Getting to Know You, Janome

 

On June 3rd of this year, I walked in to pick up my JUKI from its annual check-up, and while I was there, looked around the shop a bit. I'd been mulling over maybe getting a new machine to replace my back-up machine, a brother Innovis QC1000 that I'd had since 2010. I'd actually researched a few machines, and was particularly interested in seeing a Janome Memory Craft 6700P in person. Luckily, my shop had one on site, along with someone to tell me all about it. I was definitely interested, and when I was told it would be included in the generous moving sale, I said, "I'll take it!"

So I've been sewing on it exclusively since then - about three months - and feel ready to share how I feel about my purchase. There are plenty of PROS that I've appreciated:

• You can use the bobbin-winder while sewing
• It has a needle-threader that works pretty well
• It can go fast - 1,200 stitches per minute and has a 10" throat
• It's advertised to have an "exceptionally smooth quilt piecing with the included AcuFeed™ Flex Layered Fabric Feeding System" and I totally agree
• It comes with an AcuFeed Dual Feed Foot, aka built-in walking foot that I really like
• Though it has way more stitches than I need, I DID want a serpentine stitch, and it has that
• It can save your favorite stitches and settings
• It comes with three(!) needle plates; which foot you're using determines which plate
• The needle plates pop out easily with the push of a button and pop back in with a snap 
• The pressure foot lifts like normal, but also much higher than normal, which is great when changing out the needle plate or cleaning your machine
• So far, I find it has more consistent stitch integrity, especially when quilting, which is where I wanted it 
• Quilting is quieter than other walking foots I've used

A couple of CONS I've experienced:

• Every once in a while, the foot wrinkles the fabric under itself, which is hard to press out; not sure why it does this
• It did not come with a thread cutter in the foot, which I missed, but remedied that this week (see next section)

Two things I've purchased extra:

• AcuFeed Flex Professional Grade Foot (HP2) - very similar to the AcuFeed foot it comes with (ie. 'built-in) but with a 1/4" seam allowance; I don't think I've changed from this foot since I got it, and have used it for both piecing and quilting
• Remote Thread Cutter Switch. Still getting used to it, as I need to move my foot over, but it works pretty well, and I think I'll like it fine once I get used to it.

Things I've learned:

• when threading the machine, loop the thread from left to right over the take-up lever; seems to keep the thread where it's supposed to be better
• occasionally, this machine needs oiled; when the wick under the bobbin is white, not gray, add a drop or two of oil
• the machine seems to like Aurifil thread just fine, which is great, because I have a lot of it

Sooo.... three months in, I like the new machine very much. I feel like I'm still getting to know it, but that's ok. I'm enjoying sewing on it, and happy with the quilting process - happier than I was at least. If you have any questions, just let me know. And if you have the machine and have discovered something I haven't yet, pleast let me know that too! Now back to sewing!