December 8, 2013

Do You Have an Opinion to Share?

As if I didn't have anything more important to do, I spent the entire day yesterday reading sewing machine reviews.  My head hurts.  I haven't studied this hard in a long time.  I piece and quilt on a Bernina 440QE.  It's really a great machine, but I spend a lot of time changing the tension settings, adjusting the bobbin case, etc. when free-motion quilting.  Which also causes my head to hurt.  I've had the longarm argument in my head before, and decided that I don't have room for a giant frame.  And I have a full-time job already, so a longarm would be like another "toy" in my mind.  A very expensive toy.

Lately, a lot of quilters have been discussing the Juki TL-2010Q.  It's described as a "semi-industrial" machine with only a straight stitch.


  I read reviews of this machine and closely inspected photos of stitch quality until I fell asleep last night.  (To those of you who have taken the time to write detailed reviews, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Really.)   For the most part, the reviews were very positive.  Aside from seemingly isolated issues with a couple of features, and a more common issue with the needle threader, this machine appears to be exactly what I need -- great tension, dependable, and affordable.   Unfortunately, I don't live close enough to a store where I could test-drive one.   As I was about to click the checkout button at an on-line store, it occurred to me to ask for any opinions about this machine you might be able to offer.  I would really appreciate your thoughts if you have one or know someone who does, and whether or not you love it.  I'm not at all concerned with the lack of bells and whistles -- I'm keeping the Bernina.  I'd just like to know if it's a solution to my free-motion tension issues, and whether or not it's fussy about different threads.  Unless I'm warned against it, I'm doin' this thing.

Thanks so much for any help you can offer.  Hope you have a great week!

Kim

26 comments:

barbara woods said...

it looks just like my brother 1500 that i just bought for 699 and love, I saw all of these with different names loos just alike so i went with the cheaper version

Caro said...

I have the same Bernina as you and have never been in LOVE with it like some. I jumped off the deep end and bought the Juki TLQ 2010. I love it. You really can't compare the two machines - one electronic and the other not. I have just had to mess with the tension a bit but that's it. I have owned it since May of this year. I only sew at half speed which is pretty darn fast. I'm currently working on piecing string blocks and you cannot believe how fast it is. I have not given the walking a try yet. I bought mine from Sew Vac Direct in Bryan, TX. I had it shipped even though I live in Texas. They had the best price (I searched around and found a $100 coupon) and had the machine in two days. Good luck to you.

Joyful Quilter said...

I have my Juki on a frame...so far it has been great. The only time I've had tension issues is when I have a batik as the top and back. That may be more the stitch regulator than the machine.

Lisa said...

I have an old Bernina 910 mechanical machine that I've had for 30 years and have loved very much. I just bought a Juki last month and I love it too! They two very different machines. I did have a bit of a problem getting the tension right in the beginning, but then my friend who owns one came over and showed me the ropes. It is wonderful. The key is to keep it very clean. Blow it out every time you change the bobbin. Get some pipe cleaners for swipe it out too. I can't believe how much better my free motion quilting is, and I've only been using it for that for a week. I think you will love it!

Anonymous said...

I have a Janome 3160 , however there are many Janome, that 1000 or under which are excellent. I used a Singer for 20 yrs , then I awitched to Brother which was absolute junk. After I spent a good ammount on something worth keeping for a while and got my 1000 dollar machine reduced to 600 because the guys that owend right in the box never opened, did not know what they were selling.

I love the 3 speeds control, and the accuracy of piecing. My husband says that machine is so quiet it is like sewing butter LOL!! Never Jams no tension probs.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I have the Babylock version of that machine and love it. Mine came with lots of feet for anything I will every want to use it for.

JudyBL said...

I have an old Pfaff 1475CD that I love and do all my piecing on it. However, it just never had enough throat space to easily do quilting on anything other than small projects. I had read a number of reviews on the Juki 2010Q and purchased one this past March to do my quilting on. I love it - no bells and whistles but it is easy to maintain, isn't fussy about thread, quilts wonderfully, and heavy enough to handle high speed without shaking all over. I definitely would recommend it for the cost compared to others out there.

karen said...

I know another alternative isn't really what you want, but I have a Brother 1500s--straight stitches only and very fast. In the decade or so that I've had it(guessing it's age now, it's older than my kid, but younger than my house), I have never had a problem with it. I almost never have to adjust the tension, even when going from piecing to quilting. (Don't ask me why. I can't explain it.) I'm not ever sure I've ever even had it serviced. Seriously, it was the best sewing machine investment I've ever made. Good luck!

Quilting By Celia said...

I am about to buy a Juki myself mainly for the speed. I already have a Janome and the Handi Quilter.

missy b said...

I have owned a Juki 2010Q for 2 years, I love it, it is my favorite machine. I also own a Jonome and a Viking, my Juki is the one that I enjoy sewing on the most, I bought it also without a test drive. A friend has the previous Juki model and raved about it. Best decision I ever made!

SewLindaAnn said...

My friend and I just bought the 2010Q a couple of weeks ago for the same reason as you. Tension, etc. It's a workhorse, and the tension is wonderful as long as you thread it properly. The threader on mine doesn't work properly and I'm bringing it to be fixed. It is a very high powered machine, and therefore fairly loud and you need to have it on a good sturdy table because it runs so strong. The stitches are great, and my seams are finally all better than ever. I have a Babylock embroidery machine for all the excess stitches, for an experienced sewer looking to have a machine to match skills this is it. On Sew Sweetness blog, there's a button to link to SewVacDirect in Texas. If I wasn't in a hurry I would've bought from there because of their well known customer service and the price is the best.

Trudi said...

I've had a Juki for over 6 years, and it's fair to say I LOVE it! I have one on the frame doing all my fmq, and another I do all my piecing on. My Bernina is a bit of a prima Donna with servicing, and a fussy thread machine. I can run anything brought my Juki from 100 wt silk to 12 wt monster thread! Tension has never been an issue and stitch quality never compromised as it only ever does a straight stitch. It's a major work horse and will bring you years of joy!

QuiltSue said...

I've seen Trudi's work, and can say that it's wonderful and I know she's always been happy with her Juki. I have the Brother 1500, which is similar, and it's great, but it can be noisy and it does vibrate a bit at speed, so I guess the Juki will be the same.

Brenda said...

I have the 98QL and the only issue I've had in three years is the needle threader. I love the knee lifter and the thread cutting button on the foot control. I was sewing on it within a half hour of taking it out of the box. I couldn't free motion on my old Elna, but now I'm doing great. My only complaint is that when it goes fast, it shakes the table and so anything else on it will fall off! Take the plunge, you won't regret it!

Thimbleanna said...

Wow -- I SOOOO feel your pain. I LOVE my Viking -- even for quilting, it's just that it's 14 years old and doesn't have a very big throat area. I'd buy a longarm in a minute if it weren't for the space issue -- I keep debating. Kellie (of Don't Look Now) has a HandiQuilter Sweet Sixteen and LOVES it -- have you considered anything like that?

cynthia said...

I bought mine on Amazon a couple of weeks ago. Best purchase ever. I have been quilting like a maniac! Love Love it. I'm in central Ohio your welcome to come try mine out. I'll make us lunch

Teri said...

I have had my 2010 for about a year now. I have notthing but positive things to say about it. I use it ONLY for piecing and binding. I love that there are LOTS of feet available for less than $5.00/each. The edge compensating feet are amazing for attaching the binding and sewing it down by machine. I think my kids did something to the needle threader, so I can't blame the machine on that one. I love that it sews fast and straight since it it only a straight stitch machine. The feed dogs being close together really help feed the fabric nicely. I have had no tension issues.

dokiquilts said...

i have to chime in! i was in the same position as you last year and ended up buying the Brother 1500--it was $200-400 cheaper than the juki. it is wonderful for piecing and i'm very happy with that. BUT i am very UNhappy with the free-motion quilting part (and since this is a machine that's basically a two-function machine for quilters, that's 50%!!) when i FMQ, it will skip stitches when i'm right next to a bulky seam--though it seems to be ok if i FMQ directly on top of the bulky seam. i've brought the machine in twice to the local Brother dealer (though i did buy the machine on-line) and the technician claims that the machine is fine (i actually do trust the dealer--saying "claims" makes it sounds like i don't). it helps when i put in a bigger needle (size 16) but it's still an issue. i'm so bummed about it! i tried out the juki 2010 at a quilt show and it doesn't seem to have the same problem (I brought in a test quilt that had a ton of bulky seams) but i didn't have that much time with it. i'm very tempted to donate my (practically new!!!) Brother and buy a Juki but i would want to thoroughly test it out before doing so (i don't like the local juki dealer unfortunately). so definitely do try out the juki if you can--and bring in the worst quilt top you have--bulky seams and all--and test away. my previous machine was a Bernina (it broke down after 10 yrs and the repairs would've costed too much) and i used to FMQ all my quilts on that one. so even though i wouldn't call myself a professional quilter, i'm pretty experienced and have never had the problem of skipping stitches on the Bernina--which is why i'm blaming the Brother and not user error. hope this helps.

Anonymous said...

I have the Brother that is like the Juki. It works fine but I was told by a Juki owner of the same kind of machine that the BRother has plastic parts inside and the Juki does not. I've not had any problems. But I had a quilt business for 11 yrs. and did all on a Janome 6500 and I love that machine. Machine quilted my heart out. I'd buy another in a heartbeat if this one died. Never a problem w/ anything.

Patricia said...

I also have the Brother 1500. Don't know about plastic parts but I had it on a frame and it worked great! I purchased a long arm and now use it for piecing. Have not had a bit of trouble!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe said...

Kim, I have six Juki's… Guess How I feel about them? LOVE them… price is great, easy machine, and I've never had any issues with them… It' swarth jumping in the boat!;-)

Stella Hoff said...

Eu comprei uma Elna 7300, mas estava na dúvida entre a Elna 740, com espaço para quilting e muitos pontos, adorei a máquina, foi muito bem recomendada.
Beijos e boa sorte

LizA. said...

Have you considered a Sweet 16? HandiQuilters 16" throat that is a sit down machine so it doesn't take up all the space that a frame would take up?

FlourishingPalms said...

A few years ago, I purchased a "semi industrial machine" through Craigslist. I bought a Pfaff Hobby 1200 Grand Quilter. It's the best bargain I've ever bought. It only straight stitches, and quilts really well. I kept my Bernina 440 for piecing, and do all my quilting on the Pfaff. I'd recommend shopping on Craigslist. You never know what bargain you might find!

Wonky Girl said...

Have you thought about a smaller quilt frame with a juki as the machine head? An 8ft frame will still let you quilt about a 90 inch wide quilt. Investment isn't huge if you find a used set-up. AllBrands.com has a new juki/grace for under $1,900.

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