As you’ve heard from so many, the Safety clutch will help you RE-engage. Two things to remember with the Juki: 1. Don’t turn the hand crank backwards (it’s so tempting because we do it all the time on Bernina- if your needle is not in the highest possible position, DO NOT turn the wheel backwards to raise , instead go forward to raise it to its highest position in order to pull the material out and pull the threads to cut. AND 2. Hold your threads when you start for at least the first 2 stitches. The clutch will lock if the threads bunch up. I’m very careful about these 2 things because I didn’t buy the 1541S (mine is the plain 1541) so when mine locks up I have to practically take everything apart to clear it. The issue with the thickness - I solve by using a piece of the same leather thickness I’m sewing at the time and double it (fold) and use like a “jumper” tool - it will take care of the sewing issue from thin to thick.
I love this video because it’s keeping it real. People see you making tutorials and assume it’s just that clean and easy to make a bag. It’s not. I have made so many bags and have yet to make one where things went perfectly. Even bags I feel like I’ve made a bunch of. Each one had its own “war scar”in one way or another. Keep at it 😊
I wish I could give you multiple thumbs up for this comment. It seems there's always something that pops up to challenge a project! That's why I'm finding it's good to keep at it as often as possible.
I was just saying the same thing to my husband😂😂. It makes me feel so much better. And those days that everything goes wrong and I get frustrated and upset with myself, I need to realize we’re only human and sometimes shiitake happens!
Can’t help you with the machine. But I do think hand cranking it may have something to do with it locking up. I also think that if instead of using the leather for the zipper tabs, use the cotton lining fabric, then it would be easier to sew past it.
Tell me about it! A lot of these videos make it seem like it’s just so easy to do this bag or that. When I do it man, it’s a hot mess smh. And kind of discouraging which is why I haven’t done the H2O bag. :(.
Thank you for this comment. I am a newish sewer. I've sewn projects over the years, but nothing consistent over the last 30 years until I found bag-making about 2 months ago. I was thinking that maybe sewing isn't for me because every bag is not right. As you said, it has war scars. I thought I was doing something wrong!
A hump jumper will help so much when transitioning to a thicker seam as well. I keep mine velcro to my sewing table. Also pounding the seam down is another way to get that seam to be a bit thinner when sewing over it.
I LOVE that you posted this video. Although it was slightly painful to watch you struggle, it REALLY hits home because we ALL struggle at some point. I can’t count how many times I wished I could reach through the screen or drive over and help you!!! (It’s only about 600 miles to your city from mine but I don’t think I can be there by lunchtime. 😜) Sending you oodles of hugs and loads of appreciation.
Just a thought I think you may want to do , every time you lift the foot up or down it’s sounds that it gasping for a drop of oil lol. Please have a look and check as the noise of it is somewhat cringing to hear and I’d hate for your machine to jam up on you.
Two things. Your foot is down so number 2 as your pulling with foot down it is bending your needle towards the pull. Don't feel bad I've done the same thing. I unfortunately tur n Ed wheel back k and locked up my bobbin which cost me 200 for a service call and what they charged on top. Oh I bent my bobbin holder Needed a new one.i asked the guy to adjust my knee lifter and he said he couldn't. Last time I call him ..........onto another mechanic.im short so it hits my knee wrong and it's very hard to press. Loved watching this video though because these are the things I go through. The mechanic said I had it threaded wrong and missed 1 thing. Hmmmmmmmm.
I have a 1541s, I had the same issue at first. It’s the safety clutch, push the button on the bed of the machine down while turning hand wheel. The machine will lock if you turn the hand crank backwards while stitching. The safety clutch is amazing, it stops the machine from being jammed and messing up the timing. I was told never to turn the hand wheel backwards. Watch a video on the safety clutch😊. It is a fabulous machine after the learning curve, it’s worth the frustration of learning it. Good luck ❤
Also I would not be where I am today without your videos. I have not found a better teacher out there as a beginner. It is because you never assume the viewer already knows what you are doing. And you have the best camera views. So funny that it is in your lap!
I hope you will use this machine more as I would love to see what you ultimately produce. It's an incredible machine. People do not believe the bags I make are home made. If you ever have a live session, I will be happy to join and share my learnings from all my mistakes!
Steve from Sewing Gold is a gem! He has very thorough videos on timing, pushing your safety switch which is possibly why your machine is “locked”. I got my 1541S fr JJ but get so much help from Steve.
I'm very very proud of you. You used considerably fewer curse words than I do when I have these issues or you did a FANTASTIC job of editing them out. ❤️
I purchased a 1541 2 years ago with the understanding that the dealer would teach me the basics of the machine. But he didn’t and I couldn’t teach myself what I didn’t know. After almost a nervous breakdown ( refused to give up), I found a retired Juki mechanic. He helped me and now I would never give up my machine. Do yourself a favor and find someone with knowledge of the machine. Oh, he also changed my motor and added a stitch regular ( I think that’s what it called), sews one stitch at a time. Game changer. A must have for bag making.
This is more like a video from a friend or a sister, just sharing the struggle of sewing. When I am having a hard time sleeping I start watching one of your videos and pretty soon I start having good ideas of what I want to do next and somehow, I let everything go and go to sleep. I hope you know that it is not just the sewing tips we learn from your videos but the relaxed atmosphere that you create.
You really gave it your best on this. There’s a valid lesson here…go until think you can’t go anymore, then go some more. And I too have challenges just like this, Murphy’s law, etc. but unlike you, because I’m a new sewist or quilter and I just don’t give up, I’ve had to just keep at it. I would never find joy if I quit everytime my needle broke, or thread breaks, shreds. etc. But you doing this, tossing pride aside, is one of the best videos yet.
I have a Thor GS1341s which is basically the same as yours with some extra features. Threading tip. When changing thread just clip above the maching and tie on the new thread to the previous thread that is already threaded in the machine and then pull thread all the way through. Saves so much time and needing to rewatch threading video a dozen times lol. Also, get multiple bobbins and set tension to various materials. I have 3. One for leather, one for vinyl (I've been using this one the most and sew various vinyls and waterproof canvases and haven't had to mess with tension knobs on the machine at all doing this), and another I haven't needed to use yet.
Thank you for showing us your frustrations! I want this machine soooo bad and I know it’s good one, but watching you go through what you’re going through is like watching myself in the future going through the same stuff. I’m definitely not discouraged lol I will have my juki one day and I take comfort in knowing I’ll have these videos to help me.💜💜💜
I also have the 1541S I bought from Gigi at Juki Junkies. When I first got it, I had the same problem with it locking up. I was frustrated and wanted to give up. Some things I learned was to hold onto the thread when you start sewing to keep it from getting sucked down into the throat plate. I also learned that the tiniest piece of thread in the bobbin area can cause havoc. Use canned air to blast any thread out then oil the hook and turn the handwheel several rotations. This helps loosen and move any thread that is stuck so you can use tweezers to remove it. Also, always pull your project to the rear to remove it and clip the threads, leaving a nice long tail I kept practicing to develop muscle memory and now I very rarely have an issue and I love the machine. Please don't give up and you will love it too!!!
Thanks for showing that you have real struggles too. You are one of my favourites because you are willing to show all aspects of sewing and not just the perfect bits.
I'm a leather bag maker, and have used my 1541 for about 8 years. A few things to keep in mind. * Yes this machine can sew through thicker fabrics, leather etc, But eliminating bulk is still important, I find the machine does not like leather thickness transitions, which is what you were doing, when using leather, you can eliminate bulk by skiving. * Always start with your needle down in the fabric, it will eliminate the messy bobbin thread issues on the underside. * Hold on to your thread tails when you begin to stitch *I found that the construction process of sewing a "fabric" bag from a leather bag is quite different. Not all leather bags need to be lined. The thread size needed to sew the leather portion of you project is much too heavy to sew the lining part of your bag. You will notice when you move down to sew the lining pieces together, the fabric will pucker etc. (unless your using a very heavy lining fabric, but if you do this, all your seams get too bulky real fast. Hope some of this helps
I’m new at leather and my cylinder arm. You brought up an extremely good point about transitioning from leather to lining and thread weight. How do you handle it? I have several machines and right now I’m stopping, turning my chair and sewing the lining portion on my standard machine with a different thread weight, but I’m not always sewing at home. I take my sailrite walking foot machine on trips and sew. Which means I don’t have 2 machines handy. Do you stop and change thread? Sounds logical and a pain of course but curious how you handle it. Thanks for the great tips.
@@pamthetraveler7224 Hi, IMO I don't think its even necessary to line a leather bag, I don't. If the leather you are using, has a nice underside, why cover it? There are several ways to add inside pockets without using a lining. If you still find it necessary or prefer to line, it's not the best to use the technique in the video. If you look at some leather totes that are lined, usually the lining is cut and sewn (usually on another machine) to the same size as the bag, and then turned and inserted into the tote, the top edge is usually wrapped with a thin leather binding, and stitched in place, or you do the reverse and insert the leather into the constructed lining, stitch around the top and then pull up the lining (which has the bottom open and insert it into the leather bag, and then hand stitch the bottom closed, this technique encases the raw edges on the inside of the top seam. It really comes down to the look you are going for and the weight and temper of the leather you are using. If you would have chosen a lighter weight upholstery leather for the project in your video, you may have been able to make the bag with a lining, the seams would have been less bulky, but I don't know how the Juki would handle stitching the lining closed. You were using a pretty stiff utility type leather, which is usually more suited for single seam construction. Its quite a learning process and really comes down to the temper and weight of your leather. Also, most leather bags using the heavier leathers use brass zippers, which you can't sew over like the nylon ones, so you need to remove teeth etc.
I use a hump jumper with thicker fabrics. Your needle is bent from forcing when hand cranking to get it sewn. Using a jump humper to go over those thicker areas will do the trick.
I love your videos. And I love that you post the good with the bad. Anyone who has been sewing for long has felt this frustration at some point or another. It is all in the learning process.
You will never get use to it if you don't use it. Don't be intimidated by the machine. It's a beautiful machine and works amazingly. We use this machine in custom boat cushions. You will hear the bobbin click when it's in right.
I could be way off, but I had a similar problem with my ProSew and figured out I wasn't locking the bobbin in properly and it was slightly skew whiff and would move, just like yours is, so the needle wasn't going in the right place to pick up the bobbin thread and would bend then break. The open space in the bobbin has to be directly below where the needle goes through and you have to hear it click into place when you put the bobbin in. I think I have figured mine out now, but still a huge learning curve. I do love it as it goes through layers like butter and makes life so much easier. I guess you just have to keep practicing until you build confidence. Regarding the tension, mine locks the tension after a few seconds after stopping and I use the knee lifter and it releases the tension then I can pull the thread through. Mine came with a miniscule manual that needs a magnifying glass to read, but I did get a few tips from that and the company I bought it through are extremely good helping when you have a problem. Hang in there, you can do it :)
Industrial machines do have a learning curve, that’s for sure. I sewed wedding gowns and formal attire for years before I decided to make bags. I still love my domestic machines for those purposes, but I love my industrial machines for bag making. I have the Juki 1181N and Juki 8700 that I use all the time; my Juki TL2010 Q semi industrial machine when I travel. When I first got my industrial machines, I was very intimidated by them. After you sew and get to really know the machine your confidence builds and you can make some very get bags and heavy projects. I absolutely loved this video Jess because you are sharing the “real” experience of industrial machine sewing. I can honestly say that TH-cam was my best friend when I started because I didn’t know how to thread it either. I have always genuinely loved all your tutorials because you are so down to earth and your teaching style is so relatable. My only advice to you is to keep at it. Also: 1. When you are threading your machine, lift up the knee lift when going around the top tension dial, then lower the lift when you finish threading the machine. 2. You also don’t need to manually lift the needle, use your knee lift for that. 3. My personal stitch length preference is to stitch at 3, baste at 4, and top stitch at 4-5. 4. Skiving the leather helps keep the bulk out of the seams. 5. I don’t change the side of the foot that I sew on, my regular walking foot gets plenty close to the zipper, without going over it. 6. A jumper jumper will help going over the layers and transition from the lining over the thicker leather pieces.
Going to tell you straight up no sugar coating, it is your timing, user error that is causing this. Do not give up, over come it, if you do decide to fix your timing, video tape yourself doing it, because when you fix it, it will be the most gratification for yourself, you will love your machine.
It’s such a simple machine once you get to know it it really is. One tip when threading this machine is loft the presser foot when threading through the tension dial areas and this opens the discs so that the thread sits inside the discs properly.
Why the Needle Bent and Fix: The bobbin case has an opening for the needle to pass through which obviously must be aligned with the needle. If the bobbin case is allowed to rotate, the needle can strike a solid part and bend. You can tell the bobbin case has rotated if it's latch is NOT pointing to 4 o'clock. Normally the bobbin case will not rotate unless the part of the hook assembly it snaps into, called the 'bobbin basket' has rotated. This bobbin basket has a notch which accepts a positioning finger. This finger locks the bobbin basket at the correct angle. The positioning finger has only one screw to hold it and allow adjustment into and out of the notch. If the screw is loose or the finger is ill adjusted, it will slide out the notch and allow the bobbin basket to rotate. This is what happened. There is a very good video by Sewing Gold called -- 'Juki DNU-1541S position finger adjustment' th-cam.com/video/5KtJCSfRafA/w-d-xo.html which shows how to fix this. I loved you showing us the bad with the good. I learnt so much researching this and wanted to pass it on. Addendum: @44:27 you can see the hook rotating when Jess turns the hand wheel. This proves that safety clutch has not tripped because the safety clutch will disengage the hook shaft turning when it has tripped. Also @44:37 you can see the latch of the bobbin case rotate with the hook assembly. The bobbin latch is rotating between 11 and 12 o'clock, not fixed at its normal 4 o'clock position. This proves that the positioning finger is not holding the bobbin basket in place.
I believe that you are supposed to line up the the three dots on the handwheel with the flange on the head so that everything is aligned to accept the bobbin. As far as the needle hitting the bobbin case goes, that is definitely a timing issue, probably from hand cranking over the thick seam, since it was working perfectly up till then. That shouldn't throw the timing off normally, but I suspect that there might be a set screw somewhere that was not tight enough and allowed the bobbin case/hook to slip/twist out of adjustment. Once you figure that out, you'll love the Juki, ... until you find something else to sort out. Stick with it until you've sorted everything out, and you will if you are determined to, then you will have clear sailing for a long time and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about in the beginning.
I bought a refurbished 1541 DL about 3+ years ago. I hated it and wanted to return it. It took me about 3 SOLID months of using it EXCLUSIVELY to just feel comfortable with it, not expert. We are friends now, but it was touch and go for a while. When I don't use it for a spell, I go through the same thing, researching TH-cam to remember everything again. That machine is scary. It's fast, it's heavy, and it can sew through your hand. The tension is finicky. It depends on the fabric and thread combinations. I always use scrap fabric tests until I get what I want for EACH PROJECT. As for needles and thread. I use 19 & 20 on marine vinyls. Heavier leather I have used up to a 22. I use a bonded poly tex 90 for threads. If my tension is too tight, my thread shreads. For humps, I roll up scraps and hand crank through the thickest part
I am so excited you are using your 1541S! I bought the same machine about the same time. I have wondered if I was missing videos of you using this machine. The machine locks up for safety to keep you from breaking anything. There is a button to the right of the needle. You have to push the button and turn the hand wheel to release. There are TH-cam videos 😊 I think your issue was going from the thin fabric to the thick. It doesn’t like thin fabric unless you are using a smaller needle. The machine is big and scary but if you use it enough I think you will love it! I agree with you that this machine will sew through fabric the Bernina will not. I own a Bernina 880 & it sews very well but not the thick leather I use. You are great and I love your videos, not to mention you putting your realness out there. Hang in there and I hope you decide you love this machine
This has to be one of the best videos you have done. This is all if us at some point in life. I feel the same way whenever I have to sit down at my Juki. Confused and terrified but determined to conquer the beast! Great video. Thank you.
Hi Jess, your vids helped propel me into bag making. It has been a journey for me and my sewing machines. I started on a basic Brother..which was a little trooper..but I felt sorry for it... which turned into a whirlwind 🌀of buy, test, sell, buy until I found my magical trio. A long list of machines that I have tested for bag making (Fabric, Canvas, Vinyl, making my own straps).. from Sailrite Ultrafeed to vintage Singers. I ended up with two Juki's (2010/1121 straight-stitch only) and a Babylock. for different stitches/embroidery. I can not say enough good about the 1121, It has been a game changer, I thought about the 1541 but I knew I would not be using real leather. She is easy to use and perfect for bag making without being too much to handle. LOVE your videos!! Your style of teaching is perfect!
I so identify! I’ve had the Juki LU-2810-7. She is a BEAST & runs on an air compressor. It has taken 3 years to get fairly comfortable w it. There are no tutorials, rarely any videos & most that own this machine run an upholstery business or factory & have technicians on site. Maybe with these big industrial machines Juki could benefit from many, many more how-to videos. As others have said, I greatly appreciated your honesty in learning & please know, I’ve spent hours trying to figure it out, maybe days. It certainly took me nearly a year of having my machine to really begin working on it, it is STRONG & intimidating. Thank you for all you do. ❤
I purchased my 1541s in early November and haven’t played too much. It stitched like a dream! Just have to build up my confidence ❤. Maybe use your “hump jumper” from your home machine to help stitch that bulky part smoothly.
36:30 make sure the presser foot is at the highest step setting. Here's a video on how to check and if needed change it: Juki DNU-1541S middle presser foot adjustment 41:09 that needle needs to be changed, it's bent and not straight any more 🙂 I have a Juki 1541 (non S) and love it. But it certainly is a learning curve going from a domestic machine to an industrial machine. It is somewhat daunting at first. Practise makes perfekt!
I love that you show us even your struggles. As a bag maker, some days go so smooth, and others are a total nightmare that make you even rethink your path all together. Its nice to know even someone with as much great work under your belt as you have still has these days too. While i love your tutorials ... i loved this video just as much!
Industrials definitely have a learning curve 😂 I have a Consew 206RB, and some wonderful person posted 2 videos with literally every maintenance issue and how to do it step by step. It was a life saver for me to be able to adjust everything properly.
@@mrsgcb Mine too… the guy that I bought it from is really nice - I got it for a good price, but there was definitely some tweaking needed to get it running smoothly!
Just quickly coming on to help a bit. I bought my industrial March 2021. The things I had go wrong in the first few weeks were, 📍thread shredding - fix - larger needle. Size 18 with Tex80 thread.📍stitches too loose - fix - tightened the tension disc on the front - rotated 5-6 times to the right before it came right 📍losing control when stitching - fix- slowed the speed down to 600 and even down to 100 for difficult bits instead 1200 I had it at. The maximum on my machine is 2200. I now run my machine at about 800, I find that the most helpful for me for control and ease of use. If I am sewing curves or corners, I slow it down. I also had the foot pedal plate moved to the back of the table as far as possible so my knee wasn't scrunched up which then gave me more control with the foot pedal. (I'm tall with long legs so was necessary) With Tex 80 thread which I use, I have the stitch length at 4 and 4.75 for top stitching. If very thick vinyl I lengthen the stitch length. 📍presser foot destroying the vinyl - fix- I use a scrap piece of vinyl, which I slide under the back of the presser foot and slide it along behind the stitching as I go. I also use this piece folded as a hump jumper when needed. It took me a good 3 months of sewing constantly on the machine to get the hang of it, I am still learning. I also joined a private group of fellow sewists who have the same machine as me, and we talk to each other and help each other out. I recommend this very much so. My machine is medium to heavy duty Zoje
I LOVE MY JUKI 1541 A.K.A ORPHEUS! I purchased mine from Steve at Sewing Gold in Chicago (where I live), and he can walk/talk you through anything. I've had it for almost 3 years and will not sew on nothing else, unless it's for regular domestic sewing and I use my Viking. The Juki 1541 can handle ANY thickness and NEVER had any problems. When I got it I watched videos, and Steve guided me as well. He has a bunch of video on YT.
I am very new to trying to make bags. I subscribe to your Sallie tomato box. I feel like this is how every attempt on my regular sewing machine is for me. 🤣
Well, Jess, perhaps you should just gift the machine to me. 😄 I hate to see my favorite teacher be so frustrated and will gladly take on your frustrations! I am a rather pushy broad myself, so I think I could match its attitude and prevail. 🤣😂🤣😂
Oh the fun to be had with your industrial machine!! I always have a saying, "Just go for it and have fun doing!". You'll figure it out by just playing with it. I'm saving my loose chain to get my machine. LOL!!
You are so funny. I’m stuck, I’m stuck. I love my Juki 1541s. I did higher a repairman to come to my home to check my machine and fix the tension on my machine. Once I got that done I have loved my machine ever since. Living in NYC was a win to find someone to come into my home. I don’t use my machine that much so I too have to look up how to thread and wind a bobbin. I have found that most of my problems come from needle placement. The needle has to be placed straight in. That’s what causes me trouble every time I change my needle in this machine.
Something you may try is a checklist of things like a pilot. Oil. Tension. Needle. Etc. And all of the references so you can reduce some memtal load while sewing.
Press lightly on the presser foot to relieve tension as your pulling the fabric out and it won’t shred the thread. It takes so much practice because we are used to domestic but everything on industrial is different. I was even told NOT to use the hand lever to lift the presser foot. Always to use the knee press and it’s so hard NOT to use the lever!
Learn to use a hump jumper! also, a leather needle. learn how to change your feet! I'm sure it's a fabulous machine, but it is a different animal from your domestic. Not all skills are going to transfer and you are going to have to commit some time for these new skills to be learned. don't know how helpful this is, but I did lots of research when I wanted an industrial. I finally decided on a semi-industrial SailRite Ultrafeed with the extra heavy duty wheel. no, it's not as powerful as a full industrial, but if you can get it under the foot, you can sew thru it. I've sewn several layers of leather with no problems. i also like the idea that you can also use it with a crank in addition to electrical, and it takes up way less real estate.
Stay with it. I love my 1541S. I went from a singer Quantum Stylist to my Juki. You will not hurt it, it has that safety mechanism. Your machine is just locked up all you need to do is unlock it with the button on the plate.
You are not alone. I have had the identical machine for a year. Finally, today I hired a juki authorized repairman to my home. Best money I have spent. He explained all of it to me and I was educated. Yes, I’ve used it for a year but the timing thing is impossible. My understanding is that they must be set up correctly in the beginning and it’s way beyond me to set that. Even with TH-cam. Again, get a professional once to explain all of this to you. You will eventually have a reasonable fear of the 1541s.
Love my 1541never had any tension trouble. I find the standard foot works best. I had my nephew etch seam allowances on the throat plate. Don't know why they don't have them on there. Keep the top thread with the bobbin thread under the foot. When you pull up the bobbin thread you can pull the top thread to the back and underneath the foot. The edge of the foot is one quarter inch, where it is split from the right is one eighth. Hope that makes sense.
I can’t help. But I can say that you working through these issues are making you an even better teacher. I learned with my moms inherited machine a year ago then over Christmas got a straight stitch machine. I think I thought, said, and did almost everything you did today. Thank you for sharing your vulnerability.
The narrow foot is a game changer. I doubt I’ll ever switch back to the standard foot. Great machine! I went with the 1541, no S, wanted to avoid the stress of it locking up 😂
I have a sailrite LSZ-1 with the worker b motor and it is amazing. I sew leather bags and it plows through everything. It is a portable walking foot matching, I don’t have a lot of room so that is perfect for me. If I had the room I would have gotten the sailrite fabricator. The slow speed control on sailrite machines especially with the worker b motor is insane and honestly a game changer. Worth looking at. Also I watch a ton of your videos and using a light is great, I use one too but when you don’t want to mess up the finish on the exterior of a bag you would love the sailrite battery operated thread burner. Seriously check it out. Love your video, keep them up.
Thank you sooo much for this video. I love your video’s. I learn so much from you but I always think am I the only one that struggles? You showing us the “ behind the scenes” so to speak makes me love you even more.
You can also barely push the “gas pedal” down and the thread will pull out easier when you have finished sewing a section. That was a game changer too I learned, now I don’t struggle pulling the thread out when I am ready to cut it. I watch a lot of videos on this machine. Soon you will learn to love it!
I forgot to tell you the foot you're using on the right side of the foot is just under 1/4 inch. In the marine shops I've worked in we don't use a zipper foot. You could use tape for a seam guide until you get use to the machine. You got this!
I know what you are going through. I also have a Juki-1541s. I was very intimidated and unsure at first. I watched videos by different people on youtube and eventually got comfortable with sewing on it. I now sew with it often, except very light weight materials. Love your videos.
Proper service mechanics can work wonders! I hear your frustration and sewing should be enjoyable. A service on the machine may not be cheap or easy but the cost to your sanity is worth it. They're able to tell you EVERYTHING. I know that you will love the sewing eventually.
It took me over a year to fully understand my Juki 8700. I super love it now. When you insert the bobbin, insert it from below instead of in the square door. Don't hold the tab on the bobbin case out. That is the "lock". When you are holding the tab out, the bobbin won't "click" so you don't know if it is properly inserted in the machine or not. I'm sure you have a million people reaching out to help you with this machine and don't need my silly advice. But I totally remember the struggle. Hang in there, it gets easier with time.
You are not alone in trying to get these expensive machines to work, the way we want. I don’t have an industrial but I have a long arm quilting machine (which I love) and like you, because I’m only using it about 2 or 3 times a year, it’s a learning curve every time. Thanks for trying to handle the big beast today. I’m sure it’s a simple fix.
I love what you said about how that machine humbles you and knocks you down a bit. I think we all get cocky and even though I have been sewing leather handbags for years, I switched to clothing, then back to bags and suddenly forgot how to make a zipper pocket. I got frustrated with myself and wanted to cry. I should be able to whip up anything. Or sew I thought LOL.
To release the tension push your knee lifter to lift the foot. To change the stitch length push the reverse button halfway then turn the stitch length control.
Several viewers have already pointed out the need to use a hump-jumper or folded leather, cardboard, etc. to help you go over that extra thickness. I use this all the time with my Pfaff Passport 2.0, and it saves your sanity. Also, when your needle does that "bending" trick you have already bent your needle, and it seems to cause that "locked up" situation (at least that's what happens to me). At that point I just stop, remove my needle if I can, and then remove the bobbin. Hopefully at that point your machine will move freely, and you can start over with a new needle. I really enjoy your channel. We all get frustrated, just keep going😉
Leather is another beast of itself, practice with you vinyl, you will love your machine so much once you get the learning curve down, you are an awesome teacher.
Send it back! I had the same problem and wanted to cry every time I used it. I swore it was cursed. I ended up having to send it back and replaced. The second one hasn’t given me any problems at all and I love it!! In my research I found many that had the same problem and had to replace their machine. Don’t wait until the warranty it out!
Oh my gosh!!! My heart is so happy to see this realistic display of Juki madness🙀🙈. I had my Juki one day and totally freaked out and returned it. BUT!!! I really should have stuck it out. I opted for way more expensive domestic. Industrial machines are a big challenge. Thank you for being so REAL. I feel you!
Há. I almost didn’t watch this video because I thought it would make me be so afraid of this machine I would give up. But I am glad I watched. The pain and fear went away
From a post with someone who had same prob as you. I think you need to re-engage the hook while pressing the button maybe? I don’t have the S. There is a silver button on the base of the machine head. He showed me how to depress the button which locks into a cog under the base. While holding down the button, just spin the hand wheel backwards to re-engage the drive to the hook. He said that is a safety feature in the 1541. The hook disengages when the needle hangs or gets stuck. Whew. I didn't break it after all.
I've been wanting this machine for a while, I just got a Bernina B590 though because I also love embroidery. Everyone makes it look so easy using this machine, but I love how you're showing the actual struggle with it. Think I'll wait a bit, I still struggle with my Bernina from time to time.
I applaud you for posting this video 👏 It takes vulnerability to show your struggles at something new and I am so thankful to you for being human in showing yours. I love this video because I am thinking of purchasing a stronger sewing machine. I will be on the lookout for part 2 and just know you'll get it figured out!! 💜
I can help you with this! First off you most likely need to skive this leather. Next.. your zipper tabs are too close to the seam allowance for this leather. Next.. you cannot handcrank the wheel backwards and forwards… this jambs the machine. Push the metal button on the base to unlock. Message me and I can help you! I have been sewing on industrial machines for over 45 years. 💕
Hi Jess. I have a bit older Husqvarna Designer Embroidery machine. It does NOT do well with heavy sewing projects. My son does leather projects an uses a Juki It does a great job. Nice chair. I just switched out the same wheels on my sewing chair for the roller blade types and I am loving them. It even rolls on carpet!
When that locks up take your bobbin iut re thread the whole machine and check the needle, I’ve had that very problem and I use mine daily, hopefully this helps once it’s threaded right and the bobbins in right it goes in a special way as well, look at the video on the bobbins , once you get it going you will LOVE it I promise you, if you were my neighbor I’d come help you out, I wish I could’ve talked to you during your video I seen exactly what was wrong I’ve been there, they do work wonderful once you get the machine figured out it’s way different than a regular sewing machine
I have an older industrial machine, still learning. First time I wound a bobbin I didn’t unthread the needle. Had to get my timing fixed. Waiting now to get the motor that gives more speed control. I asked Lauren Mormino for advice, she said practice and give yourself grace. ❤ hope it works for both of us in the near future ❤❤
Ive experienced this problem doing upholstery, last time I used a mallet to flatten the seam. Those bulky seams will knock your machine out of time. Another fix Ive used is to cut out a path for the foo to glide through. Don't give up girl!! Your good at what you do!
I have noticed on my knee lift for a domestic Juki….. if it’s not lifted all the way up, my thread will shred. I think I’m so focused on another point, I let my knee relax a bit.
Loved this video. I have a 1541s and had the exact same problems. It was soooooo frustrating and no one to talk to but look at videos. I just kept at it and learned how to unlock. I almost returned it, but I kept at it, taking it apart and putting it back together. Now I love, love, love it.
Hey Jess! Check that your Bobbin Race hasn’t shifted. That happened on my embroidery machine and the whole machine locked up. I was stressing that it was going to be a pricey repair but took the bobbin and race out and then put it all back together and it worked!!! ❤
I think the problem with inserting your bobbin is you need to rotate the bobbin case so that the hinge lever is pointed toward you. The hole in the case has to be inserted with the hole on the top side toward the feed dogs.
I love watching all your videos and it is so cool to see how to learn an industrial machine. I can't help or give advice for the machine but there is wheels for office chairs for carpet they look like rollerblade wheels it makes sewing on carpet in my room a ton easier as far as wheeling around room and don't have to have mat under it. I cannot wait to see what you make or do next have an awesome day
I wonder if the Safety clutch throws off the Timing every time it engages. I have also heard that the regular 1541 is less hassle. Do you think JJ will let you swap out this machine for the regular 1541? Also, Steve at Sewing Gold can help you with the Pulley that will slow down your machine more. Also, when you put the Bobbin Case in, don't hold it by the Latch...just hold the whole Case and let it "snap" in. Also, sometimes these vertical bobbins need help on the 1st stitch because, since they have nothing to pull against, they create a loop when you start sewing and then the hook can even get caught on that loop. This could have been what happened when you started hand cranking over that thick seam...It could have formed a loop, and then the Hook caught on that loop, which didn't allow the hook to spin, but your needle still came down, and then your needle bent, and the safety engaged. So, try starting the 1st stitch by hand cranking the needle down, and then just a bit farther till the hook grabs, then pull on the top thread about 1/2 inch. Then finish that stitch by handcranking, just so you know your machine can handle being that tight and not breaking anything. If it handles it ok, then you know that the next time you do this, you can just start sewing after you have pulled on that top thread 1/2". And lastly, I do have a comprehensive pdf on how to set your bobbin and top tensions for your machine, using a Towa gauge. I have a method where you actually find out the formula for your machine. I may post it on my website soon (WeQuiltStudio). And here is my tension playlist which should also have the video about how to "Start without Loops": th-cam.com/play/PLFc2_CE1o6RK5NmJ9IvzmpbvHfxmiYEtJ.html
That is exactly why I bought the 1508N instead of the 1541. I didn’t want the bobbin underneath. I’m in the same boat. It’s like we need a college course for each of our machines lol. Prayers out to you.
The reason it might lock up is that the timing gets thrown off. What I do is turn off the machine and then try to move it again. Sometimes that works to get it moving again. Also make sure to ALWAYS hold you thread tails since that can cause to throw off your timing.
OP, not only that. I didn't hold mine one time and thread jammed, bobbin assembly got stuck and 22 needle broke the assembly when it came down in the wrong place. 150+ dollars to get OEM part from Walmart (of all places, right?). I later found a polish website (Stima) and ordered a backup from them for only about 80 dollars. Took 4 months to receive it.
Oh yeah, and I had to set the timing again after replacing assembly. It helped me learn a ton about the machine but was NOT fun. I had to figure out how to fix the timing from Sewing Gold and another video from someone in Asia.
I’m so sorry that your machine isn’t working properly, that can be very frustrating! I don’t have an industrial machine, but changing the stitch length then forgetting to change it back, and forgetting to put my sewing foot back down… yeah I’ve done that so many times!! 😂
I would definitely agree - don’t crank backwards! I was shown to slide back bobbin cover as a viewing window, but reach under the table to put the bobbin in, watching through the top. Works well. A purple thang or stiletto (not the type you wear on your foot 😂) would be a good idea when struggling to position the fabric, to avoid nasty accidents.
As you’ve heard from so many, the Safety clutch will help you RE-engage. Two things to remember with the Juki: 1. Don’t turn the hand crank backwards (it’s so tempting because we do it all the time on Bernina- if your needle is not in the highest possible position, DO NOT turn the wheel backwards to raise , instead go forward to raise it to its highest position in order to pull the material out and pull the threads to cut. AND 2. Hold your threads when you start for at least the first 2 stitches. The clutch will lock if the threads bunch up. I’m very careful about these 2 things because I didn’t buy the 1541S (mine is the plain 1541) so when mine locks up I have to practically take everything apart to clear it. The issue with the thickness - I solve by using a piece of the same leather thickness I’m sewing at the time and double it (fold) and use like a “jumper” tool - it will take care of the sewing issue from thin to thick.
I love this video because it’s keeping it real. People see you making tutorials and assume it’s just that clean and easy to make a bag. It’s not. I have made so many bags and have yet to make one where things went perfectly. Even bags I feel like I’ve made a bunch of. Each one had its own “war scar”in one way or another. Keep at it 😊
I wish I could give you multiple thumbs up for this comment. It seems there's always something that pops up to challenge a project! That's why I'm finding it's good to keep at it as often as possible.
I was just saying the same thing to my husband😂😂. It makes me feel so much better. And those days that everything goes wrong and I get frustrated and upset with myself, I need to realize we’re only human and sometimes shiitake happens!
Can’t help you with the machine. But I do think hand cranking it may have something to do with it locking up.
I also think that if instead of using the leather for the zipper tabs, use the cotton lining fabric, then it would be easier to sew past it.
Tell me about it! A lot of these videos make it seem like it’s just so easy to do this bag or that. When I do it man, it’s a hot mess smh. And kind of discouraging which is why I haven’t done the H2O bag. :(.
Thank you for this comment. I am a newish sewer. I've sewn projects over the years, but nothing consistent over the last 30 years until I found bag-making about 2 months ago. I was thinking that maybe sewing isn't for me because every bag is not right. As you said, it has war scars. I thought I was doing something wrong!
I love that you are showing that sometimes the teacher also has to learn. You’re fantastic lady. Keep it up!
A hump jumper will help so much when transitioning to a thicker seam as well. I keep mine velcro to my sewing table. Also pounding the seam down is another way to get that seam to be a bit thinner when sewing over it.
I LOVE that you posted this video. Although it was slightly painful to watch you struggle, it REALLY hits home because we ALL struggle at some point.
I can’t count how many times I wished I could reach through the screen or drive over and help you!!! (It’s only about 600 miles to your city from mine but I don’t think I can be there by lunchtime. 😜)
Sending you oodles of hugs and loads of appreciation.
Just a thought I think you may want to do , every time you lift the foot up or down it’s sounds that it gasping for a drop of oil lol. Please have a look and check as the noise of it is somewhat cringing to hear and I’d hate for your machine to jam up on you.
If we’re not struggling, we’re not learning. It means we already learnet 😅😂😂😂
Two things. Your foot is down so number 2 as your pulling with foot down it is bending your needle towards the pull. Don't feel bad I've done the same thing. I unfortunately tur n Ed wheel back k and locked up my bobbin which cost me 200 for a service call and what they charged on top. Oh I bent my bobbin holder Needed a new one.i asked the guy to adjust my knee lifter and he said he couldn't. Last time I call him ..........onto another mechanic.im short so it hits my knee wrong and it's very hard to press. Loved watching this video though because these are the things I go through. The mechanic said I had it threaded wrong and missed 1 thing. Hmmmmmmmm.
I have a 1541s, I had the same issue at first. It’s the safety clutch, push the button on the bed of the machine down while turning hand wheel. The machine will lock if you turn the hand crank backwards while stitching. The safety clutch is amazing, it stops the machine from being jammed and messing up the timing. I was told never to turn the hand wheel backwards. Watch a video on the safety clutch😊. It is a fabulous machine after the learning curve, it’s worth the frustration of learning it. Good luck ❤
So you turn the wheel toward you right?
I was told you never turn the handwheel backwards on any sewing machine. I thought it was standard.
@@mizgimunoz4536 Yes, only towards you. If you get a needle positioner, this will eliminate this.
On any sewing machine? I have a domestic sewing machine and do this all the time.. I didn't realise that this was a no-no.
Oh no, that is no bueno. Our service tech will be in this Thursday and we will break down this issue for you. :) Update coming soon.
Also I would not be where I am today without your videos. I have not found a better teacher out there as a beginner. It is because you never assume the viewer already knows what you are doing. And you have the best camera views. So funny that it is in your lap!
OMG, this was me on Saturday. Thank you, thank you, Jess, for being you and helping us all.
I hope you will use this machine more as I would love to see what you ultimately produce. It's an incredible machine. People do not believe the bags I make are home made. If you ever have a live session, I will be happy to join and share my learnings from all my mistakes!
Steve from Sewing Gold is a gem! He has very thorough videos on timing, pushing your safety switch which is possibly why your machine is “locked”. I got my 1541S fr JJ but get so much help from Steve.
Yes! This 👆
Yes! I just brought my Juki 1541S home yesterday- my sun & Input it together & Steve has been so helpful!
I'm very very proud of you. You used considerably fewer curse words than I do when I have these issues or you did a FANTASTIC job of editing them out. ❤️
I purchased a 1541 2 years ago with the understanding that the dealer would teach me the basics of the machine. But he didn’t and I couldn’t teach myself what I didn’t know. After almost a nervous breakdown ( refused to give up), I found a retired Juki mechanic. He helped me and now I would never give up my machine. Do yourself a favor and find someone with knowledge of the machine. Oh, he also changed my motor and added a stitch regular ( I think that’s what it called), sews one stitch at a time. Game changer. A must have for bag making.
This is more like a video from a friend or a sister, just sharing the struggle of sewing. When I am having a hard time sleeping I start watching one of your videos and pretty soon I start having good ideas of what I want to do next and somehow, I let everything go and go to sleep. I hope you know that it is not just the sewing tips we learn from your videos but the relaxed atmosphere that you create.
You really gave it your best on this. There’s a valid lesson here…go until think you can’t go anymore, then go some more. And I too have challenges just like this, Murphy’s law, etc. but unlike you, because I’m a new sewist or quilter and I just don’t give up, I’ve had to just keep at it. I would never find joy if I quit everytime my needle broke, or thread breaks, shreds. etc. But you doing this, tossing pride aside, is one of the best videos yet.
I have a Thor GS1341s which is basically the same as yours with some extra features. Threading tip. When changing thread just clip above the maching and tie on the new thread to the previous thread that is already threaded in the machine and then pull thread all the way through. Saves so much time and needing to rewatch threading video a dozen times lol. Also, get multiple bobbins and set tension to various materials. I have 3. One for leather, one for vinyl (I've been using this one the most and sew various vinyls and waterproof canvases and haven't had to mess with tension knobs on the machine at all doing this), and another I haven't needed to use yet.
Make sure when you are pulling your material out that you turn the wheel so that the needle is in the highest position so it will release easier.
It needs to just start coming down for the threads to loosen.
Thank you for showing us your frustrations! I want this machine soooo bad and I know it’s good one, but watching you go through what you’re going through is like watching myself in the future going through the same stuff. I’m definitely not discouraged lol I will have my juki one day and I take comfort in knowing I’ll have these videos to help me.💜💜💜
I worked in clothing factories from leaving school at 16 up to my mid 30s, every day was a school day with industrials. You’re doing fine 😊
I also have the 1541S I bought from Gigi at Juki Junkies. When I first got it, I had the same problem with it locking up. I was frustrated and wanted to give up. Some things I learned was to hold onto the thread when you start sewing to keep it from getting sucked down into the throat plate. I also learned that the tiniest piece of thread in the bobbin area can cause havoc. Use canned air to blast any thread out then oil the hook and turn the handwheel several rotations. This helps loosen and move any thread that is stuck so you can use tweezers to remove it. Also, always pull your project to the rear to remove it and clip the threads, leaving a nice long tail I kept practicing to develop muscle memory and now I very rarely have an issue and I love the machine. Please don't give up and you will love it too!!!
Thanks for showing that you have real struggles too. You are one of my favourites because you are willing to show all aspects of sewing and not just the perfect bits.
I'm a leather bag maker, and have used my 1541 for about 8 years. A few things to keep in mind.
* Yes this machine can sew through thicker fabrics, leather etc, But eliminating bulk is still important, I find the machine does not like leather thickness transitions, which is what you were doing, when using leather, you can eliminate bulk by skiving.
* Always start with your needle down in the fabric, it will eliminate the messy bobbin thread issues on the underside.
* Hold on to your thread tails when you begin to stitch
*I found that the construction process of sewing a "fabric" bag from a leather bag is quite different. Not all leather bags need to be lined. The thread size needed to sew the leather portion of you project is much too heavy to sew the lining part of your bag. You will notice when you move down to sew the lining pieces together, the fabric will pucker etc. (unless your using a very heavy lining fabric, but if you do this, all your seams get too bulky real fast.
Hope some of this helps
I’m new at leather and my cylinder arm. You brought up an extremely good point about transitioning from leather to lining and thread weight. How do you handle it? I have several machines and right now I’m stopping, turning my chair and sewing the lining portion on my standard machine with a different thread weight, but I’m not always sewing at home. I take my sailrite walking foot machine on trips and sew. Which means I don’t have 2 machines handy. Do you stop and change thread? Sounds logical and a pain of course but curious how you handle it. Thanks for the great tips.
@@pamthetraveler7224 Hi, IMO I don't think its even necessary to line a leather bag, I don't. If the leather you are using, has a nice underside, why cover it? There are several ways to add inside pockets without using a lining. If you still find it necessary or prefer to line, it's not the best to use the technique in the video. If you look at some leather totes that are lined, usually the lining is cut and sewn (usually on another machine) to the same size as the bag, and then turned and inserted into the tote, the top edge is usually wrapped with a thin leather binding, and stitched in place, or you do the reverse and insert the leather into the constructed lining, stitch around the top and then pull up the lining (which has the bottom open and insert it into the leather bag, and then hand stitch the bottom closed, this technique encases the raw edges on the inside of the top seam. It really comes down to the look you are going for and the weight and temper of the leather you are using. If you would have chosen a lighter weight upholstery leather for the project in your video, you may have been able to make the bag with a lining, the seams would have been less bulky, but I don't know how the Juki would handle stitching the lining closed. You were using a pretty stiff utility type leather, which is usually more suited for single seam construction. Its quite a learning process and really comes down to the temper and weight of your leather. Also, most leather bags using the heavier leathers use brass zippers, which you can't sew over like the nylon ones, so you need to remove teeth etc.
I use a hump jumper with thicker fabrics. Your needle is bent from forcing when hand cranking to get it sewn. Using a jump humper to go over those thicker areas will do the trick.
I love your videos. And I love that you post the good with the bad. Anyone who has been sewing for long has felt this frustration at some point or another. It is all in the learning process.
You will never get use to it if you don't use it. Don't be intimidated by the machine. It's a beautiful machine and works amazingly. We use this machine in custom boat cushions. You will hear the bobbin click when it's in right.
I could be way off, but I had a similar problem with my ProSew and figured out I wasn't locking the bobbin in properly and it was slightly skew whiff and would move, just like yours is, so the needle wasn't going in the right place to pick up the bobbin thread and would bend then break. The open space in the bobbin has to be directly below where the needle goes through and you have to hear it click into place when you put the bobbin in. I think I have figured mine out now, but still a huge learning curve. I do love it as it goes through layers like butter and makes life so much easier. I guess you just have to keep practicing until you build confidence. Regarding the tension, mine locks the tension after a few seconds after stopping and I use the knee lifter and it releases the tension then I can pull the thread through. Mine came with a miniscule manual that needs a magnifying glass to read, but I did get a few tips from that and the company I bought it through are extremely good helping when you have a problem. Hang in there, you can do it :)
Industrial machines do have a learning curve, that’s for sure. I sewed wedding gowns and formal attire for years before I decided to make bags. I still love my domestic machines for those purposes, but I love my industrial machines for bag making. I have the Juki 1181N and Juki 8700 that I use all the time; my Juki TL2010 Q semi industrial machine when I travel. When I first got my industrial machines, I was very intimidated by them. After you sew and get to really know the machine your confidence builds and you can make some very get bags and heavy projects. I absolutely loved this video Jess because you are sharing the “real” experience of industrial machine sewing. I can honestly say that TH-cam was my best friend when I started because I didn’t know how to thread it either. I have always genuinely loved all your tutorials because you are so down to earth and your teaching style is so relatable.
My only advice to you is to keep at it. Also: 1. When you are threading your machine, lift up the knee lift when going around the top tension dial, then lower the lift when you finish threading the machine. 2. You also don’t need to manually lift the needle, use your knee lift for that. 3. My personal stitch length preference is to stitch at 3, baste at 4, and top stitch at 4-5. 4. Skiving the leather helps keep the bulk out of the seams. 5. I don’t change the side of the foot that I sew on, my regular walking foot gets plenty close to the zipper, without going over it. 6. A jumper jumper will help going over the layers and transition from the lining over the thicker leather pieces.
Going to tell you straight up no sugar coating, it is your timing, user error that is causing this. Do not give up, over come it, if you do decide to fix your timing, video tape yourself doing it, because when you fix it, it will be the most gratification for yourself, you will love your machine.
It’s such a simple machine once you get to know it it really is. One tip when threading this machine is loft the presser foot when threading through the tension dial areas and this opens the discs so that the thread sits inside the discs properly.
Why the Needle Bent and Fix:
The bobbin case has an opening for the needle to pass through which obviously must be aligned with the needle. If the bobbin case is allowed to rotate, the needle can strike a solid part and bend. You can tell the bobbin case has rotated if it's latch is NOT pointing to 4 o'clock.
Normally the bobbin case will not rotate unless the part of the hook assembly it snaps into, called the 'bobbin basket' has rotated. This bobbin basket has a notch which accepts a positioning finger. This finger locks the bobbin basket at the correct angle.
The positioning finger has only one screw to hold it and allow adjustment into and out of the notch. If the screw is loose or the finger is ill adjusted, it will slide out the notch and allow the bobbin basket to rotate. This is what happened.
There is a very good video by Sewing Gold called -- 'Juki DNU-1541S position finger adjustment'
th-cam.com/video/5KtJCSfRafA/w-d-xo.html
which shows how to fix this.
I loved you showing us the bad with the good. I learnt so much researching this and wanted to pass it on.
Addendum:
@44:27 you can see the hook rotating when Jess turns the hand wheel.
This proves that safety clutch has not tripped because the safety clutch will disengage the hook shaft turning when it has tripped.
Also @44:37 you can see the latch of the bobbin case rotate with the hook assembly.
The bobbin latch is rotating between 11 and 12 o'clock, not fixed at its normal 4 o'clock position.
This proves that the positioning finger is not holding the bobbin basket in place.
I enjoy watching videos that are not absolutely perfect, makes me feel normal and respect you more. Thank you
I believe that you are supposed to line up the the three dots on the handwheel with the flange on the head so that everything is aligned to accept the bobbin. As far as the needle hitting the bobbin case goes, that is definitely a timing issue, probably from hand cranking over the thick seam, since it was working perfectly up till then. That shouldn't throw the timing off normally, but I suspect that there might be a set screw somewhere that was not tight enough and allowed the bobbin case/hook to slip/twist out of adjustment. Once you figure that out, you'll love the Juki, ... until you find something else to sort out. Stick with it until you've sorted everything out, and you will if you are determined to, then you will have clear sailing for a long time and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about in the beginning.
I bought a refurbished 1541 DL about 3+ years ago. I hated it and wanted to return it. It took me about 3 SOLID months of using it EXCLUSIVELY to just feel comfortable with it, not expert. We are friends now, but it was touch and go for a while. When I don't use it for a spell, I go through the same thing, researching TH-cam to remember everything again. That machine is scary. It's fast, it's heavy, and it can sew through your hand. The tension is finicky. It depends on the fabric and thread combinations. I always use scrap fabric tests until I get what I want for EACH PROJECT. As for needles and thread. I use 19 & 20 on marine vinyls. Heavier leather I have used up to a 22. I use a bonded poly tex 90 for threads. If my tension is too tight, my thread shreads. For humps, I roll up scraps and hand crank through the thickest part
I am so excited you are using your 1541S! I bought the same machine about the same time. I have wondered if I was missing videos of you using this machine.
The machine locks up for safety to keep you from breaking anything. There is a button to the right of the needle. You have to push the button and turn the hand wheel to release. There are TH-cam videos 😊 I think your issue was going from the thin fabric to the thick. It doesn’t like thin fabric unless you are using a smaller needle.
The machine is big and scary but if you use it enough I think you will love it!
I agree with you that this machine will sew through fabric the Bernina will not. I own a Bernina 880 & it sews very well but not the thick leather I use.
You are great and I love your videos, not to mention you putting your realness out there.
Hang in there and I hope you decide you love this machine
This is hilarious. Thank you Jess for sharing your vulnerabilities. I’m the same way with my industrial, now I don’t feel too bad about it all.
This has to be one of the best videos you have done. This is all if us at some point in life. I feel the same way whenever I have to sit down at my Juki. Confused and terrified but determined to conquer the beast! Great video. Thank you.
Hi Jess, your vids helped propel me into bag making. It has been a journey for me and my sewing machines. I started on a basic Brother..which was a little trooper..but I felt sorry for it... which turned into a whirlwind 🌀of buy, test, sell, buy until I found my magical trio. A long list of machines that I have tested for bag making (Fabric, Canvas, Vinyl, making my own straps).. from Sailrite Ultrafeed to vintage Singers. I ended up with two Juki's (2010/1121 straight-stitch only) and a Babylock. for different stitches/embroidery. I can not say enough good about the 1121, It has been a game changer, I thought about the 1541 but I knew I would not be using real leather. She is easy to use and perfect for bag making without being too much to handle. LOVE your videos!! Your style of teaching is perfect!
I so identify! I’ve had the Juki LU-2810-7. She is a BEAST & runs on an air compressor. It has taken 3 years to get fairly comfortable w it. There are no tutorials, rarely any videos & most that own this machine run an upholstery business or factory & have technicians on site. Maybe with these big industrial machines Juki could benefit from many, many more how-to videos. As others have said, I greatly appreciated your honesty in learning & please know, I’ve spent hours trying to figure it out, maybe days. It certainly took me nearly a year of having my machine to really begin working on it, it is STRONG & intimidating. Thank you for all you do. ❤
I purchased my 1541s in early November and haven’t played too much. It stitched like a dream! Just have to build up my confidence ❤. Maybe use your “hump jumper” from your home machine to help stitch that bulky part smoothly.
36:30 make sure the presser foot is at the highest step setting. Here's a video on how to check and if needed change it: Juki DNU-1541S middle presser foot adjustment
41:09 that needle needs to be changed, it's bent and not straight any more 🙂
I have a Juki 1541 (non S) and love it. But it certainly is a learning curve going from a domestic machine to an industrial machine. It is somewhat daunting at first. Practise makes perfekt!
I love that you show us even your struggles. As a bag maker, some days go so smooth, and others are a total nightmare that make you even rethink your path all together. Its nice to know even someone with as much great work under your belt as you have still has these days too. While i love your tutorials ... i loved this video just as much!
Industrials definitely have a learning curve 😂 I have a Consew 206RB, and some wonderful person posted 2 videos with literally every maintenance issue and how to do it step by step. It was a life saver for me to be able to adjust everything properly.
he's the best! My machine locked up and watched his video and it's running better now than when I got it!
I have the same machine and have no idea how to use it, do you mind sharing where you found the videos?
@@33Krysta th-cam.com/video/y4ACNMX65zE/w-d-xo.html This is part 1 - just save his channel, only a few videos ☺️
@@mrsgcb Mine too… the guy that I bought it from is really nice - I got it for a good price, but there was definitely some tweaking needed to get it running smoothly!
Just quickly coming on to help a bit. I bought my industrial March 2021. The things I had go wrong in the first few weeks were, 📍thread shredding - fix - larger needle. Size 18 with Tex80 thread.📍stitches too loose - fix - tightened the tension disc on the front - rotated 5-6 times to the right before it came right 📍losing control when stitching - fix- slowed the speed down to 600 and even down to 100 for difficult bits instead 1200 I had it at. The maximum on my machine is 2200. I now run my machine at about 800, I find that the most helpful for me for control and ease of use. If I am sewing curves or corners, I slow it down. I also had the foot pedal plate moved to the back of the table as far as possible so my knee wasn't scrunched up which then gave me more control with the foot pedal. (I'm tall with long legs so was necessary)
With Tex 80 thread which I use, I have the stitch length at 4 and 4.75 for top stitching. If very thick vinyl I lengthen the stitch length.
📍presser foot destroying the vinyl - fix- I use a scrap piece of vinyl, which I slide under the back of the presser foot and slide it along behind the stitching as I go. I also use this piece folded as a hump jumper when needed.
It took me a good 3 months of sewing constantly on the machine to get the hang of it, I am still learning. I also joined a private group of fellow sewists who have the same machine as me, and we talk to each other and help each other out. I recommend this very much so. My machine is medium to heavy duty Zoje
where is this group? :O
I LOVE MY JUKI 1541 A.K.A ORPHEUS! I purchased mine from Steve at Sewing Gold in Chicago (where I live), and he can walk/talk you through anything. I've had it for almost 3 years and will not sew on nothing else, unless it's for regular domestic sewing and I use my Viking. The Juki 1541 can handle ANY thickness and NEVER had any problems. When I got it I watched videos, and Steve guided me as well. He has a bunch of video on YT.
I bought my 1541 from Steve too bc of the awesome support he provides. Love my 1541.
I first watched his videos on user errors on the 1541 and helped me a lot.
Do you have the s version?
@@tiffanymartinez4482 no I do not.
I am very new to trying to make bags. I subscribe to your Sallie tomato box. I feel like this is how every attempt on my regular sewing machine is for me. 🤣
Well, Jess, perhaps you should just gift the machine to me. 😄
I hate to see my favorite teacher be so frustrated and will gladly take on your frustrations! I am a rather pushy broad myself, so I think I could match its attitude and prevail. 🤣😂🤣😂
Yes my Juki 1541s locked up three times yesterday.. I get very frustrated too. I have faith in you I know you’ll make friends with your Juki.
I have the same machine. For threading I numbered the way you thread it. My husband also bought me a speed reducer and that was a game changer!
Oh the fun to be had with your industrial machine!! I always have a saying, "Just go for it and have fun doing!". You'll figure it out by just playing with it. I'm saving my loose chain to get my machine. LOL!!
You are so funny. I’m stuck, I’m stuck. I love my Juki 1541s. I did higher a repairman to come to my home to check my machine and fix the tension on my machine. Once I got that done I have loved my machine ever since. Living in NYC was a win to find someone to come into my home. I don’t use my machine that much so I too have to look up how to thread and wind a bobbin. I have found that most of my problems come from needle placement. The needle has to be placed straight in. That’s what causes me trouble every time I change my needle in this machine.
Something you may try is a checklist of things like a pilot. Oil. Tension. Needle. Etc. And all of the references so you can reduce some memtal load while sewing.
Press lightly on the presser foot to relieve tension as your pulling the fabric out and it won’t shred the thread. It takes so much practice because we are used to domestic but everything on industrial is different. I was even told NOT to use the hand lever to lift the presser foot. Always to use the knee press and it’s so hard NOT to use the lever!
Learn to use a hump jumper! also, a leather needle. learn how to change your feet!
I'm sure it's a fabulous machine, but it is a different animal from your domestic. Not all skills are going to transfer and you are going to have to commit some time for these new skills to be learned.
don't know how helpful this is, but I did lots of research when I wanted an industrial. I finally decided on a semi-industrial SailRite Ultrafeed with the extra heavy duty wheel. no, it's not as powerful as a full industrial, but if you can get it under the foot, you can sew thru it. I've sewn several layers of leather with no problems. i also like the idea that you can also use it with a crank in addition to electrical, and it takes up way less real estate.
Stay with it. I love my 1541S. I went from a singer Quantum Stylist to my Juki. You will not hurt it, it has that safety mechanism. Your machine is just locked up all you need to do is unlock it with the button on the plate.
You are not alone. I have had the identical machine for a year. Finally, today I hired a juki authorized repairman to my home. Best money I have spent. He explained all of it to me and I was educated. Yes, I’ve used it for a year but the timing thing is impossible. My understanding is that they must be set up correctly in the beginning and it’s way beyond me to set that. Even with TH-cam. Again, get a professional once to explain all of this to you. You will eventually have a reasonable fear of the 1541s.
Love my 1541never had any tension trouble. I find the standard foot works best. I had my nephew etch seam allowances on the throat plate. Don't know why they don't have them on there. Keep the top thread with the bobbin thread under the foot. When you pull up the bobbin thread you can pull the top thread to the back and underneath the foot. The edge of the foot is one quarter inch, where it is split from the right is one eighth. Hope that makes sense.
I can’t help. But I can say that you working through these issues are making you an even better teacher. I learned with my moms inherited machine a year ago then over Christmas got a straight stitch machine. I think I thought, said, and did almost everything you did today. Thank you for sharing your vulnerability.
The narrow foot is a game changer. I doubt I’ll ever switch back to the standard foot. Great machine! I went with the 1541, no S, wanted to avoid the stress of it locking up 😂
Put bobbin from underneath. Don't need to lift machine. Wish I could be there to help. I've been an industrial sewer for 30 years. Don't give up.
I have a sailrite LSZ-1 with the worker b motor and it is amazing. I sew leather bags and it plows through everything. It is a portable walking foot matching, I don’t have a lot of room so that is perfect for me. If I had the room I would have gotten the sailrite fabricator. The slow speed control on sailrite machines especially with the worker b motor is insane and honestly a game changer. Worth looking at. Also I watch a ton of your videos and using a light is great, I use one too but when you don’t want to mess up the finish on the exterior of a bag you would love the sailrite battery operated thread burner. Seriously check it out. Love your video, keep them up.
Lighter*
Hump jumper on leather to change thickness. Use front side and back. Safety switch and rotate wheel until it clicks…happens often but not a lot
Thank you sooo much for this video. I love your video’s. I learn so much from you but I always think am I the only one that struggles? You showing us the “ behind the scenes” so to speak makes me love you even more.
I agree
You can also barely push the “gas pedal” down and the thread will pull out easier when you have finished sewing a section. That was a game changer too I learned, now I don’t struggle pulling the thread out when I am ready to cut it. I watch a lot of videos on this machine. Soon you will learn to love it!
I forgot to tell you the foot you're using on the right side of the foot is just under 1/4 inch. In the marine shops I've worked in we don't use a zipper foot. You could use tape for a seam guide until you get use to the machine. You got this!
I know what you are going through. I also have a Juki-1541s. I was very intimidated and unsure at first. I watched videos by different people on youtube and eventually got comfortable with sewing on it. I now sew with it often, except very light weight materials. Love your videos.
Proper service mechanics can work wonders! I hear your frustration and sewing should be enjoyable. A service on the machine may not be cheap or easy but the cost to your sanity is worth it. They're able to tell you EVERYTHING. I know that you will love the sewing eventually.
It took me over a year to fully understand my Juki 8700. I super love it now. When you insert the bobbin, insert it from below instead of in the square door. Don't hold the tab on the bobbin case out. That is the "lock". When you are holding the tab out, the bobbin won't "click" so you don't know if it is properly inserted in the machine or not. I'm sure you have a million people reaching out to help you with this machine and don't need my silly advice. But I totally remember the struggle. Hang in there, it gets easier with time.
You are not alone in trying to get these expensive machines to work, the way we want. I don’t have an industrial but I have a long arm quilting machine (which I love) and like you, because I’m only using it about 2 or 3 times a year, it’s a learning curve every time. Thanks for trying to handle the big beast today. I’m sure it’s a simple fix.
I love what you said about how that machine humbles you and knocks you down a bit. I think we all get cocky and even though I have been sewing leather handbags for years, I switched to clothing, then back to bags and suddenly forgot how to make a zipper pocket. I got frustrated with myself and wanted to cry. I should be able to whip up anything. Or sew I thought LOL.
To release the tension push your knee lifter to lift the foot. To change the stitch length push the reverse button halfway then turn the stitch length control.
Several viewers have already pointed out the need to use a hump-jumper or folded leather, cardboard, etc. to help you go over that extra thickness. I use this all the time with my Pfaff Passport 2.0, and it saves your sanity. Also, when your needle does that "bending" trick you have already bent your needle, and it seems to cause that "locked up" situation (at least that's what happens to me). At that point I just stop, remove my needle if I can, and then remove the bobbin. Hopefully at that point your machine will move freely, and you can start over with a new needle.
I really enjoy your channel. We all get frustrated, just keep going😉
Leather is another beast of itself, practice with you vinyl, you will love your machine so much once you get the learning curve down, you are an awesome teacher.
Send it back! I had the same problem and wanted to cry every time I used it. I swore it was cursed. I ended up having to send it back and replaced. The second one hasn’t given me any problems at all and I love it!! In my research I found many that had the same problem and had to replace their machine. Don’t wait until the warranty it out!
Oh my gosh!!! My heart is so happy to see this realistic display of Juki madness🙀🙈. I had my Juki one day and totally freaked out and returned it. BUT!!! I really should have stuck it out. I opted for way more expensive domestic. Industrial machines are a big challenge. Thank you for being so REAL. I feel you!
Há. I almost didn’t watch this video because I thought it would make me be so afraid of this machine I would give up. But I am glad I watched. The pain and fear went away
From a post with someone who had same prob as you. I think you need to re-engage the hook while pressing the button maybe? I don’t have the S.
There is a silver button on the base of the machine head. He showed me how to depress the button which locks into a cog under the base. While holding down the button, just spin the hand wheel backwards to re-engage the drive to the hook. He said that is a safety feature in the 1541. The hook disengages when the needle hangs or gets stuck. Whew. I didn't break it after all.
I've been wanting this machine for a while, I just got a Bernina B590 though because I also love embroidery. Everyone makes it look so easy using this machine, but I love how you're showing the actual struggle with it. Think I'll wait a bit, I still struggle with my Bernina from time to time.
I applaud you for posting this video 👏 It takes vulnerability to show your struggles at something new and I am so thankful to you for being human in showing yours. I love this video because I am thinking of purchasing a stronger sewing machine. I will be on the lookout for part 2 and just know you'll get it figured out!! 💜
I can help you with this! First off you most likely need to skive this leather. Next.. your zipper tabs are too close to the seam allowance for this leather. Next.. you cannot handcrank the wheel backwards and forwards… this jambs the machine. Push the metal button on the base to unlock. Message me and I can help you! I have been sewing on industrial machines for over 45 years. 💕
Hi Jess. I have a bit older Husqvarna Designer Embroidery machine. It does NOT do well with heavy sewing projects. My son does leather projects an uses a Juki It does a great job. Nice chair. I just switched out the same wheels on my sewing chair for the roller blade types and I am loving them. It even rolls on carpet!
I agree whole heartedly. The Juke is one heck of a workhorse.
When that locks up take your bobbin iut re thread the whole machine and check the needle, I’ve had that very problem and I use mine daily, hopefully this helps once it’s threaded right and the bobbins in right it goes in a special way as well, look at the video on the bobbins , once you get it going you will LOVE it I promise you, if you were my neighbor I’d come help you out, I wish I could’ve talked to you during your video I seen exactly what was wrong I’ve been there, they do work wonderful once you get the machine figured out it’s way different than a regular sewing machine
I have an older industrial machine, still learning. First time I wound a bobbin I didn’t unthread the needle. Had to get my timing fixed. Waiting now to get the motor that gives more speed control. I asked Lauren Mormino for advice, she said practice and give yourself grace. ❤ hope it works for both of us in the near future ❤❤
Ive experienced this problem doing upholstery, last time I used a mallet to flatten the seam. Those bulky seams will knock your machine out of time. Another fix Ive used is to cut out a path for the foo to glide through. Don't give up girl!! Your good at what you do!
I have noticed on my knee lift for a domestic Juki….. if it’s not lifted all the way up, my thread will shred. I think I’m so focused on another point, I let my knee relax a bit.
Loved this video. I have a 1541s and had the exact same problems. It was soooooo frustrating and no one to talk to but look at videos. I just kept at it and learned how to unlock. I almost returned it, but I kept at it, taking it apart and putting it back together. Now I love, love, love it.
Hey Jess! Check that your Bobbin Race hasn’t shifted. That happened on my embroidery machine and the whole machine locked up. I was stressing that it was going to be a pricey repair but took the bobbin and race out and then put it all back together and it worked!!! ❤
I think the problem with inserting your bobbin is you need to rotate the bobbin case so that the hinge lever is pointed toward you. The hole in the case has to be inserted with the hole on the top side toward the feed dogs.
I love watching all your videos and it is so cool to see how to learn an industrial machine. I can't help or give advice for the machine but there is wheels for office chairs for carpet they look like rollerblade wheels it makes sewing on carpet in my room a ton easier as far as wheeling around room and don't have to have mat under it. I cannot wait to see what you make or do next have an awesome day
Best tip, if you dont use the machine all the time, leave the machine threaded and just cut the thread at the spool. :)
That's what I do for my serger.
You are so funny, you did a great job. Wish I had a Juki.
Jess, I love this type of video bc then I don't feel like I'm alone on these issues with my industrial..
So funny, I didn’t even know the bobbin cover slid open! So glad you did this!!
Spending time with Jess....priceless!
@42:00 hold reset button and rotate the wheel backwards 1/4 turn.
Thank you for this video I am planning to purchase this machine and I now feel more comfortable knowing I won’t be alone with my fear of it
I wonder if the Safety clutch throws off the Timing every time it engages. I have also heard that the regular 1541 is less hassle. Do you think JJ will let you swap out this machine for the regular 1541? Also, Steve at Sewing Gold can help you with the Pulley that will slow down your machine more. Also, when you put the Bobbin Case in, don't hold it by the Latch...just hold the whole Case and let it "snap" in. Also, sometimes these vertical bobbins need help on the 1st stitch because, since they have nothing to pull against, they create a loop when you start sewing and then the hook can even get caught on that loop. This could have been what happened when you started hand cranking over that thick seam...It could have formed a loop, and then the Hook caught on that loop, which didn't allow the hook to spin, but your needle still came down, and then your needle bent, and the safety engaged. So, try starting the 1st stitch by hand cranking the needle down, and then just a bit farther till the hook grabs, then pull on the top thread about 1/2 inch. Then finish that stitch by handcranking, just so you know your machine can handle being that tight and not breaking anything. If it handles it ok, then you know that the next time you do this, you can just start sewing after you have pulled on that top thread 1/2". And lastly, I do have a comprehensive pdf on how to set your bobbin and top tensions for your machine, using a Towa gauge. I have a method where you actually find out the formula for your machine. I may post it on my website soon (WeQuiltStudio). And here is my tension playlist which should also have the video about how to "Start without Loops": th-cam.com/play/PLFc2_CE1o6RK5NmJ9IvzmpbvHfxmiYEtJ.html
That is exactly why I bought the 1508N instead of the 1541. I didn’t want the bobbin underneath. I’m in the same boat. It’s like we need a college course for each of our machines lol. Prayers out to you.
The reason it might lock up is that the timing gets thrown off. What I do is turn off the machine and then try to move it again. Sometimes that works to get it moving again. Also make sure to ALWAYS hold you thread tails since that can cause to throw off your timing.
Everything you said!
OP, not only that. I didn't hold mine one time and thread jammed, bobbin assembly got stuck and 22 needle broke the assembly when it came down in the wrong place. 150+ dollars to get OEM part from Walmart (of all places, right?). I later found a polish website (Stima) and ordered a backup from them for only about 80 dollars. Took 4 months to receive it.
Oh yeah, and I had to set the timing again after replacing assembly. It helped me learn a ton about the machine but was NOT fun. I had to figure out how to fix the timing from Sewing Gold and another video from someone in Asia.
I’m so sorry that your machine isn’t working properly, that can be very frustrating! I don’t have an industrial machine, but changing the stitch length then forgetting to change it back, and forgetting to put my sewing foot back down… yeah I’ve done that so many times!! 😂
I would definitely agree - don’t crank backwards! I was shown to slide back bobbin cover as a viewing window, but reach under the table to put the bobbin in, watching through the top. Works well. A purple thang or stiletto (not the type you wear on your foot 😂) would be a good idea when struggling to position the fabric, to avoid nasty accidents.