Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was
retired in August 2007. It is being provided by
“Sew What’s Up,”
which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: Ranae
Date: 09-26-2004, 01:03 PM (1 of 13)
|
Hi All, My darling husband bought me the Juki TL-98E about a month ago, for my business, and I really have been enjoying it. I am not a quilter by trade, although I do make patchwork quilts. My niece just had a baby and asked if I would make him a quilt. So, I put it all together yesterday and I wanted to use the quilting foot on my Juki to work on the quilt. The machine seems to not want to work properly now. When I have the quilting foot on, it seems to really bog down, threads break, doesn't want to work right. I have a feeling I am just doing something wrong. Does anyone else use this machine that could give me some advice?? Should I be using the quilting foot? Do I need to set the tensions or the feeddog differently? Do I need to use special thread? I'm just confused because I know alot of people use this machine just for quilting, so it obviously is made for this, I just know I'm doing something wrong. Is there a special needle size or thread I should use? Thanks so much! ~~Ranae 
|
User: Ranae
Member since: 09-17-2004 Total posts: 5 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-26-2004, 07:04 PM (2 of 13)
Have you read your manual.. If not, why not ?? With a new machine you should not be far away from the manual for a while, until you learn all about your new machine.. 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
|
From: Ranae
Date: 09-26-2004, 09:56 PM (3 of 13)
Of course I have read my manual... ??  Maybe you missed the point of my question. My machine did not come with anything other than a basic maual, and nothing that explains about the quilting foot. I thought that since this was a beginner's quilting subject, that someone might be able to help a BEGINNER. I have been sewing for 20 years, I have just never quilted. |
User: Ranae
Member since: 09-17-2004 Total posts: 5 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 09-26-2004, 10:18 PM (4 of 13)
|
Ranae don't despair. I'm a novice a machine quilting but I'll tell you what I know in general. First of all, if you have what you are calling the quilting foot on your machine, can I assume that it is in the shape of a Q of something similar? If so, don't put your presser foot down all the way. My machine has a presser foot stop halway to the feed dogs that holds the quilting/darning foot up off the bed off the feed dogs a little. Also, you should have a button or something that allows you to drop the feed dogs; then loosen your top tension say down to 3 or 4 (depending on where you normally sew with the top tension set). All of the above needs to be done for free motion machine quilting. You don't have to worry about the stitch length for free motion quilting as you determine the length of the stitches by moving the quilt sandwich around manually. However, if you are only doing a stitch in the ditch method, the best foot to use is a walking foot that will feed all three layers of your quilt sandwich evenly. In this case, the feed dogs are left up, the top tension is left as for usualy sewing and the presser foot is lowered all the way down on the feed dogs. Hopefullly, my disjointed instructions will give you a little help. Otherwise, try a google search for "machine quilting" or "free motion quilting." Patsy Patsy
|
User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: shirleyp
Date: 09-27-2004, 11:49 AM (5 of 13)
|
I'm not familiar with your machine. But I found an on-line site for you to check, maybe they can help. http://www.juki.co.jp/home/tle-op/tl-e-op.html |
User: shirleyp
Member since: 02-12-2002 Total posts: 352 
|
From: Ranae
Date: 09-28-2004, 02:53 PM (6 of 13)
Thanks Shirley and Patsy, I appreciate the advice. I finished my great-nephew's quilt yesterday, I just used the regular foot. Worked fine for what I needed it for. Now my niece and her honey want a quilt like the baby's for their bed...LOL, so I might have to practice for awhile!!  Thanks again
|
User: Ranae
Member since: 09-17-2004 Total posts: 5 |
From: Tammys
Date: 09-28-2004, 05:52 PM (7 of 13)
|
I use a Juki TL98E. If you were trying to do free motion quilting with the "hopping" foot (this is the foot with a spring on the shank and a round piece that rides on the fabric), you will need to lower the feed dogs. The switch to lower them is on the bottom corner not too far from the cut button. I very rarely change the tension. Only if I am using some weird thread do I touch the tension. If you were using the "walking foot" (this is the foot with the big white box on it), you shouldn't need to change any settings. I hope things get better for you with the Juki. I have been using mine for about 4 years and really like it a lot. Tammy |
User: Tammys
Member since: 09-02-2004 Total posts: 6 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-29-2004, 09:13 PM (8 of 13)
|
Ranae, I apologize. I did not mean to make you angry.. My instruction book has instructions on how to use every single extra foot that came with my machine.. I guess I assumed all companies do the right thing.. I do have a pet peeve.. some people on here will ask a question rather than pick up their manual and look up the answer.. I have never seen a juki, but I thought it was almost an industrial machine and so I thought for sure it would have a super instruction manual.. Sorry , again for upsetting you.. I certainly did not mean to do that.. 
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
|
From: Ranae
Date: 10-02-2004, 03:46 PM (9 of 13)
Thanks Tammy, that was helpful, I'll just have to play around with it I guess. And Libby, I'm sorry if I upset you, I wasn't mad, I was frustrated and just irritated with myself for not being able to figure the foot out without instructions. Yes, my machine is industrial, and most of the 5-page  manual is written in a foreign language...I guess they assume if you buy that machine, you know it all....lolThanks for trying to help. ~Ranae |
User: Ranae
Member since: 09-17-2004 Total posts: 5 |
From: quiltbarbie
Date: 10-10-2004, 10:24 AM (10 of 13)
|
SO glad I've found this site. I wanted to start a home machine quilting business and ordered my machine over the internet (WOULD NEVER DO THAT AGAIN). I've had it 2 1/2 months and have probably had a total of two good days use from it. I've been sewing 46 years, quilting 10 and have NEVER experienced such a sensative machine. My others are Vikings. This machine is "recommended" to work with a B-line quilting frame so I figure this was an inexpensive way to get my business started without the huge expense of one of the large commercial long arm machines. I had the same problems with threat catching underneath, breaking, jamming. All of which requires dismantling the bobbin case and screw off foot plate (doesn't slide off). OK, now re: Juki TL98E. I spend many hours back and forth with the online service dept. Main response: send it back and we'll check if the warranty will fix it...or we'll send a new one...at THEIR discretion.  ANYHOOOO, they I made sure it wouldn't void the warrantee to have a local repair person look at it/touch it/service it. That appeared to be ok. He said it came with the timing all off. ($50.00 out of pocket) THEN I got it back and it started doing a similar trick. SO I got on another site and someone suggested the following: It's a sensative machine and wants to be cleaned (I use compressed air cans) often (every 1/2 hour) and oiled frequently (every few hours). It likes only certain needles (change frequently) and certain bobbins (four came with my machine...it only likes one particular one  I agree, it doesn't like the quilting foot and at one point the bar going across the needle screw simply broke and fell off Solution: The part you've been waiting for. You need to play play play with it. It doesn't like to go fast despite what the service center told me. Keep it cleaned and well oiled, new needles frequently. If you even look at it crosseyed it jams. Just play and find what it likes and keep with that plan. I'm consistently told by the service center...it's not your machine. They're virtually perfect and never get LEMONS. I don't buy it. The manual is virtually worthless. Check page for oiling tips...there's one point that is underneath throat plate over the bobbin case that is most important but doesn't really catch your attention the way it's written. That's the KEY PLACE to keep it oiled. Take off the screwed on throat plate, take out bobbin case and oil the spot well just to the right of the feed dogs. GOOD LUCK. I'm optimistic because I haven't touched it yet today. Who knows what today may bring.  but at least I finished one and learned allot. Feel free to email me directly. Happy Sewing from the Heartland of the USA during harvest. BarbPS would I recommend buying a Jukie....ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!! Barb
|
User: quiltbarbie
Member since: 07-27-2004 Total posts: 3 
|
From: Tammys
Date: 10-15-2004, 12:59 PM (11 of 13)
|
Gosh Barb, I'm bummed that you have had such trouble with the Juki. I must have quilted 100 quilts on mine with the HandiQuilter frame. I did find that it prefers certain threads at the high speeds. I ended up buying a second Juki to leave on the frame and the old one to use as my piecing machine. The newer one seemed to hold the timing better than the original one. The only issues that I have had with the two Jukis is skipped stitches and that is all about timing and speed. I wish you luck. I hope that you can come to peace with the obstanate machine. No one wants frustration from what is supposed to be a "fun" hobby/business. Sounds almost like you should go into sewing machine repair/maintenance with how much you have learned from your Juki. I bet you are better qualified now to work on it than most service techs. Tammy |
User: Tammys
Member since: 09-02-2004 Total posts: 6 |
From: Tammys
Date: 10-21-2004, 01:05 PM (12 of 13)
|
Hey Ranae and Barb I was looking at the allbrands.com website (where I bought my Juki's) and found some good descriptions of how to use the quilting foot that I had not seen before. go to this page and scroll way down. It even talks about oiling and removing the plate like you said Barb. Hope this helps you Ranae. I know I will be making the adjustments to the foot tension and stitch length to try it. http://www.allbrands.com/products/abp02519-0101.html Tammy |
User: Tammys
Member since: 09-02-2004 Total posts: 6 |
From: quiltbarbie
Date: 10-21-2004, 11:25 PM (13 of 13)
|
Thanks SO much. It's hard to believe that all the frustration could have been avoided if the MANUFACTURER of the machine would have given those instructions in the manual...HUH, Renae? I'm supposed to get mine back from repair tomorrow. Sure would be nice to try it and have it work. I've just never encountered this much trouble before. Japan? HHHHMMMM! I'm not impressed. It sounds like they think that means it should be good...but the manual seemed to be translated by a first year Japanese language translator. Oh, well. I just want it back so I can get my quilt business off the ground. It's almost 3 months since I ordered "IT". Thanks to all and I'll keep you informed.  Barb
Barb
|
User: quiltbarbie
Member since: 07-27-2004 Total posts: 3
|
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-13763.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft