Does anyone else on this site have a Janome Horizon?

Hi, Welcome, waving from Indiana, USA

sorry I don't have that machine but wanted to welcome you

Yes, I've had mine for a couple of months and love it. She's big, but sews and handles beautifully.
Comes with a ton of accessories, feet, extension table etc.
My only changes I'd make are: move the knee lift for the pressor foot closer to the needle (it's too far to the right)
and I'd make a hard case to cover it.
I also use mine on my quilting frame, but had to make a couple of adjustments. "Officially" it isn't made to work on a frame, but she sure does!
If you have questions, you can private message me.

Go into search and type in Horizon and you'll get bunches of threads that talk about it.

You can also look at reviews on it, written by people who own one, on the following website

http://sewing.patternreview.com/

I have one too. So far I think it's been great and I haven't had any problems with it.

I have one and love it- this is even after my scare last week when the circuit board malfunctioned- it was immediately replaced by my dealer, and works perfectly now.

I love all the features, especially the 11" to the right of the needle- I finally feel like I can do some FMQ that I am happy with. This machine replaced my 24 y/o Bernina and I am still amazed at all the features, makes quilting soooo much easier.

Thank you to everyone who replied to my question on Horizon and for the welcome. I love this site and enjoy reading about everyones quilts. I specially love the tutorials - when will I ever have time to try them all!!
I have a new Horizon and have been having bother with the needle plate convertor - must be me, seems no one else has this problem - I will stick with it (I'll have too when you consider the cost!) Otherwise I agree it is a super machine.

I found this page very helpfulin explaining the needle plate convertor- clearer instructions than I found in the manual:
http://janomespecials.com/newmc/hor-lessons.htmlScroll down to number 7 on the page. But if your problem is more serious, I would check with your dealer about it.

There is also a Janome 7700 Yahoo group that has lots of info.

The needleplate converter on the Horizon had some problems at the beginning. Something with the spring. I would ask the deal if your machine was one of the ones that was issued a replacement needleplate converter.

My LQS's demo machine had that issue and they were given by Janome a free redesigned needleplate.

If your question is just about the converter itself and how and when to hit the button depending on where the bobbin thread is, I've had the same issue, it's operator error. LOL. I just keep hitting the button until it clicks into place.

Thanks for the replies re Horizon, the site with the lessons seems very good! Thanks to you all.

I bought one a month ago. I love it. However I find the built in/on walking foot interferes with changing the needle. I would suggest they make it removable. The automatic plate converter,(changes the throat plate from wide to a single small hole) is great. Keeps your fabric from being eaten at the start of a seam. Other great features are the push button thread cutter and the four LED lights over the sewing area.

Janome Horizon Owner: My APC converter has been replaced once and now the new one is not working properly. I am steamed!!! Put out a lot of $$$ for this machine. Mine is also getting noisy.

"Janome Horizon Owner: My APC converter has been replaced once and now the new one is not working properly. I am steamed!!! Put out a lot of $$$ for this machine. Mine is also getting noisy."

Janome said take it to the dealer and they will make it right. They are going to work on it Monday--after Black Friday sales are over. Gave me new thread and needles. Made a difference. There are actually three generations of APC converters. I've had one and two now should get three.

I bought one at the Houston Quilt Festival. I have been a devoted Janome fan for more than 15 years, but I was VERY disappointed in the 7700. So disappointed that I took it back today and exchanged it for a Babylock. There are just too many problems and in my (never to be humble) opinion it does not sew as well as the Janome MC 4000, which is what I had first. The 7700 would NOT sew over the OBW center seams even with the new/improved O2 foot. So it is history, and I am thrilled with the Babylock.

Showing my ignorance here - what is OBW seam? I have had two replacement needle plates and even the machine replaced by Janome here in UK, and yet another needle plate replaced on new machine! I too have had Janomes for more than 2o years and am very disappointed in the 7700 which was advertised as the ' be all and end all'

OBW stands for One Block Wonder. Each block is a hexagon consisting of six sixty degree triangles, which makes the center point have about eight layers coming together. Kind of like a star point. The 7700 sewed fine over two layers, but when it got to the center bulky part, wouldn't go over without major tugging, even with the new redesigned foot.

Also having a problem with the thread raveling in the needle. Dealer said no C&C and gve me Mettler cotton and Schmetz quilting needles. Worked great on FM on and old potholder. Tried a cotton, low loft poly batting sandwich--Mettler thread raveling in the quilting needle.

I see everyones beautiful work and am so frustrated. I can't even make a junk sample.!!!!

My Janome dealer (who is a very smart guy) said that all cotton thread is not the best to use, that you should use wrapped cotton or polyester thread. He also said that it is AN OLD WIVES TALE that polyester thread would cut cotton cloth, that it is not true. So try the poly thread and see if that works. And change needles often. Sometimes they have a burr, and every other one in the package will have the same burr.

My Janome dealer (who is a very smart guy) said that all cotton thread is not the best to use, that you should use wrapped cotton or polyester thread. He also said that it is AN OLD WIVES TALE that polyester thread would cut cotton cloth, that it is not true. So try the poly thread and see if that works. And change needles often. Sometimes they have a burr, and every other one in the package will have the same burr.

Had the same problem with a different needle and cotton wrapped poly. And the 'new' Mettler cotton and quilting needle worked on one fabric and not on the next. 50 years sewing on any cheap machine I never saw this before. FINALLY got a 'good' machine and it is too finicky for me.

That's exactly how I felt! I loved my cheap little MC4000 and it sewed like a dream! I thought I was getting such a great machine in the 7700, but was EXTREMELY disappointed.

I have no idea what an OBW seam is. I know about OMG!

I have this machine and love it...any issue I have had was me...not the machine...I am a fairly new sewer and self taught...oh and oh course lots of help here and on the internet. I can't say enough how much I love this machine...it you have any tension issue...it may be your needle...there is a quilting needle to use when doing FMQing...once I switched mine to 14 quilting needle it works great...no more breaking the thread, or shredding the thread. I can Quilt a queen size quilt and one of these days will try to do a King size. I did have a few issues but it was me not the machine...

Really, I love my Horizon and I also have the 11000SE, have had no problems with either. Once I got the new F2 foot I was able to go over seams, but you also have the Acufeed feet to use too that are designed to do the heavy lifting.

I am a relatively new sewer too.

I just bought the Acufeed foot with the 1/4 inch guide and the Blue bobbin case for FMQing. I also resolved all my tension issues that I had...My fault totally...I was using the wrong needles. The right needle does matter. I use the Acufeed foot for the binding...that works Great! there is also a stich in the ditch Acufeet foot. I just used that for the quilting when I did the edges.

aurgh...I take it back...when it works it is great....sick of all the issues...just got it back and now it states failure 7...so much for me getting my quilt done. does anyone know what that means...i have not dug out my manual yet.

If you check the blog site:
www.freemotionquilting.blogspot.com
May 11, 2011

You will find a very comprehensive review of the Janome 7700 machine. It looks great!

I have been trying to fix it all morning...the needle plate hole will not open. I have tried. I keep getting that failure 7. It will not let me do anything.

Since I had mine checked out by the dealer, it has been going great. My issues were probably all me getting used to using a computerized machine. I really do enjoy working on it.

Hi-
I had the same problem with the needle plate, but I was getting an E4 error. Just got word from the shop it is ready to pick up- they had to replace the main board, which is the SECOND time this has happened- the first time it was in November and I was getting a F7 error message then. I really love working with this machine, but the little (and not so little!) problems are starting to get on my nerves!

Mine is working great! I am using Gutermann poly thread and have used it since owning my first Janome in 2007. The Horizon does not like the Schmetz Universal needles; but will take the sharps.

they are replacing my needle plate gave me one to use...it does not work ; ( I have a quilt to finish for tomorrow...I hope my other machine works...time to dig that one out.

I feel the same!! When it works its Great! My husband is more upset than I am...we paid alot of this machine and we should not be having all these issues.

Ok, when I picked up my machine today, they said Janome had a new board, with an additional fuse...so maybe this will go better. You might want to ask your dealer about that. I must say my dealer has been awesome with all of this!

I am looking for a quilt frame for my Horizon 7700 - if others here have one...please let me know what you are using. Thanks!

Horizon knee lifter
 

There is a screw at the top end of the knee lift lever. You can loosen that screw and move the shaft of the lifter to a position that is right for you, then tighten it.
Hope that works for you.

I have had mine for nearly 2 years with no problems and I totally love the machine and what it will do! But I would be very, very disappointed if I was dealing with the problems some of you have had. I hope you get it fixed and you have dealers who stand behind you.

I love my machine also...the problems I had in the past were mostly me...once I started using different thread my problems went away....I am going to go look and hopefully pick up a frame tomorrow. sounds like the 7700 will fit on the quilting frame. Fingers crossed.

What tension setting do you use for fmq?