decided NOT to get one. My quilts tend to be one extreme or the other.
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: stitchinjj on January 12, 2008, 03:05:58 PM
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I haven't done the Cotton Theory, just loved the idea and bought some patterns. I liked the way they felt and looked. I have done several quilt as you go, where to make the block and quilt them before attaching. That is how I will do any quilts larger than a queen since my machine throat isn't tall!
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: Merry Bee on January 12, 2008, 04:18:45 PM
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Maybe next time I make a big quilt, I will make it in quarters, quilt it, then sew the quarters together. I really like to piece quilt blocks, but the quilting is a process I do just to get them finished. I do not like quilting as much as buying fabric, planning, cutting, piecing, and assembling the top. I promised myself I would finish some things before I buy any more fabric, except for the fabric I need to finish what I have.
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: stitchinjj on January 12, 2008, 06:45:11 PM
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Yep, I am also a "topper" and never really enjoy the quilting process. I do love how much quicker I can get them done with my quilt machine and frame. It is as close to enjoying the quilting process as I have gotten in 20 years!
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Title: Re: Handi home machine quilting frame
Post by: Calico_Chris on February 05, 2008, 05:49:08 AM
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I'm not in the market but do lust after a nice long arm and frame. What is the holy grail in quilting frames & machines?
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