Friday, June 19, 2009

My Janomes

June is Sewing Machine Month over at Sew, Mama, Sew. They are celebrating by giving away some fabulous prizes - including a sewing machine. Also they are doing a Sewing Machine Meme. You can read all about my two machines below.


This is my regular sewing machine:

What brand and model do you have? Janome SW-2018E

How long have you had it? 20 years

How much does that machine cost (approximately)? I can't remember how much this machine cost, but it's not made anymore.

What types of things to you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)? Handbags, mens/womens/childrens/tweens clothing, pillows, curtains, cushion covers, softies, toys, just started quilting

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get? It really depends on how much time I have. I work full-time and am away for 10 hours of the day with travel time to and from work. Lately I’ve been sewing every night for at least 2-4 hours after the kids go to bed. I usually go in spurts of a few months of sewing and leave it for a few weeks. My machine is 20 years old and when I first started sewing I would make 3-4 garments a week.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name? I love my machine and am passionate. She does not have a name.

What features does your machine have that work well for you? There are a ton of stitches and a guide at the top of the machine that shows the various stitches and what tension/foot/stitch length and width to use. It has a drop in bobbin and that is so much easier to use. Also it came with a case so I can stick it in the closet or in a corner for a few weeks or months and not have to worry about little fingers touching or playing with it. I don't have a sewing room and no designated area I can set up as a sewing corner.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? No

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e. Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper? Got it from your Great Grandma? Etc.!)? This machine was a 17th birthday present from my parents. I had used my mom’s Kenmore but it kept breaking and was given a used White machine that kept acting up. My best friend and sewing buddy Nicki helped my mom pick it out, as she knew exactly what I would need. It was definitely a surprise!

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? I would recommend this machine to others. I love my machine. It’s reliable, durable and has lasted a long time.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine? You need to know what you are going to use it for. Make a list of everything you know you want your machine to have and make dream list of what you might want the machine to have. Go to a knowledgeable dealer who answers your questions and lets you test drive the machines. Tell the dealer your price range and your show your list. Even if they don’t have something in your price range, they may have a sale coming up, or will keep you in mind if they get a trade-in. Make sure your dealer services the machines they sell. My dealer is great! One time the backstitch button stuck and he just fixed it right on the spot for me and didn’t charge me anything.

Do you have a dream machine? I would love to have a computerized machine. I would love to try machine embroidery. My Grandma had a trundle sewing machine. I would love to inherit that machine. Whenever I go to visit my Grandpa I always ogle it. Also now that I’ve almost finished my first quilted item (more on that later) I would like to have a long-arm quilting machine – hey it’s a dream!


This is my serger - I've wanted one forever and I finally go it:


What brand and model do you have? Janome 660D

How long have you had it? Since Christmas

How much does that machine cost (approximately)? It was on sale for $350 or $399

What types of things to you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)? Handbags, mens/womens/childrens/tweens clothing, pillows, curtains, cushion covers, softies, toys, just started quilting

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get? It really depends on how much time I have. I work full-time and am away for 10 hours of the day with travel time to and from work. Lately I’ve been sewing every night for at least 2-4 hours after the kids go to bed. I usually go in spurts of a few months of sewing and leave it for a few weeks.

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name? I love my machine and am passionate. She does not have a name.

What features does your machine have that work well for you? I’m still learning what my machine can do. I went to round one of my machine lessons and should call my dealer for round two, but I really like playing with it.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? No, not that I've found yet.

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e. Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper? Got it from your Great Grandma? Etc.!)? This machine was a Christmas gift from my husband and kids. My husband had said years ago that he would buy me a serger, but they were too expensive for us then. He mentioned it again last year and I went to the dealer on my lunch hour (a 10 minute walk from my work) and checked out what he had in stock.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? I would recommend this machine to others. I love my machine. So far it is reliable and durable

3 comments:

killerrabbit said...

Thanks for your Janome review, I am now bidding on one on ebay. I can't wait to get started sewing.

Anonymous said...

Do you know how I can track down a manual for SW 2018E?

sewing_passion said...

For the anonymous comment above - you didn't leave your email address so I hope you come back to check to see if I've answered. You can get a manual for any Janome sewing machine by contacting the customer service department. In Canada the email is custrel_canada@janome.com If you are from another country you can go to the Janome website at http://www.janome.com/ and select your country to find the customer service department (or customer relations). Best of luck with your search! Alison