Juki HZL-LB5100 Review

The Juki HZL-LB5100 was a consistent performer across all our tests. It easily produces even, neat, and tidy stitches, though its tension settings require adjusting to match your project. It's not a machine for beginners, but if you're looking to level up your sewing game, this is a solid, albeit costly, choice.

Performance Comparison

Sewing

Across all fabrics and most stitches, the HZL-LB5100 default settings needed some tweaking to get the tension right. The most basic straight stitches, zig-zag stitches, and blind hems were close to the correct tensions on the standard settings. The more complex stitches, like a scalloped stitch and triangle stitch, needed significant adjustments to correct tension inconsistencies causing bottom threads to show through and the fabric to bunch.

Though HZL-LB5100 sailed through eight layers of 12-ounce denim with ease. This machine maintained consistently straight seam creation even over the ends of a zipper and its zipper pull. There was also zero struggle through two layers of cotton muslin and two layers of quilt batting.

While the HZL-LB5100 persistently made stitches of even sizes and spacing, it's not without its faults. During our testing, this machine dropped stitches with regularity. Modifying thread tensions helped, but it required so much additional finagling to get it right that we wouldn't recommend this model to a beginner. Across the board, this unit needed far more tweaking to generate the “perfect stitch” than almost any other computerized model we tested. With modifications in place, the HZL-LB5100 makes beautiful hems and seams, but it's best suited to an experienced sewer who is familiar with tweaking machine settings to achieve the desired results.

Ease of Use

With 100 possible stitches to choose from, the HZL-LB5100 stitch guide slides out from the side to aid you in your quest. The arrow buttons on the backlit display take a little time to get used to but scroll quickly through selections to land on the stitch and settings you desire. Loading bobbins is the same story. The first few times didn't always produce even results, and installing fully-loaded bobbins into the machine for sewing isn't intuitive. But after the initial figuring-it-out phase, this Juki machine could wind bobbins evenly and load them quickly.

One feature we really like about this machine is the needle threader. The thread guide stays down, allowing you to use both hands for easier thread placement before flipping it back up to thread the needle. The thread cutter is located in the back left corner, which is an intuitive placement for easy thread slicing when you're finished.

This machine lacks a bobbin thread cutter on the bottom of the machine though, which many other models have. The needle stop position button is customizable, meaning you can program the HZL-LB5100 to always put the needle down, up, or opposite its current position when this button is pressed. The project light works well without creating large, distracting shadows.

Buttonholes

The button foot of the Juki HZL-LB5100 is similar to many others we tested. Simply insert the button on one end, adjust the slider to the correct size, and away you go. We're less excited about the indicator lines around the buttonhole opening. While other button feet have colored lines that make them easy to line up, this machine has indented lines on white plastic that are very challenging to see. There's also a large lip further obscuring the centering line from view. Once aligned, the computer takes care of the buttonhole creation and stops when it reaches the end, so you don't end up with a large glob of thread on one side.

The buttonholes created by the HZL-LB5100 are on par with the rest of this machine's stitching — neat, even, and good-looking. Like just about every model we tested, this machine struggles to make a stretchy buttonhole in cotton jersey fabric. But on silk and cotton muslin, the resulting buttonholes are consistent and functional.

Should You Buy the Juki HZL-LB5100?

This Juki machine can create very neat, even stitching that can elevate projects from “obvious DIY” to “where did you buy this?” status. However, doing so requires intimate knowledge of sewing machine tweaks that aren't likely to be in the beginner tailor's wheelhouse. It's also one of the more costly machines we tested (though it's typically sold well below its list price). But if you're an experienced sewer looking for a machine you can adjust to match your rising standards, the HZL-LB5100 is a solid investment.

What Other Sewing Machines Should You Consider?

If you're just starting out on your sewing journey, consider a less expensive model like the Brother HC1850. This impressive machine makes great stitches, has far more user-friendly settings, and costs about half as much. On the other hand, if you're an ultra-experienced sewer with decades of wowing your friends and family with all the things you've made, upgrading to the premium Juki HZL-F300 may be the right move for you. And finally, if you're after a huge library of fun stitches to embellish your work, you may be interested in the 600 stitches and superb buttonholes of the similarly priced Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist.