Originally Posted by annesthreads
Originally Posted by linken
I have had similar problems and have had conversations with Janome, via facebook. I can honestly say I am very disappointed with their customer service. To my way of thinking, if the machine is advertised to "quilt' ( mine is a Quilt/Decor) it should do just that. Having to buy the blue dot bobbin case should not have been the solution, it should have been included in the machine package. I bought it, but still have problems. I do not think it is my incompetence either, my 40 year old Brother machine does the job just fine.
ABSOLUTELY! The 4800 is described as a "quilter's edition". As you say, it therefore shouldn't need a separate, expensive bobbin case before it will quilt. I've spoken to Janome UK by phone several times over the past 2 or 3 years: the ladies there have tried to help, but they never admitted, before the blue dot case came out, that there was an issue with the machines - it must be my incompetence or the thread I was using etc etc. It was only when I tried FMQ on 2 Berninas and a Brother that I began to believe I could do it and that it was the Janome machine that was incompetent!
I heard somewhere that machines with a top loading bobbin don't do as good of a job on FMQ as those with a front or side loading bobbin. I wouldn't have believed this until I saw it with my own eyes. I have a Janome Memory Craft 9000 that I bought brand new some 14 years ago. Every time I tried to FMQ, I got "whiskers" (loops) on the backside. I had the opportunity to use a friend's Bernina 155 to do FMQ and there were absolutely no whiskers anywhere. I think most Bernina's are front loading bobbin machines.
So I bought a used Bernina to do FMQ and it's one of the best sewing investments I've ever made. I still use my Janome for everything else (love that machine!), but won't use it for FMQ.
Go to a LQS and try a Bernina, you'll see it for yourself.