I’m glad you’re here! I’m Diane Harris, the new brand ambassador for HQ Stitch by Handi Quilter.

Diane Harris

HQ Stitch is a line of three domestic sewing machines from Handi Quilter, the respected maker of longarm quilting machines. I’m so excited about HQ Stitch because these machines are incredible! I can’t wait to share all of their features with you.

I have been sewing since I was nine years old. I learned to sew in Nebraska 4-H clubs, with my mom and my sister-in-law Jane as my teachers. They probably didn’t imagine that sewing would turn into a career for me.

When I married in 1981, I bought a pattern for a patchwork Christmas tree skirt and made it for my first home. I didn’t realize that it was a circular quilt. A few years later I took my first quilting class, and the rest is history. I’ve been making quilts for more than 30 years.

 

 

Once my children were grown, I spent 11 years as an editor for Quiltmaker magazine. (That’s my quilt on the cover, above!) I wrote quilt pattern instructions and quilt-related product reviews. I blogged and managed social media and met wonderful people in the quilting world.

Now I speak to quilting groups and teach quilters a variety of techniques through my small business, Stash Bandit, and so I’ve become acquainted with a lot of sewing machines. (Maybe you didn’t realize that quilting teachers, by default, are machine experts. There are sewing machine problems in every class!)

So it’s with great enthusiasm that I’m getting to know the HQ Stitch machines. I’ve been playing with them every day and I am in love.

HQ Stitch 510 by Handi Quilter

My first foray into HQ Stitch was the 510. I’ve heard people talk about straight-stitch machines that are fast as lightning so I was anxious to try it out. I wasn’t disappointed. Can you say speed demon?! I’m absolutely over the moon for this machine.

HQ Stitch 210

Not long after, my guild had a sewing day for Quilts of Valor. It was a perfect opportunity to pack up the HQ Stitch 210 and cart it along. I have to say, though, there wasn’t a lot of carting to do. This little beauty is light as a feather. Even the extension table fits nicely into my tote bag. I wondered how it would handle the stresses of sewing away from home, outside of my normal environment. It performed beautifully. Sewed like a champ! I’ll never lug a 30-pound machine to class again.

HQ Stitch 710

I took my time getting to the HQ Stitch 710, which is the powerhouse of the line. I knew I needed time to read the manual and learn the basics: winding a bobbin, threading the machine and the needle, changing the presser feet and understanding the stitch selection panel.

I read the manual on a Sunday afternoon and was so enthused that I gave the machine its first whirl on Monday morning. I’ve barely scratched the surface of what the 710 can do but I really like what I’ve used so far. Everything was easy to understand the first time around, and I’ve already personalized its settings to work for me and the way I sew.

This is going to be a great adventure. I hope you’ll come along with me as we explore the fabulous sewing machines that comprise HQ Stitch by Handi Quilter.

In the meantime, peek at the machine comparison chart or find a retailer in your area.

Do you own a machine by HQ Stitch? What are your questions? If you’ll let me know in the comments, we’ll answer them in a future post.