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Janome Sewing Machine Reviews

If you’re a passionate sewist, you know the importance of owning a high-quality sewing machine that will help you make all of our ideas a reality. But, regardless of your experience, finding just the right machine for your needs and preferences can be a confusing and tedious task.

Nowadays, it’s no secret that there’s a massive amount of brands and models trending on the markets, which can easily make one feel lost and overwhelmed. In our attempt to make your shopping experience more pleasant, we’ll review the best sewing machines by the most reputable brands in the industry, starting with the long-standing Japanese company, Janome.

Janome is world-famous as it offers a wide range of durable, high-quality, multi-functional, and feature-packed sewing, quilting, and embroidery machines. As opposed to other famous brands, Janome is known for making heavily-built, high-end machines that are more suitable for intermediates and experts. You can still find beginner-friendly machines at an affordable price, but the majority of their products are targeting experienced sewers and long-time professionals.

But even at Janome, there are many different models with very different functionalities, so which are the best Janome sewing machines this year? Keep reading to find out.

The Best Janome Sewing Machines

How can you determine which model is the right one for you? We’ve put together this helpful chart so you can quickly compare Janome models and find the best sewing machine that meets your needs.

Best Overall: Janome HD3000

Janome HD3000 Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine with 18 Built-in Stitches + Hard Case

Janome HD3000 is our pick as the best Janome sewing machine overall as it’s a wonderfully constructed, feature-rich unit at an affordable price, which makes it a good choice for most people, amateurs, and professionals alike. Buying this sewing machine means investing in a reliable, precise, and heavy-duty product suitable for home use as well as most small or home businesses.

Pros:

Janome HD3000 is durable and will last you for a long time, even with frequent and heavy-duty work. The machine has a sturdy construction and a heavy metal frame, which is great for working on any material. It can easily handle leather, denim, and even canvas.

As we’ve just mentioned, Janome HD3000 can work on anything you throw at it without slowing down. It’s able to deliver precise, yet quick results by doing 860 stitches per minute – a lot more than most entry-level home sewing machines.

We also love it because it’s a reasonably priced unit packed with features that will make sewing so much easier. This unit has an automatic built-in needle threader, automatic bobbin winding, snap-on presser feet, 1-step buttonhole, reversible stitching, extra-high presser feet for thick materials, as well as adjustable pressure for presser feet. Having the ability to adjust the pressure is extremely beneficial when you’re working on a wide variety of projects with different fabrics.

Another feature for added versatility is the ability to adjust the stitch length and width from 4mm to 6.5mm. Not only will your project be more creative and unique, but you can find the perfect stitch for every use as well.

Janome HD3000 is completely mechanical, which is good news for beginners, and even experienced sewers who never worked with fancy computerized machines, as they can easily lead to an expensive repair if you’re not careful.

Cons:

The Janome HD3000 can be classified as a general, heavy-duty sewing machine. This means that while it’s perfect for most garment and home decor, as well as basic quilting, it’s not suitable for more specialized sewing tasks like blind hemming, piping, couching, or any other technique that requires fancy feet.

Also, some customers have complained that the Janome HD3000 is very loud on light fabrics, which is something you should keep in mind when buying a sewing machine for home use.

Best on A Budget:

A rare find in the Janome product repository, the Janome Magnolia 7318 is a basic, entry-level, mechanical sewing machine and one of the most affordable units from the brand. Thanks to its ease of use and power, the machine is a great choice for amateurs but quite limiting for intermediate sewers of professionals. It’s fast, efficient, and comes with a bunch of adjustable features that are quite beneficial for developing sewing skills.

Pros:

As a basic, entry-level machine the Janome Magnolia 7318 is super fast and efficient. It features a maximum speed of 830 stitches per minute, with a foot pedal that completely controls the sewing speed.

Even though the Janome Magnolia 7318 has a relatively small work area, it compensates with a free arm. In other words, you can remove a part of the work area, so you can freely move the material around and sew hems, cuffs, and other bulky fabrics.

The Janome Magnolia 7318 comes with only 18 built-in stitches, but it also compensates this with the adjustable needle position and customizable stitch lengths. This is perfect for those who really want to learn the craft step-by-step.

One of the best features of Janome Magnolia 7318 is the 7-piece drop feed dogs that are able to grip and slide the fabric through the machine with an even pace for uniform stitching.

We love that this machine is easily portable as it only weighs 17.6 pounds. As a beginner who’s learning the art of sewing, you might find it particularly beneficial that you can take the Janome Magnolia 7318 to your sewing classes.

On the front side of the machine, on the work area, there’s a measuring ruler in both inches and centimeters. This is very practical, as you won’t have to keep a measuring ruler with you at all times. Plus, just below the work area, there’s storage room where you can store spare needles, bobbins, or thread.

Cons:

Janome Magnolia 7318 features a very limited number of preset stitch options which might be a problem for sewers who don’t like to go through the trouble of adjusting the stitch width and length manually.

Best for Professionals: Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000

Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 Embroidery and Sewing Machine

Unlike our other recommendations, the Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 is an industrial-grade sewing and embroidery machine that’s well known and recommended among sewers for its quality and functionality. Its magic lies in its ability to make the process of sewing exceptionally complex pieces feel comfortable and natural. Although it’s one of the most expensive pieces of sewing equipment, it’s worth every penny.

Pros:

As expected, Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 is heavily built from a stainless steel bedplate and a solid frame which makes this machine very stable and secure, even when sewing extremely thick and tough fabrics. The maximum speed is 1000 stitches per minute, which is more than all of our other Janome recommendations.

Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 is a multi-purpose machine, which somewhat compensates for its high price. You won’t have to invest in a general straight stitch and a specialized machine as you can sew as well as embroider on this unit.

You might expect the Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 to be hard to figure out, but in fact, it’s very easy to use and even popular among beginners who can afford to spend such a figure on a sewing machine.

We love how versatile and feature-rich this unit is. The Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 comes with 425 stitch designs and 13 one-step buttonhole styles, as opposed to lower-end machines that have one to four buttonhole styles available. It also features 338 built-in designs and 10 fonts for embroidery and monogramming.

The Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 is fully computerized and has a big and bright LCD screen on which you can navigate and control all of the features, as well as edit designs.

Quilters would also be very happy with this unit as it features a lot of precision stitches, automatic pressure height adjuster, one-step plate converter, and stitches up to 9 mm wide.

Additionally, there also are a bunch of different hoops; 20 feet, impressive 91 needle positions, one-step needle plate converter, thread cutter with memory function, and so much more, as this unit keeps on giving.

Cons:

With many positive reviews, apart from not being affordable for many home sewers, it’s hard to find something wrong with this machine. One drawback might be the fact that it comes with so many features and functionalities that it’s probably going to take you very long until you learn to utilize all of them.

Best for Embroidery: Janome Memory Craft 400E

Janome Memory Craft 400E Embroidery Machine

For all of you looking for the best embroidery machine, the Janome Memory Craft 400E would be your best bet. While Janome is known for its high-quality embroidery machines, the Memory Craft 400E model is an innovative, feature-rich machine that’s designed with the professionals’ needs in mind. The added features and functionalities truly set it apart from other embroidery machines in the same price range.

Pros:

Embroidery on large projects becomes even easier with the Janome Memory Craft 400E. Without a worry on your mind, you can decorate quilts, décor items, garments, and accessories thanks to the large embroidery field of 7.9″ x 7.9″. Best of all, machines with large embroidery fields require little to no re-hooping, which makes embroidering the piece a lot faster and easier.

You’ll finish a lot more in less time, not just because of the machine’s efficiency, but because it’s quite fast, too. Janome Memory Craft 400E can stitch up to 860 stitches per minute without compromising its precision. Of course, you can adjust the speed and take control over the process at any time during embroidering.

Janome Memory Craft 400E will allow you to express your creativity and unique artistic style, which is very important for embroidery machines. The machine comes with 160 built-in embroidery designs, as well as 6 fonts for monogramming. Plus, you can import an unlimited number of designs from your computer to the machine thanks to the USB port.

We truly love this model because it’s fully computerized and offers a lot of unique features that are very hard to find on other embroidery machines. First of all, Janome Memory Craft 400E has advanced on-screen editing functions from where you can zoom, enlarge, reduce, rotate, combine, arc, drag and drop, as well as copy and paste options. Secondly, you have programmable jump thread trimming, and finally, you have flexible stitch traveling by units: 1, 10, and 100.

Cons:

Beginners or complete amateurs might feel overwhelmed as this machine is very innovative and packed with advanced features. You should take into consideration that there would be a learning curve and maybe even consider buying an entry-level machine instead of the Janome Memory Craft 400E.

Conclusion

Janome HD3000 Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine with 18 Built-in Stitches + Hard Case

The Janome HD3000 is the best Janome sewing machine overall for a variety of reasons, but having a good balance between durability, quality, and affordability is a formula that can make a lot of sewing enthusiasts happy. In fact, we believe that Janome HD3000 is a great option as a general entry-level machine, which will last you long enough until you decide whether you need a more specialized type of sewing machine. This is what makes it perfect for home use, as well as home businesses.

The Janome Magnolia 7318 is a wonderful entry-level sewing machine at an affordable price, which makes it a great option for beginners as well as people with smaller pockets. We like it because it’s a durable, well-built machine that offers precision, speed, and adjustable features that compensate for some of the limitations this model has. We also like that it’s portable and you easily take it with you to your sewing classes.

Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 Embroidery and Sewing Machine

The Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 was built for established professionals and all other sewers who can afford to splurge. This unit is a durable, heavily-built, fully computerized, and multi-purpose sewing and embroidery machine, which can make all of your dreams a reality. You can easily quilt, embroid, and sew anything you can think of. It comes with so many features and functionalities that will probably take you months if not years to learn to use all of them.

Janome Memory Craft 400E Embroidery Machine

Finally, for all of the people practicing embroidery, the Janome Memory Craft 400E is one of the best machines on the market. Although costly, we love the model because it’s a sophisticated and impressively feature-rich machine that’s meant to meet the needs of professionals and hard-core embroidery enthusiasts. Coming equipped with everything you’ll ever need and more, this unit will deliver a futuristic sewing experience.

What Are the Different Types of Janome Sewing Machines?

Janome makes sewing machines that work to meet most households’ needs as well as the ones of businesses. You’ll be able to find a wide range of machines that offer the essential built-in stitches for most needs, while more expensive models offer a lot of extra built-in features for more complex projects. Custom fashion is storming the industry with more and more demand, which means the time is now to invest in a Janome sewing machine!

You’ll also be able to find some of the best serger sewing machines at Janome. A serger does a wonderful job of giving any project a professional look through seams that don’t ravel and overlock stitching that is nice and tight. If you want to add decorative edges to any project, a serger sewing machine from Janome will be one of your best friends! With the Janome brand, you’ll get up to a 4-thread serger that can be used in a 2/3/4 configuration, so you can finish off any job in style.

Beginners are going to love the fact that Janome has made their sewing machines to be extremely easy to use. Just take the machine out of the box, thread it for the first time, and you’re ready to go! The easiest models to thread are the ones that have a front-facing eye on the needle. If you’re out of practice or have never threaded a needle before, you’ll find that this is an invaluable feature to have.

Although some might say that the Janome sewing machine is really a no-frills experience, sometimes you don’t need any frills to get a high-quality result. This brand has committed to making the world’s easiest-to-use sewing machines and with the features that they are able to offer at each price point, it’s easy to see why investing in one makes sense for many homes, as well as small fashion businesses.

What Are the Advantages of a Good Janome Sewing Machine?

The first advantage that you’ll receive by owning a Janome sewing machine is pricing. You’ll receive many of the same features that other manufacturers can provide, but at a fraction of the cost. Many Janome models have more features than their competitors at a better price! Whether you’re just learning how to sew or have been doing so for decades, you’ll find that the brand offers a lot of value.

Janome emphasizes on affordable innovation. As you’ll be able to see throughout every comprehensive review, there is a commitment to quality that you don’t typically see with “cheap” sewing machines. Take the new Clear View 0.25 inch foot that Janome has introduced to many of their models. It allows quilters to take advantage of their affordable sewing machine in a much better way because the thicker materials for the quilt won’t get caught up underneath.

Many Janome models also offer different stitch options that include variable cutting widths that can exceed 7mm. And, when it comes to speed, some Janome models exceed 1,200 stitches per minute so that you can work quickly through your sewing projects. With differential feed adjustments that work extremely well and threading charts that help you correctly prepare your machine for use, it’s fast and easy to get started with sewing right away.

The final advantage that you’ll receive with Janome is durability. For a reasonably affordable price, you’ll be getting a sewing machine that can last for several years of heavy use. This will let you be able to sew regularly without worrying about burning your machine out or breaking needles.

How Do I Find the Best Janome Sewing Machine?

It begins with our in-depth reviews that take a fact-based approach to each Janome model. You’ll be able to see the features and advantages that each model can provide for a specific niche. This allows you to be in control of the decision-making process from an empowered standpoint!

Knowing what type of sewing machine you need is also a good place to start. Do you need the 2/3/4 threading of a serger sewing machine? Or, are you just looking for something that can give you some straight stitches, so you can create curtains or blankets at home? Deciding these needs ahead of time can really help you make a good decision.

Then you’ll need to consider the price. You could purchase your Janome sewing machine from a local authorized dealer, but you could end up paying more than you should. Shopping online on websites like Amazon will help you make sure you’re getting the very best deals that are available right now.

What Are the Prices of a Janome Sewing Machine?

Janome sewing machines are quite reasonably priced at all levels. Many would consider them mid-range to professional sewing machines, depending on the model you select. There are some sewing machines that cost around $400, while many Janome machines top out at the $600 to $1,000 range. The professional models can reach above $3,000. If you want extra features or options, you can order add-ons that will further customize your sewing experience.

On average, most households can have all of their needs effectively met for about $400 to $700 when shopping on Amazon. To make sure you’re saving the most money possible, be sure to take a close look at our in-depth reviews so that you get a sewing machine that has the right value ratio for you.

Before You Leave

Janome is one of the most trusted brands among sewers and one in which we believe, too. Buying a Janome sewing, serger, quilting, or embroidery machine would never be a mistake, but choosing the best Janome sewing machine for your needs can help you learn new skills quickly and turn your average results into a masterpiece.

Hopefully, our detailed reviews helped you set your heart on your next sewing machine, but in case you’re still in doubt, make sure to check out the links we’ve provided. You can find current prices, in-depth product specifications, and customer reviews.

Last update on 2024-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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One Comment

  1. Garry Singletary
    July 17, 2018 at 5:25 pm Reply

    I bought the Gold Plus model. It has a needle threader so threading the needle is easy. It’s a tough little machine that sews denim. It has a surger attachment that allows for single thread serging. It’s easy to use so if someone is beginning to learn to sew this is a good machine, it’s simple to use. It has several straight stitch and zigzag stitches but no decorative stitches. I didn’t want those. I love mine and I think anyone would.

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