Multi-tasker - the JUKI EXCEED 600

Meet Judi Walker seamstress and golfer. As a dressmaker, Judi designs, sews and sometimes even free-motion-embroiders her own clothes. She makes clothing and does alterations for other people too. And then there's curtains, cushions and quilts!! 

Judi making a stylish straight skirt for Hiroko in 20 minutes!

As a multi-talented person Judi needed a sewing machine just as versatile as she is. After considering  all the options, Judi chose a sewing machine from Juki's new HZL Exceed series. The Juki HZL Exceed 600 has all the features Judi needs conveniently rolled up into one easy to use sewing machine.

The Juki Exceed is easy to thread with a thread path diagram directly on the machine

The Juki Exceed 600 can multi-task just as well as Judi. The industrial style box feeding system creates straight seams that lie flat - so important to achieving the right fit when sewing clothes and soft furnishing projects. Straight seams with no puckering are essential for piecing, appliqué, quilting and crafting too.  

the Box Feed is larger and has a firmer grip for an even line of stitching

There are plenty of stitches for any project, be it blind hemming or piping for cushions. The buttonhole attachment is brilliant and gives a professional finish to all sorts of projects. Whether Judi's stitching silks or hemming jeans, JUKI's industrial style box feeding system creates a beautiful, flat line of stitching with no puckering. It sews through multiple layers easily too. 

a unique sensor measures the button and makes a button hole to match

Judi was delighted with her choice. It was love at first stitch! Together Judi and her JUKI Exceed make a great team. Two years and hundreds of projects later they're still going strong.

easy to make professional button holes

One machine that does all things well!

The Juki Exceed 600.

All the features you need 

rolled up into one easy to use machine.

Judi sewing a cushion cover with the JUKI Exceed 600

Hemming Jeans

I find it hard to interrupt quilting projects and do mundane tasks like hemming jeans. But the jeans that I'm taking to Moscow were too long and needed hemming.

The JUKI Exceed 600 sewing machine has an amazing box feed system. I already love this machine for the lovely-straight-no-pucker-seams that it sews when I'm piecing.

 This is due to the industrial type box feeding system that moves the fabric under the pressure foot. Well this industrial Box Feed also tackles bulky seams with no problems! Hemming the jeans gave me another reason to love my JUKI Exceed 600. 

While I'm on the topic, I'll share an email from Anita in Canada. Anita and I attended a Superior Threads Seminar together a couple of years ago.Last September she emailed me with some questions about the new JUKI Exceed sewing machines.

Good morning Martha!

Although we both attended the School of Threadology at the same time, I never took the opportunity to chat. But I follow your blog (even though I quilt sitting down on my Juki TL-98Q!) and enjoy it thoroughly.

Since you mentioned the Exceed F600 a few posts back I have checked out the specs etc on the web, and it looks like there are more features than on my Bernina 440. I am interested, as I absolutely love the Juki 98. The only problem being that there are none to be had or tried out anywhere near me. I can order from a shop in Western Canada, and that looks like it will eventually be my option. 

I see that you like it for piecing, but have you any experience with the decorative end of things? I enjoy machine applique, and note that there are more useable (and funkier!) stitches plus a width of 7mm, satin stitch tapering from both sides.  If you have any comments etc. concerning this machine could you drop me a note when you have the time? I would appreciate it, as it is difficult deciding without the opportunity to try it. But based on my experience with the 98 I probably wouldn't hesitate.

Anita emailed back recently to tell me some good news. I've included the links to her blog. It's always nice to read other people's reviews.

Hello Martha!

Just a quick note to say that Yes! I did buy the Juki 600 - thanks for your comments while I was researching. So far so good - great machine for the price, but the decorative stitches are what I bought it for and they are wonderful.
http://www.cottonmillthreadworks.com/filaments/2012/01/16/getting-know-you/
A few weeks after I got mine a friend tried it out and immediately ordered hers!
http://www.heatherstewartquilts.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-new-sewing-machine-juki-hzl-f600.html
Hopefully these new machines will keep us out of trouble for a while!
Cheers!
Anita Zobens
Certified "Superior Threads" Educator

Two Words

Box Feed! If I had just two words to say about the JUKI Exceed F600 sewing machine - it would be - Box Feed.

I'm talking here about how the sewing machine pulls the fabric under the needle. There are 'feed dogs' - I think the name comes from the 'metal teeth' that come up from underneath and grab the fabric. Combined with the action of the pressure foot, the feed dogs pull the fabric under the needle. Home sewing machine feeding systems use an oval motion to pull the fabric under the needle. But industrial sewing machines use a Box motion which has more contact with the fabric, so the feeding system is stronger and more consistent. OK, so what's the big deal?

Straight seams! Right now straight seams are a big deal! I've been piecing some tops to use in the next Line Dancing DVD. Two of the quilts tops involve lots of strip piecing and I was struggling with puckering, particularly at the start and stop of the line. I just put this down to 'user error' on my part and tried to fiddle with the tension without much success. I tried to iron out the puckers which only worked up to a point. In the end I was frustrated by the distortion and put the project to the side.

This is why I am so impressed with the JUKI Exceed. Right from the start, my seams were straight, perfectly straight. I rang up my sewing machine guy and started waxing lyrical about my sudden new found ability to sew straight seams and he began explaining how the box feed works. Now I feel great. Those wonky puckered seams were not my fault. The sewing machine guy explained that the puckering is due to a hesitation - caused by the oval feed movement. It just takes a bit longer to get hold of the fabric and this is what causes the puckering. The box feed used by the industrial machines has a firmer grip on the fabric so the feed is steady and even, creating a beautiful straight line of stitching.

I was really enjoying how easily those initial blocks came together. Later as I was piecing entire sections of the quilt. I was impressed with how easily the machine handled the heavier weight of the entire quilt. The even and consistent feed meant that my quilt came together straight and square.

JUKI sewing machines are the only domestic home machines with a Box Feed. I've been using the JUKI TL 98P for years on my New English Quilter frame. And the JUKI TL 98P also has a box feed system. But as I drop the feed dogs for free-motion quilting, I'd never used it! So I'd never realized just how great the box feed system was. Now I do!

Yesterday I finished piecing Emily's quilt for University. Today Emily is quilting it!