As many of you know I went through quite a trying experience with Janome in May of 2010 and with sheer determination I worked really hard with my Horizon to make it the machine I would LOVE. Well I’m not sure I LOVE it yet but I’m really starting to like it:)
It’s a solid machine, my Husqvarna would shake when I was free motioning quilting and that would drive me crazy, this machine is super solid but it’s super heavy too! I have had more comments on this Janome Horizon post from May of 2010 then likely any other post on my site. I believe that’s because our sewing machines mean alot to us. We value them like our cars and computers – they are our machines, we rely on them everyday (like I do). We want them to work like they are advertised to work.
Recently I took a class (with baby London and she was fab btw) on machine quilting – this was part 2 to the one I took in January and one of the ladies – we’ll call her “Frustrated Sewer” in the class recently bought a new Phaff. Frustrated Sewer came from a Bernina that she’d had and sewed faithfully on for many years (like 20+). She was getting to know her Phaff and wasn’t happy with it AT ALL – oh how I can relate to her. It’s so hard to spend the money on this new shiny sewing machine, pull it out of the box, full of excitement and anticipation for amazing things to come but then be dissapointed with the initial results. Frustrated sewer has spent let’s be generous and say several weeks playing with this new machine compared to the several years with her Bernina – there has got to be a significant difference, right?
Well like any tool we buy and spend significant money on, it’s a learning curve getting use to it – whether it’s a new stove, computer, remote control – they are supposed to be better cause they are newer. They come sporting the best technology – or better then what you currently have – a new shinyer cover or shell and more importantly they are going to assist us with expertise and a handy dandy user guide. This is a learning curve ladies. Trust me when I say learning curve.
I wish I could have returned my machine as the above posts asks over and over. I still haven’t taken it in for a service because I’m not sure where to take it – to the local store who’s a bit annoyed that I didn’t spend my money there and who will charge me full price for the service OR to the store where I purchased it from that’s about 8 hours from me – who’s likely annoyed with me for blogging about my experience and asking Janome Canada for help (which they never did). Stuck between a rock and a hard place I am. Good thing I can take apart and clean my machine with no problems….
What are your experiences with your brand of sewing machines – I’d love to hear about them.
Well, I was a 20+ veteran of Janome and I loved my machine. But I needed something new, my Janome was failing me. I bought a Bernina 440QE and I can honestly say within 2 weeks I was sewing everything with it, no poblems, no issues, no huge learning curve, no nothing. It's a fabulous machine and I love it more than my kids (just kidding, sorta).
I did look at the Janome and after reading reviews struggled with the choice, but I"m glad I got the Bernina. It was easy to learn, and I was up and running right away. I quilted my first quilt within a month of owning it with the BSR free motion foot. I love my machine. Have I said that yet?
My hubby bought me a Bernina 7 years ago and I LOVE it, after sewing on the Kenmore forever (and a Singer before that). It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but it sews like a dream, and like Heather, I was up and running after I took one class on how to operate the machine. I know Bernina's tend to be on the pricey side, but everyone that I KNOW loves theirs, old or new. Hope you can learn to love your machine.
I think a large part of the machine "liking" experience has to do with the dealers. They can make or break your purchase.