Many have said wonderful things about their Janome. The one thing I have seen is that everyone hates that stupid little screw. Talked with my Janome dealer and they sell a bigger screw for alittle over a dollar. Wow I love my bigger screw. It does help.

I'm not sure I know what screw you're talking about. I have a Janome 6500 and my two girls (ages 6 and 8) each have used Janome Quilter's Companions but we've never had a problem. Are you talking about the small screw hole where the seam-liner screws into?

i hate the short screw driver for the screw in the faceplate.

I bought a set of stubby screwdrivers (one flat head and one phillips) from Harbor Freight and they are wonderful for getting to the faceplate and other tight places. Think I paid $2-3. My hubby even asked me to get him a set as well as several of my guild members. The handle is big enough to get a good grip but the blade is only about 1 inch long.

I have the same set. Aren't they the greatest? That is the ones they should include in all attachment boxes when we purchase a machine.

I know what you mean when I take off the plate it a PIA

I thought she meant the screw that holds the foot on. Mine is fine for the accufeed feet but for the regular foot holder I have to be careful because in order to unscrew it enough to get the foot off the screw almost comes completely out. I have to be really careful to unscrew and keep trying to take the foot off at the same time, little by little.

I have several Janomes and I can attest to the wretched little screw on the faceplate as well as the wretched little screw driver ...

My fix? I never screw it in. I just leave it off and it does not hamper me in any way while sewing. The faceplate just sits where it's supposed to with no problems.

I guess I've never had a problem with the screws in the face plate. My machine came with a little flat thing to unscrew it and I just loosen it, then do the rest with my finger.

I have 2 Janome machines---6600 and the Janome Platinum---and I hate the screws in the faceplate----actually I hate the angle the screwdriver has to be in to get to the screws. I can't wait till Harbor Freight opens----I am going to go get the screwdriver set---hope that helps.

One other question----on my Janome 6600, I have the special bobbin holder for quilting. Will it hurt if I keep that in for regular sewing all of the time? I do see a difference when I quilt with it compared to the normal holder but will I be hurting anything if I use it all of the time?

Milkbone
What special bobbin holder do you mean?

Do you all not get the special screwdriver thing for the face plate? It is flat like a coin and has different size screwdriver things all around it. It makes it really easy to get the screws loosened or tightened. Much easier than any screwdriver I've ever tried.

Good question, but when I went to a quilt show with vendors, a Janome dealer was selling this special bobbin holder for machine quilting. I really like it, but I am getting lazy in my old age and would like to just keep it in the machine. I sometimes have to change back to straight stitching in the middle of machine quilting and don't want to always change the bobbin holder. Does that make sense?

It's a bobbin that's set up just for free motion quilting. It has a different colored mark on it to keep track of which bobbin case is which.

the difference is that the special holder has a different tension so it may work if you adjust the top tension to compensate. Never heard of anyone trying it though.

Thanks Gale----That is the one I have. I guess I will just keep on changing the bobbin cases----I don't want to ruin anything and I guess that is why they made the special free motion quilting bobbin case :)

I wouldn't think it would be a problem to sew with a bobbin holder that works for quilting. Just call your sewing "straight line" quilting. It's probably the low tension bobbin case they sell. It's useful when using thicker designer threads and such that won't go through the tension spring on the regular bobbin holder. Just try it. If it works for you, then good for you. If it doesn't, then you know, and switch it out for sewing.

I always lose that little flat "screwdriver"...so someone here mentioned using some of that clay like stuff that holds your pictures in place...on the machine. I think they meant it to hold the scissors, but I use it to hold my seam ripper and the little flat "screwdriver"... :) :) But I WILL check out Harbor Freight!!!!

Thanks tjradj----I kinda have the same feelings---if it works, it works.....but I am chicken sometimes to try it. In the long run, I don't want to mess up my machine----I really enjoy my Janome and don't want to hurt it :) Happy New Year.......

If you have the quilting bobbin holder it seems to be looser than the regular one and your straight stitches will be not as good. I forgot it was in and tried to do some fancy stitches and wondered why they were not coming out right! It does make a difference.

Thanks, Janie Q----
I sorta figured there would be some ramifications if I kept it in. Your explanation makes sense. Happy quilting :)

Iam talking about the snall screw on the side for when you need to put on the foot that guides from both the top and the bottom. It is used for quilting. To new to know what it is really called.

if your getting good stitches with the "blue" bobbin holder, by all means continue using it! the reason they made it, so you don't have to mess with the tension on the regular one, for FMQ.

by the way, i leave my little screws out, on the face plate, i have had them out for over a yer, and no problems whatever.

I totally forgot that my machine came with two bobbin holders! I'm going to have to find my extra parts area. I have yet to even use the quilting table attachment thing that came with it... Yeah. I need to get on the ball here! :D

My dealer gave me the screw for free. And yes, that WAS the only thing I didn't like about my Janomes.

Walking foot or even feed foot. It's called both. :)

Same here. I wonder if one could find a longer screw to replace the stubby guy that the 6600 comes with.

Walking foot!

Janome has a special bobbin holder with a blue dot that is used for fmq. I have it and it sure makes a difference in the stitching. It costs about 30.00 but it's worth it.

I never thought of leaving the little screws out of the face plate----I am going to try that----taking those screws out and putting them back in is more of a pain than the bobbin holder :) Thanks.......

I have a Janome 6600 and never heard of a special bobbin for quilting. Does it come standard or do you have to purchase one. How different is it? Please enlighten me. Thank you

I have a 6600 too and don't know about new accessories. My dealer is an hour away. Is there an on-line source for Janome? I want to start quilting again after a year of poor health and would love to know about new goodies!

I bought mine from Brubaker's online. My dealer is also an hour away and also seems to be closed on the days or the times we're out that way.

The foot is an extra accessory called a fmq foot. It comes as a spring loaded open toe foot plus a special bobbin holder.I have found it to be very good especially when you stop and restart there is no jump forward.

Me too! great prices,and customer service too.

make sure you get the feet for your machine.

http://brubakerssewing.com/store/ind....html?limit=30

the bobbin holder for Free Motion Quilting:
http://brubakerssewing.com/store/ind...in-holder.html

If you can FMQ without it, great! (more money for fabric!)

do not expect miracles from this bobbin holder, it helps with tension issues for sure.

you STILL need to practice,practice and more practice!

:thumbup:

Thanks all! I am happy to have found this forum and such a speedy and helpful group! Will go check it out.

I can't find my screwdriver. Used it a couple of weeks ago and now I don't know what happened to it. A regular one does not work at all with my Janome QC. I may have to buy the set referenced, as well. Will go tomorrow to purchase another one from the dealer.

What I don't like about my Janome is how often I have to clean the bobbin area and can't get to it as well as I can with my other two machines. With the other two I can take the entire bobbin area apart and clean it thoroughly.

Midwestqltr

do you have a "hrbor freight" store? i got my stubby screwdriver from there..or the dollor store..that is one thing you don't need from the dealer! to expensive!

i use disposbable eyelash brushes to clean in there really good!

I have the same problem

If you mean the screw that holds the shank on, I agree. I'm going to inquire about a larger one. Thanks for the info.

I am wondering about that too...the blue bobbin holder...I have not bought it yet since I just heard about it while reading other peoples comments. I have the 7700. looks like a pain to remove it all the time.