Janome or Juki, need opinions
 

I am wanting to buy a machine for piecing and straight line quilting ( and possibly FMQ someday) I think I have narrowed it down to a Juki 2000 QI or a Janome 1600p-QC.
The Juki comes with several feet and an extension table, which is a plus. I would appreciate any opinions on these machines.

I recalled your earlier thread ...
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...n-t287325.html

Can't help you with any Juki info.

I am sure you will hear more of the same about the Janome 1600.
Keep in mind, that it is not the newest of Janome models
... if that is an important issue to you!

I have the Juki TL 2010 and I love it. I use it for FMQ and sewing on my bindings.

I have the Juki 2010 and would rush out and purchase another one if it every broke. 5 years and going strong with little maintenance. There's lots of info on the board about the Juki if you do a search. Probably about the Janome too.

My vote goes to the Juki 2010. This is one great machine! I use it for piecing and quilting, both straight-line and FMQ. I've used all types of thread on it. I've done FMQ on five layers: top, foundation muslin, two layers of batting and backing, with no problem whatsoever. Though I have to admit that that quilt was quite heavy ... The walking foot is a bit clunky but works well, and I also have a stitch-in-the-ditch foot that is a real gem.

I have a Juki TL98Q that I've had for almost 10 years, love her so much and I can't tell you how many quilts she's done..probably hundreds...I quilt for charity!!!!

I would go with juki as they pretty much make most of the straight stitch machines out there. If it has more accessories that will save you the headache of aquiring them later as well

I vote for the Juki as well, a real work horse

I bought a Juki tl2000 QI a couple of months ago and love it. I wanted a manual vs computerized. It has a 9 inch throat, auto thread cutter, knee lift, presser foot control so I can raise it for quilting. In short I love it and it is not all plastic. Also came with a large extension table. I got it from Sewingmachineplus.com

I just traded in the Juki 200QI for a king quilter I was not happy with the Juki 2000 QI the neck I think that's what they called it was just to darn small for FMQ...Other than that it was OK....

I have a Juki 2010 and she is Awesome! I used for FMQ and straight stitching.

I love my Juki 2010Q! It makes sewing and quilting a pleasure.

I've had my Juki 2010Q for a bit over a year. In that time, I've put together about 40 tops, and not been unhappy with it's performance. I've not done any FMQ on it as I have a LA for quilting. Love it for putting on machine bindings, I no longer pin anything.

I thought I would not like the needle down, but it turns out to be a non-issue. When I chain stitch, it's better to stop down, and when I don't, I usually use the thread cutter and that brings the needle up. Not a problem to push the needle up the few times I need it up and not cut the thread.

The knee lift for the presser foot is the main reason I bought a new machine. Would not want a machine for peicing that did not have that function.

I put extra lights on mine and a clear marked plastic over the bed. The one thing that bothered me was that sometimes seams would catch on the edge of the throat plate, and now that never happens. I have it cut so it does not interfere with changing bobbins, and I can easily untape it from the machine and remove the extension bed for servicing. It stays taped to the bed, so it's in the correct position when I put it back.

Love, love, love the machine!

Another Juki 2010 owner here, love my machine! She's sturdy and heavy and eats bag layers for breakfast! ;) the walking foot that comes with her sucks though, I ended up buying a Janome high shank walking foot. I never thought I'd use the speed control but I love it for FMQ. Brother 1500 is a metal straight stitcher and it's a bit cheaper, it's an excellent machine too. I think Janome and Singer also make metal straight stitchers. I went with the Juki cause I've had a Juki serger for a decade and its never given me any trouble.

This may be the case if you are trying to quilt on a frame--since the quilt gets rolled up inside the throat when frame quilting, the actual quilting space front to back limits the size of motif you can use. However, for sit down quilting, the Juki or the Janome both have enough throats space to FMQ large quilts just fine. I have the PQ1500s which is the same size as the two the OP mentioned and I've found the space to be plenty big enough to do all sizes of quilts-- the secret is to squish your quilt into the throat rather than rolling it and to have good support to your left and behind the machine so the quilt doesn't hang off the table and cause drag. The only size quilt I haven't done on my machine is a King sized and that's just because I haven't made a top that big.

Rob

I have the Juki 2000qi and love it. I got mine thru Amazon, very reasonable, came with feet, ext. table cover and I believe extra needles

I had the Juki 98TL for years and loved it. But I thought I had too many machines (ahem) so I gave the 98TL to my daughter, who loves it. Even though I have a number of machines, I missed the simplicity and power of the Juki, so several months ago I bought a Juki 2000Qi. It's love all over again! I think I'll hang on to it. I used it this week on a church project where we were sewing several layers of plastic tarp material and the Juki handled it like a pro!

I have the 2010 and love it. I don't need any fancy stitches and if I do, I still have my Elna.

If you plan to do FMQ down the road, go with a machine that has a larger throat (harp area). I have a Janome 6600P with a larger throat area and love it. I have never sewn on a Juki so can't compare with my Janome. My advice try each one at a dealer and see what feels best to you. Good luck.

I agree Karamarie ! I love my Janome 6600 and wouldn't change it. Certainly try a test drive.

Janome 6600 or the newer 8900 or 9400......the 6600 is a real workhorse....very sturdy machine for straight or FMQ. JANOME BUILT THESE MACHINES FOR QUILTING.....I WOULD NOT BUY THE 1600.... i WOULD get the 6600.....great machine. Best wishes on your quest.

Love love love my Juki 2010 - it is a work horse with a beautiful stitch and I have done up to a queen size quilt FMQ on it. Would have no qualms recommending it. It is my only 'house' machine - so use if for piecing, the few garments I make any more, purses etc. My Featherweight is my travel machine and I love it too. Once in a while when I need a zigzag stitch I have an older husqvarna Lily which runs like a trooper so I set that up.

Juki's have become very popular in this area. I've never heard complaints from any of the owners. In my opinion only Janome is not as reliable a machine as it was a few years ago. I run Janome 8900 and am looking at Juki's. I do garment sewing too so I need a model for that too.

I have had a Janome MC9500 and the MC14000 that I have now . Both of those are excellent machines, but nothing compares to my workhorse Juki 2010Q. It is easy and inexpensive to maintain, stitches like a dream and is 100% reliable. I have the other machines for fancy stuff but the Juki is the heart and soul of my sewing studio.

Wow - I've been lusting after the Juki too . . . and you guys are about to push me over the edge to just get it! ~smile~ Thank you!
Roseanne

I love my Juki 2010.

Another Juki lover here. Have had the 98Q for over 15 years.... a true workhorse. I also have a Brother Dream Machine, but it is the Juki I use the most. The speed, stitch quality, and reliability can't be beat.

Juki girl here--I love my 2010Q. Not sure of the difference in a Qi.

Looks like the Juki is very well loved! Does anyone know the difference between the 2010q and the 2010Qi?
I notice the price is about $200 more for the qi. Definitely leaning
Towards the Juki. Thank you all so much for taking the time to share your opinions!

I just bought a Janome 1600P show model on Ebay. Compared to the Juki 2010 or 2200 mini, it exceeds in over all initial quality but comes at a higher price. Juki's are great as it comes all the accessories that are extra with the 1600P which is why the Juki's are so popular. (Bought new, the Janome 1600P is $1,049 and the Juki 2200 mini is $1,199). I was able to buy a "like new show model - less than 2 hours of use" 1600P Janome with the Professional Accessory Package (that includes an extension table, walking foot, etc) for $749 total (no tax or shipping). Because of the huge price break, I bought this deal immediately. Juki's are great machines but have too many initial quality control issues being reported (needle shaft not being centered which can make the needle scrape the stitch plate hole and also make the walking foot not work correctly and/or the walking foot making loud noises). In fact, the Juki walking foot issue seems to be a cronic one that even the new 2200 is plagued with. To be fair, there are a lot of Juki 2010 or 2200 with no bad quality issues, but it seems to be a hit or miss situation. Bottom line, Janome 1600P is the far better machine as you can have peace of mind that the Janome will not have any of the quality issues the Juki can have, but will come at a higher price as you'll have to buy the Accessory Package for the 1600P QC. I just happen to get very lucky finding this deal

Wholeheartedly agree Daniel. I have a Juki2010 and don't know that I would buy it if I had my time again. Too many quality control issues and here in Australia, I have found the dealer support most frustrating, to the point where I have voided my warranty by taking the machine to a technician I know I can trust. I have given up trying to get the walking foot issue and the needle centre-ing issue sorted. A big disappointment but I am still able to piece and quilt with it...it's just not the quality machine I thought it would be.

I have a juki tl2010q and a Janome 9400. Without a doubt, for straight stitching the juki wins hands down over the Janome even with the hp needleplate/foot conbo. I’ve not use the juki for fmq but have tried recently to do SITD..Janome has it over the juki in that department. Lighting on the juki is terrible..i’ve added strip led’s...Janome lighting is better. Juki is less demanding in terms of thread and needles—Janome demands purple tip Janome needles for quilting layers although for piecing it works with most. I just got the Janome setup for ruler quilting but haven’t tried it yet. I’m glad I have both....if I could only have one, and if I don’t need the bells and whistles, juki would be my choice. Those stitches are beautiful.

I just purchased the Juki 2200 for the same reasons you mentioned. I have 4 Janomes already but I wanted a “quilting” machine. I hope to play on it soon.