TL-2010Q 1-Needle, Lockstitch, Portable Sewing Machine with Automatic Thread Trimmer for Quilting, Tailoring, Apparel and Home Decor

I love this machine. I debated for weeks between this and the Juki 2000q or the Brother 1500s. I decided that perhaps I needed the speed control of this machine and I'm so glad I chose this one. This machine is fast! So instead of worrying about keeping my foot depressed at a steady level, I just set it to slightly above turtle speed! Stitches are smooth and consistent and it's relatively quiet compared to my Janome DC2015 (that I also like). So far, I've used it to piece fabrics and go over bulky seams on several bags. It's done a fantastic job (see one user error note below). It winds bobbins smoothly and evenly and the table has a pop up door to help you access the bobbin area more easily. My machine tension has been great (using Mettler metrosene so far). This my first machine with a knee bar and that's been a game changer. Usually I sew standing up on a higher desk but I started sitting again so I could use this feature more easily. Recommendations: 1. I loved buying from Sew Vac Direct via Amazon. Great customer service. Stephen has been helpful before and after purchase. I also bought a 5 year extended warranty directly from Sew Vac Direct after the sale. I'm not sure I will need it but glad to have the assurance. 2. If you use the bundled walking foot, remember to decrease the presser foot pressure all the way (this note is in the manual but I overlooked it) and tighten the needle screw with the screwdriver. I broke 5 needles because I was tightening the needle screw by hand and when I went over bulky bag seams, it loosened itself ever so slightly. This hasn't happened since I used the enclosed screwdriver to tighten it. Also when I first used the walking foot, it sounded different than my Janome (more clanky) Stephen connected me to Elbert of Juki.com service. He sent me a needle screw that he has made specifically for the walking foot. (His customer service makes me glad I chose Juki!) The foot is still louder than my other machine but it seems to be working fine and I sent Elbert a video of it and he said it sounded normal. 3. The lighting is good around the needle but there are shadows to the right of the needle that made it harder for me to see. I bought this LED lighting kit from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KGKB02Q Wow, it's an incredible difference. (There's a Youtube video for installation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crUR5Y3lZSM) I don't work for them, I just found it to be a great accessory. 4. I had read that some people accidentally cut the threads with the foot pedal and someone recommended to turn the pedal sideways. This is what I'm doing and so it's an intentional move of my foot to the right to cut the threads. So far it's been fine. 5. The needle threader is tricky but mine works. There are a couple of videos out there but I found this one to be most helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6D5n8UZLHk I've been using the enclosed Organ size 14 needles. There's an art to using it and I've yet to get it on the first try but it does work. If I've not answered your question, please leave a comment. I've not used the machine on a quilting frame. I intend to use it for bag making, quilting smaller pieces (for now), draperies, and some clothing so this review will be more useful to similar users.

I decided to upgrade my Brother Project Runway machine and order this Juki to have a more heavy duty industrial type machine. I did a thorough search including you tube videos and decided on this model. I make home decor items like pillow and purses with upholstery fabrics as well as other home sewing projects. I was looking for a machine that would sew well over heavy fabrics like jeans and layers of upholstery. I love the super fast albeit straight stitch of this machine. It's super simple to operate as it has no bells and whistles....just an awesome and fast straight stitch. The needle threaded takes some getting used to to get it to work, but once you do, its pretty good, but not necessary. There's a you tube video to help with that too. I broke the thread cutter on the first one I purchased and Juki replaced it very easily after I called and spoke with the nicest guy in tech support (I held the phone up to the machine so he could hear the noise it made). I broke the bobbin case on the second Juki, but again the vendor's tech support is super nice, patient, and sent me a new one, no problem. I love this machine!! It will glide over many layers of heavy fabric so easily. I probably need a walking foot machine for some of my super thick fabric layered projects, but otherwise this machine is great. Wish it had a zig zag foot, but I just use the old machine for this. Most of the parts are metal and will hold up well as opposed to a cheaper machine that is mostly plastic. I love the fast and slow options for stitching. You will still want various needles like jeans needles for heavier fabrics. This seller has been great to work with me when I had to return the first one and the price was very reasonable for the machine purchase.

I love love love this machine! I learned to quilt using an inexpensive Brother machine, but quickly found that I wanted something with a larger throat space to accommodate bigger quilts. I also don’t use decorative stitches very often, so a single stitch machine seemed like a good choice. I was not disappointed. I will say that there was quite a steep learning curve for this machine, so definitely keep the manual close by for the first few weeks at least. YouTube tutorials help a lot too. Once I had it down, though, I was in love. It’s so smooth, fast, and strong! Stitches through multiple layers with ease. Winds bobbins super fast. And it just FEELS sturdy and powerful. Chain piecing is a breeze. Both free motion and straight line quilting are great on it. I’ve even quilted a king sized quilt on it! Sadly in February 2019 we had a total loss house fire and my beloved Juki didn’t survive. When it came time to buy a replacement I decided to try out the HZL-F600 instead - my Brother machine was lost in the fire too, so I thought a more all-around machine that could do zigzag and other stitches would be better. It’s fine, but I admit I miss my TL-2010q! When funds allow, I will likely buy it again.

The seller of my machine on Amazon was iShopTops, and they are a fantastic company to deal with. I had ordered a Juki TL-2010Q, and when I received the machine there was a note attached to the box stating that I had been upgraded for free to the TL-18QVP, which I was extremely happy about because as a bag maker who sometimes sews through many layers of vinyl, the TL-18QVP is the machine that I really wanted, but I hadn't wanted to spend the extra money. (All of the Juki TL Series are basically the same, but the TL-18QVP has the micro lifter, which floats the presser foot above thicker layers of fabric.) There was a problem with the machine, however, in that the knob for changing the presser foot pressure was extremely tight and almost impossible to turn. I contacted iShopTops and they replaced the machine and paid for the shipping both ways. They were so nice and went above and beyond to make it right. Within a week I had the replacement TL-18QVP and it works perfectly. I am still learning how to get the tension set properly for thick layers of fabric or vinyl, but that's on me. With the right needle, thread weight and tension, and the micro lifter, it can be done. It sews beautifully and the stitch quality is fantastic. I love this machine and am so glad I purchased it. To my surprise it's very easy to thread both top and bobbin. It's made of almost all aluminum, so it's very sturdy as well. Definitely a worthwhile investment.

UPDATE 9/2/2016: This machine is very quiet. It is heavy because it is made of metal. But it is portable. I love that. My neighbor came over to see if it was comparable to his Sailright industrial machine, and he was very impressed with this Juki. I took some spare vinyl that had been used to make a BBQ cover, and rolled it up to 5 layers thick. I did lengthen the stitch to about 4.5. This was VERY thick material. This machine sewed through it easily, with no degradation on the stitch quality! It is so versatile, it is amazing. On a side note, one of my quilting friends purchased this item and her walking foot was defective. I recommend you test out your walking foot when you received the product. Hers had some kind of bent item we think on the inside of the walking foot, because it made a loud grinding sound (independent of the normal clacking sound of a walking foot). When we tried my walking ffot on her machine, it worked and sounded just fine. UPDATE 8/18/2016: I've been sewing with this for 4 months now, and still love it.! I am so glad that I bought this machine. In fact, I bought a second machine for my vacation home. Love, love, love!!!! My mom is a HARD CORE quilter, and she dragged me into her hobby! My mom is a Bernina gal, and she also has a baby lock as a spare. I bought the Juki because my dad was a plant manager in a commercial/industrial sewing operations and for a commercial machine, JUKI was hands-down the best and that is what he recommended. I was torn between my mom recommending a Bernina (very expensive!) and my dad saying Juki's will last forever in a commercial setting. The Juki TL 2010Q is a semi-industrial machine. I bought this machine last week, and just took it to a quilt retreat. It is an ABSOLUTE DREAM for quilting! My mom said it is basically the same as her baby lock. I don't know, because I am not familiar with baby locks. All I know is that this machine is absolutely awesome for quilting. I have no trouble sewing a straight 1/4" seam at high speed (impossible at high speeds on my Brother SE400 or on my Juki HZL F600. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this machine. Just awesome. This machine is like a Mercedes is to cars. Just incredible. Perfect. Just remember it only does a straight stitch.

I've had my machine just under a week, and so far I love it. It's big, it's smooth, and an absolute delight to sew on. It is almost entirely made if metal inside and out. It is nearly 40 pounds and seems like it could survive a nuclear bomb being dropped on it. There's a slight learning curve. Threading the machine looks daunting, but a couple times through with the manual at my side, and I had it. Other things like loading a bobbin and setting the thread tension were quick to get down. This replaces my little Singer Stylist (well, sort of... I'll use both, but each will have their own set of specific uses). The Singer does a fair job of several things, and is built to be super simple to operate most of the time. This Juki does one thing very well, but you need to expect that operating and maintaining it is a skill you develop over time. For that investment, you will be rewarded with an exponential leap in smoothness, stitch quality, and speed. Common complaints I read before buying it seem to have been made before taking the time to get to know the machine. I've yet to trigger the thread cutter by accident. Threading is easy once it's been done a few times. The walking foot does get progressively more squeaky as you use it... unless you think to oil its joints as it is almost entirely made of metal under the plastic case. I've used it every day since it arrived, and with proper care, I expect to own and use this machine for the rest of my life.

I did plenty of research and follow many quilters, and decided this was a great fit for me. The machine is easy to use and has some features similar to an industrial machine, so if you have experience on the latter, I think you will enjoy what is has to offer. I purchased it as an upgrade since I have always sewn on less expensive models. It will only allow you to straight stitch, so if you do a lot of applique or decorative stitching, you will need a second machine that offers you those stitches (or this might not be the right fit for you). The machine came with the extension table, knee lever to lift the presser foot, and all other accessories that I expected. There was also a little bottle of oil, and as I had read before purchasing it, this machine is thirsty and you will need to make sure you oil it regularly. Since I live in Europe, I also had to research the proper way to supply my machine with power. I choose a 1000-watt Step Up and Step Down transformer here on Amazon that converts this 110-volt machine to the 220-volt power supply in my European outlets. Do plenty of research before taking the leap, though! The transformer I purchased has circuit breaker protection and I am using it to supply the machine ONLY; there are no other appliances plugged into it. This specific Juki model seems to be designed to cater to the U.S market since it has features that benefit both quilters and seamstresses (and crafters), which is why I couldn't find it in my location. Before purchasing it, however, I also considered the fact that the machine will need to be serviced (or fixed) as time passes. I know the computerized machines are cool and have a lot to offer, but I figured that a mechanical machine like this would be easier to deal with if it ever has problems here in Europe. Hopefully no problems arise, as it was a bit of a risk ordering it (return shipping would have been difficult and maybe costly). So far, the machine has been a dream to use and I was not disappointed that I invested the money.

I purchased this machine to use for free-motion quilting since my old Baby Lock Esante ESe2 doesn't do quilting well/at all. Since the Baby Lock has simplified threading, getting used to the manual threading of the Juki takes a bit to get used to. I sometimes rent a Pfaff PowerQuilter long arm at a local quilt shop and I find that the threading of it and the Juki are about the same in complexity. I constantly struggle at getting a perfect stitch with the Juki. (I assume that at least part of that is the fact that I'm used to a machine that has automatic tension.) I understand the mechanics of achieving a good stitch but since the stitch depends upon both the top and bobbin tension, that can be a chore. (It's kind of like trying to successfully pat your head and rub your stomach while you are chewing gum and hopping on one foot.) I like the Juki's table attachment because it gives you a large work surface. I added a silicon mat to the work surface to aid in moving my quilt projects across the bed of the machine but to be honest, I don't really notice much difference (other than the mat getting in the way when I try to change bobbins) because the extension table is already plenty slippery. I thought that I would really like the foot peddle since you can press it to automatically cut the thread ... well, I actually HATE that! The peddle is quite thick (1.25 inches) where you rest your heel. That means that if you don't keep your heel elevated and just use your forefoot to press the part of the peddle that makes the stitch ... you cut the thread. As a result, you can be stitching along and CLACK! you have just cut your thread in the middle of your project. BUMMER!! By the way, when the automatic cutter activates, you hear it because it is loud (even makes my cats jump sometimes). To get around the foot peddle issue, I got a couple of wood scraps from the garage and glued them together so that my heel rests on the wood slightly above the foot peddle. When I want to cut the threads, I simply push the thread cutter button on the front of the machine. The lighting is better than some machines but still needs supplemental LED lighting makes visibility better. The sewing needle threads from left-to-right (I'm used to front-to-back) which seems to put quite a bit of tension on the thread going through the needle eye when you need to pull out extra top thread. I also notice that the sewing head area of the machine has a lot of static electricity and it attracts cat hair like crazy. That hair is difficult to remove because it is in the thread path. I have to pick hair off the thread before I start stitching for the day or else the hair will get pulled into the tension disks. One thing on the machine that has never worked properly is the threader ... hate it. I've watched numerous YouTube videos on how to use the threader (the user's manual is no help) but mine appears to not be aligned properly. Therefore, I stopped even trying to use it. Since the head of the machine is fairly narrow, getting your hand in to thread the needle isn't too much of a struggle. The feet are easy to change out. There are two quilting feet included. A quarter inch foot and another (I forget its size) but both are closed. Since I prefer an open toe foot, I purchased an after market foot and it works great. The user's manual is poorly written and the pictures are hard to follow. If I had a chance to start over, would I buy the Juki again? Probably not. A lot of why I bought the Juki was for its price point. If I had "do overs" I would bite the bullet, so to speak, and spend the money on a top of the line machines that has a lot of throat space for quilting and that does not only straight stitch but zig zag and decorative stitches as well.