Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I had my eye on this machine for at least 5 years before I purchased it. I'd been sewing on a $200 Brother starter machine and turned out some good quality quilt tops and clothing on it, but eventually it wore out. I have a 30 year old Husquevarna viking that still runs beautifully but it just can't handle the FMQ like I wanted. This JUKI is absolutely all I had hoped for. The noise is so minimal, it doesn't bounce around the table even when I sew at high speeds--speaking of which, no more getting impatient with your top sewing speed on this machine. I worried about not having the speed control like on the 2010 model, but I wasn't willing to pay the extra price just for that. The foot control is good on this and I needn't have worried; I can go any speed comfortably. Remember to read the instructions and oil all points before you start. The throat is not as wide as one might expect, but you don't really need a full-on longarm in most cases. The extra height and 1.25 inches or so of throat space is plenty for most quilters. You can buy a frame or build on if you like, or just quilt even a large king quilt in quarters. The thread trimming works great and so far I haven't had any problems with starting again right away, even when the bobbin thread is invisible after trimming. NICE. The knee lifter lever is a time saver too, although I don't use it consistently because I have 3 little ones who are very curious. If you, like me, have LO's in the house and plan to leave this machine out, do use the cover and unplug all the cords when you leave it, just to be safe, and don't have it on anything that could be pulled down. She's not a move-around-often machine and could really do damage if she fell. I wish this particular package had come with a few more bobbins, but it's not a big deal. We always need more bobbins anyway. Basically, this is not a starter machine, but is absolutely perfect for a step up in your game and one that will last you a good long time if you take care of her. The feet are so sturdy and i like the threading--reminds me of my grandmother's 1950s Necchi that I learned to sew on--and nothing could shop that one. I have a feeling this lovely sleek and powerful JUKI will be just the same.