Master Quilter - Sparrow Studioz

“We’ve Gone Quilting!” 

“Thank you for requesting the APQS information packet. 

It explains how to take your passion for quilting to the 

next level with an APQS quilting machine. You’ll discover 

how APQS gives you the freehand freedom to fully 

express your individuality and creativity. That’s exciting!” 

Liz Porter 

“Liz is right. APQS can enhance your skills and artistry. 

It helps you achieve your full potential as a quilter. And 

remember, APQS can help turn your quilting passion into 

a significant income by finishing quilts for others. Read 

the enclosed materials and you’ll share our Gone Quilting 

enthusiasm.” 

Marianne Fons

23398 HWY 30 East, Carroll, IA 51401 USA 

Phone: 800-426-7233 | www.apqs.com 

About APQS 

quilting machines 

If you already own a longarm quilting machine, you may be 

familiar with the APQS name and our reputation. For those 

of you who are new to longarms, allow us to introduce 

ourselves: 

For more than thirty years, APQS has been crafting the 

world’s finest longarm quilting machines in the heartland 

of America. What’s kept us going all these years is our 

dedication to quality, innovation and customer service 

– and the dedication of thousands of amateur and 

professional APQS longarm quilters. 

Selecting the machine that’s right for you 

Choosing your longarm should never be a spur-of-the-moment 

decision. After all, it’s a big decision and you expect your 

longarm to give you enjoyment for decades to come. 

Your APQS longarm will be a lifetime investment in quilting 

fun that you will never regret. And it’s exciting and easy 

to choose your APQS machine. Use our website and 

literature to zero in on the longarm of your dreams. Then 

come to our showroom, contact your local representative 

or visit us at the next quilt show to experience an APQS 

longarm for yourself. 

When you invest in an APQS quilting machine, you’re 

joining an ever-growing family of quilters around the world 

who are passionate about quilting and have fun doing it. 

In fact, APQS owners often affectionately “name” their 

new machines when welcoming them into their home! 

When you buy an APQS machine, you become part of our 

extended family for life!

Lenni 

Freedom SR Lenni 

Millenium George 

Millennium George 

Lucey 



Why APQS is 

a great value 

When you invest in an APQS longarm, you can be sure 

that you have purchased a quilting machine that will retain 

its value for many years to come. 

APQS longarms are not the product of an assembly line. 

The machines are handmade, one at a time, by master 

craftspeople. We pay meticulous attention to each and 

every detail. 

Because of this, you can rely on the quality of APQS 

machines. Every machine born in our factory meets the 

highest standards of quality and more importantly, the 

highest standards of the many satisfied APQS owners 

found throughout the world. 

Customer support 

Your relationship with APQS won’t end once you purchase 

one of our longarm machines. We’ll be here to help you on 

every step of your quilting journey. 

It starts at the factory with technicians and educators 

ready to assist you. And our dealer support, certified 

technicians and web-based forum all act as extensions to 

provide the quality service and education you’ve come to 

know and expect from APQS. We’re here to offer you a 

lifetime of support.



Why no other longarm 

looks like an APQS 

You simply must quilt on an APQS machine to fully 

appreciate the stitch quality and ease of operation. You 

don’t need to be an experienced quilter to sense the 

unmistakable touch and feel of an APQS machine or 

to appreciate its responsiveness. 

What makes an APQS machine so user-friendly? 

Our construction techniques and design choices play a critical part in making our longarms so easy to use. 

• Quilting head - When you’re quilting, the quilting head must withstand various pressures while minimizing deflection and 

vibration. That’s why we designed it with extraordinary care. Our time-tested methods allow you to enjoy 50% less head weight 

while virtually eliminating vibration. The less a longarm vibrates, the higher the stitch quality. Less vibration also translates into 

more precision for intricate quilting. 

• Track system with horizontal wheels - Our wheels “cling” to the edges of the table 

and carriage, which makes it easy to operate without sacrificing APQS’s distinctive sensitivity, 

responsiveness and precise stitch quality. 

• Bliss Drive System - For quilters who like even more movement sensitivity, the optional 

Bliss Drive System uses steel ball bearing technology for unmatched motion and glide. 

• Precision synchronous belt drive - APQS engineers carefully chose precision synchronous belt drive 

technology to transfer power to both shafts and provide precise machine timing for sewing in all 

directions. In addition, synchronous belt drive technology requires no lubrication and is quieter in operation. 

• Integrated Perfect Stitch Regulator - Our integrated perfect stitch regulator, designed and perfected 

by APQS, lets you put stitches exactly where you want them. 

• Gentle Touch tensioner and Smart Bobbin- APQS’s Gentle Touch tensioner and Smart Bobbin enhance our precise 

thread tension, provide better stitch quality and enable you to use almost any good quality thread, even popular decorative 

threads. We designed our machines to use Smart Bobbins because they have almost 50% less inertial mass. A very low 

moment of inertia allows high-speed quilting at lower tension levels. Lower bobbin and top thread tensions produce beautiful 

quality stitches. 

• Thread cutter - Our exclusive lower thread cutter saves time and stress. Think about how many times you clip threads and start 

another design on each quilt. What a timesaver! 

• Comfort Grip handles - Our multi-positional Comfort Grip handles with fingertip controls 

reduce fatigue and eliminate much of the risk of carpal tunnel-type symptoms. In addition, you enjoy 

a full, unobstructed view of your stitching area. 

All of these things work together to bring out the quilt artist in you!



Why no other longarm 

quilts like an APQS 

At APQS, we combine traditional handcraftsmanship with 

modern manufacturing techniques. That’s the only way we 

feel it’s possible to incorporate the infinite amount of skill, 

craftsmanship and love that characterize these beautiful 

machines. After all, automated, assembly line production 

could never create a longarm of the quality our customers 

have come to expect of us. 

Building an APQS longarm requires a great deal of skill 

and many years of experience. That’s why every hand that 

touches an APQS longarm is an expert at its particular 

task. Our team pays attention to the smallest details. 

Our materials 

The long service life of an APQS machine is not something 

that just happens. Because our longarms are crafted with 

only the best materials and built by skilled craftspeople, 

your machine is like magic in your hands. 

All APQS longarms are built by hand with the finest grades 

of aircraft aluminum. This allows us to dramatically reduce 

the weight while maintaining integrity and strength as well 

as virtually eliminating vibration. 

Regardless of which APQS longarm you choose, our hands 

make quilting magic for your hands.



Return on investment 

Many people who are considering an investment in a 

longarm machine want to know how long it will take to pay 

for the machine. We’ve come up with some basic answers 

to that question. 

You could pay for your machine in as little as one year with 

comfortable and reasonable business goals. We encourage 

you to do some research in your local area to find out how 

busy professional quilters are. In many cases, you’ll find 

a backlog of six months or more, indicating that this is a 

terrific business opportunity for a person who wants to be 

self-employed. 

We studied machine quilting services and pricing from all around the United States and we put together some averages: 

• The average queen-size quilt is approximately 90 x 100 inches or 9,000 square inches. 

• The average price for machine quilting with a simple overall design is approximately $0.015 per square inch. 

• At this price, that queen-sized quilt would bring you approximately $135 in labor costs alone (9,000 x .015¢ (per sq. in.) = $135). 

When you look at these figures in terms of your investment in the machine, it breaks down like this: 

Are you thinking about starting a quilting business? 

Quilters around the nation report that they do one quilt per week to as many as 300 quilts or more per year. Quilting 200 or 300 

quilts in one year at our average price of $135 would make a very nice income, and you can be your own boss. 

If you are thinking about starting a machine quilting business, please call our sales department and request our Personal Business 

Plan. We’ll be happy to share this sample business plan with you so that you can use it as a guide to formulate your own plan. You 

can be prepared with these things when you speak with your banker about starting this business. 

We also have financing assistance available. Give us a call and 

we’ll help you get in touch with the financing folks too. 

Millennium: It would take approximately 129 quilts to pay for our top-of-the-line 

Millennium at $17,400. This would be an average of only 2.5 quilts per week for the first 

year of your business. 

Lenni: For the Lenni quilting machine, at only $10,900, it would only take 81 quilts over 

the first year to pay for the machine. That’s only 1.5 quilts a week. 

Lucey: For a Lucey machine with 6 more inches of throat space, finish 88 quilts and 

you’ll have it paid for during your first year in business!

Table design 

The APQS table is full of great 

features. For example, the quilt top, 

batting and backing all load from the 

top. This eases bobbin changes and 

enables you to quilt while sitting. 

Multi-positional Comfort Grip handles 

Our fully adjustable handles enable 

greater control through close 

proximity to work and effortless 

access to function buttons. 

Gentle Touch tensioner 

Disc-style tensioners provide the 

most superb thread delivery 

system, accommodating different 

thicknesses along a single strand 

of thread. 

Quilt pick-up roller 

Our pick-up roller does not require 

any lifting or adjusting. 

Lower thread cutter 

This exclusive APQS option 

automatically trims your bobbin 

thread, saving time and increasing 

productivity. 

Our low inertia Smart Bobbin 

provides precise thread tension, 

better stitch quality, and allows the 

use of almost any thread. 

Hydraulic table lift 

The optional hydraulic lift is available 

as an upgrade to allow for easy, 

one-touch height adjustment. 

Power fabric advance 

This feature lets you advance your 

quilt with the push of a button or 

foot pedal. APQS table design 

eliminates the need for pick up 

roller adjustments. 

Quilt Glide 

Get the best of both worlds 

simultaneously by combining 

manual and stitch regulated modes, 

giving you great control and 

consistent stitches for detail quilting. 

Bliss Drive System 

The Bliss Drive System will decrease 

friction and inertia and dramatically 

increase your quilting pleasure. 

In-home set-up 

This option allows you to sit back 

and relax while our technician sets 

up your new APQS quilting system 

in your home or business. 



APQS advantages 

As an APQS longarm quilter you’ll quickly realize the advantages 

of being part of the APQS family. 

Lifetime customer support 

You’re bound to have lots of questions about your new machine and how 

to best use it. Whether you’ve owned your machine for only a day or for 20 

years, we’re here for you! Our trained service technicians are only a phone 

call away to help you troubleshoot and answer questions. What’s best is that 

APQS customer support is available free, for as long as you need us. 

Our engineers have designed APQS machines to make them extremely userfriendly 

as well as maintenance-friendly. Simple oiling and routine cleaning 

are all that’s needed to keep your machine working in tip-top shape. 

The machines have been cleverly designed so that many service needs can 

be handled without the machine ever leaving your home. 

In addition to our customer support team, APQS owners are one big, quilting 

family, and they use our online forum to share inspiration, questions and 

troubleshooting tips with each other 24 hours a day. 

Horizontal wheels 

The horizontal wheel and track system absorbs any residual 

vibration and eliminates both binding and play. This holds the 

machine at a true 90º angle, which is very important when 

running patterns or doing other precision quilting. 

Welded aluminum construction 

APQS quilting heads are hand built by craftsmen using the 

finest grades of aircraft aluminum. Our time-tested methods 

lock the base and body completely, so you enjoy 50% less 

head weight and reduced vibration. The less a longarm vibrates, 

the higher the stitch quality. 

Self-lubricating bushings 

Our self-lubricating needle bar and hopping foot 

bushings provide smooth operation. No additional lubrication 

is required that could stain valuable quilts. 

Synchronous belt drive 

APQS carefully chose belt drive technology as the means of 

transferring power to the upper and lower shafts. This design 

provides precise machine timing for sewing in all directions. 

Ask any APQS owner and they will tell you that timing or 

re-timing is almost non-existent. In addition, belt drive 

technology requires no lubrication, is quieter in operation 

and reduces vibration.


Phone: 800-426-7233 | www.apqs.com

The ultimate quilting machine 

The standard features on the Millennium, like the 

Precision Stitch Regulator, lower thread cutter 

and electronic channel locks, make this top-ofthe-line 

machine a quilter’s dream come true. 

With the Millennium you’ll be ready to complete 

projects faster than you ever dreamed possible. 

The Precision Stitch Regulator will reduce your 

practice time significantly and get you off to a 

good start with perfect stitches every time. The 

throat space of 26” X 10 ½” allows 23 square 

feet of quilting capacity without advancing the 

fabric. 

The needle positioner (2-stage), LED light, singlestitch 

feature and much more make the Millennium 

our finest machine with everything you need to 

excel. 

The quiet, fully-enclosed DC motor, synchronous 

belt drive, multi-positional handles and low inertia 

Smart Bobbin will make quilting with the Millennium 

an absolutely enjoyable experience. 

And with our lifetime customer support, our 

trained Service Technicians are never more than 

a phone call away to help you troubleshoot and 

answer questions.

Operating controls are at your fingertips 

on the back and front handles. This will 

provide you complete control of the 

machine’s speed and other functions so 

you can keep your eyes on your work. 

The thread cutter automatically trims your 

bobbin thread saving time and increasing 

productivity. An APQS exclusive. 

Horizontal wheel and track system 

enables the Millennium to move 

effortlessly, allowing you to quilt in any 

direction with ease. The horizontal wheels 

eliminate both binding and play. This holds 

the machine at a true 90º angle, which is 

very important when running patterns or 

doing other precision quilting. 

APQS carefully chose belt-drive technology 

as the means of transferring power to 

the upper and lower shafts. This design 

provides precise machine timing for 

sewing in all directions. Ask any APQS 

owner and they will tell you that timing 

or re-timing is almost non-existent. In 

addition, belt-drive technology requires 

no lubrication, is quieter in operation, 

and reduces vibration. 



Millennium Features 

• 8-year warranty 

• Lifetime customer support 

• On-demand Precision Stitch Regulator 

• Throat size of 26” x 10 ½” 

• Low inertia Smart Bobbin provides precise thread tension, 

better stitch quality and allows the use of almost any thread. 

• 10’, 12’ or 14’ foot standard aluminum alloy table 

• Easy bobbin access 

• Multi-function light switch includes bright LED lights for 

easy visibility, plus black light and off positions. 

• Weight of 49 lbs (22 kg) 

• Two-stage automatic needle positioner 

• Single-stitch function 

• Gentle Touch tensioner provides the most superb thread 

delivery system. Accommodates different thicknesses 

along a single strand of thread. 

• Built-in laser 

• Electronic channel locks for both horizontal and vertical 

straight-line quilting at the touch of a button 

• Turbo bobbin winder 

• Four-bar quilt loading system. This keeps your available 

quilting space the same throughout the quilt, and means 

you won’t have to baste a quilt any longer. 

• Simple thread path makes changing threads easy. 

• Adjustable height table legs 

• Pressure-sensitive braking system on rollers gives infinite 

adjustment settings for fabric tautness. This exclusive 

feature protects the quilt top from excess stress. 

• Handcrafted from aircraft-grade aluminum 

• Voltage 120V 50/60 Hz. All APQS machines run on standard 

household current. 

• Super-quiet fully enclosed DC motor. This safety feature 

is an APQS exclusive. 

• Synchronous Belt Drive that is guaranteed for life. 

• Belt-drive technology provides precise machine timing, 

requires no lubrication and reduces vibration. 

Available options for the Millennium 

• Quilt Glide 

• Bliss Drive System 

• Overhead lighting 

• Power Fabric Advance with foot pedal control 

• Hydraulic table lift 

• In-home set-up by factory certified technician 

*Every complete Millennium Quilting 

System comes with machine, table, 

rollers, patterns, thread, bobbins, bobbin 

winder, simple, easy-to-follow assembly 

instructions, basic training DVD and 

manual on computer CD.

Experience the free-hand full-featured machine. 

Like the Millennium, the Freedom SR includes 

our Precision Stitch Regulator, which performs 

with the skill and grace of a ballet dancer. You 

get the same 26” x 10 ½” throat space with 23 

square feet of quilting capacity without advancing 

the fabric. Plus, you can easily change the 

needle position from up to down (2-stage needle 

positioner). 

The Freedom SR Quilting System uses a superquiet, 

fully-enclosed DC motor and offers the 

same quiet operation with minimal vibration. 

As with all APQS machines, the Freedom SR comes 

standard with high tech features such as the 

synchronous belt drive, self-lubricating bushings and 

low inertia Smart Bobbin . And with our lifetime 

customer support, our trained Service Technicians 

are never more than a phone call away to help you 

troubleshoot and answer questions. 

The Freedom SR is the ideal value for individual 

users, small businesses, and quilting professionals.

The built-in laser makes following 

patterns very simple. Laser can also be 

used at the freehand side for quilting 

block motifs. 

The Precision Stitch Regulator makes 

perfect star points and squares, and even 

starts and stops with no extra stitches. 

Ergonomically-designed handles 

in multiple positions offer several 

adjustment options to “fit” each 

individual quilter’s body size and shape. 

The horizontal wheel and track system 

absorbs any residual vibration, and 

eliminates both binding and play. This 

holds the machine at a true 90º angle – 

very important when running patterns or 

doing other precision quilting. 



Freedom SR Features 




• Throat size of 26” x 10 ½” 

• Low inertia Smart Bobbin provides precise thread tension, 

better stitch quality and allows the use of almost any thread. 

• 10’, 12’ or 14’ foot standard aluminum alloy table 


• Multi-function light switch includes bright LED lights 

for easy visibility, plus black light and off positions. 

• Weight of 45 lbs (22 kg) 






• Built-in Laser 

• Vertical channel lock 

• Turbo Bobbin Winder 










• Voltage 120V 50/60 Hz. All APQS machines run on standard 

household current. 



• Synchronous Belt Drive provides precise machine timing, 


Available options for the Freedom SR 

• Quilt Glide 


• Overhead lighting 

• Power Fabric Advance with foot pedal control 



*Every complete Freedom SR Quilting 


rollers, patterns, thread, bobbins, bobbin 




A genuine APQS stitch-regulated 

longarm machine to fit your budget 

Lucey offers the quality and performance quilters 

expect from APQS at an economical price. Its 

26-inch throat space makes it easy to work with 

quilts with large blocks. For example, you’ll be 

able to see and quilt the entire space without 

splitting your design in half. 

The Precision Stitch Regulator creates beautiful, 

consistent stitches. Glide the lightweight machine 

across your quilt and create your designs, knowing 

your stitch length will be consistent with every 

motion! 

And with our lifetime customer support, our trained 

Service Technicians are never more than a phone 

call away to help you troubleshoot and answer 

questions.

Our Gentle Touch tensioner provides 

the most superb thread delivery system, 

and accommodates different thicknesses 


Use the built-in laser to follow patterns 

when operating the Lucey from the 

pattern side, or move the laser to the 

front of the machine for quilting block 

motifs. 



Lucey Features 



• On-demand Precision Stitch Regulator - reduces your 

practice time significantly, getting you off to a good start 

the first time you quilt 

• LED lights 

• 26” x 10 ½” throat size 

• Weighs only 45 pounds 

• 10’ or 12’ aluminum alloy table 

• Pressure sensitive brake system 

• Two-stage automatic needle positioner allows you to start 

or stop with the needle up or down 

• Single-stitch function for precise individual stitches 

• Built-in laser for accurately following patterns 

• Handcrafted aircraft grade aluminum for light weight 

feel and motion 

• Super quiet DC motor 

• Synchronous belt drive that is guaranteed for life 

• Four-bar table system keeps the quilting space consistent 

to take full advantage of generous throat size 

• Voltage 120V 50/60Hz 

Available options for Lucey 



• In-home set-up by factory-certified technician 


*Every complete Lucey Quilting System 

comes with machine, table, rollers, 

patterns, thread, bobbins, bobbin 




A genuine APQS stitch-regulated 

longarm machine to fit your budget 

The Lenni gives you all the advantages of an 

APQS longarm quilting machine at an affordable 

price. 

Its Precision Stitch Regulator makes your stitches 

consistent the moment you begin quilting. You’ll 

be surprised at how fast you finish your quilts 

with features like the two-stage needle positioner 

and single stitch function. 

Whether sitting or standing to quilt, you’ll appreciate 

how effortlessly Lenni moves with its light weight 

of 34 pounds. 

With a 20-inch throat space, you’ll never struggle to 

machine quilt your tops again. The 10- or 12-foot 

table allows you all the room you need to let your 

creativity flow. 




answer questions. 

Built with the same high quality standards of every 

APQS machine, the Lenni will help you finally turn 

all those pieced tops into beautiful quilts!

The on-demand Precision Stitch Regulator 

makes perfect star points and squares, 

and even starts and stops with no extra 

stitches. 

Use the built-in laser to follow patterns 

when operating the Lenni from the 

pattern side, or move the laser to the 

front of the machine for quilting block 

motifs. 

The raised quilt pick-up bar keeps the 

quilt’s bulk out of your way so you don’t 

lose quilting space as you advance the 

quilt, while the leveler bar keeps the quilt 

layers smooth and flat. Your quilt is easy 

to load, and the tedious task of basting 

your quilt layers is eliminated. You’ll also 

find it easy to sit or stand to quilt. 

The standard Lenni table provides the 

same horizontal wheel technology as 

our other machines to eliminate binding 

and play. 

Handle-mounted controls let you stop 

and start your quilting literally “at the 

touch of a button.” Your hands won’t need 

to leave the handles to use the helpful 

needle up/down feature. 



Lenni Features 




• Throat size of 20” x 8” 

• Low inertia Smart Bobbin provides precise thread 

tension, better stitch quality and allows the use of 

almost any thread. 

• 10’ or 12’ foot standard aluminum alloy table 


• LED Lights for clear visibility 

• Weight of 34 lbs (15.4 kg) 



• Gentle Touch tensioner provides the most superb 

thread delivery system. Accommodates different 

thicknesses along a single strand of thread. 

• Built-in laser 

• Vertical channel lock 










• Voltage 120V 50/60 Hz. All APQS machines run on 

standard household current. 



• Synchronous Belt Drive that is guaranteed for life. 

• Belt-drive technology provides precise machine timing, 


Available options for the Lenni 

• 10’ or 12’ steel table 



• In-home set-up by factory-certified technician 


*Every complete Lenni Quilting System 

comes with machine, table, rollers, 

patterns, thread, bobbins, bobbin 




A space-saving stationary APQS machine 

with lots of throat space 

George loves the quality and large throat of APQS 

longarm machines. But he doesn’t have a lot of 

room. And because he was such an inspiration 

in creating our stationary, sit-down machine, we 

named it after him. Now you can also quilt with 

reckless abandon just about anywhere. 

The generous 20” throat space means you’ll 

never again have to struggle with squeezing quilts 

through a small space. When you’re done quilting, 

George’s 60” x 24” table folds down so you can 

conveniently store it under your bed. It also sets 

up easily for your next quilting project. 




answer questions.

Our low inertia Smart Bobbin provides 

precise thread tension, better stitch 

quality, and allows the use of almost any 

thread. 

George’s touch-sensitive foot pedal lets 

you place stitches precisely where you 

want them, even one stitch at a time. 

Our Gentle Touch tensioner provides 

the most superb thread delivery system, 

and accommodates different thicknesses 


APQS carefully chose belt drive technology 

as the means of transferring power to 

the upper and lower shafts. Designed 

and constructed in a way to provide 

precise machine timing for sewing in 

all directions. Ask any APQS owner and 

they will tell you that timing or re-timing 

is almost non-existent. In addition, belt 

drive technology requires no lubrication, 

is quieter in operation, and reduces 

vibration. 



George Features 



• LED lights 

• Variable needle speed (200 – 2400 SPM) 

• Handcrafted from aircraft grade aluminum 

• Throat size of 20” x 8” 

• Voltage 120V 50/60 Hz. All APQS machines run on 

standard household current. 

• Super-quiet fully-enclosed DC motor. This safety feature is 

an APQS exclusive. 

• Synchronous Belt Drive that is guaranteed for life. Belt 

drive technology provides precise machine timing, requires 

no lubrication and reduces vibration. 

• Low inertia Smart Bobbin provides precise thread 

tension, better stitch quality and allows the use of almost 

any thread. 







• Touch-sensitive foot pedal 

• Easy fold-up table with rounded corners enlarges your 

work space. The table measures 24” x 60” and adjusts in 

height from 22” to 32” to help you quilt without raising 

your shoulders uncomfortably like standard tables. 

Available options for the George 

• Deluxe wooden table 


*Every complete George Quilting 


thread, bobbins, bobbin winder, simple, 

easy-to-follow assembly instructions, 

basic training DVD and manual on 

computer CD.

Reasons to use a Synchronous Belt Drive 

in longarm quilting machines: 

• Synchronous belts will not stretch 

and do not require lubrication. APQS 

Synchronous Belts are guaranteed for 

the life of your machine. 

• Precise registration– synchronous belts 

provide timing and synchronization 

accuracy that make for flawless 

registration, with no loss of torquecarrying 

capacity. 

• Quieter operation– carefully engineered 

teeth mesh cleanly with pulley grooves 

to reduce noise and vibration. No 

gearboxes, grease or oil required, 

and there is no need for lubrication 

(lubrication attracts dirt which can lead 

to wear). 

• Precision– synchronous belts are 

specifically designed for applications 

where precision is critical, such as 

plotters, machine tools, medical 

diagnostic equipment, industrial sewing 

machines, robotics, centrifuges and DC 

stepper/servo applications. 



Trouble-free APQS 

Synchronous Belt helps 

ensure precise quilting 

Synchronous transmission between the top needle bar 

shaft and the bottom hook shaft is a must to prevent 

slippage and maintain precise relative positioning. 

That’s why we’ve carefully engineered the APQS 

Synchronous Belt Drive to help ensure beautiful stitches, 

even at high speeds. 

How do belt drives work? 

Synchronous belt drives work by engaging two sets 

of meshing teeth (pictured, left) that do not slip. By 

eliminating slippage, you maintain precise relative 

positioning even as you push your quilting machine 

through constant changes in velocity and direction. 

The positive nature of these belt drives makes them 

capable of transmitting large torque and withstanding quick 

accelerations. This makes them perfect for maintaining a 

constant speed ratio and a permanent relative position, 

both extremely important in an application like high-speed 

machine quilting. 

It’s because of these reasons that nearly every major 

manufacturer of high-end industrial sewing machines uses 

synchronous belt drives as their technology of choice to 

transmit power to both shafts. 

What does this mean for you? 

It means that your APQS longarm will produce beautiful 

stitches, even at high speeds. It also means that your 

machine will maintain its timing, which is the relationship 

between needle and hook.



Advantages of the APQS Smart Bobbin 

• Produces almost 50% less inertial mass. 

• Very low inertia allows high-speed 

quilting at lower tension levels. 

• Lower bobbin and top thread tensions 

produce beautiful quality stitches. 

• Less inertial mass enables you to quilt 

with a wide variety of thread types. 

APQS Smart Bobbins 

control thread backlash 

and improve stitch quality 

Inertia is the resistance of an object to a change in its 

state of motion. This is good in flywheels, which help car 

engines idle smoothly, but bad in bobbins. That’s because 

of the quilting machine’s constant changes in speed 

and direction. 

Due to inertia, an unwinding bobbin may accelerate too 

rapidly or continue to rotate in the unwinding direction 

after the thread ceases to be pulled from the bobbin. This 

results in loosened turns of thread known as “backlash.” 

Backlash is undesirable in all types of sewing machines 

and is especially troublesome with high-speed quilting 

machines where many starts, stops and changes in 

speed and direction are commonplace. Backlash is also 

responsible for unsightly stitches, commonly referred to as 

loops, bird nests, etc. 

Our Smart Bobbin has almost 50% less mass than 

the oversized bobbin. Lower mass means lower inertia, 

which in turn means it can stop and start, slow down and 

speed up faster and easier. It also means that less tension 

is required to control the bobbin. Less bobbin tension 

enables you to quilt with less top tension. That produces 

the beautiful stitches for which APQS longarm machines 

are famous. 

Lower operating tension also reduces rubbing friction of 

thread through the needle eye. This enables you to use a 

wider range of thread types – from delicate cottons, silks 

and specialty threads to sturdy polyesters.



Benefits of the APQS 

self-lubricating bushings 

• No supplemental lubrication required. 

• Won’t stain quilts. 

• Low wear, long life. 

• Quiet and smooth running. 

• Ultra precise with high positional 

accuracy. 

• Provides even lubrication across the 

bearing face. 

• Bored and honed to critical ID 

tolerances. 

• Operates in a wide temperature band. 

• Needle bar shafts micro finished 

to 8 RMS. 

APQS self-lubricating 

bushings never 

need oiling 

Self-lubricating needle bar and hopping foot bushings are 

another feature that set APQS longarm quilting machines 

apart from other manufacturers. 

Surfaces that slide cause friction and wear. Instead of 

having the quilter continually lubricate the bushings (with 

risk of staining quilts with oil), APQS designers specified 

self-lubricating bushings. They are made of sintered bronze 

impregnated with the highest quality oils available and 

will provide you with many years of trouble-free service. 

Microscopic pores in the bronze distribute oil evenly across 

the bushing face, regardless of room temperature. 

In designing the bushings, we carefully specified PSI load, 

shaft velocity and diameter. Upon arrival from our supplier, 

our bushings are further precision bored and honed to our 

critical ID tolerance. In addition, APQS shafts are precisionmachined 

and polished to our superior micro finish 

requirements of 8 RMS (root mean square). 

This dedication to quality and extra effort is yet another 

example of APQS’s commitment to building you a 

quilting machine that will provide a lifetime of enjoyment 

and pleasure.



Benefits of the APQS 

Precision Stitch Regulator 

• Produces stitches of uniform length, 

adding to the professional appearance 

of quilts. 

• Lets you select seven to fifteen stitches 

per inch. 

• Automatically compensates as you move 

the quilting head faster or slower or 

change direction. 

• Makes perfect star points and squares 

with crisply defined corners, even starts 

and stops with no extra stitches. 

• Provides greater reliability – not as 

sensitive to electrical surges and 

interference. 

APQS stitch regulators 

produce consistent 

stitches with your very 

first stitch 

The APQS Precision Stitch Regulator is our proudest 

accomplishment to date. 

It produces stitches of consistent length – even as you 

change quilting speed or direction – and makes perfect star 

points and squares with crisply defined corners. 

You can even see and hear the motor and needle speed 

up or slow down as you move the quilting head faster 

or slower. 

Simply select seven to fifteen stitches per inch and every 

stitch will be the same, giving your quilts a professional 

look that is unmistakable. The stitch regulator also reduces 

practice time, allowing you to quilt with confidence 

immediately. 

A handy gauge confirms the stitches per inch you’ve 

selected with the stitch regulator in “On” position. It 

also indicates motor speed when you quilt manually. 

A product of advanced APQS engineering, the Precision 

Stitch Regulator has no lag time when adjusting the needle 

bar speed “on the fly” during freehand quilting. That gives 

you greater control. 

APQS Precision Stitch Regulated models are the machine 

of choice by passionate quilters worldwide.



Benefits 

• Effectively absorb vibration. 

• Eliminate play while preserving 

stitch quality. 

• Maintain your quilting head at a 

90-degree angle for precision quilting. 

• Allow 360-degree range of movement 

for the needle. 

• Enable effortless movement. 

• Quilt in any direction with ease. 

APQS horizontal 

wheels enable 

effortless movement 

Our horizontal wheel and track system is another example 

of the superior design found on APQS longarm machines. 

When you use our innovative guiding system you’ll quickly 

notice that it absorbs residual vibration while allowing the 

head to move effortlessly. 

The horizontal wheels eliminate both binding and play 

without sacrificing stitch quality. And the quilting head is 

kept at an exact 90-degree angle, which is essential for 

running patterns and other precision quilting. 

This exclusive system includes a set of wheels directly 

below the head for forward and backward movement. 

Another set of lower wheels allows sideways movement. 

You can quilt in any direction fluidly with ease. This is 

what makes APQS longarms the preferred choice for both 

freehand and pattern quilters.

Benefits of Comfort Grip handles 

• Designed for your body with areas of 

precise adjustment to “fit” you. 



• Provide lasting comfort after long hours 

of quilting with less fatigue and the 

reduced possibility of musculoskeletal 

injuries. 

• Up and down horizontal adjustment 

helps prevent carpal tunnel, shoulder, 

and elbow injuries while giving you 

superb visibility. 

• Enable greater control through close 

proximity to work and effortless access 

to function buttons. 

APQS Comfort Grip 

handles reduce fatigue 

and improve your quilting 

The curved handles on the front of APQS machines 

are ergonomically designed and adjustable to “fit” your 

individual size and shape. As a result, you don’t have to 

adapt to the machine – it adapts to you. 

The handles reduce fatigue in the wrists, arms and 

shoulders. You won’t have to work with the combination 

of raised shoulders, outward bent elbows and 

downward bent neck. This minimizes the possibility of 

musculoskeletal injuries. 

The handles on the Millennium and Freedom SR are 

horizontal and adjust up and down, which means you can 

quilt with your hands as close to the “drawing area” as 

you’d like. It’s a lot like a pencil. You can draw easier and 

with greater control when you hold a pencil near the point 

rather than the eraser. At the same time, the handles 

provide excellent visibility of the quilting area. 

This approach diminishes the risk of carpal tunnel, shoulder 

and elbow problems. Although they may feel different than 

upright handles at first, you’ll soon get the hang of them 

and agree that they are much less stressful to your body. 

Important function controls for the machine are at your 

fingertips, where they are instantly accessible without 

removing your hands from the comfortable handles.



Benefits 

• Helps prevent thread backlash and loops. 

• Gives you the freedom to use any kind 

of thread – including delicate decorative 

threads. 

• Compensates for changes in tension 

as the thickness of the thread changes 

to prevent stretching or breaking the 

thread. 

• Simple, trouble-free design. 

APQS Gentle Touch 

tensioner handles 

decorative threads 

with ease 

As its name suggests, the thread tensioner on longarm 

machines maintains proper thread tension to help prevent 

backlash that can result in loops on the quilt back. 

APQS uses the highest quality industrial-grade disc 

tensioners. Because it adjusts tension as the thickness 

of the thread changes, experienced quilters all across the 

country prefer the Gentle Touch tensioner used on APQS 

machines. 

It handles any kind of thread, including delicate decorative, 

variegated threads and hand-dyed threads, with no worry 

about stretching or breaking the thread. You can use 

virtually any kind of thread from heavy polyesters to fussy 

cottons. 

Plus, the simplicity of the APQS tensioner ensures many 

years of trouble-free service.



CompuQuilter 

APQS CompuQuilter puts unlimited design 

possibilities at your fingertips 

With the CompuQuilter, you can integrate intricate feather 

motifs and overall patterns that are perfect in every stitch. 

Each pattern can be infinitely modified and customized as 

you desire, making each project your own one-of-a-kind 

creation, instead of a generic computer-generated pattern. 

Custom and heirloom quilting treatments are a dream 

to complete with CompuQuilter’s ability to automatically 

resize digitized designs, maintain or stretch proportions 

and rotate patterns in increments as small as one degree.



The APQS Bliss 

Drive System 

will have you 

floating on air 

Bliss – it’s the only word we could find that could possibly 

describe that “floating on air” feeling you’ll get when you 

quilt with our exclusive drive system. 

The Bliss Drive System dramatically reduces friction and 

increases ease of movement. Combine this with an APQS 

sewing head handcrafted from aircraft aluminum and you’ll 

feel like you’re effortlessly gliding across your quilt. 

To create the Bliss Drive System, our engineers used 

cutting-edge technology that has revolutionized everything 

from aerospace engineering to medical instruments and 

robotics. You won’t find anything like this in the industry! 

Specially designed horizontal wheels on the sewing head 

and roller bearings on the table rails eliminate binding and 

resistance. Quilt artists, longarm professionals and hobby 

quilters alike will appreciate the increased accuracy and 

control you’ll gain with the Bliss Drive System. The Bliss 

aluminum alloy table rails are engineered to eliminate the 

need for truss support. 

Our exclusive Bliss Drive System is easy to maintain. 

Unlike other channel systems on the market, the APQS rail 

profile prevents dirt and thread buildup so you can spend 

more time quilting and less time cleaning. No adjustments 

are needed – all you have to do is quilt! 

This technology is available for Millennium, Freedom SR, 

Lucey and Lenni sewing heads.



Overhead lighting – 

light up your quilting style 

You can enhance your quilting experience by illuminating 

your entire quilting surface with our table-mounted 

overhead lighting system. 

Simple to assemble and install, you can direct the 

individual lights independently along the track and shine 

light just where you need it. 

The system works with the Millennium and Freedom 

SR models. 

Note: Be sure to measure your ceiling height before 

adding the overhead lighting system, especially if you also 

own the optional hydraulic lift system as well. 

The system brings the total height of your machine to 82 

inches with the legs set as low as possible. Contact APQS 

for more information.



Power fabric advance – 

stop cranking and 

start quilting 

The APQS Power Fabric Advance provides “hands-free” 

operation when you are ready to advance your quilt. 

The motor mounts on the pick-up roller of Millennium and 

Freedom SR tables so that your quilt receives consistent 

tension as it advances. This reduces the chance for pleats 

and puckers in your backing fabric. You can control how 

your quilt advances from the foot pedal or from the motor 

itself, and the foot pedal lets you adjust your quilt without 

leaving your work area. 

The APQS pressure-sensitive braking system provides 

infinite adjustment settings to protect delicate quilt tops 

from over-stretching – no ratchets to accidentally “catch” 

when advancing the quilt.



APQS Quilt Glide 

enhances your ability 

to create stunning detail 

in your quilts 

For years, longarm quilters have been trying to make detail 

quilting easier without sacrificing the benefits of stitch 

regulation. APQS has found a way! 

The Quilt Glide gives you the slick, fluid motion you like 

when stitching in manual mode, and simultaneously 

keeps the stitch regulator engaged to give you consistent 

stitches, even when moving slowly for detail quilting. 

Available on the Millennium and Freedom SR machines, 

the Quilt Glide feature combines manual sewing mode and 

stitch regulation mode together to give you accuracy and 

consistency without that “jerky” feeling that can happen 

when trying to do detail quilting in regulator mode alone.



Benefits 

• Quickly adjust your table height to 

improve your ergonomic posture. 

• Easily raise the table to increase 

accuracy and comfort on the pantograph 

side of your machine. 

• Share the same machine with quilters 

of different heights, and earn money 

renting your machine to other quilters. 

• Quilt longer by changing from standing 

to sitting easily (adjustable stool 

recommended). 

Regardless of your height – 

quilt in comfort 

The optional Hydraulic Table Lift allows you to change your 

table height with the touch of a button. This will make 

quilting even more enjoyable, giving you hours and hours 

of fun at your machine!

Most popular 

APQS Accessories 

Ever since the rotary cutter revolutionized the 

quilting industry, quilters have looked for ways to 

make quilting faster, easier and more enjoyable. 

These top-selling accessories from APQS will do 

the same for you! 



1. Hartley Base Expander & Ruler Set. 

Make diagonal lines without wobbles and easily stitch 

“in the ditch” with this “must-have” accessory. 

2. Turbo Bobbin Winder. 

Decrease prep time and increase quilting time with this 

speedy winder, complete with built-in tension adjustment 

for different thread types. (Standard with Millennium and 

Freedom SR machines.) 

3. Horizontal Spool Holder. 

Use decorative thread, metallic thread or other “stack 

wound” spools without thread snarls and twists. 

4. Power Fabric Advance. 

Keep your quilt consistently taut throughout the quilting 

and advancing process to reduce puckers, all with a toe tap. 

(Available on Millennium and Freedom SR models only.) 

5. Tool Starter Kit. 

No need to raid the garage. The tool starter kit includes 

everything you need to keep your machine humming. 

6. Vertical Spool Holder. 

Avoid running to the back of the machine when you want to change 

thread – keep your cones up near the front of your machine. 

7. Flywheel Cover. 

Keep thread from tangling inside the flywheel area and 

jamming your machine. (Optional for Lucey and Lenni models.) 

8. Extra Bobbin Cases. 

Change from cotton to polyester to pre-wound to self-wound 

bobbins without having to adjust your bobbin case tension 

every time. 

9. Needle Assortment. 

10. Casters. 

Collect a set of needle sizes, ranging from 3.5 to 5.0 to handle 

any quilting project from silk to T-shirts to upholstery fabric. 

Sturdy, lockable casters give you versatility in positioning your 

machine exactly where you want it in your sewing room.

Master Quilter: 

Karen McTavish 

Karen McTavish of Duluth, Minnesota, owned two other 

longarm machines for four years before switching to 

APQS. She’ll never go back. 

“What a lovely thing it is to have the ability to run 

decorative threads, use a chair if I choose, have the best 

stitch regulator on the market and to produce quilts that 

aren’t ‘wavy’ from hardcore stretching. 

“Because of the smaller bobbin, I have the prettiest 

stitches I’ve ever seen – with no loops on the back because 

of the backlash effect. It’s a joy to quilt without having to 

constantly check the backing for problems. The quality of 

my quilting went way up. I know it’s the best machine.” 

Karen has been featured on PBS’s “Quilt 

Central” and HGTV’s “Simply Quilts” with 

Alex Anderson. Her work has also appeared in 

books, national magazines and journals. Her 

first book, Quilting for Show, was published in 

2002. More recently, she published Whitework 

Quilting and Mastering the Art of McTavishing. 

She specializes in using longarm techniques 

that replicate traditional hand-quilted effects. 

Her APQS machine lets her combine her two 

passions – Wholecloth and Trapunto. 

You can see her work at www.designerquilts.com. 




Robbi Joy Eklow 

Robbi is a person of many talents. She graduated from 

Purdue University with a degree in engineering and is 

the author of “Free Expression: The Art and Confessions 

of a Contemporary Quilter,” published by Quilting Arts 

Magazine, for whom she also writes an amusing column. 

Robbi has used an APQS Millennium since 2004. Her 

first quilt won the Rookie of the Year award at that year’s 

Machine Quilters Showcase. 

She enjoys hand dying cotton, using fused appliqué to 

create tops and then quilting heavily with free motion. 

Her latest quilts were designed using an application 

called “Canvas” on her Apple ® computer. 

Robbi travels the nation teaching classes on 

free-motion quilting, fused appliqué and fabric 

dying. She has exhibited her work at Quilt 

National in Houston and Chicago, The 

Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, Quilt’s Heritage 

in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and other 

national shows. 

You can see her work at www.robbieklow.com. 




Marilyn Badger 

One longarm quilting award after another. That’s what 

Marilyn Badger has received since 1991. She has 

won accolades at numerous shows over the years held 

everywhere from California to Virginia and from 

Minnesota to Texas. 

You may have seen her on television. She has 

demonstrated her quilting techniques on over 50 PBS 

quilting shows with Fons and Porter and Kay Wood, as well 

as “Quilt Central with Donna Wilder and Janie Donaldson”, 

and HGTV’s “Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson”. 

Her work has also been featured in Traditional Quiltworks, 

Sew Many Quilts, Love of Quilting, Australia’s Quilts 

Down Under, and in many books and other publications. 

Marilyn taught longarm classes for 11 years 

in her studio as well as in various parts of the 

United States, Canada, Australia and Japan. 

She now serves as a consultant to APQS 

and actively represents our company at major 

quilt shows throughout the United States 

and Japan. 




Noriko Endo 

Noriko literally paints landscapes with her APQS longarm 

machine, using thread for colors and stitches for brush 

strokes. Her quilts have an impressionistic quality about 

them, reminiscent of Monet but with vibrant hues. Her 

remarkable color sense was gained from watching her 

mother knit garments using a large selection of balls of 

yarn. 

Since 1985, with the duties of raising a family behind 

her, she has devoted herself entirely to creating quilts 

that express her exuberant sense of color and deep 

appreciation for the bold majesty of mature trees. 

Her art has appeared in national exhibits, including 

Quilt Visions, Quilt National and Quilts Nihon 

in the U.S., Europe and Japan. 

Noriko was recently featured as Artist in 

Residence at the Empty Spool Seminars in 

Alisomar, CA. She has also appeared on HGTV 

and Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson. 

She lives in Chiba, Japan, outside of Tokyo. 




Yoshiko Jinzenji 

In her more than 30 years of fine art quilt making, Jinzenji 

has merged countless cultural styles into her quilts, from 

the stitching handiwork of the Amish and Mennonites 

to the patchwork altar cloths of her native Japan. The 

minimalism of her work adds to its quiet power. 

Jinzenji, whose art is exhibited around the world, uses 

antique fabrics collected from around the world in some 

of her quilts and vibrant tropical natural dyes or innovative 

synthetic in others. 

Yoshiko is the author of Quilt Artistry: Inspired Designs 

from the East. This hardcover book has been described as 

equaling her quilting in beauty and inspiration. 

She lives in Kyoto, Japan and has a studio in Bali, Indonesia. 



Senior Engineer: 

Mike Moore 

Longarm quilting changed forever in December of 1999 

when APQS introduced the Millennium with the first 

perfected automatic stitch regulator. It produced stitches 

of uniform length, regardless of changes in the speed or 

direction of the hand-controlled quilting head. 

Mike Moore, an electrical engineer who specializes in 

robotics and process control, was the man who developed 

this approach. The idea for a stitch regulated longarm, which 

is a testament to his passion for technological innovation, 

came to Mike Moore one evening more than a decade ago. 

“What if you incorporated electronics,” he wondered, “to 

evenly control the distribution of stitches, regardless of 

quilting speed?” 

That question triggered mountains of research that 

eventually revolutionized how longarms operate, making 

them much more accepted and effective. 

The APQS stitch regulator has no lag time when freehand 

quilting. Its sensors and encoders detect extreme 

minute changes along the ‘Y’ and ‘X’ axis. Digital signals 

are then transmitted to the circuit boards, which in turn are 

processed to adjust stitch speed instantly. The quilter gets 

far greater control and perfect stitches every time. 

“It’s an elegant solution,” he said, “combining the best 

of both the digital and analog worlds. And the electronics 

have far greater immunity from electrical surges and 

interference.” 

The stitch regulator technology is just one of the many 

breakthroughs to come out of Mike Moore’s R & D lab at 

the APQS factory in Carroll, Iowa. Moore, a self-professed 

fanatic for technology and innovation, is so creative and so 

astonishingly prolific that it’s hard to imagine what fun and 

exciting things he is cooking up for the future. Whatever it 

is, it is bound to have a major impact in the longarm industry 

over the decades to come. 



Craftsman: 

Denny Paup 

Denny Paup and his team of craftsmen share a special 

bond. They’ve crafted APQS longarm quilting machines 

– the world’s finest – for the past 20 years and take 

pride working for the best. After all, it takes a lasting 

commitment to the finest materials, attention to detail 

and the patience to finish every part without compromise. 

“Most other machines have their frames formed from 

castings,” Denny said. “We handcraft APQS frames from 

welded aircraft-grade aluminum.” 

This allows for weight reductions, which in turn gives 

quilters greater hand control of the quilting head. It’s also 

much less tiring for those who spend many hours finishing 

quilts every week. 

Production technology is another big difference. 

APQS parts are CNC (computer numerically controlled) 

machined. This means that computers do the work, so 

Denny and his team can focus on increasing accuracy. 

CNC also makes parts with far greater precision – down 

to one-ten thousandth of an inch. 

The finish on APQS machines is another element that 

Denny and his team take great pride in. 

“We spend a lot of time preparing them for painting, and 

we only use acrylic enamel. You can see the difference.” 

The craftsmen who work with Denny are handpicked. 

“They‘re truly the best of the best,” he said.

Master Quilter - Sparrow Studioz

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