Customer Reviews

JUKI HZL-27Z Sewing Machine

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I purchased the Juki HZL-27Z as a gold box deal for $159.99 and am totally pleased with my purchase. I had been thinking about getting a compact machine that would be a nice backup machine as well as function as a portable while RVing. I currently use a Brother Quattro and Brother SE270D and primarily do crafts, machine embroidery, and quilting with them. When this deal came up, I couldn't pass it up!

Although I have never tried using other portable machines like a Singer featherweight or a Janome Jem, I thought I would give the Juki a try. Juki has a good reputation for its commercial and higher end machines. I also wanted something that was not computerized as my backup since I would be moving it quite a bit.

Pros:
Lightweight - weighs 12 pounds reportedly; I weighed it at 12.8

Easy to use out of the box - it has similar bobbin winding, top loading bobbin, and threading as my other Brother machines; you do have to thread through the top hole of the bobbin prior to winding, however. I think that anyone who has any sewing experience would find it very easy to use. For beginners, it would also be easy to understand with its manual or perhaps even without, since it has nice diagrams right on the machine. The manual is easy to understand.

Manual automatic needle threader is easy to use

Adjustable length and width of stitches

Nice even straight stitching with ability to adjust tension

I think the thing that I am most impressed with is the feed dogs. It sewed through 3 layers of denim, no problem. With 5 layers, it needed help feeding it through. It also has a jig-type button on the presser foot for thicker fabrics. It seemed to work well.

Cons:
The vertical spool pin is short. You cannot put a spool cap on it unless the spool is really short or you could just use the provided felt. You would have to use a thread stand if you want to use the vertical spool pin with larger spools.

The horizontal spool pin is angled toward the machine so if you are used to using larger spools it might be difficult. Standard size ones work fine.

The handle is located at the back of the machine. When you carry it, the front of the machine angles forward.

The flatbed has no handle at the bottom to remove it when you switch to free arm. I found that I would have to open the compartment door to get a grip to get it off the machine.

It has a 4 step buttonhole instead of 1 step. Since I rarely make buttonholes, this wasn't an issue for me. If you are in to garment sewing, it might.

It is noiser than I'm used to but I think it is similar to other Singers that I have used at a similar price point. It is by no means super noisy. You need a sturdy table too. I had it on my dining room table and it shook a bit but on a very sturdy surface, it was rock solid. You would also probably benefit from additional lighting. The LED light was a bit dim for me.

I think that for this price, as well as the typical list price of $250, it is a very worthwhile portable machine. I am very happy!

Edit 11/26/11: I am still really enjoying this machine but had another thought as I have been teaching my 6 year-old to sew on it. I love the fact that this machine is not computerized as a backup, but it lacks a speed control that you can find on computerized machines. If I were teaching a child to sew, I would consider this feature since it is really handy. This machine does not have the super slow speeds that can be achieved with a computerized one. My daughter is still able to use this machine with ease but I find it much easier to have her use my computerized one on the lowest speed and the start/stop button instead of the foot pedal. She finds it more fun to use the pedal though, so she loves using this machine!

I must have gotten a dud or something. I spent a whole week struggling with this machine and ended up returning it. For the life of me, no matter what, I could not adjust the tension on a simple straight stitch as the top stitch seems to be pulling tight. On top of it, it keeps randomly skipping stitches. I like to sew, have owned several and heard great things about Juki but this is not for me. Back to my Janome. I bought this machine based on reviews, supposed ease of use for different types of fabric, and went ahead with the purchase because of the promotions price.

A few years ago my daughter asked me to make her a dress. I bought the cheapest sewing machine I could find and it took me several days just to figure out how to make it work, and even longer to get the dress put together. In the end, my promise was fulfilled and I gave the sewing machine away.

Well, my daughter is bigger now and we were looking at things to do together. And she remember that dress I made her. "Mommy, it would be great if we could make clothes together!" Umm...yeah...right. Luckily, I got the JUKI HZL-27Z Sewing Machine this time around, or our "together time" could have been a disaster!

First off: This machine scared me right out of the box. It has all these pictures of stitches, and drawings on it that I thought I was supposed to understand right away. Luckily, I calmed down and realized that mostly it was step-by-step instructions on how to set the machine up and get it ready to sew.

Secondly: I really couldn't remember much from the previous project. I mean, I kind of fell off (and stayed off) the horse after my last machine. But my daughter is one of those "rules followers" and pulled out the instruction booklet. Once again, JUKI provided me with directions and instructions that got us going in no time flat!

Lastly: I want to say that this machine has so many options. For our first project, it seems (seams? haha) like too many, but I am sure further down the road we'll use more and more of what the machine can do.

In conclussion: This seems like a great basic sewing machine. I read a review that said it was "loud", but I think my sobbing was much louder with my last machine! Thank you JUKI for making a sewing machine that even a modern mom and daughter could figure out how to use, and have fun doing it!

The machine is well made and runs flawlessly. It is much simplilar to use than other machines. It's setup is a little different than other cheaper machines but is easy to use once you have used the process a few times. It's a very effiicient sewing system.

I bought this machine as a complete novice and have had a great time learning how to sew on it. The manual is straightforward, as is the layout of the machine. The only issue I am having so far is finding a zipper foot for this machine!

I purchased this machine as my portable unit. Even though it is a basic sewing machine it lives up to the reputation that Juki has established. It is quiet, runs smoothly, and stitches accurately. I like the automatic needle threader feature and the price at $213 was certainly a great price for a Juki. I would recommend this product for both beginner sewists and others who need a second machine.

The first thing I noticed and liked about the Juki HZL-27Z sewing machine is that it is very solid. There is not a flimsy piece on this sewing machine. It's a sturdy, solid workhorse of a sewing machine. With the very helpful booklet that it comes with, you can be sewing in a matter of minutes. There are also easy diagrams on the machine as well which would make this a great machine for kids and adults.

This efficient sewing machine is also very quiet and hums along with powerful strength. I had a project that was fairly thick and the Juki didn't falter. This is one machine that you can trust to efficiently use for most standard or difficult sewing projects. The stitches are easy to change with the dial and the machine is set up for easy, fast use.

The bobbin is fast and easy to change and fill and the whole machine works flawlessly. I don't see anything I don't like about this machine. In comparison to other machines I have used, I like this machine for it's strength and durability and it's quiet effiency. There are twenty two stitches and the button hole with comes with it's own foot. It comes with the button hole and standard foots. There will be no problem with making lots of cool projects as my thick project went through this machine without a hitch. This machine has an extra high foot lift to do thicker projects such as quilting with ease.

This Juki machine is a lightweight/heavy weight sewing machine. The drop in bobbin and 7 feeder dogs make it a real joy to work with. Zig Zag and stitch lengths are adjustable for getting the stitching just right.

I would recommend this sewing machine for people who don't need a ton of fancy stitches and would like to teach their kids to sew or who just need a strong sewing machine to use. This one will last forever because it's just made so well that it's surprising. This is a well made machine that is so easy to set up and sew on right away.

I bought this sewing machine around Thanksgiving because I wanted to make a quilt for my son for Christmas. I hadn't done any sewing for 20+ years, so the diagrams for threading and winding the bobbin were greatly appreciated. I did need to consult the manual on several points and found it immensely helpful. My quilt top came together in no time with little trouble. I was even able to machine quilt my project with the purchase of a walking foot. (although I found the throat space a bit small, I did manage to roll a full sized quilt into it) I have since completed three quilts (and they look great!) and have also been working on doing a little free motion quilting (with the purchase of a darning foot). This is a great little machine for the price and has plenty of features for your basic sewing projects.

I travel alot to workshops and this machine travels well. It is light and easy to carry. It has all the basic stitches and is always reliable. I purchased some extra presser feet, and now I can do repairs and basic stitching wherever I go. Since Juki makes great industrial machines I expect that this machine will last forever. I have two very pricey swiss made machines that are heavy and a pain to take with me all the time. This Juki goes everywhere with me.

I bought this sewing machine a few weeks ago and so far it's been great.
It's compact, relatively quiet and solid.
I worked mostly with silk crepe on this machine, and given delicate temperment of the fabric, I had to readjust the tension and the length of the stitches a few times. But once everything was set, stitching came out nicely. I do have to add that I had issue with using particular thread on this machine. When I used cotton thread, stitchings came out looking awful no matter how much I tried to readjust the tension. My guess is the cotton thread I was using was not of great quality. I switched over to better quality poly thread, and the problem was solved. I will try with better quality cotton thread next time to see if I will have similar issue. I recommand using good quality thread(it's important on this machine) and right needle for the fabric you are working on. I especially like self-threading function and the compact size. It would have been nice to have a handle on the top of the machine. I am happy with the purchase and hope to use this machine for a long time.