
Page 14 HQ Sweet Sixteen User Manual
Drawing the Bobbin Thread to the Top of
the Quilt
1. Aer threading the machine, plug it in and turn on the
power. Place quilt sandwich under hopping foot.
2. While rmly holding the tail of the needle thread with
the le hand, choose one of the following methods to
cycle the needle through one full rotaon 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 Buon Half-Stch. Find the Needle
Up/Down Buon 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 Buon, Full-Stch. Find the Needle
Up/Down Buon in the center of the color touch-
screen main display. Press and hold briey to cycle the
needle through one complete stch 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 17
IMPORTANT NOTE: Top thread tension should be adjusted
only aer the bobbin case foundaon tension adjustment
is made.
Puckering, gathers and thread breakage occur when the
top tension is too ght. Loops and thread nests occur on
the back when the top thread tension is too loose. (See
Figure 18 on next page.) Tension may need to be adjusted,
depending on the fabric, thread or bang used in each
project.
As you change the top tension, the value in the tension
indicator box on the Main screen increases or decreases in
increments of ve. When you are happy with the tension,
note the top tension value for that type of thread (brand,
weight, and color) so you can quickly and easily set the
tension when you use this thread again in the future.
Unlike the bobbin case adjustment, which requires
minute adjustments, the top tension knob may require
turns anywhere from 1/4 of a turn to two to four turns to
achieve balanced tension.
Easy-Set Tension™ Adjustment
Checking and Adjusng Bobbin Case Tension
The bobbin case tension is the foundaon tension for the
enre 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 nger
and li the bobbin case from your hand. While gently
moving the 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 17). Turn
clockwise to ghten and counter-clockwise to loosen the
bobbin case tension. Make very small adjustments. Check
the bobbin tension every me a new bobbin is inserted.
Tighten Bobbin Case Tension
The bobbin case tension is TOO LOOSE if it will not li up
onto its side. Turn screw clockwise to ghten. The bobbin
case screw requires very small adjustments. Think of the
“ck of a clock”. Adjust, then check. Adjust and check
again.
Loosen Bobbin Case Tension
The bobbin case tension is TOO TIGHT if it lis out of your
hand. Turn screw counterclockwise to loosen. The bobbin
case screw requires very small adjustments. Think of the
cks of a clock. Adjust, then check. Adjust and check again.