Juki HZL-NX7 Next Generation: Long Arm Sewing and Quilting Machine: Full Review

The Juki HZL-NX7 is a next generation long arm sewing and quilting machine designed for home quilters and sewing enthusiasts. This computerized sewing and quilting machine allows you to tackle a wide variety of projects from garment sewing to quilting large quilts.

Some key features of the Juki HZL-NX7 include an extended workspace, high sewing speed, automatic thread trimmer, knee lift lever, and easy bobbin winding. With its powerful motor, this versatile machine can handle heavy duty projects as well as delicate fabrics. The generous work area and wide harp space make quilting large quilts easy.

Overall, the Juki HZL-NX7 offers home sewers and quilters professional capabilities in a user-friendly package. This innovative machine aims to provide excellent stitch quality, precision, and convenience for avid sewers.

Specifications

The Juki HZL-NX7 is a heavy duty quilting and sewing machine with impressive capabilities. Here are the key specifications:

• Dimensions - 20.9 x 17.7 x 12.6 inches
• Weight - 37.5 pounds
• Sewing speed - 1,000 stitches per minute
• Needle positions - 37
• Maximum stitch width - 9mm
• Maximum stitch length - 5mm
• Built-in stitches - 273 stitches, including utility, heirloom, quilting stitches and buttonholes
• Automatic needle threader
• Drop feed function
• Knee lifter for hands-free presser foot lifting
• Large 8.3" x 14" throat space for quilting
• High presser foot lift - 12mm
• Onscreen editing and help guides
• LED lighting to illuminate work area

With its sturdy build, high speed sewing, and ample work area, the Juki HZL-NX7 is designed for tackling large quilting, sewing, and craft projects with ease. The 37 needle positions and wide range of built-in stitches provide versatility for both utility sewing and decorative work.

If you're looking for another excellent option, consider the Juki TL-15: 9 Mid-Arm Quilting and Piecing Machine with Auto Thread Trimmer and Speed Control. This model features a mid-arm design that provides extra space for managing larger projects. The automatic thread trimmer and speed control offer convenience and precision, making it ideal for both quilting and piecing.

Features

The Juki HZL-NX7 Next Generation is packed with features that make it a versatile and user-friendly long arm quilting machine. Some of the key features include:

• Long arm design: With its 10-inch workspace from needle to arm, this machine allows you to easily quilt large quilts and maneuver the fabric. The generous work area gives you flexibility when quilting.

• Knee lift: The knee lift allows you to raise and lower the presser foot with your knee, keeping your hands free to guide the fabric. This makes free-motion quilting much easier.

• Automatic thread cutter: The built-in thread cutter automatically trims top and bobbin threads, saving time and hassle.

• Extension table: The extension table expands the work surface to enable managing large quilts. You can quilt king-size quilts without needing a large frame.

• LED lighting: The bright LED lighting illuminates the needle and work area for precision sewing and visibility when working on dark fabrics.

• Speed control: The speed can be adjusted from slow to fast with a slider for optimal control when quilting. Slow speeds are great when learning or doing detailed quilting.

• Easy reverse stitch lever: Quickly reverse or reinforce stitches with the easy-access reverse stitch lever.

• Free motion quilting foot: A spring-action quilting foot comes included for free-motion work. The foot "floats" above the fabric, enabling stippling and free-form quilting.

For another excellent option, consider the Juki HZL-F600: Full Sized Computer Sewing and Quilting Machine. This model offers a wide range of features, including a large selection of stitches, a powerful feeding system, and a user-friendly interface. It's perfect for both sewing and quilting enthusiasts looking for a high-quality, reliable machine.

Stitches

The Juki HZL-NX7 sewing and quilting machine comes with 205 built-in stitches including utility stitches, heirloom stitches, quilting stitches, and decorative stitches. It has all the basic utility stitches you'll need for garment sewing like straight stitch, zigzag, and buttonholes. The heirloom stitches like drawnwork, smocking, and heirloom satin are great for intricate sewing projects.

For quilting, there are stippling, clamshell, and echo quilting stitches along with patchwork and applique stitches. The decorative stitches provide a nice embellishment with options like floral, scrolling, floral vine, and more. Whether sewing garments, quilts or crafts, the NX7 offers a stitch for just about any project you may take on. The stitches are high-quality and produce professional results.

Ease of Use

The Juki HZL-NX7 is designed to be very easy to use for both beginner and experienced sewers. The machine has an intuitive layout and controls that make it simple to get started sewing right out of the box.

The setup process is straightforward - just attach the foot controller, plug in the power cord, thread the machine, and you're ready to sew. The machine comes with an instructional DVD that provides a great overview on how to thread the machine, wind the bobbin, and get started sewing.

The control panel is simple yet powerful. It has a backlit LCD screen that clearly displays your selected stitch, stitch length, stitch width, and other settings. The panel provides easy selection of the various utility, decorative, and quilting stitches available on the machine. There are also dedicated buttons for key functions like needle up/down, reverse sewing, and thread cutting.

The included user manual provides very clear instructions and visuals for all aspects of machine setup, operation, care and maintenance. Between the well-written manual and instructional DVD, even those new to sewing should have no issues getting started and learning how to use all the features of the Juki HZL-NX7.

Overall, the intuitive design and controls, straightforward setup process, clear LCD screen, and helpful learning materials make the Juki HZL-NX7 a very easy to use sewing and quilting machine.

Performance

The Juki HZL-NX7 sewing and quilting machine delivers excellent performance with its powerful motor and precise stitching. The machine has a high-torque motor that provides ample power for sewing through thick layers and dense fabrics. Even at high speeds, the stitching remains smooth and consistent without skipping stitches.

The machine offers precision stitching capabilities. The stitch length can be adjusted from 0 to 5mm in 0.1mm increments, allowing for very precise stitch size control. The needle position also has a left or center setting for accurate stitch placement. The machine sews straight and maintains consistent stitch quality even through multiple layers.

Operating the Juki HZL-NX7 is smooth and quiet. There is little vibration, even at high sewing speeds up to 1,500 stitches per minute. The machine produces a low noise level that makes prolonged sewing sessions comfortable. The internal components and chassis are crafted for stability and reduced noise.

Overall, the performance of this machine is impressive. With abundant power, precision, smooth operation, and quietness, the Juki HZL-NX7 performs excellently for sewing, quilting, and other projects requiring high standards. Its performance capabilities make it suitable for beginners to advanced sewers alike.

Quilting Capabilities

The Juki HZL-NX7 excels at quilting, even for larger quilt projects. It has an extended workspace to the right of the needle for easily managing quilts. With its long arm, you can quilt king-size and even queen-size quilts without needing a separate quilting table or frame.

The machine is designed for free motion quilting. It comes with a special quilting foot that helps produce smooth stitches as you move the fabric. You can adjust the presser foot height for thicker batting and fabric layers. There are also fast and slow speed controls so you can manage detailed free motion quilting.

Overall, the Juki HZL-NX7 provides excellent quilting capabilities without requiring a bulky external quilting frame. The long arm and extended work area give you the flexibility to quilt large projects while enjoying precise control.

Accessories

The Juki HZL-NX7 comes with a variety of accessories to get you started quilting and sewing.

Included with the machine are:

• Quilting foot
• 1/4" foot
• Open toe foot
• Seam ripper
• Bobbin x5
• Needle set
• Screwdriver
• Lint brush
• Spool holder x2
• Spool cap x2
• Spool cushion x2
• Scissors
• Cleaning brush
• Extension table

The quilting foot is perfect for free motion quilting, allowing easy gliding over the fabric. The 1/4" foot helps guide accurate seam allowances. The open toe foot provides visibility for decorative stitching and applique work.

Multiple needles are included for working with different weights of thread and fabric. Extra bobbins ensure you always have thread ready to go. The seam ripper helps remove stitching mistakes. A lint brush keeps the machine clear of fabric fibers and threads. Screwdrivers aid in machine adjustments.

The spool accessories help control thread delivery. The scissors trim threads and fabric. The cleaning brush removes lint and dust from the machine. The extension table expands the work surface.

Overall, Juki includes all the key accessories you need to start using the HZL-NX7 for quilting, garment sewing, crafting, and more right out of the box.

Pros

The Juki HZL-NX7 is packed with features that make it a dream machine for quilters and sewists. Here are some of the top positives:

• Large work area - At 23" x 36", the extended worktable provides ample space for managing large quilts or sewing projects. The long arm also makes it easier to maneuver fabric.

• Automatic thread trimmer - This handy feature saves time by instantly cutting the top and bobbin threads with the touch of a button after sewing. No more manual snipping required!

• Knee lift lever - The knee lift allows you to raise the presser foot using your knee, keeping your hands free to guide the fabric. This makes free-motion quilting much easier.

• Speed control slider - Easily adjust the max sewing speed from slow to fast with the speed control slider. Slow things down for precision work or speed up for long seams.

• Easy needle threading system - Threading the needle is frustration-free thanks to the advanced easy threading system. Simply follow the guide and the machine does the work for you.

• Bright LED lighting - The well-lit sewing area allows you to see your work clearly, even for detailed stitching or dark fabrics. No need to strain your eyes!

• Large bobbin - The jumbo bobbin holds 70% more thread than standard bobbins so you can sew longer between changes.

• Sturdy construction - Built with an aluminum die-cast arm and bed plus rigid internal components, this machine can handle heavy quilting projects with ease.

Cons

The Juki HZL-NX7 has a few potential downsides to consider:

• The machine is heavy, weighing in at around 27 pounds. This makes the machine less portable and more difficult to transport to classes or retreats.

• There is a learning curve to mastering the machine and all of its features. The instruction manual is lengthy and some users report needing extra time to get fully comfortable with using the NX7.

• The built-in stitches are limited compared to some computerized machines. There are 57 built-in stitches, which is enough for most needs, but creative quilters may want more decorative options.

• The maximum sewing speed of 900 stitches per minute is decent but not as fast as some advanced quilting machines. Those who want to finish projects very quickly may prefer a faster machine.

• The NX7 only has a single LED light. An extra light would help illuminate the sewing area more thoroughly.

• There are mixed reviews about the difficulty of bobbin winding on the NX7. Some users find it easy while others report problems with uneven winding.

• The machine is only warranted for a period of 5 years. Other brands offer 10 or 25 year warranties on their high-end models.

• A few users have experienced issues with thread jamming, particularly when using heavier threads and fabrics. This indicates potential limitations with sewing thicker materials.

Overall the cons are relatively minor on the Juki NX7. It's a powerful, high-quality machine but may not be ideal for quilters who need maximum portability, speed, or decorative stitches. Paying close attention to the learning curve, bobbin winding, and compatibility with heavy fabrics is advised.