Embrace the Cozy Season

It’s almost time for Fall JUKI lovers, so let’s indulge in sewing projects that capture the essence of Fall! Whether you’re a sewist or a quilter, Fall offers a beautiful opportunity to create cozy, stylish, and functional items for yourself and your loved ones.

In this blog, we have three projects you can create this autumn and recommendations for JUKI machines, accessories, fabrics, notions, and threads to ensure your creations turn out beautifully! Let’s go ahead and dive into one project we’ll be sharing later this month.

  1. Autumn Throw Pillows

The JUKI TL-18QVP is ideal for creating autumn throw pillows. It offers precision and versatility for piecing and quilting. Its robust build and advanced features, like the automatic needle threader and adjustable presser foot pressure, make it perfect for adding decorative touches to your pillow project.

We recommend using autumn colors like deep oranges, rich browns, and forest greens in fabrics like cotton or linen. These materials are durable, easy to work with, and ideal for home décor. Consider patterns with leaves, pumpkins, or plaid for a seasonal touch!

When it comes to notions, choose a high-quality pillow form for a plush finish, or use the stuffing for a custom shape like a leaf, ensuring it’s filled to your desired firmness. For marking your design, use a fabric marking pen or chalk marker, preferably with disappearing ink for easy removal.

When it comes to thread, select a high-quality polyester in a matching or contrasting color to enhance your pillow’s design. This will provide durability and a smooth finish. A universal 80/12 needle works well for most cotton and linen fabrics, while a 90/14 needle is better suited for heavier materials, such as vinyl, if you’re planning to use it in your projects.

Stay tuned here for our project release!

JUKI Accessories:

  • Walking Foot: This foot is ideal for sewing through multiple layers of fabric, ensuring smooth feeding of the fabric for a professional finish. It’s handy when working with thicker fabrics or multiple layers.
  • Free Motion Foot: Perfect for adding custom quilting designs and free-motion embroidery to your pillow. It allows for greater control over stitching patterns and design elements.

Additional Tips:

  • Pre-Wash Fabric: Pre-wash and iron your fabrics before cutting to prevent shrinkage and ensure smooth sewing.
  • Press Seams: Press seams open or to one side to create a crisp, professional finish.

2. Cozy Beanie

The next project we’d recommend trying your hand at is a cozy beanie! For a cozy beanie, select warm and stretchy fabrics like fleece or jersey in autumn colors or patterns. These materials provide comfort and warmth on chilly days, and those with spandex or elastane offer added stretch.

The JUKI MO-2000QVP serger is a good choice for this project. Our sergers can efficiently handle knit fabrics and sew and finish edges with precision in one step. You can incorporate an elastic band to keep the beanie in place and maintain its shape to ensure a snug fit. Fabric clips can help hold knit fabric layers together without causing snags or distortions.

Remember your thread! Polyester thread offers both stretch and durability to prevent breakage or unraveling with the fabric’s stretch. A ballpoint needle, size 70/10 or 80/12, is ideal for knit fabrics, as its rounded tip helps avoid snags and skipped stitches.

JUKI Accessories:

  • Elastic Foot: Attach elastic bands evenly and securely.
  • Gathering Foot: Create ruffles or gather fabric; it can add decorative elements to your beanie.

Additional Tips:

  • Stretch Stitch Settings: Use the serger’s stretch stitch options or differential feed settings to ensure the fabric maintains its stretch and does not distort.
  • Use Fabric Clips: Instead of pins, use fabric clips to hold knit layers together to avoid snagging and ensure a smooth sewing experience.

3. Quilted Autumn Table Runner

For this project, check out the JUKI Kirei HZL-NX7. Like our other computerized machines, The HZL excels in quilting projects by providing ample space and quilting features perfect for crafting detailed and beautiful autumn table runners. The ample throat space and quilting capabilities make it ideal for handling larger projects.

For a quilted autumn table runner, choose cotton quilting fabrics in warm autumn colors and patterns. Fabrics like flannel or cotton with leaf or plaid designs will give your table runner a seasonal touch. Quilting cottons are durable and come in a range of fall-themed prints!

Check out medium-weight batting to provide coziness and structure to your table runner. Cotton or polyester batting works well for quilting projects, too. We recommend keeping your quilt ruler and rotary cutter nearby for precise cutting and piecing of quilt blocks. This helps to ensure accurate measurements and clean edges.

And, of course, thread! We recommend using 100% cotton quilting thread to achieve a smooth, durable finish. This thread can be used for both piecing and quilting since it blends seamlessly with quilting fabrics. The quilting needle, size 75/11 or 80/12, both are suitable for handling multiple layers of fabric and the thickness of batting.

JUKI Accessories:

  • Quilting Foot: This is essential for free-motion quilting. It allows you to maneuver your quilt with ease and helps create intricate quilting designs without getting caught in the fabric.
  • Extension Table: If you need extra space, we recommend this one. It’ll provide extra space for quilting larger projects and help maintain smooth fabric movement. It’s beneficial for managing the bulk of a quilted project.

Additional Tips:

  • Quilt Designs: Experiment with different quilting designs, such as meandering or echo quilting, to add texture and interest to your table runner.

These fall projects are a delightful way to decorate your home and wardrobe with seasonal charm! Creating projects like throw pillows, beanies, and table runners brings a touch of Fall into your daily life and enjoyment in making something beautiful and functional.

Each project offers an opportunity to experiment with seasonal fabrics and patterns, transforming simple materials into cozy, personalized décor and accessories that reflect the theme of Fall.

With the right JUKI machine and accessories, you’ll have the tools to craft these fall projects easily! Whether you’re using a serger, computerized, or semi-industrial sewing machine, these machines’ quality and versatility ensure your projects turn out beautifully. Find the right fabrics, notions, and threads, and you’ll be equipped to produce stunning pieces that celebrate the fall season in style. Happy sewing!

From Summer to Fall, We Love These Accessories!

As we celebrate the summer coming to a close, let’s go over some great and fun projects you can create that will follow you into the fall! Whether you’re going to the beach or back to school, these projects will always be handy.

Glasses Case

Whether they’re protecting your eyes from the sun or helping you see, keep those glasses covered with a glasses case! With the ability to be versatile in your case designs, this project is perfect for letting your creative side shine. You can create using cotton, leather, canvas, and more fabrics and decorate with applique, quilting, or embroidery.

What we recommend keeping on hand for this project are notions, fasteners, or closures! These are best for keeping your glasses secured in their case and resistant to falling out; possibly getting scratched. Another fun add-on is a bag snap-clip! Use this when you’re on the move, and want to keep your glasses in easy reach or for a child’s glasses case to keep attached to their backpack.

For the inside of your glasses case, make sure to use a material that won’t affect the glass! We recommend sticking to cotton or a material that has a lovely soft touch to it, like velvet.

Lastly, we recommend keeping a Smooth Presser Foot nearby! This machine accessory is perfect for sewing those protective fabrics you love like vinyl or leather, as these materials can commonly cause issues when sewn with a standard presser foot that it might stick to.

Bucket Hats

A bucket hat is a perfect accessory to fight off those UV rays from hiking, the playground, or the waterpark! Fun and simple to create, a bucket hat pattern is an excellent choice for your wardrobe. We recommend using medium to the heavy-duty fabric. The material you use should be stiff to hold the shape of the hat.

We recommend fabric options like tweed, denim, or canvas. If you want to create with a thin fabric, you’ll need to use fusible interfacing. Fusible interfacing will help your fabric hold its shape and firmness while preventing fraying on your fabrics.

Some notions to keep in mind that you will want to purchase for that finished look are eyelets and a drawstring cord. Adding a cord to your bucket hat now allows you to adjust the sizing, making this a great gift! Also, the eyelets will help improve ventilation and makes wearing hats more comfortable, especially on those hot summer days!

Don’t forget to have your machine accessories on hand and ready! Since bucket hats have lining around the brim and top area, we recommend using a ¼” Guide Foot! This is a perfect tool for achieving those even spirals around the bucket hat brim and sides, allowing you to create something beautiful while securing the hat has that professionally finished look.

Scrunchies

Fun to personalize and easy to create, you can never go wrong with making some scrunchies! Whether you’re using them to accessorize or simply pull your hair back, this project is fast, easy, and perfect for beginners.

Inexpensive, this project can be completed with scrap fabrics or upcycled from old clothes! As a fashion and functional piece, this project only requires straight stitching, fabric, and elastic. We recommend using elastic size ¼ for basic scrunchies and moving up if you’d like to create jumbo ones.

Keep in mind fabric size and elastic size before being created. We recommend 8 to 9 inches of elastic and using a 3″ x 22″ fabric piece for best outcomes!

Table Runner and Mats

Re-vamp your home in time for the new season! Great project quilters can create matching table runners and mat sets, perfect for decorating your home and creating a quick and easy project. So whether you’re decorating for the holidays or looking to freshen up the living room with new colors and patterns, these accessories can bring a room together.

Some fabric recommendations we have for this cotton! Easy to wash and create with, this fabric is available in a multitude of options and allows you to use it with comfort, knowing you can throw it in the washer when those accidents happen. For fusing, there are a few main qualities you want to look for since this project will be washed often. Find interfacing with a low or no percentage of shrinkage, low thickness, and whether it’s fusible. Fusible interfacing will create a better project experience and is easy to use.

A great way to design your table runner and mats is by using free motion quilting! Whether you’re working on a compact machine or a long-arm quilt, adding in designs can genuinely bring your fabric to life and add texture. Keep in mind accessories for your machine like a Quilt Presser Foot (for ruler) and Quilting Rulers when you want to create intricate shapes and designs and need a little help!

Travel Bags

Whether we’re going to the beach, or after-school activities, having a travel bag fitted for your needs is a must! Travel bags allow you to add storage spots, secured or hidden pockets for valuables, adjustable straps, embroidered names, and so much more.

For bags you’re going to use often, we recommend finding durable fabrics and ones that can hold weight well. Some options to keep in mind are canvas, nylon, mid-weight woven, tweed, or leather. Depending on what perks you’re looking for, like using nylon fabric that can handle water for a gym bag, make sure to find a fabric that can withstand your lifestyle!

Notions to keep on hand when you build a travel bag are closure notions like zippers and spring snaps, snap hooks for attaching accessories like your keys or holding your scrunchies, and strap adjusters for weight changes. These pieces will help your bag have that professional finished look you’re going for, and create a longer-lasting project.

Other fun pieces you can add to your bags are applique, embroidery, or printed fabric to bring out your personality. Add-ons like mesh pockets or water bottle holders to personalize the bag for your needs are also excellent choices when wanting to expand on your skills.

Don’t forget to have the right accessories on hand! Using a foot accessory like the Decorative Stitch Presser Foot is perfect for adding in those personal touches like your name and decorative designs. Add your name to the inside of your child’s bag or your gym bag, and enjoy seeing your finished product!

Whether you’re creating on a computerized machine like our HZL series or quilting on your TL machine, these projects can be made easily. Want some inspiration on other projects you can create? Join us on our JUKI Home Sewing page on YouTube today for future and past projects!