Just Bought a Juki TL machine

  I finally did it! I ordered myself a Juki TL machine… now I’m anxiously awaiting for it to arrive in the mail. 

  Hopefully, it won’t be difficult to begin with- found a few YouTube videos I might find helpful….

To start free-motion quilting on the Juki TL-18QVP, you will need 

an open-toe darning/free-motion foot
, which is often included with the machine, along with quilting gloves and an extra set of needles. Other helpful accessories to purchase include extra bobbins (preferably metal), a needle threader (if the one on the machine doesn't work well for you), a quilting oil pen, and potentially an LED light.

Essential items

• Open-toe darning/free-motion quilting foot: This foot is crucial as it hovers over your project, allowing you to move the fabric freely in all directions. Check if your machine came with one, as some models include it.
• Quilting gloves: These give you more grip on the fabric, allowing for better control when you are moving your quilt around.
• Extra needles: It's a good idea to have extra needles on hand. A universal needle in an 80/12 or 90/14 size is a good starting point, but you may need to experiment with different sizes or types (like a quilting or sharp needle) to avoid skipped stitches or thread breakage. 

Recommended accessories

• Extra bobbins: It's wise to have extra bobbins ready, especially if you're using a different thread for your bobbin than for the top.
• Needle threader: If you find the built-in needle threader tricky, a different type of threading tool can be very helpful for getting the thread through the needle.
• Quilting oil pen: A pen-style oiler is a convenient way to keep your machine well-oiled, which is important for smooth operation.
• LED light: Good lighting is essential for seeing your work clearly. A clamp-on light or a machine-specific light can be a great improvement over the machine's built-in light.
• Other feet: While not strictly necessary for starting, a quarter-inch foot with a seam guide is very helpful for piecing, and a walking foot is essential for evenly feeding layers of fabric together. 

Before you start quilting

• Lower the feed dogs: You'll need to lower the feed dogs on your machine to disengage them so you can control the fabric movement yourself.
• Set your tension: Start with the default tension setting on your machine and test it on a scrap piece of fabric before beginning your project. You may need to adjust it to get the stitches to look right.