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

 (11 customer reviews)

When my old Singer started acting up, I decided it was time to replace it. I did not need or want a digital/electronic machine with a million fancy stitches. I did a lot of research and reading of reviews and settled on this Janome. It has all the basic stitches I need plus a few fancy ones if I'm feeling adventurous. I make bags, so I sew a lot of thicker materials. I have fallen in love with the Tricot stitch (a zig zag stitch with 3 stitches for each zig and three for each zag), and the Triple Strength stitch (awesome for my bags!) I had also forgotten that sewing machines really do sew straight lines without torturing the fabric to make it happen! (LOL) There are a bunch of feed dogs that move the fabric very smoothly. I also love the fact that the top of the machine has a compartment that holds most of your extra feet, some needles, and your thread. I have sewn very light, chiffon type fabrics and slippery fabrics, and they both did well. I am extremely happy with this purchase.

I saw a video on you tube about this machine which really perked up my interest. ([...]). I've always wanted to learn how to sew and at various times I've tried with my wife's machines but soon there would come a time when the machine just wouldn't sew through the fabrics that I wanted to use. This machine seems to be quite capable to handle the tougher jobs. You just have to be careful with abrupt changes in thickness. One of the great features about this machine is the manual. It's actually very large and easy to read. It doesn't mix several languages altogether into one book and the images are useful even to old guys like me. Although the sewing process forces me to wear my 4X OptiVisor at all times making me look like a jeweler. The machine is rugged and well built and the hard cover is useful and easy to use. I would have liked it to have a little bag for wrapping up all of the cord and the foot control. But I ended making that my first project by making a draw string...Read more

I ordered this thinking it was going to be like the HD1000, which I liked working on in a local store, but with more bells and whistles. However:

Cons:

The needle threader is the backward version of all the needle threaders on all Janome Machines that I tried, including the HD1000. It pushes the thread from a drop down pin in the front of the needle instead of pulling from the back, with a hook pushed through the needle from behind, to pull the thread through. Instead, this one has to push the little bit of thread it pokes through to the back from the push button pin, and I couldn't see because the pin was blocking my vision as to whether or not it had gone through. I had to use tweezers to grab it and pull it through. Irritating to say the least.
The stitch lever on the side felt cheap and kind of stiff and clunky.
The stitch width and length sliders were also stiff and difficult to position well with confusing markings.
The lid of the...Read more