Originally Posted by
Shelbie
I have the Janome 6500 and it has been the most expensive machine that I have ever bought and the one that I have not liked! I'm sure that I got the one made at ten to five just before a long weekend. It's had a lot of problems and so have I. I definitely have had a love/hate relationship with this machine. There are some features that I really like, needle up-down, needle threader and thread cutter. I haven't liked the feed dogs (set in at an angle and have never fed fabric in correctly), bobbin case that rattles and bangs unless you oil the oil wick under it, a machine that veers off at any seam junction, dislikes thicker fabric and growls and sometimes jams or knots up for no particular reason and all of these problems were caused by "operator error" according to my dealer. I never want another Janome and am presently looking at the Juki Exceed 600 and the Juki TL2010Q. I could buy both of these machines for what I paid for my Janome 6500. I really think that there are no perfect machines out there. It's just a matter of finding (hard to do) the best one for you and a dealer that is willing and able to work with you to resolve any problems.
I'm going to second the Juki line of home sewing machines. I have a Janome 7700 and it is a nice machine, but nowhere as strong a motor as my Juki F-600. For the money you cannot beat the Juki's. I sew with my 7700 because I get the best 1/4" seam with it and that is so important when piecing. Wish I could find a foot I liked as well for my Juki. That is one place the Juki's fall down, the feet are not as well thought out for home use. I have a Juki 98 and love it as well. Love the strong piercing power of the Juki's - my 7700 can be fussy about thicker seams - not my Juki's.