The JUKI TL2010Q is a professional straight stitch quilting machine. It’s fast, it’s sturdy, and, if many JUKI TL2010Q reviews are anything to go by, it’s a serious quilter’s dream. But there are a lot of differences between this sort of machine and an all-purpose sewing machine aimed at quilters. Before you press “buy,” it pays to know the facts.
JUKI TL2010Q: Reviews, Comparison, and Analysis
While its name might not be as familiar as that of Singer or Janome, JUKI is actually the world’s leading manufacturer of sewing machines. They produce both industrial and home sewing machines, and quite a few, like the JUKI TL2010Q, which straddle the gap between the two.
JUKI began as a manufacturer of industrial sewing machines. They released their first domestic model in 1947. Today they produce a variety of computerized and mechanical sewing machines for home use. All of them, however, share the same sturdiness and focus, and maintain a characteristic businesslike appearance.
Like Janome, JUKI is a Japanese company with a long history of innovation. In 1957, for example, the company won a prize for the revolutionary single-axis rotational thread take-up lever. Like Brother, JUKI eventually branched out to produce other kinds of industrial equipment. Today, its umbrella covers a variety of products and machinery.
About the JUKI TL 2010Q Sewing Machine
The most noticeable difference between an industrial sewing machine and a lot of home sewing machines is features.
Most home sewing machines have a variety of stitch designs and other options to facilitate work across any number of projects and crafts. Industrial machines, on the other hand, tend to be bare bones. They do one thing, they do it consistently, and they’re made to do it all day long.
The JUKI TL-2010Q is a domestic sewing machine with an industrial spirit. It’s fast, boasting a max stitch speed of 1,500 stitches per minute–that’s twice the speed of a lot of home machines. Its die-cast aluminum construction makes it incredibly sturdy and a natural for heavy work. And it’s a straight stitch-only machine.
What does that mean?
It means you’d be hard pressed to find a better type of machine for sewing long, straight stretches over multiple fabric layers–such as one might with quilting. At the same time, if you’re looking for decorative stitches, zig zag or stretch stitches, or even a buttonhole, you’re going to have to look elsewhere.
LIKES
- Excellent and consistent stitch quality
- Heavy-duty die-cast aluminum construction
- Max sewing speed of 1,500 stitches per minute
- Adjustable presser foot pressure
- Simple, intuitive controls
- Extended throat space
- Knee lifter included
- Suitable for both spool and cone thread
- Industrial longarm quality but without the space requirements
- Foot pedal thread cutter
DISLIKES
- Straight stitch only
- Suboptimal LED lighting
- Complicated threading system
- Very noisy when used with a walking foot
- Expensive
Who Is the JUKI TL-2010Q For?
The JUKI TL 2010Q is a straight stitch quilting machine. It does straight stitch sewing only. It also comes with some advanced features for quilters: a large extension table, a slightly larger throat space, and a knee lifter.
General purpose sewists could also use this machine for straight stitch work, especially heavy-duty work. For all its power, it’s very simple and straightforward. Be aware, though, that this machine doesn’t have a free arm, so you’d have a hard time using it for cuffs, collars, and trouser hems.
Its ease of use makes the JUKI 2010Q appropriate for beginners. However, its price tag puts it out of range for a lot of casual sewists (though you can find a bargain if you do your research). Also, non-quilters would probably begin to feel this machine’s limitations acutely after gaining some experience.
Overall, we’d recommend this JUKI straight stitch sewing machine for serious quilters and anyone else planning to do a lot of heavy-duty, exclusively straight stitch work.
What’s in the box?
Accessories that come with the JUKI TL 2010 Q, include:
- Zipper Attaching Foot
- Even Feed Foot
- ¼ Quilting Foot
- Extension table
- Knee lifter
- Screwdrivers
- Cleaning brush
- Four Bobbins
- Oiler
- Needles
- Spool cap
- Sewing machine cover
- Foot Controller
- JUKI TL-2010Q manual
Technical Specifications
How is the JUKI TL-2010Q Different?
You might look at the photo, then at the price, and wonder what you’re getting with the JUKI TL-2010Q that you won’t get with a cheaper all-purpose home sewing machine.
What this model lacks in flash, it recoups in focus.
JUKI TL201Q reviews from customers and professionals alike praise this machine’s stitch quality and consistency. As we said, this model straddles the gap between an industrial and a home machine. Specifically, it brings you the function, quality, and consistency of a professional longarm quilting machine with less cost in terms of both money and space.
It’s a serious sewing machine for a serious quilter.
Should You Buy a Straight Stitch Machine?
Single-purpose professional-level crafting machines can be the right tool for the right user. But they are expensive, so before you purchase, it’s important to make sure that it’s the right tool for you.
What’s Your Budget?
When considering how much money to spend on a sewing machine, it’s important to think about how you’re going to use your new machine, and how much you’re going to use it.
A professional sewing machine is an investment. If you’re a serious hobbyist or starting a home-based business, it could be a wise investment. But just how much sewing would you have to do to justify the expense?
Let’s do a bit of arithmetic.
It costs between $20 and $30 per hour to rent a professional longarm quilting machine. The price of a JUKI TL-2010Q quilting machine varies widely depending upon your retailer. However, the average price at the time of this writing is between $700 and $1000.
Therefore, the price of a JUKI TL-2010Q is roughly equivalent to the cost of renting a professional longarm quilting machine for between 33 and 50 hours.
Do you do that much quilting in a month? Or in six months? Many quilters do. And if you can see yourself getting that much use out of a straight stitch machine, then a good one could be an excellent investment.
Do You Do Different Kinds of Sewing?
Alternately, you might put in a lot of hours at your sewing table, but not all of those hours are spent sewing straight stitch.
If your focus is embroidery, applique, housewares, or garment making, then you probably need a more versatile sewing machine. Most likely you’d do better with a machine that has a variety of both functional and decorative stitches–for a start.
Do You Perform a Lot of Heavy Work?
A professional sewing machine like the JUKI TL-2010Q is a step up from a garden-variety home machine, though not quite a factory-level industrial machine. One of those steps up is in durability.
The JUKI TL-2010Q has heavy-duty aluminum construction. This means that it’s made not only to work a lot, but also to power through heavy work. Heavy work includes layered projects like quilts, but also thick fabrics and difficult-to-sew materials like leather.
Check out the JUKI TL-2010Q sewing through four layers of leather in the video below. This level of work could kill a lesser machine.
If your sewing includes a lot of heavy work, then a heavy-duty professional straight stitch machine like the JUKI TL-2010Q could be a very good choice.
If You’re Short on Space
The JUKI TL-2010Q isn’t a compact machine by any stretch of the imagination. At just over 25 pounds, it’s heavy, too.
However, its footprint is a lot smaller than that of an industrial longarm quilting machine. So if you’re doing the amount and level of work that could benefit from an industrial straight stitch machine, but you don’t have room for one, the JUKI TL-2010Q might be a good compromise.
Who Might Need a Professional Straight Stitch Machine?
There are certain crafts for which a heavy-duty professional straight stitch machine can be a vital tool. These include:
- Quilting
- Sail making
- Sewing leather
- Garment making (aside from cuffs and collars)
- Making curtains
Again, anyone who is doing a lot of heavy, ongoing straight stitch work could get a lot of use out of this kind of machine.
Features and Benefits of the JUKI TL-2010Q
It may look simple, but this machine, and this manufacturer, have a huge following. Here are a few reasons why.
Heavy Duty Construction
The first sewing machines had all-metal construction. However, over time and bit by bit many manufacturers have replaced metal with plastic. On one hand, plastic makes a sewing machine lighter and more portable. But when you need a tool for tough work, there’s nothing like an all-metal sewing machine.
The JUKI TL-2010Q is made from sturdy, die-cast aluminum. This means that it can power through heavy work with ease. Heavy-duty construction also means that this machine can stand up to continuous use over time.
If you plan to use your straight stitch machine a lot, then heavy-duty construction is a must.
High Speed Sewing
The average sewing speed of a domestic sewing machine is 850 stitches per minute. Many models max out lower than that. The JUKI TL-2010Q sewing machine has a maximum sewing speed of 1,500 stitches per minute. That’s just at the lower edge of industrial speed.
When might high stitching speeds be a plus?
The obvious answer is any time you’ll be sewing a lot of long, straight rows of stitches. Quilting is one application. So is sewing garment seams (though not collars or cuffs).
The JUKI TL-2010Q looks like a mechanical sewing machine, but there is a computer under the hood. As a result, you can control the speed of this variable-speed sewing machine from either the foot pedal or the speed control slider. This makes the machine more responsive and its results more customizable.
Threading System
The threading system of the JUKI TL-2010Q can look daunting. It’s complicated, no question, and it’s quite different from the threading systems of most home sewing machines.
The advantage, though, is that there are different settings and threading schemes for different types of thread. This means more customization and more precision when it comes to your thread and thread tension.
Another nifty perk is that this machine is suitable for both spool and cone thread. The main advantage of cone thread is that it comes in bulk, and, metre for metre, is cheaper than spool thread. Also, some types of thread for heavy-duty work only come on cones.
Although there are tips, tricks, and tools that can help you to use cone thread with a home sewing machine, it’s not always easy. But with this machine, it’s not hard.
Adjustable Presser Foot Pressure
Many home sewing machines have a single presser foot pressure setting, which works well for most kinds of sewing. However, different types of sewing may need different presser foot pressures.
Like what? You might ask.
Slippery fabrics may need increased pressure. The same goes for ultra-lightweight fabrics. On the other hand, heavy fabrics and layers may work better with decreased pressure. Still other fabrics, such as vinyl, may stick to the pressure foot and require a pressure adjustment to move through the machine efficiently.
The JUKI TL-2010’s adjustable presser foot pressure gives you more control over the movement of different fabrics through your sewing machine.
Extended Throat
The JUKI TL-2010 isn’t a full longarm sewing machine, but it does have a bit extra space between the needle and the sewing machine body to the right. This extra space — 8.5 inches, to be exact — makes it easier to accommodate larger work like quilts.
Learn more about throat space and longarm sewing machines here.
Extra-Large Work Table
Some all-purpose sewing machines aimed at quilters come with a small extension table. An extension table helps to support larger work, like a quilt, so that you can see more of it while you’re working.
The JUKI TL-2010Q comes with an extra-large extension table. Unlike the lightweight plastic table that might come with a quilting package, the one that comes with the TK-2010Q is spacious and sturdily made.
Knee Lifter
A knee lifter is an advanced feature that comes with higher-level quilting machines. A knee lifter allows you to raise and lower the presser foot using a knee-operated lever. This leaves your hands free to move and guide your work.
A knee lifter is invaluable for free motion work, as well as for embroidery (though you won’t be doing any embroidery on the TL-2010Q). Serious quilters considering this machine will be very happy for this feature.
Useful Accessories Package
Most sewing machines come with a package of accessories. These packages can run the gamut from minimalistic to expansive collections of knick-knacks that are only there to drive up the price.
The accessories pack that comes with the JUKI TL-2010Q hits the sweet spot in the middle. You get a very decent selection of the presser feet that quilters and home sewists use most, plus maintenance tools like a screwdriver and an oiler. At the same time, the kit is refreshingly free of bloat.
What Do Users Say?
Customer reviews for the JUKI TL-2010Q are overwhelmingly positive. Users praise this machine’s durability, in specific. They also praise its quality construction, and how smoothly and quietly it runs, especially at high speed. This machine’s exceptional stitch quality is another feature that comes up regularly.
At the same time, even positive reviews note the difficulty and complexity of setup. Threading, especially, can be difficult. Also, those of us who are used to automatic presser foot pressure will have to get used to setting the pressure manually for every new project.
Overall, the JUKI TL-2010Q is an excellent professional straight stitch quilting machine. At the same time, be aware that many of its features have a steep learning curve. You won’t be sewing five minutes after you open the box.
Alternatives to the JUKI TL-2010Q
No review would be complete without a look at the competition. Here are three very worthy alternates which may suit your needs better than the TL-2010Q.
JUKI DDL-5550
Sometimes semi-industrial isn’t enough. If you need a full industrial, factory-level straight stitch machine, you might consider the JUKI DDL-5550.
The DDL-5550 has everything that the TL-2010Q has, only more and better. More speed–a lot more–more power, and, importantly, more safety features.
Check this out:
- 5500 stitches per minute
- Powerful external servo motor
- Knee lifter
- Adjustable presser foot pressure
- Fabric edge sensor
It’s not light and it’s not portable. In fact, it arrives on a pallet and weighs 250 pounds. Once you place it, it’s not going anywhere. But if you’re building a business, or taking your business to the next level, this might just be the machine you need.
Janome Memory Craft 8200QCP
The Janome Memory Craft 8200QCP is, primarily, a quilting machine. It has 11 inches to the right of the needle–quite a bit more than the TL-2010Q. It sews 1,000 stitches per minute, which is a bit less. And it comes with a knee lifter. It also has some extras that you won’t get with the JUKI TL-2010Q, including:
- 170 built-in stitch designs
- 10 one-step buttonholes
- 3 alphabets
- Pattern stitch length calculator
- Twin needle guard
- High resolution LCD touchscreen
Depending on your retailer, the Memory Craft 8200QCP will cost you about the same as the JUKI TL-2010Q, so if you want a high-performance quilting machine with some nifty all-purpose sewing features, this could be your new favorite machine.
Singer 4423
A heavy-duty sewing machine doesn’t have to cost both arms and legs. Singer’s 44 series of mechanical sewing machines combines heavy-duty metal construction with the ease of use of a mechanical sewing machine and a very decent number of stitch options and buttonholes–at a fraction of the cost of the JUKI TL-2010Q.
The Singer 4423 doesn’t have an extended throat space or a knee lifter. However, it does have 23 stitch designs, a buttonhole, and a metal frame that makes it perfect for heavy, layered work like quilting. It also has:
- Adjustable pressure foot pressure
- A sewing speed of 1,100 stitches per minute
- A free arm
When it comes to professional-level quilting, users may feel the lack of advanced quilting features. However, if you’re looking for an all-purpose sewing machine that can handle the heavy-duty demands of everyday quilting, this could definitely be one to consider.
Final Thoughts
The JUKI TL-2010Q is a well-made, highly-regarded professional straight stitch machine for quilters. It’s durable, it’s fast, and what it does, it does very well.
We enthusiastically recommend it for anyone who is, or will be doing a lot of straight stitch sewing and quilting.
At the same time, this machine isn’t for every sewist. Its price and difficult setup mean that it’s not the best choice for beginners and casual sewists. Also, general-purpose sewists may prefer a machine with more stitch designs and other features.
But if you’re looking for a straight stitch sewing machine that can give you professional results, while remaining portable and affordable, the JUKI TL-2010Q could be an excellent choice.
