I have a Janome...since April of this year and just this past month found out I had been putting my needle in BACKWARDS!!! How I missed that in the book...well, I know how I missed it...I didn't read that part, cuz EVERYONE knows how to insert a needle, right??? Another thing I learned about Janome...and quilting, I'd have to say..I change my needle with every quilt. I clean it after every quilt, with a small, soft brush. I even blow it out with canned air. I am ready to trade this machine off, because I have large hands, and to get into the little space where the needle is to be inserted is so hard to do. I have to open the face plate to even get it threaded. This Janome is just too small.