Horizon 360 Cracked Free.11
Enrichetta
The headaches I used to have with my Juki TL-98QE are over. That machine would have a different tension every day of the week, and a different tension with every bobbin and it got SO annoying having to adjust and readjust to suit that finicky machine.
But a sewing machine is just like a car, there are many more speeds in that foot pedal that you have to find, and slowing the machine down, essentially eliminating its ability to stitch fast, is not going to help you learn how to free motion quilt.
But not everything is perfect. Personally I find the computerized start up to be annoying. Basically the machine needs to reset itself after being turned on and I totally understand why it needs to do this.
But when I open up any quilt magazine these days, what are the biggest, most prevalent products taking up huge, full page ads full of pretty pictures of gorgeous quilts? Longarm machines and the higher end domestic machines like the Bernina 830, which cost thousands of dollars.
So for this reason, I just purchased a much, much cheaper Janome and will be sharing tutorials on how to use it in the coming weeks. The machine I choose retails for under $500, is mechanical, and I hope it will be a solid workhorse and the perfect machine for beginners to get started with.
Whenever I do a post like this, I usually hear from many quilters who think I should go to Janome and ask for a sponsorship. A year ago, this would have been very tempting. It would be so nice to be paid for all the machines I sell simply by my stitching on it in my videos, no doubt about it!
The more I think on it, the more I want to be like the BBC Top Gear. The guys get these awesome cars: Ferrari, Lamborghini, BMWs, and they test them out in bizarre ways and share their gut wrenching, honest opinion about them. Performance issues, price, and reliability are all shared honestly on the show and whether a car is really good or really bad, you know it.
Leah,
I love this type of post. I am such a machine nut and love testing them and playing with friend's machines. I can't wait to hear about the under $500 machine. I am a frequent reader on the Sewing Machines board over at Patternreview.com I love hearing about all things machines.
Fantastic post Leah, I've read your previous posts on the horizon and always appreciated how honest you are. I think the under $500 posts are a great idea and I'm happy (and impressed!) that your going to aim for 500 designs! ?
Excellent post! I love that you say it like it is. I am certainly not in the market for an expensive sewing machine, but I love hearing what people like and don't like about the machines they get. I know someday my 26 year old mechanical Singer workhorse will have to retire, so I am very interested in your review of machines under $500. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!
Great post Leah! Good for you for sticking up for your integrity by deciding not to go the sponsorship route so that you can truly remain an unbiased commentor. Very refreshing! I'm also floored by the fact that you've had all 365 designs already done for so long! Amazing! I can't wait to see the rest of them revealed and the next ones to come.
Thank you for your insights on the 7700! I appreciate the time you take. Sadly, I had a 7700 to use for several weeks (it belongs to my mom) and I hated it! It's bulky and I can't see what I'm doing, it jams on every cross seam when piecing (no matter what foot, stitch or setting I tried), Janome feet wobble, the 1/4" foot guide flexes, and so on. It was a disaster for me. (and it's for sale BTW) Would you believe the dealer said the O2 foot was created because users don't know how to sew properly! I ran the other way. ?
I have briefly read your post and will come back when time permits to watch your video.I am with you 100% on older less expensive machines,they work great.I started on a Bernina 801, now have a Aurora 440 and have also bought second hand a Bernina 830 as a backup machine.I have found when teaching quilting that it doesn't matter what machine the student has as to how well she quilts.In fact I have found so far the ones with the older plainer models seem to excel.
I look forward to watching your present video and the other you mentioned.You have a fantastic way of putting things across.
That is an excellent tutorial on the Horizon. If I win the lottery. . . lol. I'm looking forward to your review of the cheaper Janome. I would really like a machine that does a bit more than the Kenmore I have does-but I can't afford the top of the line!
Thank you very much for this post.
I thought a real long time for buying a new, better sewing machine and 2 month ago I decided to buy a very simular machine to your Janome, produced in switzerland from elna.
And I am very happy about this decition.
I found it much too expensive too, but it is a real good tool for designing purses from fabric and the free motion quilting is much easier than before for me, and I have a lot of fun and a lot less trouble while sewing.
Than:
Let's go quilt!
Now as a point of true disclouser I do own a Bernina 830 and a Avante18 long arm machine along with all my other toys, but they were paid for in cash and did not mean we went hungry ? Having big mach daddy machines can be a whole hell of a lot of fun, but it's fun that is open to everyone.. $500 machine or $10,000 machine.
I have a Janome machine that is 23 years old. I bought it for about $300 way back then, and that machine is a workhorse. To this day the stitches are straight, the tension is lovely, it's is a great machine.
I am upgrading to a Bernina 440QE soon simply because I want the stich regulator and the stronger motor. Janome kinda sucks there. I have to hand twist the knobby thing to get the needle through thicker fabric or it hisses at me. Since I'm constantly repairing jeans and biking equipment for my husband, I just need something stronger.
But I will always rave about my Janome. It was cheap and it was fabulous for a first time quilter. I even told my Bernina dealer that I'm having a hard time making the change because my machine works so well for me.
I am looking forward to the $500 review. A year ago when I made my first quilt I used my featherweight to piece it. I decided that I wanted a machine that would actually allow me to do free motion quilting. I looked at the DC2010 from Janome but ended up with the Kenmore that is identical. I have been VERY pleased with the machine and glad that I did not have to spend $3000 to learn to quilt. A Horizon would be fun but my Kenmore works.
I SO much like your blog and your honest opinions. You are generous with your teaching and I have learned so much from you already.I would love to hear about machines under $500. I have an "old" Viking 215 and a newish Husq 850 that I have barely used. I am telling my daughter about your blog and your designs. She has some kind of Janome and I think your site would help her with jump starting her quilting.
Thanks for being you!
WooHoo! I hope it's the Janome Sewist 500. That was my first machine (6 whole months ago) and I loved it. It's inexpensive, modest, charming, and powerful; I'd recommend it to anyone. If Janome made a bigger version of it, I'd kiss them. Instead, when the 6" throat space became a problem, I upgraded to a 9" MC 6300. I don't need MC's computerized controls either. All I need is manually adjustable straight stitch and zig zag, and I'm content.
Great post. I rarely can find such a indepth review of a machine and I would be interested to here more reviews of less expensive (under $500) machines. Some sewing machines cost more than my car and because it is a hobby I don't think I will ever be spending that kind of money to quilt.
Thank you, thank you, thank you Leah for your honesty in your posts on the Janome 7700. I emailed you last Friday in regards to purchasing one, but knew that I probably wouldn't receive a response. Therefore, I read and reread your previous posts on the machine and looked for other reviews on it. Most everything which I read by the machine owners was positive with just a few comments about what would make the machine better. I took the leap and bought one. I have only had the chance to play with it a couple of times, but I am very impressed with the machine. I have to admit that it was your review of the machine which sold me, as I was in the market for a great free motion quilting machine. I believe that I have found it. Thank you so much for all of the generous sharing which you do! I know that you will be blessed many times over for what you do.
I'm a Janome girl, but since I lost my dealer I really have no support. I've been reading more and more in blogs and forums about the lack of support from Janome. I think whatever brand you buy one of the most important points is having a good dealer close to you.
Hi Leah
Its so good to hear your strength of mind and character coming through in these latest posts.
We know you have been through some tough times and hope that your on the way out of them.
Your review on the $500 machine will help so many quilters, because your right that sometimes you feel as though the cost of your hobby is being priced away from you ( bad grammer but you know what I mean ).
Fantastic post. Can't wait to learn about your under $500 machine. I'm new to the sewing/quilting world and I do feel overwhelmed by the super expensive machines. Yes, I'd love one but doubtful I'll be able to rationalize the cost. So thank you for creating your under $500 series.
Im so excited that you'll be sharing a possibly good free motion machine for under 500! I have a Brother PC 420 that I've been using for piecing and free motion quilting and everything else and I LOVE this machine but Im still excited to see how the one you found does! You're awesome Leah!
There are many wonderful vintage sewing machines from the 1960's and earlier that still sew wonderfully. They are all metal (no plastic parts!) and will last another 50 to 100 years. I've got at least a dozen of them and have paid no more than $35 for any of them. My best ones cost $15 or less. They are not fussy about what kind of thread you use. They are simple to maintain and relatively simple to repair. They are better machines BY FAR than not only the Walmart plastic wonders, but even the machines selling for hundreds or thousands of dollars. They were built before the concept of "planned obsolescence" and were designed to be used daily for decades. They will still be here and sewing long after the plastic machines with computer components have gone to the landfill.
6022c96aab