An adventure of upgrading sewing machines.
I didn't plan on upgrading my sewing machine this year, due to goals that we have in life at the moment. But hubby likes watching me make quilts and other things. And also has an interest for the most part on how and way. So when I am having difficulty doing something, he likes to try to help. Even if that is pointing out that its user error lol. But a lot of the time its because I have been trying to do something more cost effective, so I don't have the proper tools. (Or I am just making due with what I have). I think I am pretty lucky, because he has been known in the past to go fabric shopping with me. And actually help pick out fabric, and let me know if something doesn't look good.
So once he told me that I was going to be upgrading my machine, (even though I did say a couple of time that we don't have to) I started doing some research. We both had some requirements that I had to work with.
I did have a few good options I thought, tell I started talk to people online. Mainly with people that have Grace frames, because they would fully understand what I am looking for and what to watch out for. A lot of the machines I was looking at that had a really "long" throat space, well was pretty much pointless for me.
Let me explain, ok I am going to use this machine as an example (baileys home quilter). I learned about from a few quilters online and I was pretty much sold on it after looking into it. Here is the problem when putting it on the frame, it has a 13" long throat space but its only 5" tall inside the throat. So I still wouldn't be able to roll up that much into the throat sadly. After that was pointed out to me, I looked at the these "LONG" throat spaces. Guess what they were all short.
So keep in mind I have only used my frame once so for and I used my Singer 9960 on it. The throat space on that is around 6.5 x 4.5. My thinking is if I am going to spend $1500 there better be a big difference.
I got pointed to Juki sewing machines. A lot of more people are using these now. They are so heavy duty, heck some small leather working companies are using them. Grace company has a few different regulators for Juki.
After digging around I found I wanted a Juki TL 2010q and I so happen to have a dealer here in Spokane called Regal fabrics and gifts. I did contact my local dealer and asked if they have a demo that I could try, and if I did decide to go that route if they could order it for me since the web site said out of stock. They did have demo that was similar to the 2010q but just a different model and she did agree to order one if I did decided on that.
We did drive up there last week to try one out and to put in an order. I don't know if trying out a sewing machine at a quilt store is like this everywhere, but I felt so awkward. I really shouldn't I've been quilting for heck since 2015. But all I have ever owned so far is Singers, set ups are just a lil tiny different. But the atmosphere was just cramped and pushy/ rushed. Don't get me wrong the ladies were super friendly and helpful. I explained what I was mainly going to use my machine for and she only had me try the straight stitching and not the FMQ. When I asked it (needed ask to I could get a bigger scrap and the right foot or else I would have done it on my own), it was like she didn't hear me and in return what telling me the difference in the machines.
They couldn't understand way the Grace company stitch regulators weren't compatible with the newer models (that cost more! she had the 2010q listed for $999.00 on the site). They pretty much had hubby sold, since they stated that it had a more powerful motor in it then the 2010q I was wanting to order. Well then at that point hubby didn't understand why the stitch regulators didn't work with the newer ones.
Now the ladies offered to call Grace company to help figure it out, hubby agreed and said go ahead. ( I had been looking into these stitch regulators for almost a year now). While hubby stepped out for a few, they called. Now they did find out that Grace Company does have one for the new model, but they are not done testing on it to work out the kinks. So with that said they were still trying to push the newer model. But I'm sorry companies can take 2 weeks to 2 years to finish testing and put out for sale. (knowing my luck it will be released soon since I didn't get the newer model lmao)
After I explained to hubby what I was think he did agree and understood that yeh it could be soon or a few years. Because the Grace company didn't give an ETA on said product.
After all said and done we did go ahead and order the Juki TL2010q threw her. And she said it would be a week before it go in. Right on the money, one week it was in.
When we got in there she asked if I wanted it taken out of the box to see how it ran and how it was threaded since it was different from my others. I went ahead a jumped on her offer.
Later on once we got home. I took a moment to get everything thread and tested. They I went ahead a oiled the machine. Did a few test stitches. Then once dinner was done, I decided to straight stitch quilt a baby quilt that I made for someone. (so happened I got it pinned last night lol)
What a difference between I am Singer and this Juki! Everything went so smooth, and it might of been because the the extra space but I wasn't fighting the quilt .
I would like to still figure out the knee lift, even though I wont be using that on the frame. Some reason I couldn't get it to work when working on this quilt. I'm pretty sure its user error lol.
So once he told me that I was going to be upgrading my machine, (even though I did say a couple of time that we don't have to) I started doing some research. We both had some requirements that I had to work with.
- The machine had to be under $1500
- larger throat space
- needed to be compatible with my wooden Grace frame
- needed automatic thread cutter (it helps a lot when you are FMQ)
- later on I noticed I wanted/ needed it to be able to have a stitch regulator
I did have a few good options I thought, tell I started talk to people online. Mainly with people that have Grace frames, because they would fully understand what I am looking for and what to watch out for. A lot of the machines I was looking at that had a really "long" throat space, well was pretty much pointless for me.
Let me explain, ok I am going to use this machine as an example (baileys home quilter). I learned about from a few quilters online and I was pretty much sold on it after looking into it. Here is the problem when putting it on the frame, it has a 13" long throat space but its only 5" tall inside the throat. So I still wouldn't be able to roll up that much into the throat sadly. After that was pointed out to me, I looked at the these "LONG" throat spaces. Guess what they were all short.
So keep in mind I have only used my frame once so for and I used my Singer 9960 on it. The throat space on that is around 6.5 x 4.5. My thinking is if I am going to spend $1500 there better be a big difference.
I got pointed to Juki sewing machines. A lot of more people are using these now. They are so heavy duty, heck some small leather working companies are using them. Grace company has a few different regulators for Juki.
After digging around I found I wanted a Juki TL 2010q and I so happen to have a dealer here in Spokane called Regal fabrics and gifts. I did contact my local dealer and asked if they have a demo that I could try, and if I did decide to go that route if they could order it for me since the web site said out of stock. They did have demo that was similar to the 2010q but just a different model and she did agree to order one if I did decided on that.
We did drive up there last week to try one out and to put in an order. I don't know if trying out a sewing machine at a quilt store is like this everywhere, but I felt so awkward. I really shouldn't I've been quilting for heck since 2015. But all I have ever owned so far is Singers, set ups are just a lil tiny different. But the atmosphere was just cramped and pushy/ rushed. Don't get me wrong the ladies were super friendly and helpful. I explained what I was mainly going to use my machine for and she only had me try the straight stitching and not the FMQ. When I asked it (needed ask to I could get a bigger scrap and the right foot or else I would have done it on my own), it was like she didn't hear me and in return what telling me the difference in the machines.
They couldn't understand way the Grace company stitch regulators weren't compatible with the newer models (that cost more! she had the 2010q listed for $999.00 on the site). They pretty much had hubby sold, since they stated that it had a more powerful motor in it then the 2010q I was wanting to order. Well then at that point hubby didn't understand why the stitch regulators didn't work with the newer ones.
Now the ladies offered to call Grace company to help figure it out, hubby agreed and said go ahead. ( I had been looking into these stitch regulators for almost a year now). While hubby stepped out for a few, they called. Now they did find out that Grace Company does have one for the new model, but they are not done testing on it to work out the kinks. So with that said they were still trying to push the newer model. But I'm sorry companies can take 2 weeks to 2 years to finish testing and put out for sale. (knowing my luck it will be released soon since I didn't get the newer model lmao)
After I explained to hubby what I was think he did agree and understood that yeh it could be soon or a few years. Because the Grace company didn't give an ETA on said product.
After all said and done we did go ahead and order the Juki TL2010q threw her. And she said it would be a week before it go in. Right on the money, one week it was in.
When we got in there she asked if I wanted it taken out of the box to see how it ran and how it was threaded since it was different from my others. I went ahead a jumped on her offer.
Later on once we got home. I took a moment to get everything thread and tested. They I went ahead a oiled the machine. Did a few test stitches. Then once dinner was done, I decided to straight stitch quilt a baby quilt that I made for someone. (so happened I got it pinned last night lol)
What a difference between I am Singer and this Juki! Everything went so smooth, and it might of been because the the extra space but I wasn't fighting the quilt .
I would like to still figure out the knee lift, even though I wont be using that on the frame. Some reason I couldn't get it to work when working on this quilt. I'm pretty sure its user error lol.
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