handi quilter HQ Sweet Sixteen, User Manual

 Page 14

HQ Sweet Sixteen User Manual

Drawing the Bobbin Thread to the Top of 
the Quilt

1.  After threading the machine, plug it in and turn on the 
power.  Place quilt sandwich under hopping foot.

2. While fi rmly holding the tail of the needle thread with 
the left hand, choose one of the following methods to 
cycle the needle through one full rotation to bring the 
bobbin thread to the top of the quilt. 
   A.  Foot Pedal Method.  LIGHTLY tap the foot pedal to 
make the needle go down. Then LIGHTLY tap again to 
bring the needle up. 
   B.  Needle Up/Down Button Half-Stitch.  Find the 
Needle Up/Down Button in the center of the color touch-
screen main display.  Press once to cycle the needle down. 
Press again to cycle the needle back up. 
   C. Needle Up/Down Button, Full-Stitch.  Find the 
Needle Up/Down Button in the center of the color touch-
screen main display. Press and hold briefl y to cycle the 
needle through one complete stitch cycle (down and back 
up). 

3. Pull the fabric 3-4 inches away while holding the needle 
thread. 

4. Bobbin thread will pull up and through to the top, 
allowing you to grasp the loop and pull it to the desired 
length.

Figure 15

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Top thread tension should be 
adjusted only after the bobbin case foundation tension 
adjustment is made. 

Puckering, gathers and thread breakage occur when the 
top tension is too tight. Loops and thread nests occur on 
the back when the top thread tension is too loose.  (See 
Figure 16 on next page.) Tension may need to be adjusted, 
depending on the fabric, thread or batting used in each 
project. 

Unlike the bobbin case adjustment, which requires 
minute adjustments (like the tick of a clock), the top ten-
sion knob may require turns anywhere from 1/4 of a turn 
to 2-4 turns to achieve balanced tension.

Tighten Top Thread Tension

To adjust the top tension tighter, turn the top thread ten-
sion knob (page 5, Figure 1, #5) 

clockwise

. 

Top Thread Tension Adjustment

Checking and Adjusting Bobbin Case Tension

The bobbin case tension is the foundation tension for the 
entire machine. To test that bobbin tension is correct, 
hold the bobbin case in the palm of your hand with the 
open end facing up. Wrap the thread around your index 
fi nger and lift the bobbin case from your hand. While 
gently moving the fi nger front to back (not up and down, 
which is not consistent), the bobbin case should slide 
slowly down the thread, like a spider on its web.

The small screw in the center of the tension spring is 
where the adjustment is made (see Figure 15).  Turn 
clockwise to tighten and counter-clockwise to loosen 
the bobbin case tension.  Make very small adjustments.  

Check the bobbin tension every time a new bobbin is 
inserted.

Tighten Bobbin Case Tension

The bobbin case tension is 

TOO LOOSE

 if it will not lift 

up onto its side. Turn screw clockwise to tighten. The 
bobbin case screw requires very small adjustments. Think 
of the “tick of a clock” . Adjust, then check. Adjust and 
check again.

Loosen Bobbin Case Tension

The bobbin case tension is 

TOO TIGHT

  if it lifts out of 

your hand.  Turn screw counter-clockwise to loosen. The 
bobbin case screw requires very small adjustments. Think 
of the “tick of a clock” . Adjust, then check. Adjust and 
check again.