Best Large Throat Sewing Machines For Quilting

There are tons of sewing machines out there and while you could use any of them for quiltingpurchasing a large throat sewing machine for quilting makes the job so much easier.

If you’ve ever tried maneuvering a large quilt around a standard machine… then you know exactly how frustrating it can be.

Of course, everyone would love to own a long-arm quilting machine to rid them of this problem, but, sadly, it’s just not in the budget for a lot of people.

That’s why I’ve dug deep into the web to find the best of the best sewing machines for quilters on a budget – Here are my top picks.

Top 5 Large Throat Sewing Machines For Quilting

Baby Lock Jazz 2 – Editor’s Pick

The Baby Lock Jazz II offers the largest throat space – For the lowest price point.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find any other machine in this price range with 12 inches of throat space. The Baby Lock Jazz 2 is simply in a class of its own in this department.

While it does lack some of the fancier features of more expensive machines, the truth is, many of those features will likely go unused anyway – needlessly wasting your budget.

Top 5 Features
  • 12″ Throat Space
  • 1,000 Stitches Per Minute
  • Needle Up/Down
  • Handles Heavy Fabrics Well
  • Hands-Free Knee Lift

For quilters, solid performance, good throat space, and a budget-friendly price point are the most in-demand features for a sewing machine – and the Baby Lock Jazz 2 ticks all 3 boxes.

Verified Buyer Review

Click here to read more consumer reviews for the Baby Lock Jazz 2

Looking for a long-arm quilting experience without the high price tag?

Consider adding a Q Zone Hoop frame which allows for effortless free-motion quilting and mimics a much pricier long-arm machine for a fraction of the price.

Video: The Baby Lock Jazz 2 free motion quilting on the Q Zone Hoop Frame – $1,199 to upgrade.
Sewing Machines Plus is offering a free accessory bundle with the machines.

Click here to get the best price on the Baby Lock Jazz 2

Not the machine for you? No problem! Check out our comparison table below to compare our top 3 machines side-by-side to see everything they offer.


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Baby Lock Jazz 2 Juki 2010Q Juki NX7
Price $799 $899 $2,499
Type Mechanical Mechanical Computerized
Throat 12″ 8.5″ 12″
Speed 1,000 SPM 1,500 SPM 1,050 SPM
Stitches 28 Straight ONLY 28
Needle Up/Down YES YES YES
Knee Lift YES YES YES
Thread Tension Manual Manual Automatic
Thread Cutter Side Automatic Automatic
Drop Feed/Free Motion YES YES YES
Dual Feed No No YES
Thread Cutter Built-In Automatic Automatic
Needle Threader Built-In Automatic Automatic
Speed Control YES YES YES

Juki TL-2010Q

large throat sewing machines for quilting
The Juki TL-2010Q is a workhorse with 8.5 inches of throat space and a handy extension table!

The Juki TL-2010Q was made with quilters in mind. It’s an amazingly fast machine, capable of 1,500 stitches per minute, and it also includes an extension table which makes crafting large pieces, like quilts, a breeze. Though, the 8.5-inch throat space is a lot smaller than what the Baby Lock Jazz II has.

Much like the Jazz II, this machine is also not as fancy as some high-dollar machines, but if you primarily want to use it for quilting, this workhorse will serve you right. It features stop and cut buttons for efficient work, but it also allows you to cut using the foot pedal, a unique and useful feature. You’ll also get a convenient knee lift lever for the presser foot which allows you to adjust it hands-free, so both hands can stay on the fabric.

You should keep in mind though that the Juki TL-2010Q is straight stitch only. It doesn’t do fancy things like monogram, and it doesn’t come with hundreds of built-in stitches, BUT it does do exactly what a sewing machine should do – it sews. Which it does very well, leaving consumers raving about how beautifully this machine stitches.

While this machine may seem a bit bare-bones compared to other modern sewing machines – it does include some very cool features. It includes two types of quilting feet and drop feed. You can use this for free motion quilting and free-hand embroidery, which can add a nice touch to your projects. The drop feed feature also allows you to sew precise, curved stitches with ease.

Top 5 Features
  • Hands-free Presser Foot Knee Lift
  • 1,500 Stitches Per Minute
  • Cut With The Foot Pedal
  • Free Hand Embroidery
  • Straight Stitch Only
Click to read more reviews for this machine.

Click here to get the best price on the Juki 2010Q.

JUKI Kieri NX7

Juki hzl-nx7 Reviews
The Juki Kieri NX7 offers 12 inches of throat space, and an extension table to extend your work area.

While the Juki Kieri is not exactly budget-friendly, it is a fantastic sewing machine with 12 inches of throat space. The included extension tables also brings your workspace up to 22.4″ x 13.6″, giving you ample room for projects, and the machine zips along at a respectable 1,050 stitches per minute.

Unlike the first two machines on our list, this one does have all the bells and whistles. It’s a computerized model, which features a large, color touch panel, and a plethora of advanced features that will delight sewing enthusiasts.

One of which is Juki’s smart feed function, which moves the top and bottom layers of the fabric in sync with each other, allowing you to be more precise when quilting, and a float function that keeps your seams perfectly even.

However, there’s plenty more to love, including automatic tension, start/stop buttons, needle up/down, automatic thread trimming, retractable feed dogs, extra LED lighting, a free arm option for hemming chores and tight spaces, optional twin needle sewing capabilities, assignable foot pedal controls, a bobbin winder, a bobbin thread counter to avoid breakage, and tons more.

So, if you’re ready to splurge, and you’re looking for a machine that does it all – this is the one. It’s quiet and runs smoothly, it offers every quality of life feature you could dream of, and for everything it offers, the price point is more than fair compared to similar machines.

Top 5 Features
  • 12″ Throat Space
  • Automatic Thread Tension
  • Juki Smart Dual-Feed
  • Assignable Foot Pedal Controls
  • Float Function
Click to read more reviews for this machine.

Click here to get the best price on the Juki NX7.

Janome MC6650

wide throat sewing machine
The Janome MC6650 offers almost as much throat space as the 14000 for a fraction of the price.

The Janome Memory Craft MC6650 has almost as much throat space as the 14000 (10 vs 11 inches of throat space), but it won’t cost you $6,999. In fact, this sewing machine comes in at a very reasonable $1,599 in comparison, and that’s why it makes our list. This machine is also pretty quick, and you’ll be able to sew 1,000 stitches per minute with it.

The MC6650 also features a super durable aluminum frame, and it has tons of useful quality-of-life features for the price. This includes lots of built-in stitches, an easy change needle plate, a convenient top-loading bobbin, reverse stitches for reinforcing seams, a programmable thread trimmer, 20 memory banks for storing stitch sequences, stitch mirroring, speed control, needle up/down, a 7 piece feed dog system with drop feed, and more – all while being very easy to use.

This allows you to have a little more versatility with your projects if you do care about fancy features, but you don’t want to spend a small fortune on a machine. The MC6650 has plenty of fun stuff to keep quilters busy, and its value-added features help you to be more productive if you’re not happy with a more bare-bones machine.

Top 5 Features
  • 10″ Throat Space
  • 1,000 Stitches Per Minute
  • Independent Bobbin Winder
  • Heavy-Duty Aluminum Frame
  • Needle Up/Down

Click here to get the best price on the Janome MC6650.

Juki Exceed HZL-F600

The f600 offers a little less throat space than the NX7, but comes at a much nicer price point.

If the NX7 is out of your budget, then the Juki Exceed HZL-F600 could be an option. The throat space is not quite as nice (8 inches of throat space), but the price definitely is. You’ll be able to pick up this machine for almost a third of the price, and you’ll still have some pretty nice features to boot if you can deal with a bit less space.

The f-600 is almost as fast as the NX7, at 900 Stitches per minute, and it also includes premium features like a box feed system, random stitching, automatic needle threading, foot pedal thread trimming, sensor method button holes, and lots more.

This machine works well on many different kinds of fabrics, including heavy/thick fabrics, but it’s also great if you have other projects which require more delicate fabrics. It also comes with an extension table, and you can trim your threads by using the button, OR with a heel motion on the foot pedal for faster, hands-free snipping.

Top 5 Features
  • 8″ Throat Space
  • Randomize Stitches
  • Large Extension Table
  • Box Feed System
  • Trim Threads With Foot Pedal

Click here to get the best price for the Juki Exceed F600!

In closing, it’s important to remember that while you can easily purchase a sewing machine that’s the price of a used car, do you really need to do that? Will you use all of the features?

Knowing exactly what you need can save you a lot of money, and it’s important to think about that before you buy a machine. However, at the same time, you shouldn’t forgo a valuable feature that you’ll REALLY use to save $100 either. I hope this article has been helpful to you.

Happy crafting,

Tanya.