So happy with sewing machine purchase.
 

Over Memorial Weekend, I purchased the lightweight and portable Janome 3128 during Hancock Fabric's sale. I am loving it! It is only 11 lbs., has a carrying handle, a light, very easy to thread/wind and insert bobbin, 17 stitches, snap-on feet, reverse stitch and several other features. In addition to the regular foot, it includes a 1/4 foot with the ridge. It sews very quietly - enough that I will use it in the dining room while dh watches TV. The only features it lacks are a thread cutter and drop feed dogs. Supposedly, Hancock's has this sale periodically throughout the year. It is valued at $179, but their price was only $89. Shipping for items over $35 was free. For the price and quality, I would recommend this machine, especially for travel and classes.

Congrats on your purchase! I love my machines too. Still want the high dollar embroidery machine. Its on my wish listLOL!

You don't need to drop the feed dogs when FMQ. Just put the stitch length to "0". I learned this from Leah Day tutes.
Enjoy you machine!

Congratulations on your new machine. I plan on purchasing a new one before long and this is a nice thing to know. Thanks for sharing!

I didn't know this. Thanks for the heads up!!! None of my feeddogs drop and I thought I couldn't do FMQ.

are you sure about the feed dogs? I love when someone gets a new machine, it just makes you feel so happy.

Lively, you have made my day - no, my year! Awesome info. This machine is for trips and classes.

You can also tape a business card over the feed dogs to be able to do FMQ. Enjoy your new machine.

Congratulations!!! :thumbup:

Congratulations! It's nice to hear when someone is happy with their machine :) I'm thinking of getting a lighter weight machine to take with me to sewing groups - but then I talk myself out of it because of the slower stitch speed. I'm so used to the speed of mine that I'm afraid I'd be impatient with a slower one - I need a faster one lol.

Congratulations!!!!

Congratulations on your machine!! Re: Feed dogs. When I FMQ on the machine that doesn't drop them, I set the stitch length on 0 and haven't had a problem. I used to use the Supreme Slider and then one time forgot about it and didn't notice a difference. Now I don't bother with it.

I have a Janome 3128 also and it is a good value for the money. Some of the other Janome machines Hancock's carry are also worth taking a look at, depending upon what your needs in a machine are. They have very good sales on most all of these machines from time to time.

My Janome was a Hancock's special too. It is the best sewing machine I've ever sat in front of, but it doesn't like FMQ'ing. Glad you love yours too!!

I really like my Janome portable machines. I have two Jems. My DD bought me one for a gift and didn't know I had just bought one a couple of weeks before. LOL They have never given me any problem and they are used a lot by different people at guild and classes.

Nice to know about this. It might make a nice beginner machine especially at the sale price.

My Janome was an Overstock.com special. I paid $60.00 for her and I still use her for jean repair and sewing denim projects.

I saw a video on YouTube a while back. The gal who was showing how to FMQ says she doesn't drop the feed dogs but sets her machine to zero.

that information about sewing machines is all ways good to know .
thank-you for sharing.

I read an article that said not dropping the feed dogs will work fine for FMQ but can eventually get the fabric feed out of whack on the machine or something like that messed up. I think it will take a long time for it to mess up but if it is a machine you plan on keeping for a long time I would ask a machine tech first.

On closer look, the machine does not have a stitch length choice of 0. There are 3 stitch choices: short (good for paper piecing), regular, and a longer basting size. Now I am unsure if covering the feed dogs with paper would do any harm....... This will probably not be a problem for me, however, as I have yet to try FMQ and would most likely do it on my Janome 6600 anyway.

It's true you can FMQ with feed dogs up, provided you set stitch length to 0. I have done it. It probably works better on some machines than on others, but worth a try. Some quilters find it provides better control over the quilt while FMQing.

Edit: When stitch length cannot be set to 0, it's okay to tape a credit card or other plastic over the feed dogs.

So glad you like Janome. I've used a Janome for the last 15 or so years and love them. Now I have 2. I could write a commercial for them. They have all the bells and whistles, come with a ton of attachments and are easy to learn. It would take an earthquake to change my love for them.

tjradj, I'm right there with ya, paddling the same boat!

Congratualtions on your new machine. Have fun! I've only got 1 Janome but have had good luck with it.

I also have a Janome 6600 and have thought about purchasing a lightweight machine for classes, etc. I'm okay with leaving my FMQing to do on the 6600 (which has a bigger throat).

Are any of your feet interchangeable between the two machines? I assume the bobbins are the same (boy, I'd hate to have to keep track of two different bobbin sizes).

Thanks for posting - I'm thinking about getting a lighter machine for just the reason you did.

AHHHH! That sounds like a great idea. I hadn't thought of doing that. I'll have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing .

Congratulations on your new machine!

lol !! congrats !! I saw the Memory Craft 12000 and OMGoodness what a machine .. but I couldn't see spending that type of monies on a machine .. But I sure wanted it .. LOL

What a fantastic deal! :thumbup:

so great that you are happy with your purchase - a good feeling!

Cool! Congrats and enjoy!

I just bought the Janome 3160 to take to classes. I have a Janome 4900 that I love and bought the Janome Platinum Jem for my grandaughter. The 3160 is 12 pounds, has an automatic thread cutter, has 60 decorative stitches. I've tried all the stitches and they work beautifully!

Newestnana - Yes, I'm thrilled to be using the same Janome bobbins. No, the 3128 has snap-on feet which of course are different from the 6600.

Good for you!!! I will keep this in mind when i am in need of another machine LOL

Congratulations on your new baby.

Check the back of your machine behind the pressure foot - there may be rocker bar to drop the feed dogs. I have a light weight Janome - different model and discovered that I did have feed dogs.

it works like a charm. i had bought a feed dog cover for my older babylock before i figured out i could just set the stitch length to zero and use my free motion foot.