Join JUKI in this month’s Holiday Deals and find the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one!
Receive amazing deals on three of our top computerized sewing machines by contacting your nearest JUKI dealer here!
To learn more about the DX-4000QVP click here.
To learn more about the HZL-NX7 click here.
To learn more about the HZL-F600 click here.
Known for creating beautiful quilts, sharing tips and tricks for your sewing rooms, and her quilting podcast with co-host Rochelle Rice, we’re excited to spotlight Leslie Bercher, Quilter and podcast host for Inappropriate Quilters! Joining us for this month’s spotlight, we got to interview Leslie about her journey in quilting, the podcast’s beginning with co-host Rochelle, and how she created her brand.
It all started with Leslie’s grandmother, Helen. Helen was a member of a church that held Auxiliary Meetings where other members would quilt, crochet, and embroider. It took Leslie several years to watch her grandmother attend these meetings and see her create beautiful projects before picking up the hobby. So it was 2018 when Leslie, with two of her best friends, decided to take a class called ‘Quilt 101’.
“My first quilt was a log cabin, and I made two immediately. That was the beginning, and I haven’t looked back.”
Leslie began sharing her work online, finding a passion for creating and taking the time to build these quilts and designs. It was after a friend recommended she create a profile on social media, explaining she was missing out by not joining the online community when she opened her account. Opening herself up to the idea, she began posting and sharing her projects, excited to see how many beautiful quilters were out there in the world.
It was online that Leslie found a supportive community in her projects and offered her the opportunity to network and build relationships with new people! Consistently supporting one another in their ideas, and encouraging those who have lost their “sew-jo,” as Leslie says, has made the community, unlike any other group she’s been a part of.
This community has also been the inspiration for countless projects she’s created, inspired by other creators on social media. While not a modern quilter, she finds inspiration in all their designs picking from their color selections, patterns, and quilting textures. She also focuses on who she is creating, letting that drive much of the inspiration.
At one of these quilt retreats with the quilting community, she met Rochelle, someone who, according to Leslie, “has never met a stranger.” Leslie and Rochelle were placed in the same group, and their group’s theme was chickens! With their organized and over-the-top decorations, they couldn’t resist having a group mascot, Leon, the rubber chicken.
One day, during the retreat, Leon went missing! Leslie convinced Rochelle was to blame for the Rubber Duck disappearance, and she took it upon herself to ‘borrow’ Rochelle’s foot controller from her machine when she wasn’t looking. The joke would fall back on Leslie when Rochelle returned to the retreat the next day after a nice early night in, unaware her controller had been taken in the first place! They were fast friends after that, bonding over jokes and laughter.
A couple of years later, the podcast topic would come up between the two friends. During a dream quilt vacation, a sewing retreat where two of their favorites, Camille Roskelley and Angela Walters, would attend, they were having breakfast when the idea popped into Leslie’s head.
With only an idea and some research, Rochelle purchased all the equipment while on their retreat and had it shipped to her home for when they arrived back in town. Excited about their new project, there was only one thing missing, a name! But, as their friends joined in on the conversation, one name stuck out. Walking away from their breakfast table, their friend Angela turned around and offered up “Inappropriate Quilters,” the perfect name for the inappropriate duo!
“Angela was getting up from the table and casually said, ‘oh, I know what you should name it. Inappropriate Quilters.’ We looked at each other and said, “that’s it!”
From there, the show project was on! Weekly episodes, released on Saturdays, became the norm where two quilting friends could join together to discuss life and quilting. With no script in hand, the two friends meet at Leslie’s studio weekly to record before she finishes editing and schedules the episodes Saturday morning. Finding their way into other quilters’ studios through their speakers, their show focuses on just two friends who love quilting, allowing listeners to feel like they have friends in the room with them when they’re creating.
One topic Leslie loves to cover is the process of creating and organizing your studio space. As quilters and sewists know, having a space that encourages creativity and allows you to move and build your projects is important! As an advocate for ‘Function and Beauty,’ we asked Leslie what recommendations she can offer to those building their studio space today.
“You have to start with function. But if it isn’t cute, it better have a very good reason to take up your space!”
What else can you find in Leslie’s studio? Her JUKI! With her Haruka TL-18QVP, named Camille after Camille Roskelley, Leslie has been able to create beautiful quilts and projects she loves. With 95% of her projects involving straight-stitch, she chose a machine that fit her needs. Her top three features at the time were: consistent straight stitch, an automatic thread cutter, and speed! Her best recommendation to sewists and quilters looking for a new machine is to focus on what features are important to you, figure out what type of stitches you plan to create with, the speed, and visit your local dealer! A local dealer can listen to everything you may want and offer machine recommendations and test-sewing.
Leslie’s quilting has opened up a community for her, allowing her to be creative, meet new people, and enjoy her hobby! As she’s transitioned to a content creator and business owner, we asked what advice she’d offer to someone trying to build their brand. “There are so many little things that you didn’t plan. Be gracious with yourself in the process.” Setting up the government business aspects of a shop, like tax ID, sales taxes, and even finding a partner, can be challenging, but the final product is worth it when you love what you do!
We’re so excited to continue seeing Leslies’ brand and content grow, especially with possible plans of opening a YouTube page for creators to join! Listening to feedback from the community she’s created is vital, and she trusts them to lead her toward new and exciting project ventures. So even with her reservations about being on camera, you can expect Leslie to meet her community in the middle and find a way to join the video world!
From quilting to running a podcast, we had a great time getting to know Leslie and going behind the scenes for her projects. If you’ve enjoyed getting to know Leslie and want to keep up with her and Rochelle’s podcast and future quilt projects, join us in following her socials and websites below!
Blog: read here!
Instagram: follow here!
Linktree: Find Leslies channels here!
YouTube: watch here!
Podcast: Inappropriate Quilters – available where you listen to podcasts
Inappropriate Quilters Shop: shop here!
Are you excited about the holidays? We are! In today’s blog, we’ll share our top 10 stocking stuffers you can get for the sewist in your life! Perfect for our MO and MCS series, follow along as we share what’s new at JUKI and our top recommendations.
Clear Presser Foot – MCS
Focusing on multiple layers or sewing pieces where they need a clear view of their stitches? Then, the Clear Presser Foot is perfect for their next project! Since this presser foot is transparent, it helps them observe the stitches and fabric easily.
Easily keep an eye on the state of the fabric and its condition while sewing, and sew with comfort knowing they have a good eye on that stitch!
Double Fold Bias Binder – MCS
If they’re someone who enjoys creating apparel like tank tops and camisoles, the Double Fold Bias Binder is a great tool to keep in the kit! Seamlessly turn, bind and attach fabric strips to project edges in one step, helping them quickly create the perfect outfit for their next outing.
Belt Loop Binder – MCS
Create bracelets, finish belts, and belt loops, or create beautiful finished bags using the Belt Loop Binder! This presser foot automatically folds and sews with the coverstitch sewing and offers a tape size of 20 mm and a finished size of 10mm.
Curve Foot -MO
If they’re working on pieces with curved edges like blouses, dresses, or even capes, the Curve Foot is excellent at helping them create those clean and beautifully finished seams. Due to the size of the presser foot, they can easily make small turns compared to the wider ones with the standard presser foot. It’s useful for sewing tight curves on their apparel and home décor projects!
Elasticator Presser Foot – MO
Creating pieces like lingerie, swimwear, or even home décor like bed sheets can be done easier using the Elasticator Presser Foot! As it guides and stretches the elastic as its being sewn onto their apparel projects, the presser foot overlocks the edge of the fabric. The tensions can be changed on the machine with the roller clamping screw, and this foot can attach elastic tape with a width of 5 to 8mm.
Tractor Presser Foot – MO
If they’re working on apparel or home décor, the Tractor Presser Foot is an excellent addition to their tool kit! Using this accessory, they can smoothly ride up and down the multi-layered part of the material while preventing stitch skipping, perfect for attaching quilt pieces or creating garment projects like bathing suits.
Gathering Presser Foot – MO
For the gathered look on blouses and dresses, having a presser foot like the Gathering Presser Foot is great to have on hand! Easily gather the fabric as the user sews due to the foot’s shape, and stay away from slipping or sliding up and down the stitch line.
This accessory is helpful for apparel creators that like adding texture and design to their projects, like pillowcases, aprons, and more.
Piping Presser Foot – MO
Add a professional touch to projects with the Piping Presser Foot! By defining the edges or style lines of garment and house projects using the Piping Presser Foot, they can create projects pieces will think are store-bought! This foot helps sewists create projects with a more professional look thanks to the clean finishes.
This foot accessory is also great for adding that professional touch to quilts, cushions, and handbags.
Universal Blind Stitch Presser Foot (For Right & Left Needle) – MO
Working on some fun apparel? The Universal Blind Stitch Presser Foot is perfect for sewing a decorative flatlock! This stitch is ideal for their apparel projects because of its strength, commonly used in athletic wear. They can also create blind hem stitching, hide seams, or create beautiful texture on their blouses and add pintucks with this accessory!
MO Attachment Sets
If your family member or friend is a sewist who creates an assortment of projects or is a project focused on a hobby like quilting, checks out our MO Attachment Sets! These kits offer a versatile selection of presser feet that match the users’ needs depending on their sewing level and presser foot needs.
Practical sewing use and enjoy adding decorative stitching? Check out the MO Attachment Set 6pcs created for the MO-80CB. This set includes a Universal Blind Stitch Presser Foot (for right and left needle), Elasticator Presser Foot, Beading Presser Foot, Piping Presser Foot, Gathering Presser Foot, and Taping Foot. Perfect for a selection of projects, like apparel and quilting.
If they’re still building their skills on the MO overlock sergers, a set like the MO Attachment Set 3pcs is fantastic for beginners. Offering the Blind Stitch Presser Foot (for the right needle), Elasticator Presser Foot, and Cording Presser Foot, these pieces can help them start building their tool kit and works for both apparel and quilting projects.
For someone who’s practiced on the MO and is ready to test new skills like professional finished bags or piping on a quilt, check out the MO Attachment Set 6pcs. This set includes Blind Stitch Presser Foot (for the right needle), Elasticator Presser Foot, Cording Presser Foot, Beading Presser Foot, Piping Presser Foot, and Gathering Presser Foot. With these feet accessories in their arsenal, they’ll be able to go above and beyond when it’s time to clean up their project and complete a professional-looking end product.
Finally, if the sewist in your life works primarily on the MO machine, check out the MO Attachment Set 8pcs! With this large selection of presser feet options, sewists can easily create a versatile amount of projects, encouraging their skill growth! This set includes a Blind Stitch Presser Foot (for right needle), Universal Blind Stitch Presser Foot (for right and left needle), Elasticator Presser Foot, Cording Presser Foot, Beading Presser Foot, Curved Beading Presser Foot, Piping Presser Foot, and Gathering Presser Foot. With this set, they’ll be able to cover all the basics for creating a complete garment project.
We hope this helps you find the best stocking stuffer for the sewist who uses sergers in your life! From quilting to creating fashion to designing a home, having the right presser feet in your tool kit will make the next project more manageable. Which presser foot is on your holiday wishlist? Comment below!
Are you ready for Halloween this year? Check out our JUKI Machines this Fall and find the right machine to create your spooky Halloween costumes this season!
To check out our collection of sergers and sewing machines today, visit a JUKI dealer near you and locate them on our website here.
As we grow our sewing and quilting skills, we sometimes wish we had more features, feet accessory options, stitch options, and more. It can be hard to decide when it’s time to upgrade our beloved sewing machines, but an upgrade may be needed if you face issues like needle breakage, your machine stalling on large products, or not having enough space to create.
Today we’re going to cover upgrades in JUKI. From our beginner machines to more advanced options, we recommend the best upgrade options depending on your current JUKI. Whether you’re a quilter, garment creator, or focus on home décor, creating is best done when your machine is ready to handle your projects.
Things to Consider Before Upgrading
Before you search for a new machine, sit down and think about what features, presser feet, stitches, and more you’ll want to use on your sewing machine. Keeping these notes in mind, you’ll be able to begin your search with a clear idea of what you need, and then you can focus on the more bell and whistle options that you want.
Workspace
Do you have a dedicated space for your sewing and quilting? Or are you commonly moving your machine around to create? An important thing to remember when shopping is your machine’s size and weight. For example, if you’re a quilter with a designated room, you can plan for stand-up or sit-down machine options with large workspace areas. However, if your workspace is your dining table on the weekends, consider a machine that can be easily moved and put away.
Features and Accessories
If you’ve been working on a simple beginner machine, chances are you’re working with a small number of stitch options and a few features. However, sewing machines are now equipped with many features and capabilities that can make your sewing experience fun and easy!
Depending on the type of projects you want, features like button sewing, zig-zag stitch, and more can help you build your skills and create professionally finished projects. If you enjoy quilting, finding a machine with a dual feed function can be extremely useful when creating, helping you enjoy the process better. If you’re a common user of heavy fabrics, you’d want to find a machine that offers durability and semi-industrial strength.
Completing a Test-Run
Don’t forget to try it out before your buy! If you can test-drive your dream machine options, you can see if you like the features, power, and size of a machine before purchasing. When we upgrade our sewing machine, we’re looking for one that will be durable and long-lasting, which means this can be an investment. Before purchasing, you want to ensure that the machine can handle your current and future project ideas while allowing you to learn new skills and techniques easily.
5 Features to Keep In Mind
Finally, before purchasing your sewing machine, we want to share five features we believe sewists shouldn’t live without! Making your experience easier, these features were created to help you create your projects easier and faster while teaching you new techniques.
If you’re creating quilts, home décor, or even garments having needle up/down features can be essential in creating clean finished projects. By setting the machine, so it stops with the needle down in the fabric, you now have greater control and can turn or pivot the fabric you’re working on.
2. Automatic Buttonhole
Any project requiring a button can be completed faster and more efficiently with an automatic buttonhole. Machines that offer this feature usually come with a small variety of buttonhole options, allowing you to create pieces for garments, quilts, or decorations. Test-drive the machine before purchasing, test out the button holes to ensure you like the options available, and check out how easy this feature is to work.
3. Needle Position
While some sewists may overlook this feature, being able to change the needle position can help you achieve particular looks on your projects. For example, you can change the needle position from left to right if your machine has a zig-zag stitch. In addition, some machines come with multiple options for needle positions, like our DX-4000QVP, which allows you to quickly move the needle to the ¼ position with a tap of a button.
4. Automatic Tension
If you’re quilting or creating a garment piece, you know that changing tension between your project pieces can be a hassle and time-consuming when you first begin. A feature sewists appreciate is the Automatic Tension. Allowing you to switch between fabrics with ease, the machine will automatically pick up the tension it needs to be at for you to create your projects and lower the amount of work you need to do!
5. Dual Feed
Lastly, a Dual Feed feature is perfect for you if you’re a quilter. By allowing the fabric to feed from both top and bottom evenly, this feature can easily handle fabrics that shift or are bulky. So now, when you’re creating your family quilts, you’ll have less stress in dealing with shifty fabric or those thick seams.
Upgrade Recommendations
If you’re planning to upgrade your sewing machine, we’ve created a list below of machine recommendations depending on your current model. Whether creating quilts, apparel, or handbags, having the right features as you grow your skills will help you make those professionally finished projects you’re aiming for.
Quilting:
Suppose you’ve found more room to create and a designated space for your machine to fill, look into a sit-down or stand-up quilting machine! While a table-top quilting machine is perfect for many quilters, upgrading to a sit-down quilting machine will allow your projects to grow and flourish.
A sit-down machine like the J-150QVP offers straight-stitch and quilting like your TL-18QVP. This way, you can create your quilt pieces while working on other projects like your garment pieces and home décor. The throat space is larger on this machine as well! Now you’ll have a 12-inch spacious throat space and a 30″ x 30″ table where you can open optional leaves for even more room and easily create larger quilts!
For an even larger workspace, we recommend the J-350QVP! Like the J-150QVP, you’ll have a 12″ throat space for creating. However, your quilt space has just expanded immensely! You now have the option to convert your machine to a 5′, 7′, 10′, and 12′ frame. This frame will allow you to create quilts as large as king size.
If your focus is quilting, and you have a designated space in your home for your machine, we recommend checking out the J-350QVP Stand-Up! Upgrading from the J-150QVP to the J-350QVP will allow you to upgrade your quilt size and use new features like the Quilt Creative Touch 5.
The J-350QVP Stand Up offers options in 5′, 7′, 10′, and 12′ feet frames. From twin-sized quilts to king-sized, you’ll easily be able to free-motion quilt designs onto your quilts and enjoy the new digital aspect of quilting. Thanks to the QTC5 program that you can get as an add-on to your machine, you can now free-motion quilt with the tap of a finger.
The Quilter’s Creative Touch 5 is a user-friendly add-on that allows you to easily design and layout your projects using a Windows tablet or PC. Powered by quilt motion, the system will stitch designs onto your quilt with over 220 options. You can also master creating your designs and personalizing your quilts!
Sewing:
Creating apparel is fun and exciting, but it’s best when you have the right machine! If you’ve been working on clothing projects and notice you wish you had more stitch options.
Compared to the 70-HW, which holds 80 stitch patterns and five buttonhole patterns, the F Series begins with 106 stitches, including 16 professional buttonholes and three lettering fonts! Decorative stitches are a fun and easy way to add personality and texture to your garment pieces. Line your skirts, add them to your handbags or use them in home décors like table runners and pillows. The lettering options let you go the extra mile and personalize your projects!
Another bonus of upgrading your machine to the HZL-F or DX Series is the accessories available to you. Now you can use presser feet like the 1/4″ Guide Foot, Invisible Zipper Foot, Smooth Presser Foot, and more. These accessories will help your skills in garment sewing grow and allow you to test new techniques you couldn’t do on your other model machine before.
If you’re looking for a machine upgrade that goes the extra mile, we recommend the DX Series! Using a touchscreen, you can easily master the stitches and feature options on your machine. Beginners and sewists can enjoy the large selection of options available for decorative stitches, letter stitching, buttonhole options, and other features like needle positions and automatic tension.
The HZL-G Series is an excellent machine for a beginner sewist. Still, if you find your project skills outgrowing the capabilities of your sewing machine, we recommend upgrading to the DX series. While both sewing machines are computerized, the DX-4000QVP offers a 7″ touch screen that goes the extra mile for sewists testing new techniques.
While the G series offers excellent features like the automatic needle threader, free motion quilting, and powerful feeding for heavy projects, the DX offers these features and more that can ease the creation process. Now, with the DX series, you’ll be able to adjust stitch length easily, presser foot pressure, combine decorative stitching, and much more.
Designed to help you create everything under the sun, the DX series is perfect for the sewist ready to dive into their sewing journey! With the ability to make home décor, quilt, and sew garment projects, you’ll be able to excel in new techniques and project types while enjoying the ease of sewing due to the intelligent technology used in the DX machines. With features like a bobbin thread sensor and the visualization of stitches on the DX-4000QVP, you now have a concrete idea of your stitches and designs before creating.
Whether upgrading to a computerized or a stand-up quilting machine, finding the right one that can grow with you is crucial! It can be exciting to test our skills and create projects we’ve been dreaming of, so make sure to have the suitable machine and tools on hand when you need them. If you were upgrading your machine today, which one would you choose? Let us know down below!
To find a JUKI dealer near you, visit us here today!
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