Janome, Pfaff, or eversewn?
 

Hello! This is my first time using this forum but I was hoping some of you could provide some feedback. I am looking to replace my old beginner sewing machine with one that has more functions and will last a long time. I think I have narrowed it down to 3 options but I’m having difficulty deciding since there’s so many conflicting reviews online.
I’ve narrowed it to the Janome 3160QDC, Pfaff passport 3.0, or Eversewn sparrow 30. Any feedback would be appreciated! Thank you!

Fist of all Welcome to the QB from SE Michigan. I am a big fan of Janome products. Mine has been a work horse with only one problem in about 30 years. The problem was more me than the machine. I also have a Janome serger and it has served me well for as long. They have a great reputation for quality machines. Every machine has different qualities and it is really your preference in what you believe will be the best bet for the budget you have for a machine. This is a big decision and we all have been there at one time or another.
I hope you will take time to explore and enjoy the forum. There are so many helpful people here. Again welcome to the QB!

I think either one will be fine for sewing. I know the Eversewn 30 has auto thread cutter, a must have feature on a new machine for me whatever the brand.

Hello and welcome, can you tell us which are the features you are most wanting to get/why did you decide on those machines?

Like I mostly quilt and 99% of the fancy stitches (other than serpentine for quilting down) will never get used. But I like the knee lift, deep throat, thread cutter and auto threader of my fancy Bernina along with needle up/down through my foot pedal. I like my trusty old vintage machine for being a little piecing work horse that can do any thing I throw at it, including jeans and upholstery.

Just got one of those back from the shop (the vintage one) and the Bernina is still broken but that dealer is accepting repair drop offs now -- anyway, been sewing on a bottom of the line Brother ($100 or less new sort) since January that I have for classes or traveling because working beats non-working. I will say I've been impressed with the accuracy of the quilting foot, the threading assist is more than my vintage machine has, and it is chugging away making masks just fine.

All three of those are great machines. I would go with the Pfaff Passport for the IDT (built-in walking foot), but I think the other two have slightly larger throats. My Mom has the 3160, and it's an absolute workhorse. Normally I would go to the dealers and try them out, but I don't know if that's possible at this time where you live.

Whichever one you choose, have fun with it!

Welcome to the board. I have a Janome and bought it used and have no problems with it what so ever. I do get it cleaned about every 2 years. The three options that you have narrowed down are all good machine. I think it really depends on what features you want on a sewing machine. Good luck on your decision and let us know

Welcome Ethai. I have an Eversewn Sparrow 30 and just love it. You get a lot of bang for your buck.

Thank you for all your replies! The main reasons I narrowed it down to these machines are the prices are all around the same range and these machines seem to have a lot of positive reviews.
I don’t need a lot of fancy stitches but I would like the machine to grow with my skills in the future. I am teaching my young children on the machine so the speed adjustment was a must.
Right now the main purpose of the machine would be for general crafting and hemming/altering kids clothes. In the future, I would want to explore quilting.
To me the most important factor is the reliability and ease of use. With 3 little ones at home, I need a machine that I don’t need to worry about acting up on me and I don’t need to fiddle with to get good results. I appreciate all your comments!

Any one of the machines you listed would be just right for your current needs. It would also be a great back up machine for later when you decide to venture into quilting. I have and love the Janome 3160, it is my travel machine although I do set it up in my living room in a sweat shop style of stitching and have pieced a quilt on it. It has been reliable, easy to use, and have had no problems with it.
One thing you might consider is the availability of a dealer near you. If you can find any of these machine at a local dealer, that would be a good way to go in case you have problems later. I can only speak for the Janome but mine has only been cleaned and never had a repair (it is 6 years old) but something to consider.
Good luck in which ever you choose and welcome to the forum. You can learn lots here!!https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png

Janome for sure.

I too have an Eversewn. Can’t be beat for the price. I bought it to travel with - before stay in place - and it’s been great. Bought it to replace small lightweight Janome which sews well but throat is small. Either of these you won’t go wrong.

I have a passport 2.0. and it has a mind of it's own.....sometimes all the lights will come on but it just won't stitch...one other time, I was sitting there staring at it trying to figure it out...and it just took off stitching a high speed and would not stop until I pulled the plugged....I kept taking it back to the shop where it would behave beautifully for the tech and he could not trouble shot the problem....so there it sits like a dust collector....I want to get rid of it...but it has only been used a few times...and I don't want to unload it on anyone....I have thought of just giving it to someone and saying it may or may not work for you.....maybe I should give them the recycling fee at the same time....it is a dilemma....

When I was looking for a machine that I could easily take to classes I looked at the Eversewn Sparrow 30 and Pfaff Passport 2.0. I read online reviews and researched features offered, both were equal to what I wanted and test sewing on both were good. I bought the Passport 2.0 and have been very happy with it and unlike sewingpup it hasn't had any problems or a mind of it's own. The deciding factor was that I have a Pfaff Performance 5.0 and a Select 3.0 and the feet are interchangeable on all the machines and I am addicted to the IDT feature.

I'll go with a Pfaff every time, as once you get use to the IDT, it's hard to sew without it (MHO)

I consider how close the service man is me. Eventually it needs service and I don't want to drive 2 hrs.

Janome hands down, and I have heard good reports about the Eversewn 30 Good luck with what ever you choose

Love and adore my Janome 3160. Light and easy to travel with and take to classes. Has the the thread cutter. Quiet and smooth sewing. I have 4 Janomes.

Janome 4300 QDC
 

I just bought the Janome 4300 QDC in mid-March (right before the pandemic) to replace my Janome Jem Platinum. Love it - this model even accepts the optic magnifier!

I have a fabulous Janome and they have a machine for every budget, I've heard that Eversewn machines are excellent as well. I will echo the person upthread who said that you will never use 99 percent of the fancy stitches, for a basic machine I recommend, zig zag and stretch stitch which is helpful if you ever make clothing.

Love my Janome - I take it to class and use it for piecing. I had several of the Janome Gem's but got this one because it has many of the features of my Janome 7700 without the weight. It has a thread cutter and needle up and down (which I can't live without). My friend has it and has quilted bed quilts on it 0 the biggest I have quilted is lap size/baby quilts)

a warm welcome to the board happy quilting

Tell me more about the needle up/down through the foot pedal. And what model is your fancy Bernina? You are beguiling me, lol.