Tag: presser feet

JUKI Posts

Level Up with JUKI Accessories

by sewinwithjukiLeave a Comment on Level Up with JUKI Accessories

September is the perfect time to enhance your sewing experience with the right tools and accessories! This month, we’re featuring four JUKI accessories designed to help you achieve professional results while making your projects more enjoyable on your JUKI.

Whether you’re quilting, creating home décor, crafting handbags, or focusing on precise stitching, these accessories are tailored to meet your needs. By adding the right accessories to your sewing space, you can unlock new techniques and take your projects to the next level!

What is a JUKI Free Motion Table?

Let’s start with an accessory any sewist can appreciate, the JUKI Free Motion Table. This flat extension created for the TL series expands your workspace and provides better control over your fabric. It’s especially helpful for creators who need stability and support when working on large quilts or bulky projects. Keeping your fabric level with the machine bed reduces drag and helps maintain even stitching. This table is designed to fit perfectly with your JUKI machine, making free-motion quilting smoother and more enjoyable.

Benefits & Tips

  • Expands your workspace for easier free-motion quilting
  • Reduces fabric drag and shifting for smoother stitches
  • Ideal for large quilts, table runners, and bulky projects
  • Level your table with your sewing surface for the best results

Project to Try: Quilted Table Runner
Create a beautiful quilted table runner to celebrate the season! Using the Free Motion Table, you’ll have the stability to quilt continuous designs without fighting heavy fabric. Choose coordinating fabrics, layer your quilt sandwich, and practice smooth, even movements across the surface. The large workspace helps keep your stitches consistent, resulting in a polished and professional finish. Learn how to create this project here!

What Is a Tractor Foot?

Now, if you’re someone who works on home décor, the Tractor Foot is for you! This foot is designed to help your machine glide over thick seams and uneven layers with ease. It’s perfect for home décor projects like cushions, drapes, or upholstery, where fabrics often overlap or create bulky areas. This foot “climbs” over raised sections smoothly, reducing skipped stitches and needle strain.

If you love making home projects with canvas, denim, or layered fabrics, the Tractor Foot is a must-have!

Benefits & Tips

  • Smoothly stitch over thick seams and uneven layers
  • Prevents skipped stitches on bulky home décor fabrics
  • Ideal for upholstery, drapery, and multi-layered sewing projects
  • Use a heavier needle (90/14 or 100/16) for the best results

Project to Try: Custom Throw Pillow with Piping
Upgrade your living room with a custom pillow that includes a decorative piped edge. The Tractor Foot makes it easy to stitch around corners and over layered seams without breaking needles or losing stitch quality. Cut your pillow pieces, insert piping between the front and back panels, and watch the foot handle the thickness with ease. The result is a stylish, durable pillow that looks professionally made.

What Is a Professional Set?

Next, we have the JUKI Professional Set, a collection of presser feet and tools designed for projects like handbags, structured totes, and more!

This set gives you the versatility to handle difficult-to-feed fabrics like leather, zipper installation, edge stitching, and decorative finishes all in one package. Each tool is designed to help you achieve clean, precise results, even on challenging materials like leather or canvas. It’s the perfect accessory kit for makers looking to expand their skills and create professional-quality bags.

Benefits & Tips

  • Provides a variety of feet for topstitching, zippers, and edge finishing
  • Helps tackle layered fabrics, leather, and canvas with ease
  • Ideal for structured accessories and professional-level bag making
  • Match the foot to the task for cleaner, faster results

Project to Try: Quilted Laptop Bag
Create a durable and stylish quilted laptop bag using the Professional Set to guide you through every stage of construction. Start by quilting your fabric layers with the walking foot to ensure smooth, even stitches. Then use the edge guide foot for clean topstitching and the zipper foot to install secure closures or inner compartments. With these tools, you’ll achieve a sturdy, professional-looking bag that keeps your laptop protected while showcasing your creative style. Learn how to create this project here!

What Is a Needle Plate?

The JUKI Needle Plate is now available in inches! This upgraded plate gives you precise seam markings in inches for easier, more accurate sewing. This is especially helpful for quilters, garment makers, and general sewists who rely on consistent seam allowances. By following the inch markings, you can maintain straight, even stitches without additional guides. It’s a simple upgrade that makes a big difference in accuracy and efficiency.

Benefits & Tips

  • Provides clear inch-based seam guides for precision
  • Helps maintain consistent seam allowances without extra tools
  • Keep fabric aligned with the markings for straighter seams

Project to Try: Quilted Block
Try sewing a traditional 9-patch quilt block using the Needle Plate for perfectly consistent seams. Cut your squares, align your fabric with the ¼” marking, and chain piece your rows together. With precise guides, your finished block will press neatly and assemble smoothly with the rest of your quilt. This small upgrade helps ensure every piece comes together with accuracy!

Upgrade Your Sewing This September!

Adding the right accessories to your sewing kit can completely transform your creative experience. Whether you’re quilting with the Free Motion Table, sewing home décor with the Tractor Foot, creating professional bags with the Professional Set, or improving precision with the Needle Plate in Inches, these tools are made to elevate your projects.

Visit your local JUKI dealer to explore this month’s spotlight accessories and start your next project with confidence!

JUKI Posts

Embrace the Cozy Season

by sewinwithjukiLeave a Comment on 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!

JUKI Posts

Accessorize Your Serger with JUKI

by sewinwithjukiLeave a Comment on Accessorize Your Serger with JUKI

JUKI sergers are renowned for their versatility and precision, making them a go-to choice for beginner and advanced sewists! These machines are designed to handle a wide range of projects and sewing plans and help you create professional-looking seams to add decorative finishes. Today, we will discuss the accessories you can find for our JUKI sergers that will help these projects come to life!

Accessorizing your serger not only enhances its functionality but also allows you to tackle more complex projects with ease. Whether you’re adding elastic, creating perfect hems, or embellishing with beads and piping, the right accessories can significantly improve the precision and efficiency of your work.

Let’s Talk Presser Feet

Presser feet are the unsung heroes of any serger, transforming a simple stitch into a professional finish. Each presser foot is designed with a specific function in mind, making it easier to achieve various sewing techniques with precision and efficiency. Here’s a closer look at some of the most essential presser feet for your JUKI serger:

1. Standard Presser Foot: This foot is the workhorse of your serger. It comes pre-installed on most JUKI sergers and is perfect for basic serging tasks like finishing raw edges, sewing seams, and creating overlock stitches. Whether you’re working on lightweight fabrics or heavier materials, this versatile presser foot ensures even feeding and consistent stitch quality. It’s ideal for general-purpose sewing and is often the go-to choice for many projects.

You can learn more by watching here: JUKI Standard Presser Foot Tutorial

2. Elasticator Foot: Adding elastic to fabric can be tricky, but the Elasticator Foot simplifies the process by evenly stretching and stitching the elastic in place. This foot is perfect for creating garments that require stretch, like your swimwear, lingerie, or activewear. The Elasticator Foot also ensures the elastic is attached securely and evenly without the risk of overstretching or puckering the fabric. It’s a game-changer for anyone sewing with stretchy materials!

You can learn more by watching here: How to Use the Elasticator Foot

3. Piping Foot: The Piping Foot is designed to help you easily insert piping into seams. This adds a decorative touch to your projects! You can use piping in home décor items like cushions, pillows, upholstery, and garments to add decorative elements. This foot has a groove that holds the piping in place as you stitch, ensuring that it’s evenly attached with no shifting. The result is a crisp, professional finish that elevates the look of your handmade items.

You can learn more by watching here: Inserting Piping with a JUKI Piping Foot

4. Gathering Foot: Creating ruffles and gathers can be time-consuming, but the Gathering Foot makes it easy! This foot gently gathers the fabric as you sew, allowing you to create even, beautiful ruffles in no time. It’s perfect for adding volume to skirts, sleeves, and home décor projects like bed skirts and curtains. The Gathering Foot also works excellent with lightweight to medium-weight fabrics, giving you consistent gathers without the hassle of manual gathering!

You can learn more by watching here: How to Create Ruffles with the Gathering Foot.

Specialty Plates and Accessories

In addition to presser feet, JUKI sergers offer a range of specialty plates and accessories that can elevate your sewing projects to the next level. These tools are designed to add intricate details and professional finishes to your work, allowing you to explore more creative possibilities with your serger. Here’s a breakdown of some essential specialty accessories that can enhance your sewing experience:

1. Beading Foot: The Beading Foot is a beautiful accessory for anyone looking to add a touch of sparkle to their projects. This foot is designed to sew beads, pearls, or sequins onto fabric precisely and easily. The groove on the presser foot guides the beads while the serger stitches them securely. This accessory is especially popular for bridal wear, evening gowns, and other special occasion garments where delicate embellishments are desired. Whether you’re adding a subtle trim or creating a bold, beaded design, the Beading Foot makes the process smooth and professional!

You can learn more by watching here: Beading Foot Demonstration

2. Cording Foot: The Cording Foot is an excellent tool for adding decorative cords such as yarn and strands of pearls to your sewing projects. This foot is designed to hold the cord in place while the serger stitches it securely onto the fabric. It’s perfect for enhancing the seams of garments, bags, and home décor items, adding a stylish and professional touch. The Cording Foot can accommodate various cord sizes, making it versatile for different projects. You can outline a neckline, add texture to a pillow, or create intricate trims!

You can learn more by watching here: Attaching Decorative Cords with the Cording Foot

3. Blind Stitch Foot: If you want to create invisible hems, the Blind Stitch Foot is a must-have accessory! With this foot, you can sew a barely visible hem from the outside of the fabric, making it perfect for hemming pants, skirts, and dresses. The foot also offers an adjustable guide that helps you position the fabric correctly, ensuring that the stitches are hidden within the hem. The Blind Stitch Foot is beneficial for formal wear, business attire, and any garment where a discreet hem is needed.

You can learn more by watching here: Blind Stitch Foot in Action

Finding the right accessories for your JUKI serger unlocks a new level of creativity in your sewing projects! With the right accessories, you can transform your serger from a simple overlocking machine into a versatile tool capable of handling a wide range of tasks—intricate beading, professional hems, decorative finishes, and more.

Experimenting with different accessories is key to expanding your sewing capabilities! Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn new techniques or an experienced sewist aiming to refine your skills, these tools provide endless possibilities for customization and innovation in your projects. Don’t hesitate to explore and try various presser feet and other serger accessories to see how they can enhance your creative process.

To get a comprehensive overview of the available accessories and how they can benefit your sewing, check out your nearest JUKI dealer here!