Handi Quilter Engineers
Pete Holpin
Engineer and Installer
Pete has been installing, servicing and testing Handi Quilter machines since 2017. He performs most of the machine checks prior to installation and is responsible for the majority of repairs. He has a strong background in engineering and physics.
Alan Harwood
Senior Engineer and Installer
Alan is probably the most experienced Handi Quilter engineer outside of North America. He's been installing, servicing and providing technical support on Handi Quilter machines since 2010. His previous experience was with Jaguar/Land Rover where he worked for over 30 years. He has vast experience in many aspects of electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering. Alan installs and services machines throughout the UK and Europe.
Derek Weir
Engineer and Installer
Derek has a degree in engineering and has extensive experience working on technical projects. His wife has an Avante and he has developed an impressive quilting knowledge since he trained as a Handi Quilter engineer in 2017. He covers Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland and Northern England.
Abigail Sheridan de Graaff
Engineer and Installer
Abigail uses an Amara with Pro-Stitcher in her longarm quilting business Cutandalter. Her business and engineering degree together with her extensive quilting knowledge as a Handi Quilter Educator provide an excellent background for supporting customers with servicing, installation and training on Handi Quilter machines.
She qualified as an HQ Technician in 2019.
Liz Holpin
Engineer and Installer
Liz has been selling, training and providing technical support on Handi Quilter machines since 2010. She specialises in Pro-Stitcher where her previous experience as an IBM Systems Engineer has proved useful. She is a qualified HQ Technician and services and installs the range of Handi Quilter machines.
Paul Pearce
Engineer and Installer
Paul runs his longarm quilting business Clever Quilting from the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. He purchased his Infinity with Pro Stitcher in 2018 and provides a number of quilting servicing including bespoke projects, quilting, basting and producing quilts from upcycled natural materials.
Paul was appointed as a certified Handi Quilter Engineer and Installer in September 2019. Paul covers Wales, West Midlands and North West.
Paul's previous career was as an aeronautical engineer where he enjoyed a number of decades of maintaining and repairing some of the most complex aircraft flying in a number of different roles. He is enjoying developing his creative pursuit and putting his knowledge to good use.
Andy Soward
Engineer and Installer
Andy and his wife own two Avante machines with Pro-Stitcher and a Sweet Sixteen. Their longarm quilting business SJ's Quilting is based in the South-West of England. His quilting experience together with a background in communications, engineering and computing has proved to be a benefit to becoming a Handi Quilter Engineer.
He is a Certified HQ Technician and Installer for all the HQ machines including Pro-Stitcher. He covers the South West of England.