I’ve mentioned my new machine already but I figured it was time to actually do a review of this machine now that I’ve had it for 2 weeks!
This is a JUKI TL-18QVP Haruka straight stitch sewing machine
Haruka TL-18QVP is a single needle, lock-stitch, portable sewing machine, constructed of aluminum die-casting to ensure industrial-quality sewing. As a reflection of JUKI’s Japanese heritage, the TL-18QVP was named Haruka meaning “beyond.”
Go beyond expectation with Haruka!
At first when I got the machine, I didn’t think I “Needed” a straight stitch machine but then I sat down and sewed with it and it’s a WORK HORSE! It can sew 1500 SPM! that’s FAST!!!
My husband was saying that comparing it to My Janome, is like comparing a Cadillac to a Pick-up Truck! and I think he’s right!
The machine comes with several different feet, including a walking foot and FMQ feet
I first tried the walking foot and guide bar (if you use the guide bar you have to use a different screw included that’s longer and if you lose that screw you have you buy a whole new walking foot set- which seems silly, but I am not really planning on doing much with that guide bar anyways and the walking foot without that bar uses the regular screw)
I tried the guide bar and quilted some “somewhat” straight lines on a scrap piece of fabric and it sewed great- if I could actually steer it straight! Then I switched to the FMQ foot and used a different thread and tried some free motion quilting and there are NO tension issues on the bottom at all!!
Next I tried the walking foot and this is actually a 1/4″ walking foot and it worked beautifully!! the hardest part is always corners and it went over it smoothly without bunching or anything- that’s really what “sold” me about this machine!
Then I started a quilt where it was a lot of strips sewn together and I put the speed at the max 1500 and it was so smooth and quite and of course FAST! Again I was SOLD!
and look at the bobbin area, it’s loaded from the side, which is a bonus, at first I didn’t think it mattered but when it was explained to me, it made sense, that if you have a front loading bobbin, the thread goes UP and then turns backwards in sort of a twist, where side bobbins so straight up, so the stitches are more even and “better”
I have done selvedges on batting too with no problem!
It’s a great machine!
It’s fast and sturdy (and heavy) truly a work horse!!
Read more specs about it here
and we got it from Capital Sew and Quilt
quick question…
what is the harp / throat space on this machine?
How much room for quilting a large quilt?
Thanks
I have two Juki machines and love them – 400 and 600 series. Great for piecing and super quilting machines. Both have a 9.5″ harp (I use to quilt on a 4″ harp).
Thanks for this – very thorough and helpful.
thanks!
What kind of Juki have you been sewing with? Would be interesting to know since you compare them. Thanks!
I have a Juki as a long arm machine, and two Janome’s for sewing (back up and now an extra back up)