Grace 16X Long Arm Quilting Machine

Grace 16X Long Arm Quilting Machine

The 16X Long Arm Quilting Machine from the Grace Company is their midline machine in the new 16 series. This machine is great for those who have some experience with longarm quilting but aren't quite ready to upgrade to the Elite. This computerized midarm has four modes of stitches and includes stitch regulation. It can stitch up to 1,700 stitches per minute, making any project a breeze.

With its simple design, the 16X offers excellent stitch quality with regulated speed control; you can move at your own pace and create detailed and intricate stitching. Along the front of the machine is a 2.4" touch screen that provides access to many of the same tools and features that you find on high-end machines. As with all the machines in the series, the X also includes 16" of throat space, an automatic bobbin winder, LED lights, edge warning, a stitch counter, and an overspeed indicator. For a complete quilting experience, combine your 16X with one of Grace's quilting frames.

2.4" TOUCHSCREEN

On the 16X, pre-installed, is a 2.4" touch screen that allows you to navigate easily through all the features your machine has to offer. You can adjust the brightness of your screen, mute certain alarms, and even find what version of firmware and when it was last updated.

Extendable Ergonomic Handles

The soft, ergonomic handles are designed to follow the contours and curves of your hand, relieving stress in your hands and wrists so you can quilt comfortably. Both handles of the 16X can be adjusted by rotating them or extending them. With this level of adjustability, you can quilt for longer without any aches and pains.

4 Quick-Access Buttons

The 16X has simplified the handlebar controls by reducing them to just two buttons on each handle. You can increase the number, size, or speed of the stitching with the up arrow and decrease the number, size, or speed of the stitching with the down arrow. The "play" button will start/stop the machine, and the stitch button can create a single stitch or toggle the needle between the up and down position.

REPOSITIONABLE HOPPING FOOT

The hopping foot on the 16X was designed with optimum visibility in mind. Depending on preference and what you are quilting, you can easily switch the foot to the left, right, or back of the needle. You can also adjust the height of your foot. When quilting with thick fabric or batting layers, the hopping foot may press down on the quilt too tightly and begin to drag. Alternatively, having the hopping foot too high can result in skipped stitches.

16" Throat Space

Stop struggling to quilt those queen and king-size quilts on a domestic machine and instead upgrade to a machine that tackles large projects with ease. With a full 16" of throat space, you can expect to complete large sections of your quilt quicker than before, and best of all, you won't have your fabric getting bunched up under the throat. Quilts with big blocks tend to make a more significant visual impact, which is now easier than ever with Grace's 16X!

Maintenance

Keep your 16X running like new by regularly cleaning and oiling your machine. Grace recommends that you oil and clean your machine at the start of a new project, after 20 hours of use, and after the machine has sat without use for more than 30 days. The hook assembly must also be cleaned and oiled approximately every other bobbin change.

BUILT-IN AUTOMATIC BOBBIN WINDER

Unlike other midarm and longarm machines, the 16X has a built-in bobbin winder to wind your large M-Style bobbins quickly. The machine's bobbin cam is set so the bobbin will wind completely before the winder shuts off. Since the bobbin winder works independently of the machine, you can wind your bobbin while you're quilting. For best results when winding a bobbin, Grace recommends 50-weight polyester thread on a cone.

Easy Tension Adjustments

Fully manual stitch settings allow you to have control of your stitches. The setting dial is easily adjusted to create a perfectly balanced stitch based on your fabric type and weight. Ranging from one to four on the knob, these lines allow quilters to dial in their tension settings incrementally. If the bobbin thread appears on the right side of your fabric, then the needle tension is too tight, and if your needle thread is too loose, it will appear on the wrong side of the material.

1700 STITCHES PER MINUTE

The powerful motor in the 16X produces up to 1700 stitches per minute. This powerful motor, combined with the built-in stitch regulator, allows you to create beautiful, consistent stitches. You can also slow the machine down to sew at 90 stitches per minute. This broad range of speed is perfect for the four different stitch modes on the machine: cruise, precise, baste, and manual.

Stitch Modes

Precise - In the default precise mode, you select the stitch length you want, and the machine will adjust to help make more consistent stitches. It only stitches when you move the machine, which aids with patterns that have corners or crisp points.

Cruise - Cruise mode is helpful for continuous, smooth, or curvy designs. It does the same as precise mode, except the machine will continue to stitch in place (at the minimum speed) if you stop moving the machine.

Manual - Manual mode makes the machine produce stitches at a certain speed. It's up to the quilter to move the machine the distance needed to get the desired stitch length. This mode is helpful for small, continuous patterns.

Baste - Use baste mode to create loose, temporary stitches around the edge of your quilt top to hold layers of fabric together while quilting.

Edge Warning

The edge warning alert system helps you stay within a “safe area” of your quilt by notifying you when you approach the edge of a set boundary. This will help prevent the machine from hitting the rails of the frame, but you can also set boundaries around a particular block or section of the quilt. Please note the Edge Warning is automatically deactivated in baste mode, so the alarm will not bother you while tacking down your quilt.

Designed to Feel Familiar

Making the leap to a longarm machine can be intimidating, but the 16X makes it easy! This machine is lightweight and easily maneuverable compared to other longarms with its dual wheels.

LED LIGHTING

Super bright, color–balanced daylight LEDs light your workspace, reducing eye strain and fatigue. This machine is ready to give you more light where you need it most. The bobbin light illuminates the hook assembly area, while the LED throat lights create an even brighter, shadow-free workspace.

EASY–ACCESS BOBBIN

The bobbin case location on this machine has been designed for quick and easy accessibility. Changing your bobbin is now more user-friendly than ever. The 16X uses larger M Class bobbins that hold more thread than standard bobbins. This allows you to quilt for longer periods of time before needing to change or refill your bobbin.

PRINTED THREAD GUIDES

Unlike many other quilting machines, the 16X features printed threading guides directly on the body of the machine. Simply follow the images to thread your quilting machine with ease. This machine uses cone-style thread, not thread from a spool. Do not use spool thread unless the spool accessory (not included in this kit) has been installed.

BUILT-IN STITCH REGULATOR & Counter

The 16X comes standard with a built-in stitch regulator. The motion of the machine is monitored via high-resolution encoders. This intelligent feature tells the motor how fast or slow to stitch. Moving the machine too quickly while quilting can reduce the quality of the stitch regulation. If the machine is moved too quickly, an alarm will sound, a red LED light will shine on the needle area, and the "start stitching" button on the display will turn red. Slow the movement of the machine to turn off the alarm, light, and display alert. Both the alarm and the display alert can be deactivated in the settings menu.

Dual Thread Mast

Quilt and wind bobbins simultaneously on the 16X with its dual thread mast. This great feature saves you time and energy! You no longer have to stop quilting just to wind a bobbin. With the dual-thread mast, you have a dedicated space for your bobbin and quilting threads.

QUILTER'S CREATIVE TOUCH Software (sold separately)

The 16X can also be paired with Quilter's Creative Touch Design and Quilting Software. This top-of-the-line quilting system is fully automated, allowing you to create, design, and quilt your own unique patterns. Design a quilting pattern and watch as your 16X stitches it out automatically. Design entire quilt layouts and start quilting with the touch of a button. Simply set it up and watch as your machine quilts for you, then roll your quilt to the next section and begin again. (Software sold separately.)

Let QCT take control, and you'll get the perfect pattern, stitched exactly the way you envisioned it every time!

MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY

• 1-year limited warranty on the front handles/buttons, LCD, Encoders, Laser, Stitch Regulator, Cables, Power Supply, Motor, Wiring, and Electronics.
• 2 Years on non-moving, non-electrical, mechanical parts.
• 5 Years on the cast metal body

Grace Q'nique 16X Long Arm Quilting Machine