September is National Quilting Month, and there’s no better time to talk about a game-changing tool for quilters: the SureStitch Elite! This advanced stitch regulator transforms your quilting experience by giving you perfect stitch consistency, more creative control, and an intuitive interface that makes free-motion quilting easier than ever. If you’ve ever struggled with uneven stitches or wished for more precision and confidence in your work, the SureStitch Elite is the solution you’ve been waiting for. Whether you’re upgrading your current setup or building a professional quilting station at home, this accessory will change the way you create.
What Is the SureStitch Elite?
The SureStitch Elite is a stitch regulator designed to give you full control over your quilting stitches, whether you’re free-motion quilting or working on intricate designs. With its sleek design and touchscreen interface, it allows you to easily adjust settings, monitor your stitch speed, and achieve perfect stitch length with every movement. The one-touch manual mode adds flexibility, letting you switch from regulated stitching to complete creative control in an instant.
It’s compatible with the JUKI Tabletop Fabric Frame, making it an essential upgrade for quilters looking for a compact, professional quilting experience at home. Paired with the frame, it manages stitch consistency as you move your fabric, allowing you to focus on creating beautiful patterns instead of worrying about uneven stitches. Whether you’re a beginner looking for confidence or an experienced quilter aiming for perfection, the SureStitch Elite takes your projects to a new level of accuracy and enjoyment.
Benefits & Features That Transform Your Quilting
The SureStitch Elite doesn’t just regulate stitches; it upgrades your entire quilting workflow:
Customizable Stitch Length Presets – Ensure your stitches are always consistent, no matter your project size.
One-Touch Manual Mode – Switch easily to free-motion quilting for full creative expression.
Minimum Speed & Over-Speed Buzzer – Control your machine speed to avoid mistakes and stitch skips.
Edge Warning Alarm & Ruler Function – Keep track of quilt boundaries and measurements effortlessly.
Calculator & Color Customization – Personalize your interface and keep project planning tools at your fingertips.
These features combine to make quilting easier, more fun, and more accurate. By removing the guesswork, the SureStitch Elite gives you the freedom to focus on your artistry, not your machine!
See the SureStitch Elite in Action
Watching the SureStitch Elite at work truly shows how game-changing it is for quilting! Check out this video featuring Nicole Moore, JUKI Brand Ambassador, where she demonstrates quilting on the JUKI Tabletop Fabric Frame using the SureStitch Elite.
In this video, our ambassador Nicole walks you through:
Setting up your machine and frame.
How the stitch regulator keeps your stitches consistent
Tips for smooth free-motion quilting
Seeing the SureStitch Elite in action makes it clear how much easier, smoother, and more precise your quilting can be with this upgrade!
Upgrade Your Quilting Experience This September
If you’ve ever wanted to make quilting smoother, faster, and more precise, the SureStitch Elite is the upgrade your sewing life needs! It transforms your home sewing station into a professional quilting setup, providing you with all the tools to quilt confidently and creatively.
Take advantage of this tool! Available only at participating dealers, this is the perfect opportunity to transform your quilting space and enjoy the freedom of flawless, fun quilting.
This month we’re kicking the blog off with a JUKI Accessory focus! If you’ve ever tried to make a quilt or piece together a garment, you know how important it is to achieve perfectly even seams. Without the right tools, it’s easy to end up with misaligned pieces or inconsistent stitching. The 1/4-inch guide Foot is an essential accessory that takes the guesswork out of seam allowances, helping you sew with precision and accuracy. But what is a 1/4-inch guide Foot, and why should you use it in your sewing projects? Let’s explore its features, benefits, and tips for using it effectively!
What is it?
A 1/4 Inch Guide Foot is a specialized presser foot designed to help you sew a consistent 1/4 inch seam allowance. This is important for quilting, garment construction, and any project where precision is key. Unlike a standard presser foot, the 1/4-inch guide Foot has a built-in guide or edge marker that helps you maintain a consistent seam allowance throughout your project. This tool ensures that each seam is evenly spaced, giving your work a professional finish!
The 1/4-inch guide Foot was developed to solve a common problem that sewists face—achieving consistent seam allowances. Before the invention of this foot, sewists had to rely on measuring with rulers or marking lines on their fabric, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors. The 1/4-inch guide Foot eliminated this hassle by providing an accurate guide for every seam, making it easier to achieve uniform results without extra effort.
Benefits and Uses of the 1/4 Guide Inch Foot
Now that we understand the purpose of the 1/4-inch guide Foot, let’s dive into its benefits! The primary advantage of using this foot is its ability to help you achieve perfectly even seams every time! Whether you’re working on a quilt, constructing a garment, or piecing fabric for a home décor project, this tool ensures that your seams are always uniform, resulting in better-fitting garments and neatly aligned quilt blocks.
For quilters, the 1/4-inch guide Foot is a must-have! Quilting requires precise seams, and even a tiny discrepancy can throw off the entire quilt. With this foot, you can ensure that each piece of fabric is sewn with an accurate 1/4-inch seam, which is critical for proper alignment. This foot is also perfect for piecing together small blocks or creating intricate patterns with even spacing, making your quilting process faster and more accurate.
In addition, the 1/4-inch guide Foot can help with garment construction, especially when working with fitted designs or intricate pattern pieces. By maintaining a consistent seam allowance, you can ensure that all your pattern pieces fit together perfectly, giving your garments a professional and polished look.
Tips for Using the 1/4 Inch Guide Foot
Test Before You Start: Always test your seam on scrap fabric to ensure the foot is set up correctly and the seam is the right width.
Use the Edge Guide: The built-in guide is there to help you! Keep the edge of your fabric aligned with it for a consistent seam.
Adjust Needle Position: Some 1/4-inch guide Feet allow you to adjust the needle position. This is useful if you need to make tiny adjustments to your seam allowance.
Slow and Steady: Take your time when sewing, especially if you’re working with tricky fabric or a detailed project. The slower you sew, the more precise your seams will be.
Project Ideas Using the 1/4 Inch Guide Foot
Now that you’ve got the 1/4-inch guide Foot in your toolkit, what can you make? The possibilities are endless! If you’re a quilter, consider creating a beautiful quilt top with perfect seams and precise pattern matching. This foot will make it easier to sew together blocks, ensuring they line up perfectly for a polished look.
For garment sewists, the 1/4-inch guide Foot is great for creating garments with a perfect fit. Whether you’re making a dress, blouse, or pants, this foot helps maintain consistency in your seam allowances, ensuring a more accurate fit and professional finish.
You can also use the 1/4-inch guide Foot for home décor projects like pillow covers or table runners. With this foot, you can achieve neat, straight seams that will make your home-made décor items look like they came from a high-end store.
With the 1/4 Inch Guide Foot, you’ll be able to confidently tackle your projects, knowing that your seams will be precise and your results flawless. Ready to add the 1/4-inch guide Foot to your collection? Visit JUKIQuilting.com or check out your nearest dealer here to explore this essential accessory for your sewing room!
When we’re ready to get creative, we want to sit in a space that encourages our energy and helps us get our project done! That’s why in today’s blog, we’re going to cover some tips and tricks you can start using when setting up your workspace. Whether you’re creating in the studio room or your kitchen island, having the proper organization and setting up your space in a way that flows for you will help improve your project creation experience.
Follow along as we focus on four key aspects of any sewing area design: your space, budget, tools, and storage. Then, let’s set up a space to inspire you to get creative and have fun!
Choosing Your Space
While we may not always have options available, figuring out where to set up shop when we plan to sew can be difficult. If you have trouble deciding where to create, or keep jumping around spaces, view below for some things to consider the next time you’re ready to sew.
Think About Your Space
As long as you and your machine fit, you’ve found space! The good thing about sewing is that as long we can create an area where supplies are nearby and we can sew, we can now create our projects. Focus on organization and storage techniques if you work in a small space.
For example, if your space is limited, think of what you’re essentials are. Machines, tools, fabric, and notions can all be organized, placed, and readied for specific projects. Spend time in your space, decide what pieces you can use to expand your storage, and set up a spot that allows you to create comfortably. Options like wall organization, under-table storage, or allocating closet space can better enable you to have your tools and fabrics on hand.
Next, focus on lighting! When you’re creating, you don’t want to strain your vision to see how your stitching is going; therefore, we recommended to find a spot with natural lighting, using supplemental lighting like overhead, desktop, or portable lamps. Also, keep in mind that some machines include LED lighting, which can be another lighting option when working at night.
Last, let’s focus on how you can organize and keep it clean! While our project spaces can be free for all when sewing, it’s great to have a clean space. Think of what accessories, like baskets, drawers, carts, and more, can be brought into your room that will provide storage and organization to your project area.
Budgeting
We all know sewing can be costly! This is why, when it’s time to set up your sewing space, it’s a good idea to allocate a budget and decide what you need or want for your area. While furniture and organization sets can be costly, there are ways to set up your space while being budget-friendly.
Upcycling
Have a desk in a spare room? How about a bookshelf rarely used or a closet with some space? These things can easily be added to your sewing space! Using what you have in your home is a great way to begin building your area because while it’s budget-friendly, it allows you to create a designated space for your craft.
It doesn’t stop at furniture, either. These are excellent storage pieces for notions and tools if you have empty cookie tins, unused containers, or storage bags. In addition, baskets can be used for fabric and even be created by you! For example, this basket (including the sewing basket on the JUKIHome website from LuAnn) is great for tossing in those scrap pieces you plan to use again in the future.
DIY
It can be extremely rewarding building furniture! For example, if you have the space allowance, you can create a piece like a custom cutting or ironing table. Or, if you’re working in a tight space, you can create custom organizational furniture that is in tune with your storage and space efficiency needs.
Thankfully, there are thousands of inspirational photos that other sewists and quilters have shared online that new sewists can find inspiration from. Search your favorite media sites like Pinterest and YouTube for tips, or check out your favorite sewist blogs, to gather ideas on what type of space projects you can do that will upgrade your sewing area without breaking the bank.
Furnishing
Finally, if this is within your budget, you can choose to purchase new furniture for your sewing room. We recommend focusing on pieces that offer ample storage space, vertical style furniture, and hanging an item like a pegboard for tools.
When setting up your space, think of the top 3 spots: your cutting area, your sewing machine spot, and your ironing area. These spaces don’t need to be large but comfortable enough for you to create and get the project done! Whether it’s your dining table, Kitchen Island, or a designated studio room, having these three spots will help get your project done.
Tools for Your Space
Think of your budget and what projects you plan to create before deciding what tools your studio needs. While it can be tempting to buy everything we see at the sewing shops, it’s best to start with the basics and build your way up to new tools and accessories. For example, a beginner sewist should create an essential sewing toolkit that includes cutting tools, a marking tool, a clear ruler, pins, needles, measuring tape, a pin cushion, an iron, and a seam ripper.
If you feel like it’s time to upgrade your toolset, pick accessories that can help you elevate your current skills. Items like curved rulers, pattern weights, seam gauges, or presser feet that weren’t included with your machine can help you create more professional-looking finished projects. If you plan to sew for life, you know new accessories and tools will always find their way into your studio space. Remember your budget, projects, and storage when choosing new tools and accessories for your studio.
Organizing Your Space
Whether we’re sewing in a small or large space, the organization is key to a tidy workspace. The fact is, if you’re creating on your kitchen table, you’re going to be packing and unpacking your machine often. Based on your needs, you can create an organization system that stores your equipment well and is within easy reach.
One of the best ways to organize your space is vertical! Using vertical shelving is perfect for all your supplies. Fabric, notions, tools, and accessories can be displayed, so you keep track of what equipment you have, and the shelving will allow you to fix the shelf sizing to your needs. You can also find add-ons like organization boxes that enable you to separate your accessories and tools easily. Other options include baskets for fabrics, hanging racks for tools, or boxes.
Since fabric tends to take over most of our storage space, we recommend folding flat or rolling the bundle to keep space. Stashing your fabric in a basket or clear container is best for viewing your inventory and keeping count of what fabrics you have on hand. Creating a swatch system with fabric descriptions or organizing by color or type is a couple of ways to organize your fabric and keep track.
For patterns, we recommend storing these in boxes or creating a pattern binder to keep track of your collection. If you’re someone who likes to purchase digital PDF patterns and don’t use them upon purchase, we recommend creating a filing system on your computer or laptop as well! Keeping these pieces organized will help you easily set up your next project and allows you to keep in mind what patterns you already have when you’re in the mood to create.
Focus on keeping your equipment clean and ready to use for machines and notions. A cover for your machine will reduce dust buildup and keep your machine safe when not in use. For your tools, a peg board for your wall can be the perfect furniture piece! Add hooks, buckets, and shelves to organize your tools by type and size. Lastly, keep notions organized with clear baskets and jars. Pieces like rolling carts, clear mini drawers, and clear plastic containers are best to easily see what you have when it’s time to create. Focus on making your most commonly used tools, notions, and accessories visible and in easy reach!
Get To Sewing!
Once you’ve planned your sewing space and have everything set up, it’s time to enjoy your new space! Keeping an organized sewing space can be hard when creating and amid the process, but having a designated area for our tools and fabrics can upgrade our creative process with each project! Of course, as you keep creating, you’ll reorganize your studio, and we hope these tips help you plan the space you’re happy to create in!
Today we’ll go over some essential tools and presser feet you’ll need to create a quilt from start to finish. When we start a hobby, we might want to grab every item we see at the shops, so follow along as we share the important ones you should grab first!
Tools to Have in Your Kit
Rotary Cutter: Shaped like a pizza cutter, the rotary cutter is perfect for cutting out your fabric pieces. If you’re using patterns for your work, using a rotary cutter is an easy and quick way to correctly cut the fabric piece to the size and shape you need. These come in different sizes, ranging from small cutters that are great for tight cuts and a large one for big projects! For quilting, we recommend purchasing a medium-sized one.
Scissors: Besides your rotary cutter, ensure scissors are designated for cutting fabric. You want to keep these separate, so they stay sharp for cutting thread and fabric cleanly. So often, when we mix our scissors and cut items like paper, cardboard, or more, this dulls the blade, fraying your material in the long run when you use them.
Seam Ripper: Make sure to keep a seam ripper on hand for those mistakes! Advanced and beginner quilters benefit from this in their tool kits since it is perfect for fixing those little mess-ups.
Self-Healing Cutting Mat: Keep your workspace safe from scratches and find yourself a self-healing cutting mat! This will allow you to use your rotary cutter safely and can be found in many different sizes.
Fabric: Sewing isn’t complete without fabric! There are many options out there for quilters to choose from. You can choose to buy fabric by the yard or purchase bundles! We recommend sticking to 100% cotton. Choose from mini charm packs, jelly rolls, jolly bars, and more, depending on the size of the quilt you want to create and what form of designs you envision.
Thread: Like your fabric, look for a thread that suits your project, like 100% cotton for quilting. Look for options that are durable and not too cheap. Here you’ll want to find a thread that won’t birds nest on you in the creative process while sticking to your budget. For quilters, we recommend Aurifil! Like we use in our JUKI Studio when creating, Aurifil is 100% Egyptian cotton and comes in many colors, perfect for your project needs. We recommend purchasing neutral colors when you begin, like tan, white and black; this way, you can easily bind most of your projects without worrying about the thread color.
Pins and Pattern weights: When you want to keep your fabric in place, using quilting pins and pattern weights is a great solution! Use quilting pins when piecing your quilts to keep the fabric from moving, and use pattern weights when cutting out the fabric with your rotary cutter! These two accessories will make your cutting and sewing experience easy and help you create a professional finished product.
For pins, try and look for longer options, as this will help you hold the fabric better when sewing through those thick pieces, and they are also much easier to grab! You can also purchase safety pins, which come straight and curved for the finishing stages of your quilt process.
Rulers: Clear-gridded rulers are important in quilting because measuring correctly matters! Helping you quickly and accurately cut fabric for your project, rulers come in an array of size options suited for your needs.
Presser Feet for the Average Quilter
While your machines will come with presser feet, let’s go over some basic presser feet you should have on hand when quilting and what they’re for!
1/4″ Presser Foot
Essential for piecing your quilts together, the 1/4″ Presser Foot allows you accurately piece your quilts together quickly and efficiently. This accessory is perfect for when you’re piecing and don’t have time consistently mind the bottom measurements on your plate.
Walking Foot
A Walking Foot is basically used for putting a set of feed dogs on top of the quilt sandwich, working in conjunction with the bottom feed dogs, and evenly helping you pull your quilt through the sewing machine. Quilting with a standard presser foot on thick fabric or hard-to-feed material like the ¼” Presser Foot, for example, could lead to tucks and uneven stitches; this is why we use a Walking Foot!
Free Motion Quilting Foot
Want to add designs and texture to your quilts? You’re going to want a Free Motion Quilting Foot! With a Free Motion Quilting Foot, you will drop, or lower, your feed dogs and begin moving your quilt under the foot, free motioning the design yourself! While it takes practice using free motion quilting and controlling the quilt yourself, it can be an enjoyable and rewarding skill to learn!
We recommend checking out an Open Toe Foot when looking for your Free Motion Quilting Foot. With a small space left open on the presser foot, you’ll have a better eye on the needle and be able to easily create your designs!
Get To Quilting!
As you begin your quilting journey, research what tools you’ll need when creating! These listed are perfect for setting up your workspace and machine, so keep these in mind while you’re at the shop. If you’re an experienced quilter, what presser feet and tools do you think quilters should keep on hand? Let us know down below!
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