Reddit mentions of JUKI TL-2000Qi Sewing and Quilting Machine

I would suggest finding a machine with a deeper throat space or quilting is gonna be mega frustrating. If you can't find one in your price range, look for a good used machine. You don't need fancy stitches, just straight stitch, a strong motor, and the aforementioned deeper throat space. This Juki is in your range. I had test driven it before I bought my used Pfaff and it was nice. I have never used it for a project though so I can't say much else.

Good luck with this project, it's a really sweet gift to help this woman tick off a bucket list item.

If you really want to sew, I suggest a getting a serger in addition to a main machine. Trying to deal with the zig-zag stitch on one of those computerized machines sucks.

My cheap-o brother machines have died slow deaths and I've replaced them with Juki. TL-2000qi and a MO-644d

> What tools might I need?

not much really. seam ripper, good shears (ginger is a great brand), a long ruler (this guy works great), denim needles.

chalk (I only buy Clover brand)

I prefer binder clips over pins. Don't try to sew through pins with denim - great way to break needles/machines.

> I'll probably be buying cone denim, but what do you use and where do you source it?

this is a great source for denim, thread, buttons, and rivets. They even sell a kit with everything including a pattern.

> What about thread, buttons and zippers?

above source for all of that

> Any advice or pro tips?

serge everything but the selvedge ends. especially if you do stretch denim. makes the whole job about twice as fast.

What kind of quilting do you do? If you don't do a lot of applique, I'd consider getting this or this. Both are straight stitch only, but have generous harp space and will do a lot of piecing and quilting. Modern Singers have a pretty dubious reputation and both of these brands are generally better thought of.

The other thing I'd suggest is looking around for a used machine. I currently have 2 vintage machines, a Singer 15-91 (another straight stitch only), Singer Rocketeer (does a variety of stitches). If you're mechanically minded there are quite a number of them around and a lot of information about restoring them. If you aren't, there are a number of people who restore and then sell them. Might be worth considering since these machines are practically indestructible and you can do all their maintenance yourself.

I also have a used Janome Horizon MC 7000, which I found on Craigslist for $800. It was scary to buy something that expensive, but the lady selling it taught me how to use it (which helped show me it wasn't a lemon) and there are a couple quilt shops that service Janomes around me. Because I bought used I was able to get a >$2500 machine for a fraction of the cost.

Just some things to think about! Best of luck!

I have an industrial walking foot machine and it works great for upholstery, leather, thick canvas, webbing all the heavier stuff. I can do some short repairs on it and jean hemming, no issues. But I cannot do thin jersey shirting material, it's just too light weight for my industrial machine so from what you have said the machine that can go up to the weight you want and do thinner material would be the Juki TL-2000QI which has some great features you didn't talk about like a knee lift.

You won't get all the different zig zag, 300 different stitch types though this is a straight stitch only machine but is comes with a nice big table and it can do free quilting if you are ever into that but you can also do denim repair with this machine using the free quilting. Here is a review for it that might better explain the pros/cons the difference between the Amazon link I put up and the 2010Q that the blog reviews is the feet the machine comes with and about 100 bucks or so. If you need the feet go for the more expensive model if not, go with the Amazon one if you decide it is the one for you.

This is the home machine I will be buying next and it is at the top of your price range but it would be a machine you'd pass onto a relative. If you want a good mix of sewing and embroidery you can look at a Brother SE400, you can also do free motion quilting on it, but you are back down in power so upholstery is going to be problematic, your main struggle will be going over the seams at 4+ layers and if you help it over those the Brother will work for you doing a chair on a one off, you won't burn it up.