As much as I love my Janome 6600, the lettering aspect is the pits. So, no, it's not you. I had the 6500 model as well and it is the same, as is the Horizon. Monogramming just isn't a great feature on these machines, therefore I make iron-on transfers that I colour and print on with pigma pens. I don't like embroidery enough to purchase another machine just to make labels, so, I improvise.