Calling all Juki Walking Foot Users -- Seam Guide Help Please?
 

So I'm trying to get started quilting my big quilt sandwich on my new Juki (TL2000) using 1/2" (+/-) echo straight lines. But I see that's gonna be pretty hard for me, since the walking foot that comes with the machine doesn't have a seam guide option, and I'm not good at eye-balling it! I tried to make do by attaching another guide (from my Janome walking foot), but there's no workable way to attach it to this foot, even if I try to MacGyver it on with tape etc. Does anyone have a workaround?

You could "mark" your quilt lines with painters tape.

When I am sewing the edge (binding, bags, etc) with a different seam allowance than what is marked on the plate, I put a command strip on the plate where I want. It helps keep me consistent.

Tape is your best bet to mark that small an increment. I did that once and only once. All the turning at the end of the row drove me nuts. But the effect is beautiful. The good thing is tape is available in all widths.

It's really too bad that Juki doesn't have a walking foot with seam guide for this machine. I think that's about the only negative thing I have to say about it. I've used the blue painters tape. It's okay.

Interesting to note that on the newer HZL-DX7, the walking foot has the seam guide option. So maybe Juki are learning about what the "domestic" market wants. I exchanged emails with their Customer Service a few months back, and it seems that they are trying to catch up with the rapid expansion of their domestic market. Up until fairly recently, they had been mainly involved in the "industrial" market.

Yes, Patricia. I didn't realize what a problem this is for me until now. I don't know how to FMQ yet, so really need a walking foot/seam guide option (unless I can straight-line quilt without using the walking foot at all???). (katier and toverly, I'd thought about using tape for about 3 econds but know it would be way too tiresome on this 75"x75" quilt!).

I'm hoping juki will offer an add-on seam guide solution soon, but don't know of any reason to think they will.

Does anyone one know if any non-Juki walking foot w/seam guide will work on this machine? I hate to spend the $$ on another foot when this one should be better-designed, but that might be my only option ...

This is the biggest fault of the Juki for me too. I usually eye-ball it, but have used painters tape too.

I have just jerry-rigged a half-a$&ed semi-solution by taping a really thin knitting needle onto the walking foot, directly underneath the outside right corner. It is more than the 1/2" seam I really want, and I have no idea if it will work. I'll try some practice runs with it this afternoon ...

How tiresome would it be to rip it all out and start over?

Luckily I hadn't started quilting yet when I discovered the problem!

The seam guide that comes with the Brother PQ1500S should work with your Juki. The part number is Seam Guide # XA7256-001. It fits over the presser foot bar screw before you attach the walking foot.

I am dithering between a Juki and the Brother. One of the Jukis has speed control. The Brother does not. But the Brother has the pin feed and the right type of walking foot. What a dilemma. I'm glad for this conversation because it will give me more to think about.

Thank you, Mitch's Mom -- I'll look into that!

Stitchnripper, for what its worth, my Juki TL2000 doesn't have a speed regulator. Even though I'm new to sewing and quilting, I don't feel like I need that because the machine and foot pedal are very precise and responsive.

Stitchnripper - have you sewn on either? DH and I went to a shop where they had them set up side by side. First I sewed on the Juki and he on the Brother. Then we traded places and I sewed on the Brother and DH sewed on the Juki.

After trying both, the decisions was really easy for us to make.

Look what I just found: http://www.sewingpartsonline.com/qua...83250c0a0.aspx Just purchased one for my Juki 2000.

I saw that Gigi. Didn't look like it would work for quilting with a walking foot. Did you buy it for that purpose?

Not yet. First I'm going to see if I can get my new to me 201 to do FMQ and my 301 is in the shop having the timing set exactly, and now it has a whine in the motor area. when the 301 behaves it is great at FMQ but is not reliable with the skipped stitches now and then. If those two don't work out, I'm going to test drive both of them. I really want something that I can learn to use and not wonder if it will work.

Which Juki did you end up getting?

I bought the 1/4" foot for piecing and I also bought the one Mitch's Mom posted for quilting since I'm the Queen of Straight Stitching Quilting, lol.

Two things come to mind:

1. Allbrands.com has excellent customer service. You can call them, tell them what you want and what machine you want it for, and they will send you a compatible part.

2. From another current thread on this board - get a laser line level and attach it to your machine as a seam guide.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...e-t282749.html

I'm pretty good at eyeballing it, or following some lines in the pattern, but when that won't do I mark with white tailor's chalk. That stuff is so handy.

What a great group! Thanks again for all your help!

Gigi, I hope you’ll tell us how you like your Brother seam guide thing for your Juki. FWIW, I called SewingPartsOnline and was told that that guide wasn’t compatible with my machine – really hope they are wrong about that!

Peckish, I will call Allbrands. Thanks for that suggestion.

Sewbizgirl, I’m afraid that neither of those solutions will work for me. This quilt is too big to use tailors chalk – at least for me, it’s just too tedious to mark out all those lines, especially when they rub off and get blurry fairly easily, and I’m definitely no good at eyeballing! I just feel like I need a seam guide.

Thanks very much!

Judy

I forgot to add, Peckish, that I've been following that thread but have concerns about how and where that laser light could be attached to my machine, since the Juki is a bit rounded in that area. Does anyone with a Juki use such a light? If so, how and where do you attach it?

Others have suggested a strip of Command hook adhesive.

Use your needle position knob.mark 1/2 inch on a piece of paper, attach walking foot and set the knob for the needle position at the number that corresponds with your mark. Or use the plate markings the 10 marking on the plate with the needle position central is 1/2 inch I gave the Juki (I think it's the HZL 600) just out of bed and having a brain fog day and don't have the energy to nip upstairs to sewing room and check ��

I did buy the Janome walking foot. It's slightly off, don't use it for an actual 1/4" measurement, but using the guide doesn't matter. One inch is one inch. Just watch your stitching.