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

I've had my Juki TL-2010Q for a couple of weeks now. I'm a quilter with years of experience in the past with garment sewing (although I don't do that anymore). I have a Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 which has a surprising amount of features for the price I paid 4 years ago. I've had some problems with the electronics, but other than that, it's been a nice machine. But I wanted to upgrade, and one of the main reasons was, I don't have the budget to send my quilts out to be long-armed, and I've become pretty good at free-motion quilting. The Singer just doesn't have a lot of throat room, and I thought I could improve my overall experience with a better machine. After months of research, I decided that instead of upgrading my electronic machine, I wanted a straight-stitch, more industrial type machine to use for piecing and free-motion work, with the intention of keeping my Singer for when I need zig-zag or other fancier stitches. I do applique and other projects that require that. I finally decided on the Juki TL-2010Q, and it is everything I hoped it would be.PROS: It sews like butter, so smooth, and the stitches are the most even I've seen. It's very solid and comes with an enormous extension table (almost twice as big as what came on my Singer). I've had an opportunity to use all its features, and the free-motion quilting allows me to do the best work I've ever done, with so much control, and with the additional help of the very large throat to allow me to stuff a bulky quilt in there. The threading of the machine is not super simple like it is on my Singer; but once I got the hang of it, no problem. It winds the most even bobbins I've ever seen - they are perfect. And is this machine fast - because of that, the speed control's a real help. Needle up/down is great, so is the ability to cut the thread in 3 different places, the foot pedal, the button on the front of the machine, and the thread cutter in back of the needle. The threading and side-load bobbin are no problem, especially if you have experience with older machines like I do. The Juki doesn't come with a huge amount of attachments, but I really think what comes with it is sufficient; and it's especially nice to get a real quality walking foot.CONS: The user manual is terrible, very little explanation with awful pictures. But there are enough videos on youtube for it not to matter much. As with most sewing machines, the lighting is dim, but I bought an led light strip which I attached underneath the throat area, and it is lit up beautifully now. That was an extra expense that was well worth it. My only real complaint is the needle threader. It took me a long time to figure out how to use it, and only after watching countless youtube videos over and over. The one on my Singer works like a breeze, so this one was very frustrating. I find that I still have a problem with it, as it sticks in the down position. I think I may have found videos on how to fix that problem, as others have encountered it, but I won't bother myself with that right now - I just thread the needle by hand.I know this was a long review, but when I was doing my research, I wanted to know specifics about the machines I was interested in. I hope I've helped someone else to make an informed decision. All in all, this is a dream machine. I bought it for a specific purpose, and it serves that purpose like a champ.

I love this machine, I have had it now for 5 days and it's amazing! I have industrial embroidery machines so the bobbin and threading is not an issue for me. I have been using domestic sewing machines my entire life and finally jumped on this machine for my purse etc making.I have read reviews about threading, tie a knot from the new spool to the previous thread, pull all the way down then thread the new into the needle.

Review based on Amazon.com via Sewing Machines PlusAdded Bonus & Service maybe differentThis will be our 3rd sewing machine. It all started 10 years when we bought our 1st machine, a PFAFF 4772 Coverlock serger which was a floor model & we got it for an used price. Years later it was time for a normal sewing machine when our hand-me-down Kenmore 10 Stitch died. After weeks of studying sewing machines we bought our 2nd machine; the Janome DC2012 which came with 50 stitches & 8 sewing foots for just under $500.00 from Amazon.com & we got fast delivery. A few weeks ago after another study, we bought the Juki TL-2010Q just before Christmas 2012. Why 3 machines? Each sewing machine does something different. A serger sews different types of stitches than a normal sewing machine & even trims the material. Some serger machines like the Baby Lock "Evolution" can sew from 2 to 8 threads with 1 to 3 needles at one time but it comes at a price, while our PFAFF can sew from 2 to 5 threads with 1 to 2 needles at one time for a cheaper price. A normal sewing machine does fine small work with a single needle, main thread & bobbin thread, but lacks the throat space & sewing speed for putting everything together. The Juki TL-2010Q is a 8-1/2 inch medium throat, single lock stitch sewing machine for finishing large projects like blankets or quilts. It's a newer model based on the Juki TL98QE which is well built with a soild metal upper body & very fast at 1500 SPM (stitches per minute). The Juki TL-2010Q can very easy be attached to a quilt frame for free motion sewing, but also comes with its own extension table so that you can start quilting right away. The machine can even fit large spools which go through a sub tension unit that supplies untwisted thread to the needle. The Juki TL-2010Q is just like the Juki TL-2000Qi but has a speed control which limits the foot pedal to a set maximum. The Juki TL-2010Q also comes packaged with more Foots than the Juki TL-2000Qi, up to 7 Foots including the Standard Presser Foot that comes on the machine, plus an added bonus from Sewing Machines Plus.6 extra Foots included in the package are:Hemming FootZipper attaching FootEven feed Foot1/5 Quilting Foot1/4 Quilting FootCompensating presser FootAdded Bonus from Sewing Machines Plus:20 Metal "L" Bobbins100 Organ brand universal sewing needlesOther features on the sewing machine are:Foot controller with thread trimmingPredetermined stop position switchKnee lifter leverAuto thread cutter buttonAuto needle threaderAdjustable presser foot controlDrop feed switchThere are a few other machines that can be compared to the Juki TL-2010Q:Brother PQ 1500S which is not as durable for around $340.00 cheaper.Janome 1600P-QC which is 100 SPM faster but lacks a drop feed at around the same price as the Juki TL-2010Q.The only thing I don't like about Juki TL-2010Q is the swing plastic door on the extension table that lets you in the bobbin holder by the slide plate. It reminds me of a lego part. Why not put a more durable steel swing pin to open & close this area of the machine?Many in the internet suggest the Juki TL-2010Q & we took their advice. Amazon.com via Sewing Machines Plus about 100 miles away from our home shipped the Juki TL-2010Q & we got it the next day free freight. What a deal.Question to Amazon.com: Why is this sewing machine in "Home and Kithen" while the Juki TL-2000Qi is in "Arts, Crafts, and Sewing"?Update: sewing our 1st blanket & what a breeze. Machine is easy to load the thread & bobbin. Blanket can be turn, tuck, & moved around a large table without bottle necking the machine. Why even a man like me can load a bobbin & sew.

I have a small bag-making business and upgraded to this machine almost two years ago as my sewing is 99% straight stitch and speed/power are more important to me than lots of fancy stitch patterns. I absolutely adore this machine. Yes it’s a bit more complicated to thread, has a side-load bobbin, uses screw-on instead of snap-on feet, and needs frequent oiling, but for those trade-offs you get a fast, powerful, durable machine that’s built like a small tank and runs like butter. And it has the extra features that actually make my life significantly easier like auto needle up/down, a speed control setting, a pedal-operated thread cutter, and a knee lever to lift the foot. For anyone who does mostly straight-stitch sewing like serious quilters or bag makers, this is a great machine that can handle whatever you throw at it. There are only two cons: the needle threader is quite finicky (I finally have the hang of it but it took a while for me to figure out how to make it work consistently) and I don’t love the zipper foot that comes with the machine—I prefer the hinged narrow zipper foot you can purchase separately.