I had so much trouble with my Janome. It wouldn't surprise me if the bobbin was the problem on my machine too. I just got fed up with it and bought a new machine. The Janome has been to the repairman, but I haven't used it since. It's my spare. I wonder if it will work when I need it. I doubt it. Why would it want to change now?

Being a cynic I suspect the reason dealers are against prewound is that Janome loses business. Your dealers may be hearing that prewouds are no good from Janome headquarters.
I've never had trouble with those from Superior Threads (I use Bottom Line mainly, Masterpiece when I want cotton on the bobbin). I've never tried any other prewounds.
Bob tells you on his site which machines do and do not take his bobbins.
The one shortcoming is that neither of my Jems take Bottom Line top and bobbin. My Bernina does. but won't take the prewounds, so have to rewind one onto a Bernina bobbin.

I was taught to begin by threading into the tiny hole by going inside the bobbin pushing thread to the outside, then pull the thread down the middle large hole that sits on the machine spindle. Before inserting into the bobbin area I trim the thread close to the bobbin.
I use thread all the way till the bobbin is empty with no issues. Had 6600 P over 2 years.
Hope this is helpful

Teresa in McKinney, TX
a new member

Be sure when you start winding you bobbin, that you stop once it has a good start and trim the thread that you were holding up to start it with really short. Sometimes if you don't this thread can get caught when the bobbin gets low and catch. Hope this makes sense. Be sure to check your bobbin case too to make sure you have not hits on it or rough spots that can catch your thread anytime. This happens when you have mis-threaded it by not having the presser foot up or missing the take-up lever. These two things are vital to any machine. Results = nest of thread in the bobbin area.

I have 3 Janomes, the Jem Gold,MC9500 and the MC300E and I would never own any other brand.

I do my bobbins the same way for my Janome 6600 as Theresa in McKinney, Tx. I've a 6500 and traded to a 6600 and have had this machine for 2 years. I've never had a problem other than running out of bobbin thread and not knowing for a minute or two. Good luck!!

The SQA are different than the normal class 15s. The gals at my LQS where I purchased it have said so. Believe, me I know how to wind a bobbin. I have rewound my bobbins for my SQA so many times I lost count. The only thing that helps me is a little (a 1/4" if that) piece of thick tape, right now I'm using the seam allowance tape, in the bottom of the bobbin casing. It seems to keep the bobbin from jumping around and I've had no problem with it since. Before that the darn thing would skip out of the guide and the thread was being fed off the front (towards you) instead of the back. Sounds crazy but it works for me.

I have a Jenome 3500 and am about to buy a 6600, it has been interesting reading all of your takes on the machines and bobbins. I have never had a problem with my 3500 with bobbins and have had it 6 years and love it. I am excited to get my new one and will ask my dealer if she has ever had a problem reported to her about the bobbins. Love this site for opinions. Keep them coming.

I also own the 6600, 7700 Horizon, MC10001, MC11000, so I have had a good bit of 'practice'.
If you are using Janome pre-wound bobbins, you probably should not attempt to use it down to the last inch, because they are wound on a heavy duty bobbin winder, and this usually causes some overlap at the inside of the spool. The overlap actually causes the bobbin to hang up inside the bobbin case - so try to watch and stop the machine before it gets too close to the center.
If you are using other brands of pre-wound bobbins, you should rewind them onto Janome bobbins because the commercial prewound bobbins (even the plastic ones) are smaller than the Janome bobbins and have been known to damage the machine.
If you are winding your own Janome bobbins, you need to do what the other person said; put the thread through the hole in the top, hold it while the winder spins 3 or 4 times, then stop it and cut the tail and then start the winder again. I have never had a bobbin that I wound like this hang on me.
Good luck.

Don't know about the bobbin problems 'cause I wind mine, stop and clip and then continue with no probem ever with my Janome or my Elna. After the holidays I'll have a FW cleaned, lubed and tuned for sale. PM me if you think you (or hubby) might be interested.

:-D

Yep, I have Jamones too and the same trouble :-(

I call it machine vomit!

Vicky

I was thinking of getting a Janome machine .... you are making me think twice...

Every now and then I have a problem with birds nests and I think it's because I don't check tension when changing stitches. I try to keep cool, but I have lost my patience every now and then. Then I remind myself it must be something I am doing because I am the one operating it. Start over and try again. Then it works fine. I have the Janome MC6600 too.

Not all Jamones that I know of. I can only vouch for the QSA which I'm guessing there aren't too many left. They were made in 2009 for the Quilting Soc of Amer. (At least that was what I was told lol)

I've never used a QSA but the 6600 is my absolute all time favorite. I LOVE that machine!

Maybe try bobbin genies.

I have a Janome 8000 and a new Horizen and have not had any trouble. I clip the thread after about turns,also. Sometimes I do have a problem with a bobbin that does not load properly. It winds too loose, not sure why, but I know it is something I am doing wrong.

I would call a Janome dealer and ask them why you can't finish a bobbin.

I have a 6600 and a Memory Craft 4800, and have not had that problem you described. However, right now I'm using my 4800 in Florida, and sometimes when I fill my bobbin the needle itself goes up and down (so I end up not filling the bobbin as fast - I don't want to overwork the sewing mechanism). But then, sometimes it fills properly.

Any ideas of what I'm doing wrong??

I have had my Memory Craft Janome 3500 for 6 years and love it!!!!! I am going to up grade to a 6600 in a couple of weeks but keeping my MC3500. I want a deeper throat for my own machine quilting and a few of the other newer features but I still love my original one and won't part with it. I've never had that problem with the bobbins.

I love mine and have had great luck with my 3500 MCraft. I am going to upgrade to a 6600 after Christmas only because I want some of the new features and the deeper throat and am keeping my smaller one. They are a tough little machine.

I love my Janome MC 9000. Never had problem with the bobbins.

That's how I do it too and I have never had a problem. I have a MC6500.

I dont have this problem with my Janome, but My Bernette that I use for Class will do this. I think it is because when I wind bobbins, it tends to fill up on the bottom unless I help it along. That can be corrected by adjusting the screw on the little disc that you wrap your thread around before going to the bobbin. I just havent found the sweet spot yet.

Thanks for your e mail reg. the bobbins. I am planning to buy the Janome Machine available in India. Now i am in two minds. :cry:

the difference between a Class L bobbin and a Class 15 is hard to see at first. Ls are the same width as a 15, but not as high.

a Class L will "jump around" in a Janome because it doesn't fill the whole bobbin case. as we've read in the tips given here, you can use an L in a machine built for 15s, but once you've collected enough 15s, i'd recommend you gift the Ls to somebody whose machine was built for those.

most commercial prewounds are made using Class L bobbins. they don't normally have the little leader holes, either, so are nearly impossible to re-use.

when you shop for prewounds to use in a Janome it's very important to shop for only reusable Class 15s. if the vendor doesn't show a photo in which you can clearly see the little leader holes, and if it doesn't clearly state they are Class 15s then keep looking.

i have always had success with prewound bought here:
http://www.terradonembroidery.com/clear_quilt_15.htm

I have a 9500 and have the same problem. This is the 2nd time i took it to the shop for this problem. I hope they tell me whats going on.

have you signed on to the Jamome Yahoo group and posted the question. Lots of answers there.

He did not say why. But when I tried them, (the prewound bobbins) my machine just clunked up on the bottom of the fabric. My Viking did alright but it is not a computer machine.

My DC 2010 just started doing the same thing. The bobbin just starts "jumping", so at least sounds that way and then the thread gets bunched up in the back.

I had the 6600 and had the same problem. Just got rid of it. Had it serviced etc. was told nothing wrong with that part of the machine.....

This is what I do also. I have a 6600 that's barely a year old & I've had more problems with it than I did with my first Janome in 12 years. Maybe there is something going on with the manufacturing process as with so many other things we buy these days.

I am thinking of buying a Jenome 6600 but I am worried now that I have read stuff against it. Have had great luck with my Janome 3500 Don't know what to do.

quilterfly what troubles have you had with your 6600? I am thinking of buying one after Christmas. :? :cry:

I have had no trouble at all with my 6600 but I ONLY use branded Janome bobbins and good quality branded thread - Superior, YLI or Aurifil specifically. IMO it's idiotic to spend all that money on a decent machine then penny pinch on the parts and supplies. A lot of the issues I read about on here are ppl using cheap supplies. They then criticise the machine for 'going wrong' or 'misbehaving'. This makes me mad. I've read this whole thread and ppl are being put off buying Janome by some of the comments here and that isn't fair. Properly looked after and maintained, it's an excellent machine.

Thank you K3N for your opinion. I am still leaning towards the 6600. There does seem to be more positive than negative and primarily with the bobbins which I have had no trouble at all with my 3500. Thanks

WOW!! That's a little harsh, don't you think? I didn't see any one saying they wouldn't buy Janome. I don't use "cheap supplies", in fact, I too use only Janome bobbins and Aurofil thread. Let's lighten up??

My Janome dealer had actually suggested I use prewound bobbins...but I thought it was a matter of convenience.

Can someone tell me why they use them rather than just winding your own?

My Janome does get a little finicky near the end of the bobbin.

Didn't mean to sound harsh and it wasn't directed at anyone in particular - just a general observation on comments I've read here and elsewhere. I'm perfectly 'light' thanks all the same. :-D

I don't think K3N is being harsh at all. I have a Memory Craft 9000 that I bought brand new about 13 years ago and I absolutely love that machine. Because it was so expensive, I trust only Janome supplies for it and have never had a problem with the bobbins. Like some of the ladies, I hold the thread until some of the bobbin winds, then clip the thread and finish winding the bobbin. I'm sorry to hear that people are having trouble with their bobbins. I have a Jem 760 to take to classes and I absolutely love both my Janome machines.

Two gals did say they were not sure what to do about future Janome machines.

June and Barb, I hope you both test drive them as they are fantastic machines. :)

Most of the time I love my 6600, it's just when the bobbin acts up, it's very frustrating. And I do use only Janome bobbins and good quality thread. I can't say that I was ever super thrilled with my AQS but it's nice and light for class which is what I bought it for. I would probably still consider the 6600 if I was buying a new quilting machine. After all, I think pretty much any machine has some complaints about it.