Took my sewing machine in for repair - it stopped working last night. They were able to fix it while I waited. That was where the trouble has begun - I looked at another machine - now I really seem to think that I need it - not just want it - but need it. So who has a Janome Memory Craft 6600? What do you think of it?

LOL, those new machines sure are tempting!!!! I don't have a Janome, but I'm sure there are several that do!

Oh I just love sewing machines!!!

I know what you mean. I tried out the Janome 6600 at the state fair in August and was immediately sold. Brought the brochure home, looked at it, looked at my Bernina, and knew I couldn't justify $1600 for another machine. I loved the thread cutting feature, but the truth is I can take a few seconds to cut thread the old way. My sister pointed out that it doesn't have a free arm, but of course my Bernina could always handle those kinds of tasks for me. :? Thought of all the fabric I could buy with the money, and finally just let it go. Maybe someday.......

Didn't you know when you walk into any place that sells machines or fabric you are suppose to wear horse blinders and look at the ground. If you don't and you are able to look around you do get into trouble. If you check the quilter rule book horse blinders are listed under choclate next to the sewing machine at all times. :mrgreen:

I went to the dealer to get a new bobbin casing and a tune up. Before I could stop myself the words: Why don't yoy show me what you have?" were out of my mouth. I got an excellent deal on a Pfaff closeout model.

If you need it, you need it. I so (sew) get that!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry don't know about the 6600 but my friends swear by their Janomes.

I own a Janome 6600 and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, except a Bernina with a stitch regulator. That has nothing to do with the Janome and everything to do with my wanting that blasted stitch regulator though! :lol: I love my machine and it has been very reliable for me. It comes with a built in walking foot that is just amazing!!!!! The initial investment made me want to cry but it hasn't cost me a thing in upkeep and has never let me down in the two years I've owned it. I would definitely recommend it. :!:

Okay, I have to admit that the thread cutter is the one feature I thought I would like but I don't. I don't know too many of my friends who do like this feature. It tends to leave the bobbin thread too short, which means it ends up dropping back down and you have to go through the trouble of getting it back up where it should be.

Tiffany - thanks that is what I wanted to hear. MadQuilter - you know where I am at.

I have a 6600. I like it but, there is no pattern reset button so when you are sewing and get to a place where you want to pattern to start again the only way to do it is to go off of that stinch and back on. If you haven't made any adjustments to the stitch length or width you are ok. If so then you have a whole nuther problem. I like the thread cutter and I never have had to get the bobbin thread back to the top of the machine. When you begin to sew it just appears, however it usually does end up in a wad on the back of the fabric. That bugs me a bit.

Instead of cutting the thread, I use a small piece of fabric (folded in half to match my piecing) and run it in after I'm done piecing. I leave this in and when I'm ready to sew next, I just run my pieces through, finishing with another little fabric "tail" after I'm done. After awhile the little fabric pieces (I use muslin or scraps) look like some bizarre spider and I just throw them away. It's amazing how much thread I save & it keeps the tension just perfect, so I usually don't have a problem with the little thread bird's nests that can appear on the back when using the thread cutter. Maybe this will work for you, though it sounds like you are doing more embroidery type work than straight piecing. You are braver than I am. I haven't ventured into that part of my machine quite yet. :oops:

The Janome Memory Craft 6600 is on my Christmas list. We'll see if Santa brings it to me. Don't think he will because of the price (and if he did, I would have to have a serious budget discussion with Santa) but I can dream.

I also have the 6600 and I love it! I have had no problems with it whatsoever!

I have the 6500 but wish I had waited for the 6600. The on/off switch is a beauty! Not sure if I would like the accu-feed system, but my sister who has the 6600 loves it.

It is one of the machines on my wish list. I may get one someday. Hope you get yours.

I guess I'll need my horse blinders tomorrow :roll:. I have a hairdresser appointment which just happens to be in a town that has a quilt shop which also happens to be right next door to a sewing machine dealer who happens to sell Janome's :shock: and if memory serves me correctly....they also have some long arm machines right there in the shop . :!:

But if we were not open to new things - how boring our lives would be.

HA - I did exactly the same thing :D :D .
Now I have an older, basic Janome and a newer 6600 Janome. I LOVE it!!

To really round out this family, I went back into the same shop last month and -----eeeeek----- there was a pile of Jem Gold Plus machines on sale. Ya, my family is now one machine bigger.
I really don't mind people who are loyal to their Husqvarnas, or Elnas, because I'm loyal to my Janome. All of them are easy to use and real workhorses as well.
I've used the decorative stitches, the heavy-duty stitches and the quilting and pieces stitches, all with no problem.

Bauy it, you'll liake it. :twisted:

B.zang - so you have not had an issue with the tension? I have been reading too many reviews.

Yikes. I couldn't go in there. I'd want it all.

I have a janome 9000 and love it......... would buy a janome again.

Hate to say this but your screwed!!!!! LOL

i have the janome 6600 and i'm definitely in love with it. it can do just about anything u would ever want a sewing machine to do. i say:
BUY IT , YOU WON'T BE SORRY!

I have the Janome's 3500, 9000. amd 10001. Never a problem with any of them. I love my Janome's. Two of my friends have the 6600 and said how wonderful they are. Everyone in our group has Janome's of various levels and no one ever seems to have a problem wtih any of them. Marge

I LOVE my older Janome MC9000.

I've had my 6600 since last September (08) and haven't had a lick of trouble. I probably use it between 15 and 20 hours per week. I love this machine!! I've pieced, quilted, free motion, hemmed jeans, put patches on a leather vest and lots of other stuff and it didn't blink in the least. The decorative stiches are fun and easy to do. I haven't yet tried the twin needle, but that is next on my "to try" list. I would recommend this machine to anyone. The dealer I bought it from gave me three years free maintenance and I finally took it into the shop in September just cause I figured it needed a good cleaning after a full year.

I am going to check out some others tomorrow, including the babylock espire.

Yeah, that's what happened to me a few months ago....only my old sear kenmore coud't be repaired, it need refurbishing as it was well used! It was 29 years old and well used indeed! I was tempted by the new BabyLocks, but bought a new Sear Kenmore again! Turns out Janome makes the Sears Kenmore machines...Hello! A Great machine once again for little $$. So, if wisdom prevails and it's time for a new one....shop around a bit, try Sears, Try ebay, and a few other retailers who discount...you might have you're new love!
Kindest Regard,
MaryAnna

None. This machine has just sewed, without complaint, anything I throw at it. If anything seems to happen, the fault is always mine - like not keeping the lint cleaned out!
:oops:

Love my 6600! Would buy another if needed-er-wanted-er-oh heck!
Have sewn on single fleece, double fleece, sheers for curtains, quilt blocks, paper pieced, fancy stitches, monogramed, embroidered quilt labels (after entering into system), and love the auto-thread cutter feature especially doing PP.
Love the walking foot and 1/4 " foot. I even used the buttonhole maker the other day and got it on the first try.
Sew easy.
There was a thread on here and someone was trying to sell their slightly used one for around $1300 I think. Don't know if she sold it or not.

I have one and I love it!!!!!! I also got the table that goes with it and that's great too. The machine has so many stitches, the variable speed is wonderful and the walking foot system is the best I have had - be sure to get all the walking feet that go with it - esp the 1/4" walking foot!

I have a Janome 6500 and I love it. (also have a Pfaff and an old Singer) My next machine will be a Janome.

Don't have a Janome but have a friend who does. She loves it. I took my old machine in ... a Kenmore which got a lot of use and never gave out on me until about 2 months ago. It just stopped going! The man at the sewing machine store told me the motor was gone. After he told me how much it would cost to fix it I decided I NEEDED a new one. I bought a Viking and love it so far.

Judyjo

The Janome MemoryCraft 6600P is my DREAM! Only now I can not afford it and I am also very happy with the machine I have now.. But if you can...you have to buy that machine. It is a good workinghorse with a lot of extra's wich make your sewing easy.
Maybe you can ask if you can try it in the store, it even sews trough thin wood!

Tiffany, I do that when I'm sewing pieces, I use a little "tail flag". It also saves on thread. Someone might think, "what's with the thread saving?". Well, if you do a lot of little pieces and a lot of quilts, that adds up to a lot of thread tails. I took a quilt block class several years ago and one lady there used to put out about a foot of thread each time she sewed two pieces together. The instructor told her about "tail flags" and how it saves on thread. This lady had a real attitude and continued all through the sessions to waste thread. She seems to really go out of her way after the instructor hint to show off how much thread she could waste. When the instructor would have a helpful suggestion, this lady would go out of her way to do something different even if it did waste time or fabric. Anyone else have someone like that in their quilting classes? Like my Gram would say, "Contrary".

The first embroidery machine I saw was when I sent in to buy needles. The store had just got it in and they were unpacking it. The next day I went back and bought it. At that time my, then young grandsons were visiting. I rented them so movies so I could have some alone time with my new baby. Dern if the youngest wasn't more interested in the machine than the movies. I sew with him sitting in front of me. It was a good experience to share with my grandsons. I am now on embroidery machine #3.
Forgot the blinders that day.

So today I went to a store that sold both Babylock and Pfaff - did not even look at the Babylock - was totally taken by the "neck" size of the Pfaff - I am now in the final stages of researching the Quilt Expressions 3.0.

I do and LOVE IT! It will do anything you want including quilting a king sized quilt. Go back and take a test drive and see for yourself. You won't regret it! GG

There is a quilting shop in Dry Ridge , Ky. that sells the Janome 6600 for
1295. Just in case you are interested.

Gigi which one are you referring to ? - I have been discussing so many that my head is spinning

Hahahaha....I came out of the fabric store $150.00 poorer than when I went in :shock: .Then I went in and looked at the Janome machines, and also the long arm (which was a Viking) but the owner of the shop was a "hoverer" so I didn't stay in there very long. I felt like she thought I was going to break something :?