This is my Super Jeans 34. The big daddy of Toyota's Super Jeans machines with 34 stitch options. It's black, well actually it's more like a dark brown to my eyes.
Like almost every domestic sewing machines today, it has a plastic exterior with a rigid metal frame inside. This makes for a lightweight machine, but one which can still punch its way through multiple layers of denim fabric with ease. So what drew me to this machine and what is it like to use?
Well, first let me say that my partner has been using a Toyota Quiltmaster 226 for close to 5 years and swears by it as a real, un-fussy workhorse. She is a quilter and has made a multitude of quilts on her machine since we bought it, and it has been totally reliable. I have a Toyota 3304 over locker that I use for garment construction too. It took me a weekend to get to grips with a machine that uses 4 threads instead of two, but since then I loved using the 3304, it's a great over locker, quiet, easy to use, quick and creates a great overlock stitch.
So that's my first point. We recognise Toyota sewing machines as reliable.
The machine is mechanical. There is no computer control anywhere, though I think that the foot pedal may be electronic. In the price range of the SJ 34 are some competitor machines that are computerised, but they are basic and have little advantages over the SJ34 other than a few different stitches and up/down needle control.
Personally, I prefer a good quality mechanical over a budget price computer machine any day.
The SJ34 has 34 built in stitches. Some would say that is not enough. I would disagree, especially for what I use a machine for, garment construction. I need a good basic set of straight, zig-zag and stretch stitches and a buttonholer plus a few extras like overcast stitch and blanket stitch. For most of what I do the first 15 stitches plus the stretch stitches are the essential, the rest are a bonus. I do not do the kind of work that requires dozens of motives, patterns and alphabets.
The machine has a "free arm" once the accessory box is removed. For me, this is a must for work on cuffs etc. The drop in bobbin with its clear cover is also a great feature.
Like almost every domestic sewing machines today, it has a plastic exterior with a rigid metal frame inside. This makes for a lightweight machine, but one which can still punch its way through multiple layers of denim fabric with ease. So what drew me to this machine and what is it like to use?
So that's my first point. We recognise Toyota sewing machines as reliable.
The machine is mechanical. There is no computer control anywhere, though I think that the foot pedal may be electronic. In the price range of the SJ 34 are some competitor machines that are computerised, but they are basic and have little advantages over the SJ34 other than a few different stitches and up/down needle control.
Personally, I prefer a good quality mechanical over a budget price computer machine any day.
The SJ34 has 34 built in stitches. Some would say that is not enough. I would disagree, especially for what I use a machine for, garment construction. I need a good basic set of straight, zig-zag and stretch stitches and a buttonholer plus a few extras like overcast stitch and blanket stitch. For most of what I do the first 15 stitches plus the stretch stitches are the essential, the rest are a bonus. I do not do the kind of work that requires dozens of motives, patterns and alphabets.
The machine has a "free arm" once the accessory box is removed. For me, this is a must for work on cuffs etc. The drop in bobbin with its clear cover is also a great feature.
If there is one thing I do not use (well after the first week) it's the quick adviser that is housed in the front flap. I took it out and now use space behind the flap as a convenient place to keep all of my packs of needles.
I have added an extension table to my machine. Its a bit of a lose fit, so I secure it in place with a narrow strip of Velcro which works fine.
One real plus for the SJ34 over the other Super Jeans machines from Toyota is that the 34 has the ability to drop the feed dogs for darning and free motion embroidery.
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| This was my first SJ34 project. Machine cover, organiser mat and thread trash bag. After several adaptions to the pockets on the organiser, I overlocked the bottom edge on my Toyota 3304 . |
I do not sew every day, but I have got to grips with this machine very quickly. It has all the basics for garment construction at the twist of a dial. It is a very straight forward machine to use, but don't let that fool you. It can sew almost anything you throw at it from very fine fabric to Denim and leather. It is a domestic machine that can be used for some pretty heavy work. I have sewn through 10 layers of denim in a test! Choose the right foot (and there are a lot available) and I have found this a very competent and flexible machine, suitable for beginner and more advanced users.
A pair of shirts, made in late 2016. Constructed on the Toyota SJ34, internal seams finished with the Toyota 3304 overlocker.
Personally I love the Toyota Super Jeans 34. Highly recommended.
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