I have recently purchased an 8900 and was advised to only use Janome needles. I have a ton of Schmetz needles which I use with my Juki so I was doggedly reluctant to buy another type just for "one machine" but after some frustrations with massive skipped stitches while sewing with the Schmetz needles in the 8900 I tried the Janome purple needles and my problem vanished. sigh.......I've relinquished, given in, and accepted the inevitable and have now purchased a range of Janome needles for the 8900....sigh.....should've done what I was instructed to do in the first place....bad me!