Unboxing the NEW HUSQVARNA VIKING Topaz 55Q

I’ve got something special to share this week. I’m unboxing the NEW HUSQVARNA VIKING Topaz 55Q. This sewing-only machine was recently released, along with the embroidery version, the HUSQVARNA VIKING Designer Topaz 65. This week, it’s all about the Topaz 55Q; however, you can check out both the sewing and machine embroidery models at your local HUSQVARNA VIKING dealer.

While this may seem like a frivolous thing, I LOVE the box. It’s so pretty, and I keep the box for my personal sewing machine, in case I need it for moving purposes. The inside packaging to secure the machine and its accessories is also nicely designed, and it’s super easy to repackage the sewing machine—a small detail, but nice to know that the engineers who design these things are thinking of the end user and making it easy to re-box sewing machines. I like it when the designers pay attention to small details.

And here it is – the new HUSQVARNA VIKING Topaz 55Q. The Q stands for quilting, indicating that the art of quilting was in mind during the development stages. It’s a fantastic sewing machine, even if you are not a quilter.

There are several things I noticed immediately. The distinctive shape reminds me of the HUSQVARNA VIKING Designer Epic 3 (a top-of-the-line embroidery machine) and the HUSQVARNA VIKING Designer Quartz 29 (an entry-level embroidery machine). The similar look brings cohesion to the range of sewing and embroidery machines, which looks cool in the studio!

Secondly, look at that gorgeous color.

However, what is truly exciting is the giant screen. That’s very exciting, and I can’t wait to turn on the Topaz 55Q and explore the inside tomorrow. It’s a 7” capacitive touchscreen screen that allows you extreme flexibility in moving around on it. The Topaz 55Q is also WiFi-enabled with access to the Creativate network. We’ll explore those details later this week.

You know what I’m going to say – yes, it’s one thing to get a fantastic sewing machine, but if you don’t explore what’s inside, you’ll never use the majority of its features. So, browsing through the User’s Guide is a good thing.

It’s a good idea to ensure that you have all the accessory feet and learn when and how to use them. Among the collection, you’ll find the Decorative Stitch Foot B, the Zipper Foot E, because quilters love to make zippered pouches, the Embroidery/Darning Foot R, which is perfect for free motion (floating), and the most essential foot of all for quilters is the Quilter’s ¼” Piecing foot P.

Keep in mind that there are many optional presser feet available for purchase. You can search for them in the online Accessories Catalogue. When shopping for a new presser foot, it’s essential to remember that the Topaz 55Q is a Category 7 machine. You’ll find the category numbers on the presser feet and accessories packaging, so you don’t inadvertently purchase one that will not work on the Topaz 55Q.

Here are the accessories. You’ll find a complete list of them in the User’s Guide, and again, it’s essential to know when and how to use them to maximize your sewing experience. I love the fact that we have four spool caps because you’ll most likely be sewing with different spool sizes. Match the spool cap (small, medium, or large) to the spool size. Did you know that when your spool is in a vertical position, you don’t need a spool cap on top? Yep – you would know that if you read the User’s Guide!

Let’s look at the physical features of the Topaz 55Q. There’s no presser foot lever. WHAT? There’s no presser foot lever! The presser foot lowers automatically when you begin sewing. It’s all part of the Exclusive Sewing System. I’ve been using this system for over 25 years and hate sewing without it. It’s a dream to use.

Did I mention that the throat space is 10” in width and 4” in height, which is plenty for any quilter!

The other thing you’ll love is the LED lighting. There are three lights around the needle, and two lights in the throat space. Look how bright that work area is! You could literally sew with the lights off. I’m not sure how you could cut fabric, though!

I’m an early riser, and I can sometimes jump out of bed and immediately start sewing. However, there are times when I find those LED lights just a tad too bright for the morning. Guess what? There’s a slider for the lights, so you can adjust the brightness as needed. While you can use external lighting, it is never quite the same as having the lighting built into the sewing machine. You’ll find that setting in the Machine Settings Menu.

The Function Panel is conveniently located just above the needle, so those functions that we need at the tip of our fingers are, in fact, at the tip of our fingers. You have the STOP function, Immediate Tie-Off, Presser foot up extra lift, Stitch restart, Presser foot down and pivot, Cut, Needle stop up/down, Start/stop, and Reverse.

All of those are amazing functions that you’ll use constantly. If you don’t understand when to use them, there’s a description of each in the User’s Guide. It pays to take a few minutes to push all the buttons while sitting at the sewing machine to understand their purpose.

Here’s a little tip in case you didn’t know this. If you press the Presser foot up and extra lift function twice, the presser foot will raise to its highest position, allowing you to place bulky items under the presser foot easily.

If you’re like me, you want to know where the speed control is, as I often use that. It’s a slider on the side, along with a USB port. I frequently hear the question, ‘Can I adjust the speed control while stitching?’ And the answer is YES. Just reach out with your right hand and adjust it on the fly. Many people are unaware that they can change the speed. I use it all the time, especially when I’m free-motion quilting.

One cool feature of the Topaz 55Q is the Automatic Needle Threader. It took me several attempts to get the hang of it, but once I did, I was able to proceed smoothly.

Here’s a video to show you how to use the needle threader. You want to learn how to use it correctly. It will take a few tries to get the hang of it, and you do not want to damage it by rushing the process.

There is a ruler along the base of the sewing machine. The small measurements at the left are for selecting the size of the buttonhole (mm) when setting up the Sensor One-Step Buttonhole Foot.  The other ruler is in centimeters and inches and comes in super handy when you are sewing small pieces and haven’t marked their size. Not that I’m ever in too much of a hurry to do that!

Let’s peek under the lid. Oh my – I noticed that the lid closes nicely because of a magnet on both ends. That’s such a satisfying feeling to feel it fall into place like that.

Notice that my spool is lying in a horizontal position and has a spool cap on the left end to prevent it from sliding off. I love the fact that you can close the lid and continue to sew.

As I mentioned earlier, I don’t need that spool cap in the vertical position, as I want the spool to rotate smoothly. However, I should use a spool cap on the bottom to support the spool of thread, and if necessary, add a felt pad to prevent the spool from spinning too freely.

Please read this section in the User’s Guide – you would be amazed at what you can learn!

There’s a bobbin winder on the top, and there’s the location of the second spool pin in the event you are sewing with two threads, as in using a twin needle.

Additionally, there’s an accessory tray for storing all your presser feet and accessories, making them easy to retrieve. Remove the accessory tray to access the free arm.

That’s a lot of amazing physical features for the HUSQVARNA VIKING Topaz 55Q sewing machine. I’m very impressed.

Tomorrow, I’ll explore the tools inside the sewing machine software, and I’m looking forward to discovering everything it has to offer.

Have a great day!

Ciao!

This is part 1 of 5 in this series