glorcour

My first inclination would be to remove the throat plate and see if there is a mess of packed lint in there. This happens because the materials that we work with are cotton and, therefore, linty. This is a easy fix and I hope it works for you.

solstice3

I love my Bernina for something with the extra bells and whistles. My FeatherWeight for just straight stitch.

beadywoman

I just went through this same scenario a couple of months ago. My Janome had to go to the hospital and I sew EVERY chance I get, but had no back-up machine. Called my dealer, the least inexpensive machine that she had at the time was $400.00. That was more than the mental slush fund balance in my checking account, so I took off to WalMart to purchase a machine for just under $200, despite all the chatter that I keep hearing about the box store machines being made cheaply, etc.

The Brother doesn't have the straightest stitch in the world. It kicks one stitch sideways about every fifth stitch. It is just a little bobble, but a bobble none-the-less. And I HATE the 1/4-inch foot. Just a matter of getting used to it, I'm sure.

The Brother does a good job of applique stitching. But the real kicker is that I have discovered that this machine is a HOSS at free-motion quilting. Maybe it is just beginner's luck or I haven't set something up quite correctly and had a serendipitious accident, but WOW! I can Stipple now!

When my Janome came back home, it was pure pleasure to sew on her again - it's amazing how quickly we forget how quietly and smoothly a machine runs if we aren't using it.

So I guess that if I had to go through this process again, I would buy a back-up machine with very similar qualities as my go-to machine rather than buying based on price, even though there are some things that this little Brother does quite well. As much as we love the finished products that are produced from our sewing, it's the process itself that we really enjoy. So do it on a machine that you truly enjoy using!

stnele

Have you oiled your machine? Get out your manual and oil(sewing machine oil) and oil it
If it moves and is not an electric wire oil it. My friends froze up and I oiled it twice and is now purring like a kitten.
Take the bottom off and get the dust bunnies out. Oil, Oil, Oil Make sure your bobbin winder is not stuck 1/2 way...it won't show but messes up your machine. Read your manual ... look for adjustments.... check settings If you don't have a manual look for it on line...Oh, did I say to oil it.

Elaine433

I paid about $3,000. for my machine about 17 years ago. It works like new. I recently was looking for a sewing machine for my daughter. The machines sold at Wal-mart & JoAnns were just too lightweight to work for anything. The only way a machine can be that lightweight is if everything inside is made of plastic. I shopped around and settled on a Janome.
I wound up buying her a brand new Janome Sew Precise on eBay. The machine had been sitting on a shelf and the store had closed up. The retail price of the machine is around $600. I paid $145. including shipping. When the machine came, I put it through the paces and it sewed beautifully. We gave it to her this past Christmas and she loves it.
I had checked with my local vac/sewing repair place but he did not have anything worth while then. I called several places locally and there were some that were good machines but way higher than I could afford.
You just have to look around. Don't settle for the easy way of Wal-Mart or JoAnns. Check your local Craigslist, check
ebay and call up every sewing machine repair shop for as far as you would travel. You will find something much better than the machine you just had.
I wish you all the luck in finding your new machine.

Lady Diana

I have numerous Janomes...all for different uses...embroidery, quilting, take to class. I love them all! None have ever been in the shop. I clean with the mini vaccum, oil the wick and keep on sewing. None of my machines have been in for cleaning or "maintenance". My care at home has worked so far. the Janome 6600 is one of the best quilting machines they have....price maybe more than you want to spend. The 6600 is a worhorse. I have two one for home and one for cabin. The Janome 3160 is less expensive, but has the auto thread cutter. I take that one to class. You can compare features on the Janome website. Pick a machine, then click on compare and put in the other maachine model and you can see what each one has for the use you want. Call Amy at Brubakers Sewing and tell her what you are looking for, your budget. She has some really good used machines. You cannot beat them for price.....also no tax. Check Allbrands.com for the Janomes, find one you like, then call Brubaker's. (I don't work for them) They are in PA...I am in TX, but buy from them often. Fell free to PM me if you like.
Diana in TX

OmaForFour

I have a Janome 8077 that I bought through Amazon.com. It is a $450 machine that was on sale for $250 at the time about 6 months ago. I absolutely love this machine. It doesn't have all the fancy embroidery things but does have 30 special stitches, needle up/down button, and a button to make it stitch about 4 times in the same spot that I use at the beginning and end of each quilting/sewing row - very convenient. I lowered the feed dogs and put the free motion quilt piece on it and it does a great job for stippling, SID and whatever I want to do with it. Generally, though, I just use the regular foot for the SID and any other straight line quilting. This machine is fabulous. Very user friendly in every way.

mimiof4

I also have a brother and same thing began to happen to me, I carefully took apart around where the bobbin goes being mindful of where everything goes and it was FULL of lint, really packed in. I cleaned it all out and oil her up and is back to sewing beautifully.. Before I went out and spent the money I would give it a try what do you have to lose.

polishqueen

I agree 100,000%. I have a 1008 for 15 years now and have made many quilts on it plus actually free motion quilted on it too. I love mine very much. You wouldn't go wrong with a Bernina. Try buying one used, you won't regret it
ever.

LyndaOH

I agree with Diana! I purchased my 3160 from Amy at Brubaker's; the price was right and the service is excellent. Amy recently posted to our Janome Yahoo group that she will have Janomes available from the Lancaster show's classrooms at great prices. You should give her a call and see what she's got. You might get a very slightly used machine at a very good price.

Lynda