The Ultimate Juki TL2010Q Review for Quilters

As a quilter, the most critical piece of equipment you purchase is your sewing machine. What if I told you I found the perfect sewing machine for quilters? I’m talking about the Juki TL2010Q, and this blog post is dedicated to my Juki TL2010Q review. Let’s jump right in!

Why You Should Trust My Review

Unlike many sewing machine reviews (including several I’ve seen of this specific machine,) I haven’t been using this machine for just a few weeks. I’ve had my Juki TL2010-Q for about five years and have used it for every quilt I’ve made since I purchased it.

I’m also not being paid for this review. This is 100% my honest opinion and experience with my machine. 

My Honest Juki TL2010Q Review

I make quilts and write about quilting and sewing for a living, and I’ve been able to do so with this beautiful sewing machine. My review will go over why I chose this machine, what I would change about the Juki TL2010Q, and whether I have any regrets about my purchase.

Why I Chose The Juki TL2010Q Sewing Machine

I was using a Singer Patchwork sewing machine, which I loved, but I wanted a faster and more capable machine since I was making so many quilts with my custom quilt business. Here are the areas I researched and why I chose the Juki TL2010Q over other sewing machines.

Price

My budget was a huge factor when deciding which sewing machine to purchase. I didn’t want to spend over $900 at the time, and if you’ve done any quilting machine shopping, you know that can be tricky to find. 

At the time, the TL2010Q was retailing between $1,000 to $1,500 depending on the dealer and the included accessories, but I knew I wanted this machine. So, I was adventurous and went to eBay, hoping to find a deal.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend going on eBay to find a sewing machine unless you’ve done the following:

• Do all your research on the specific machine.
•  Check out the sellers to make sure they are reputable.
• You fully understand the potential risk of buying a pre-owned machine.

I was lucky to find a brand-new Juki TL2010Q on eBay at my price point. It was from a reputable sewing machine seller and had the most minor flaw imaginable, knocking the price down to $700. Awesome, right? 

The flaw was a tiny paint dot on the body of the sewing machine, which is barely noticeable unless you’re looking for it. I got a great deal!

Brand

Since my quilt-making was for my job and not just a hobby, I wanted to make sure I purchased a well-known “industry standard” sewing machine. I looked at all kinds of brands like Janome, Bernina, Husqvarna, and Babylock, but the brand that kept standing out to me was Juki. 

Juki is well known in the industrial sewing machine realm, and the more research I did, the more I realized this was the brand I wanted to go with for my next sewing machine. 

Juki is a Japanese sewing machine company that has been making sewing machines for industrial and domestic use since 1938. 

Speed

My Singer Patchwork speed could go up to a respectable 750 stitches per minute, but I wanted something much faster, especially for block piecing and free-motion quilting.

The Juki TL2010Q speed ranges from 200 to 1,500 stitches per minute, so it can go twice as fast as my previous machine. You can control the speed quickly with a lever on the front of the machine. 

Throat Space

Another feature at the top of my list was the machine’s throat (or harp) space. I needed something with enough space to quilt larger quilts such as queen and king-size quilts. 

The throat space is the distance from the needle to the body of the sewing machine. The throat space of the Juki TL2010Q is 8 ½” x 6”, which is plenty of room for even a king-size quilt (yes, I did make one with this machine.) I used my little Dracula Pop! figurine to show the size of the space. hehe

Stitch Quality

If you’ve researched this sewing machine before, you’ve probably seen where sewists say that this machine stitches perfect stitches every time. Well, they aren’t wrong! There’s no denying that this machine truly is a “workhorse” and makes beautiful, accurate stitches Every. Single. Time. 

I will tell you, though, when I first took the machine out of the box, I had to play around with the thread tension quite a bit before I got the tension just right. Now, that could have been “operator error” since I was new to the industrial sewing machine scene, but it is something to be aware of when working with a machine like this one. 

But once I got tension correct, I haven’t had to mess with it since, and that’s literally five years ago. 

Automatic Thread Cutter

Many of the newer, fancier sewing machines have an automatic thread cutter, and I hadn’t experienced one before this machine. Let me tell you…Once you have one, you’ll never look back!

It saves time and works so well. It’s one of those little luxuries that I really appreciate when piecing a quilt top.

As I said before, I have had my machine for about five years, and I’ve never had to switch out the blade for the thread cutter, and it still works great. So I can’t speak to when that would need to be replaced.

Versatility

Yes, the TL2010Q is a straight stitch-only sewing machine, but that doesn’t mean it is limited in what you can do. You can use this sewing machine for the entire quilt-making process, from block piecing to quilting, to binding. The Juki TL2010Q is the perfect sewing machine for any serious quilter (in my humble opinion.)

Other uses include:

• Garment making
• Tailoring
• Leather Crafts (as long as it isn’t thick leather)
• Home Decor projects
• Any kind of sewing project that needs a straight stitch.

Included Accessories

The accessories that come with the Juki TL2010Q are fantastic and are the perfect starter kit for a quilter. Here is a list of the accessories I received with this machine.

• Even feed (walking) foot
• Two quilting (darning) feet
• ¼” seam allowance foot
• Other assorted sewing machine feet
• Extension table
• Extra bobbins
• Cleaning brush
• Needles
• Screwdrivers for maintenance

What I Would Change About the TL2010-Q

Now let’s discuss a few things I would change about this Juki sewing machine if I could. These are in no particular order.

Straight Stitch Only Feature

I understand the necessity of a straight stitch-only sewing machine, and I love this machine, but it would be nice if it could also do a zigzag stitch.

I do a fair amount of applique work, and I would love to have the option to have my speedy, reliable Juki be able to do a zigzag stitch on my raw edge applique pieces. 

Lighting Quality

The lighting on this machine is fine for most applications, and my sewing space is well-lit. However, compared to most other quilting machines and other sewing machines of this caliber, I would expect a brighter, more prominent light. 

I don’t have any trouble threading the needle, but I could see how this could be a huge drawback for someone who doesn’t have the best eyesight. You can always purchase a strip light that you can attach to the neck of the sewing machine to brighten things up.

Expensive Accessories

Since the Juki TL2010Q is an industrial sewing machine, most universal sewing machine accessories don’t work with it. This means you need to purchase specialty Juki sewing machine feet for different tasks, such as a ruler foot or invisible zipper foot. 

Do I Regret Buying This Machine?

I think the answer is pretty clear. I don’t regret purchasing this machine for one minute. The Juki TL2010-Q is one of the best options for quilters, and it’s no surprise I’ve seen an increase in quilters with this machine on Instagram. 

I’ve had this machine for five years, and I don’t see myself replacing it any time soon! 

FAQs You Should Know the Answers To Before Purchasing the Juki TL2010Q

Now that we’ve gone through the Juki TL2010Q review, let’s answer a few questions you may have about the machine. It’s important to do your research before investing in a sewing machine.

Is the Juki TL2010Q a high-shank machine?

Yes, it is. However, since it is an industrial sewing machine, if you need to purchase other sewing machine feet for your machine, you should buy feet meant for the Juki TL series instead of universal feet.

Can I Free-Motion Quilt Using the Juki TL2010Q?

You sure can, and it’s a lot of fun on this machine! I’ve done free motion quilting (FMQ) on quilts ranging from mini quilts up to a king-size quilts with the TL2010-Q.

Can You Use Universal Needles on a Juki?

Yes, you can! My favorite needles for all my quilting needs are Organ Needles in size 90/14.

How Often Should I Oil My Juki TL2010Q Industrial Sewing Machine?

The Juki TL2010Q is NOT a self-oiling machine, which means you need to oil it to keep everything lubricated so the machine works properly.

I like to oil my machine once I’ve gone through two or three bobbins. That’s a good rule of thumb. The more you use your machine, the more you’ll get to know when it needs more oil. You can hear a subtle difference when it’s time.

If you are sewing for several hours a day, put a drop of oil in each necessary hole (check your manual for instructions) before you start sewing for the day. Sewing machine oil is inexpensive, and a bottle will last you forever. 

What Type of Maintenance Does the Juki TL2010Q require?

Well, as mentioned in the previous question, you need to oil it regularly. You also should be cleaning the bobbin case area frequently. Fuzz and thread can congregate there and wreak havoc on the machine. 

The machine comes with a handy little brush. I also like to use Q-tips for those hard-to-reach places.

Final Thoughts

Though the Juki TL2010-Q is a simple machine, it is fabulous and works great for all kinds of sewing projects. I hope this Juki TL2010Q review was helpful and it helps you decide whether this machine is suitable for you and your needs. Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Stitches!