Amazon.com: Customer reviews:

Top positive review

Great Machine...Works Great...won't break the bank!

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2011

I used to have a used Top of Line sewing machine and it was fabulous, sewed great, but cost lots of money (even used). Like everyone nowadays budget is a huge concern and it turned out I really don't have as much time to sew as I thought I would. Hubby, kids, etc...all taking my time. :) So I decided to sell my Top of Line machine and purchased this machine instead.

Let me say, this machine has been fabulous. It arrived brand new with all the accessories. The buttonhole foot was in the little drawer that is underneath the machine. This machine has been nothing but a joy to use. It has a great looking straight stitch and for the budget conscious it was a fraction of the cost of my used TOL machine. I do have Amazon prime and spent the extra $3.99 to get it next day and it arrived the next day. Perfect.

This machine is NOT computerized which did take a bit of getting used to for me, and the absolute ONLY thing I really miss is that on some computerized models, the needle can stop always up or always down. People always tout this as a "beginner" machine, but I'm not sure why a really excellent seamstress couldn't/wouldn't use one of these. Maybe my application is different than most. But I find that even on the TOL machine I didn't really use all the extra stitches that much. Then again at this point in my life my projects have to be relatively quick and simple...or they don't get finished.

This machine even has overcasting stitches so you can finish your raw edges and avoid raveling. I LOVE the bobbin on these machines. Has the see through cover and you can see how much thread you have left. Anyway, absolutely no regrets here. It's a nice solid machine, heavy enough so it doesn't bounce around while sewing and the presser foot lifts extra high to allow for thick fabrics to go underneath.

443 people found this helpful

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

Laurel B.

Thankful for a handy husband

Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2013

I bought this machine, and it was some time before I actually got around to using it. I finally fired it up and managed to sew the seams on about five cloth napkins before it began making a horrible noise. It sounded like something had shaken loose inside of it. My husband, who is a contractor and a very good mechanic, took it apart and discovered that the belt had not been tightened properly. He tightened it for me and it now runs fine--although it does make a sort of buzzing noise between the lowest speed and the highest.
I like many things about the machine so far, (now that I can actually use it) but I was very disappointed that it was basically needing repair as soon as I turned it on. As I said, I had delayed starting my sewing projects and had thrown away the machine's packaging, so there was no returning it. Had my husband been less handy, I'd have had to pay for a repair. Not good. If you purchase this item, I would strongly suggest that you hang on to the packaging material until you've done some substantial sewing with it to make sure that your machine didn't come with some similar problem.
I had planned to donate my old Singer in favor of my new Janome, but now I think I will hang on to the old faithful just in case this problem wasn't an isolated incident.

21 people found this helpful

0 total ratings, 242 with reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From the United States

J. Johnson

Great Machine...Works Great...won't break the bank!

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2011

Verified Purchase

443 people found this helpful

Helpful

Kindle Shopper

Love this machine

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2011

Verified Purchase

I am a 44 yr old beginner sewist - have been learning for about 1 year on a borrowed machine until I could save up and research a machine. After tons of research and reading tons of reviews, I took the plunge and ordered this one, which fell within the limits of my budget. The options I wanted were: drop in bobbin, adjustable stitch width and length, variety of interchangeable feet, free arm sewing capabilty, button hole foot, and a decent variety of stitches. This machine has all that for a terrific price, and was easy to use right out of the box. The bobbin was easy to wind and load, the manual was easy to follow, and I was sewing within minutes of setting it up. Machine is not too heavy, but heavy enough to not jump all over the table. Feet are easy to exchange. The speed is easily controlled and this machine does not jump so fast right "out of the gate", a great feature when working on an intimidating project that I need to take my time with. I have made several things with it already, including hooded bath towel, pants, clothing, and bags. I think the Janome name represents good quality and after making a few calls before purchasing, it will be easy to service if need be. I was a little hesitant about ordering from Amazon because of warranty concerns or problems with the item missing parts when received. i registered the warranty right away on-line with the info provided, so hopefully that will not be a problem in the future.

22 people found this helpful

Helpful

Bonnie

Perfect choice, worth the price

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2012

Verified Purchase

When my heavy duty, dependable high school sewing machine (Montgomery Wards 1964) no longer met my sewing needs, I donated it to a non-profit and started reading reviews online. I assumed that I'd get a Singer, low price, famous name. But I started noticing two things: lots of complaints by Singer owners and lots of praise for the Janome, a brand I'd never heard of before. Good choice! I've used it for several months now, mostly very simple stitching, and it has been exactly what I needed. After reading the manual it was easy to thread and put the bobbin in; top loading is a great idea. It sews nicely, feels solid and looks good too. It is a bit heavier than the Singers but I can easily pick it up and am glad for its sturdiness. The foot pedal feels fine, responsive to pressure, perhaps sewing more easily at higher speeds than at lower. This doesn't bother me but I did notice it. Perhaps all machines do the same? When I thought it was missing a thread holder I emailed the dealer and she answered at once, explaining where the piece was located - on the thread spindle of course.

I haven't encountered any problems with this machine and am extremely happy with it for sewing quilts, mending, doing small projects. Haven't used the button hole maker or any decorative stitches so check other reviews for these functions. I gave it four stars instead of five because let's face it, nothing sews like the older, heavier models we grew up with, but this one works for me.

Note added later: when I bought this Janome it was only $200 and a great price. Now I see it's $250 and at that price I might have started looking at the computerized ones. Hard to say now since I like this one so much.

20 people found this helpful

Helpful

none

Mine worked right out of the box purchased Oct 2015 and still in use may 2020 no problems

Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2015

Verified Purchase

I read across all the reviews, and decided to buy it. I did notice that some got a dud, but this seems to be the case in many products these days. It might be failure or lack of quality control. I reviewer noted that the faulty machine returned appeared to have been sold to another reviewer who reported the same faults in the product. This made me a little nervous, and I hoped I would not get a faulty returned Item.

Thankfully I did not. My machine worked right out of the box. It has a very good light so that you can see what you are sewing pretty well. I agree with the five star revewers, except I found the machine is noisy, but not in an unpleasant way.

I have the Janome 2206 that I have worked literally non stop since I got it. It is pretty basic but gets the job done on every fabric that I have used from light weight linen to heavy weight denim, it is a real work horse. Yet I wanted the Janome 7318 because it offered more options in sewing. Plus it has a simple four step easy as pie buttonholer. THE BUTTONHOLER IS
LOCATED IN THE SLIP OUT BOX AT THE FRONT BASE OF THE MACHINE, you will not find
it with the plastic bag of accessories.

The only con I can see at this time is that the machine runs hard. My old Janome has to be oiled once yearly, and runs like a dream. The magnolia say NOTHING about needing to be oiled, yet I wonder if this is an over sight. I plan on lightly oiling the parts indicated in my old Janome manual. The Magnolia comes with two separate manuals. One is in English and the other is in Spanish. I am using whatever thread I want with no problem, although some mention that cheap thread is a problem. The spools of cheap threads have groves at the top that may catch while sewing. But the spools that have a smooth or locking lid should not present this problem.
I wonder too if the belt on the magnolia is too tight that might be a factor in why it runs hard.
I still plan on keeping my box for a while, just in case.
Update 2022. The Janome 7318 is still going strong and no longer hatd running but going easy even over heavy denim. Some threads are cheap, thin, and fuzz when sewing use the best thread. Some of the used to be quality thread now seem lower in quality. I did oil the Janpme 5 years ago one time, it made the machine run much better.
IF YOU BUY THIS MACHINE MAKE SURE YOU SELECT NEW ONLY LIKE I DID.

9 people found this helpful

Helpful

J. Davis

Beautiful machine!

Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2011

Verified Purchase

Edited to add:

Well, I've been using the machine this week and am still in love with it. I ran off the fabric a few time since I'm still learning, and the machine remained jam-free (yay!). Adding a bobbin was also a snap. Something I didn't add in the review below is that the machine has a light for when you sew (again, I'm a new sewer and this is my first machine, so maybe all machines have a light - but thought I should mention it just in case).

******

I'm a new sewer, and after taking a sewing class, I was inspired to buy my first machine. My sewing instructor recommended Elna and Janome branded machines, saying that they would last and make all the difference in your sewing projects. She also said they were worth the extra money.

I saw the Janome 7318 on Amazon and decided to take the plunge. I recently signed up for a Living Social deal to have a 2-hour sewing lesson in my home, and when I looked at the instructor's website, she recommends the Janome Magnolia 7318, which made me feel good about my purchase.

My machine arrived today and it's beautiful! It comes with the following standard accessories: zipper foot e, buttonhole foot b, sliding buttonhole foot j, needles, bobbins, small screwdriver, lint brush, seam ripper (buttonhole opener), large spool holder, small spool holder, additional spool pin and felt cushion. At first I thought I had the same problem of missing accessories like another reviewer, but found that while most of the accessories were in a plastic baggie, the sliding buttonhole foot was in the accessory storage (part of the machine), and the large spool holder was on the machine's spool pin. So if you get your machine and think parts are missing, take a look at the machine to double-check they're not in and/or on it.

Here are some other machine features:

1) Unlike the Elna machine that I used in class, this machine has a thread cutter already attached - which is sweet.
2) The extension table can be removed so you can do hems and shirt sleeves.
3) Feed dogs can be dropped
4) You can independently adjust stitch length and width (Maximum Zigzag Width: 5.0 mm Maximum Stitch Length: 4 mm)
5) The needle can be lifted really high to fit bulky/thick fabrics
6) The bobbin can be dropped easily in on the base, and the cover is see-through so you can tell if you're running out of thread. This really help sell me, because in class I kept having bobbin issues. I also ran out of thread in the bobbin mid-project, so the see-through cover would've been helpful.
7) 18 preprogrammed stitches
8) 25 year warranty. Here is what it says on the Janome website regarding the warranty: In the event that your Product needs service covered by this warranty, please contact the authorized Janome dealer from whom you purchased it or a Janome Authorized Service Center. To locate a Janome Authorized Service Center, please call 1-800-631-0183 or visit our web site at [...]. Your product was sold with an instruction booklet and or a DVD/CD-ROM. To avoid any unnecessary inconvenience, we suggest that you refer to the instruction booklet before contacting your authorized Janome dealer or Janome Authorized Service Center for service. We also strongly encourage you to register your product on-line at [...].
(FYI - there was no DVD/CD-ROM with this model)

You can learn more about the machine on the Janome website. There is even a short, but helpful video that runs through the features.

Happy sewing!

205 people found this helpful

Helpful

Ellie

Perfect Beginner Sewing Machine

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2015

Verified Purchase

I am by no means an experienced seamstress, and research led me to this sewing machine as one of the top recommendations for a beginner. I'm very pleased to say that the recommendations were very accurate, as this is a great machine that pretty much anyone can use!

The seam choices are simple to figure out, and the mechanisms are also very simple to get the hang of once you read the directions and practice a bit. I have not had one single thread jam, and any errors made were operator caused and very easy to remedy. The functioning of the machine has not ever been affected by my errors, and even if the fabric gets bunched or stuck because of my maneuvering, the machine doesn't jam up. I absolutely love the little storage bin underneath, and the extra feet and supplies it came with were a great addition to an already rewarding purchase.

It's a bit more expensive than other machines of similar functionality, but it's very much worth it for the smooth operation and reliability it offers. I have used one or two other machines in the past that had similar functional capabilities, but this one is much higher quality and well worth the extra bit of money. This sewing machine will be my companion for a long time!

24 people found this helpful

Helpful

SLP

Nice machine - easy everything

Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2014

Verified Purchase

As a complete beginner, it was so easy to set up, start playing with and actually begin to sew with. The stitching is nice and it was fun to may my own "examples" so I know what I need to use when making projects. It is a wonderfully simple machine with enough bells and whistles to keep me busy for quite some time. I do not perceive that I will outgrow this model for a while, even though I eventually plan to make elaborate items of classic ladies clothing with it. So far, I have already made an apron and it is a two sided/reversible type. Literally one hour out of the box it worked great - no snags, no birds nests - just nice even stitches. Even the reverse button works well for strengthening the straps! I'm pleased it is light enough to carry although I purchased a nice roller bag specifically made for sewing machines so I could pack it back and forth between classes, a small sewing circle my friends and I created, and to my boyfriends home. As a true beginner, I am really enjoying the process, and I believe it is because this Janome is well rated, and has lived up to everything I read about it. I would recommend it to those who are considering taking up sewing or just want a sturdy, functional, yet enjoyable machine.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

Virginia Bollinger

Just right for beginners!

Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2023

Verified Purchase

I like it's simplicity and it makes a great machine to learn on.

Helpful

WindowsShopper

Great Sewing Machine for All Skill Levels.

Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2016

Verified Purchase

I haven't sewn a lot with it yet, but the sewing I've done with it has been a pleasure. I have collected, refurbished, and used about vintage sewing machines, circa 1940s-1960s. None of the machines I own had stitches fancier than zig-zag stitch. I have a serger, but it doesn't have a cover lock stitch, which limits it basically, to sewing seams.
So, when I decided I wanted to sew lingerie and stretch fabrics, I looked for a vintage machine with stretch stitches. Unfortunately, I had little luck in finding a suitable old machine that didn't have major problems, such as broken plastic cam shaft gears. I gave up and went for this new machine, based on reviews on Amazon and other websites. This by far was the best deal for the money. I especially like that this is a mechanical, and not electronic, machine, so less can go wrong with it. And, though there are plastic and nylon parts, my research indicated that the quality of materials used today are better than those from the 1970s and 1980s, when non-metal parts heralded a decline in sewing machine quality for many brands, such as Singers.
This sewing machine has been described by some sewing pundits as a great machine for beginning sewers. I agree, but also believe it is great for experienced sewers. The variety of stitches a machine has, has little to do with sewing skills. Many extra stitches are embroidery stitches, which are great if you are into embroidery. I am not, but I am into sewing tailored garments of great difficulty, using many couture/bespoke construction techniques. This machine is great for whatever floats your boat, at any skill level, unless you are heavy into upholstering. In that case, if you can't afford an industrial machine with a walking foot, a vintage all metal innards machine with an external motor is the way to go. I wouldn't even try sewing heavy leather or mohair upholstery fabric on this machine, and don't fault it for that at all.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

StitchingLibrarian

Perfect for a beginner with a stack of library sewing books

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2013

Verified Purchase

I've been wanting to try out sewing for a long, long time but felt a bit paralyzed by the daunting task of picking out a machine. So many reviews! After making a spreadsheet to compare features and complaints, I settled on the Janome Magnolia.

Oh, I am so very happy with this sewing machine! In the four months I've had it, I've made skirts, a quilt, a dress, and little gift things. I did end up getting additional presser feet for it - the Distinctive quilting feet package - and that has been really nice for working with fleece and thicker quilt materials. For making clothes or using basic cotton fabric, the regular presser feet are just fine.

When troubleshooting, here are the big three to remember: thread, needle, dust. I haven't had to adjust the tension once. Thread: always, always, always thread your machine with the presser foot UP. Needle: seriously, change your needle after every sewing project or after about 8 hours of sewing. I am always amazed what a difference it makes when I put in a brand new needle. Get the Organ 100 pack here on Amazon if you're mainly using basic universal needles. Dust: Clean your machine after every project, too. This means removing the build up of fuzz around the needle shaft, checking the bobbin holder, and it's not a bad idea to lift up the plate and check for dust and fuzz around the feed dogs, too. A clean machine is a happy machine is a much happier you.

And my final tip: your public library! I have learned so many little tricks and projects just by checking out sewing books from the public library. If you're a beginner, too, check out books on upcycling, using scraps, using fat quarters or just one yard of fabric. Happy sewing!

52 people found this helpful

Helpful

Need customer service?

‹ See all details for

5 star (0%)		0%
4 star (0%)		0%
3 star (0%)		0%
2 star (0%)		0%
1 star (0%)		0%

›

Customer reviews

Customer reviews

Top positive review

Top critical review

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From the United States

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

› Customer reviews

Customer reviews

Top positive review

Top critical review

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From the United States

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

›

Customer reviews