'Juki TL-2200qvp Mini' Review

Happy Anniversary to me!!! 28 years and counting with the hubs. We don't usually exchange gifts, but this year we went nuts. He got some toys and I got some toys. This is my one of my new toys.

A brand, spankin' new Juki TL-2200qvp Mini.  It's pretty much the TL-2010, but with new colors and a few extras.

Here she is. New machine still in the box smell. Ahhhhh

First look. Yep, a knee lift

All kinds of notions. 9 feet in total

New....a guide for the walking foot

All the Free motion feet..New...the open toed one.

For those that turn their machine, you can get a sideways open toe foot optionally

There she is, sans extension table. Huge extension table

A little goofin. The light is bright, but it needs to be all the way around. 

Yes, I will be adding some light

More play to see the stitch quality and get a feel for this puppy

Also new, a real quarter inch foot, not just the 7mm compensating foot

Yep, a scant quarter

Walking foot with guide. It's not a quiet foot, just saying. 

My Bernina 440qe has a quieter walking foot.

This foot edge is a quarter inch....how awesome is that?

Guide time...pretty accurate

 I actually used it to bind a quilt. I used its cousin, a tl-2010 to quilt.

Like buttah

All in all, I am quite pleased with this machine.

Pros:

•  a ton of feet
• deep and tall harp space
• quiet machine
• good foot pedal response, no jaggy, jumpiness..smooth as can be
• faster than spit
• reasonably priced compared to other quilting machines, especially computerized, multi stitchers 
• thread cutter....oh my! It is fab...really fab. How did I ever live without it?
• thread cutter activated by foot pedal
• pow er full

Cons:

• cutter and walking foot loud
• only stops with the needle down...I wish I could control that, but this is a mechanical machine
• light has shadows on the wrong side
• Thread cutter activated by foot pedal..yes, pro and con (thankfully, comes with a piece to stop that function)
• more frequent oiling (so easy)
• heavyish
• I don't yet have a table for her

The cons are, by no means, deal breakers. The only time I dislike the foot pedal thread cutter is when I am free motion quilting and I accidentally cut the threads when I don't mean too. Pain in the patootie. I suppose with time I could overcome this, but I just put the little rubber thingy on the foot pedal and no more booboos. Take it off for regular sewing and I can cut with my heel again.. Takes all of 30 seconds. :-)

Is it an elegant machine? All little bit yes and a little bit no.. Is it my end all be all of a sewing machine? 

Darn close, but not quite.

All machines should have foot attaching like a Bernina and a builtin walking foot like the Pfaff, a tall, 12" harp space, great lighting, the power of the juki and not cost the same as a good used car....a girl can dream, right? LOL Oh, and a low bobbin warning...seriously.

Will I get rid of my Bernina and my Janome Gem? (and my featherweight, my serger, my cover stitcher, my singer 185)?  Nope. The Juki is a straight stitch only machine and I do a lot of non quilterly sewing. And the little Janome Gem makes thee best stinkin' buttonholes. Yes, better than the Bernina. I know, right.

What are your favorite machines? 

Do you have more than one? 

What features would your "dream machine" have?

I am really liking this machine. I'll know if I love it after a few months of sewing. I am betting I will.

Yes, Ratty.....save your pennies.