A Year with Moxie: Follow Up Review of the HandiQuilter Moxie Longarm
HandiQuilter released the Moxie introductory longarm in October 2020, and in March 2021, I wrote my first review of the machine. I’ve been stitching on my Moxie for a year now, and I am excited to write a follow up post about this fabulous machine.
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Doris Lessing, the British novelist, once said: “That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you’ve understood all your life, but in a new way.” My first year with Daisy the Moxie Longarm has been a year of learning— not necessarily discovering entirely new things about longarming, but going deeper into what I already knew in the process of adapting to a new machine. Here’s a few insights I think are worth sharing:
(By the way, I wrote a review of the HandiQuilter Moxie last year that included a lot of information about the machine that I won’t repeat in this post. You can find that blog post HERE.)
Check My Ego
When I first got my Moxie, I mistakenly thought it would be just like riding a bike— I’d been longarming for several years already, so I assumed I’d build the frame, plug her in, and I’d be off to the races at the same skill level, comfort level, and excellence as before. In reality, it was a lot like when I rented a bike during my summer at Oxford— The general gist was the familiar, but the gears were on the opposite side, and the brakes felt different, and I had to navigate traffic circles. The basic premise of all longarms (like bikes) is more or less the same— machine on a chassis, chassis on a frame, and you quilt different types of lines by moving the machine along both the x-axis and the y-axis.
What I didn’t fully appreciate was that different longarms still feel quite different when you’re working on them, and it takes time to adjust from quilting on one to quilting on another.
(Let me be clear— this is not a critique of the Moxie but of my ego: It took me most of 2021 to feel at ease quilting on my Moxie because I let my inner critic run wild with messages like, “You are actually a terrible quilter. You can’t longarm. Your stitching on your last machine was a fluke, etc” instead of just focusing on getting good practice time.)
My recommendation? Even if you’ve had quite a bit of experience on other machines, expect it to take a few quilts for things to “click” with your new Moxie. I’d order a bundle of the Quilting Rockstar Panels and practice as follows:
Panel 1 (placemats): All over meander
Panel 2 (table runner): All over swirls
Panel 3 (placemats): 6 different fill designs in the bodies of the placemats with switchbacks in the piano key bit
Panel 4 (table runner): Cut apart this panel into 9 octagon blocks, add 2” finished sashing and a border or two, quilt with a semi-custom (2-3 motif) quilting plan
Panel 5 (Lanterns of Hope): Fully custom quilting plan (there are some ideas HERE)
Panel 6 (Star Island): Fully custom quilting plan (I’m rather partial to this one)
Now, obviously, Rockstar, you can also do this practicing with quilt tops you’ve already pieced. I just love to recommend the panels because then you don’t have to worry about “ruining” something you spent all that time and energy to put together. Plus, the panels are a nice size that you can get them done pretty quickly and feel that sense of accomplishment.
The result? You may not work all the kinks out in 6 relatively quick projects, but you’ll be a heck of a lot closer! For me, it took custom quilting Star Island to finally go, “oh my gosh, this machine and I are finally working together!”
(If you’re really new to this longarming thing, I teach all about quilting on a frame inside my course Longarm Preparatory— it might be just what you need!)
Unexpected Things I Love
In my first review of the Moxie, I extolled the wonder of a truly affordable longarm finally being on the market. I still think it is a huge deal to have an entry level option from a major machine manufacturer like HandiQuilter, but there are a few things other than price point that have delighted me more than I expected.
First and foremost: I love how easy it is to move this machine. Maybe y’all won’t benefit from this as much as I have, but String & Story rented it’s first studio this year, and we’ve rearranged a few times, so I’ve had the full experience. For moving from one location to another, I was pleased to find I didn’t need to take the frame all the way apart— I could simply remove the bars and tracks, the unscrew the frame in to 2 or 3 big pieces for easy transport.
Within the studio, I can move the entire frame on my own to rearrange for a different filming set up or to make more floor space for QuiltCon prep. For this, I partially remove the back two rollers so I can lift the machine head off the frame and set it to the side (I can do this on my own, but if you don’t lift heavy things often, ask for help). Then, the frame is light as a feather to drag around the studio as I wish. Simply reverse the process to remount the machine.
I also adjusted my machine down from 10 feet to the standard 8 feet. I was delighted that the whole process only took 45 minutes to an hour. This allows me to free up my floor space, but I know I could pretty easily expand the machine again next time I actually piece a bed size quilt.
Finally, I love how sleek and pretty this machine is. Looks have nothing to do with performance, of course, but my last machine just wasn’t cute (Sorry, Leopold). I added some fun String & Story stickers to Daisy the Moxie (you can get some here), and she’s just cute as a button.
Things I’m Working On
In the interest of transparency, there are a few things I’m still working on with this machine.
First, I still can’t succinctly explain the differences between the three stitch modes and when I would use each. This, however, will only be remedied by more of that practice time I’ve already referenced. For now, though, I’ve found that I like the Precision mode at 10-12 stitches per inch.
Second, I still miss being able to raise my presser foot and my other 3” of quilting space. My last longarm was a TinLizzie18. One of its (I’m starting to realize) more unique features was that it had a lever to raise and lower the presser foot just like a domestic machine. This made it easy to slide the machine off the quilt to change thread colors or move the machine out of the way after a thread break in my quilting plan. The Moxie’s presser foot is in a fixed position (you can still adjust the presser foot pressure, you just can’t raise and lower it to release or engage the tension discs). As a result, it takes a second for tension changes to settle in, and it is trickier to move the machine after stitching without snapping the top thread and being forced to rethread the needle.
The TinLizzie also had an 18” throat space and about 15” of quilting space. It was nice to be able to tackle a 12” block without having to roll the quilt.
Neither the presser foot nor the throat space are deal breakers to me— it’s a brilliant little machine. I just want to be honest about some of the little inconveniences of adjusting to a new type and size of machine.
Closing Thoughts
All in all, I remain very glad that I purchased my HandiQuilter Moxie Longarm. My primary goal with this machine was to have a longarm I could readily recommend and teach with— mission accomplished! I continue to firmly believe that the Moxie has changed the market for new longarmers and is an ideal first longarm. It is easy to learn while having enough features that it doesn’t feel basic, and can quilt practically any size quilt.
Additional Resources
(Click the highlighted orange text to follow the links)
Original HandiQuilter Moxie Review
Longarm Preparatory: An introductory course for longarming on a frame
Intro to Free Motion Quilting: A mini course on the foundations of free motion quilting, including your first four motifs
Is a Longarm Right for You?: A blog post to help you know if a longarm quilting machine is a logical purchase for your quilting journey
Quilting Rockstar Panels & Coordinating Threads: Practicing is easier if you’re not worried about all that time you spent piecing. Use these panels to get the feel of quilting actual projects without the added time and expense of piecing your own.
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