Here is a honest and impartial list of 7 best Janome sewing machines you can buy for under $500. The list is based on quality and performance alone.
Janome machines are always expensive than a Brother or Singer. It is a fact that you need to live with. The reason is because Janome never ever compromises on build quality and performance. While Brother and Singer has many machines in the under $200 segment, Janome has only a handful. Most Janome sewing machines comes in the $200 – $500 price band. Another unique thing I noticed about Janome machines is that almost all machines have very good stitch quality (with very few exceptions).
Yet Janome is not as popular as Brother or Singer in US. The expensive nature is the main reason behind this. Another thing is that, most Janome machines come with limited features, they are not as flamboyant as Brother or Singer in terms of features. If you take price and features out of the equation and focus on quality and performance, you have plenty to choose from. Janome sewing machines cater to a specific set of sewers who don’t need a lot of features but don’t compromise on performance.
Here I have handpicked 7 best Janome sewing machines that cost under $500. The list is completely based on quality and performance, even though I have used $500 as a criteria to limit the list to 7. The list is a mix of both computerized and mechanical sewing machines.
1. Janome HD3000 (Mechanical Sewing Machine)
HD3000 is the best heavy duty sewing machine you can get. The performance of this machine on multiple layers of denim or leather is absolutely stunning. It can sew through multiple layers of denim as if a knife going through cheese. The stitch quality is unmatched. It sews perfect straight stitches. If your projects include thick fabrics, this machine will be a choice that you won’t regret. Smooth and quiet operation is another hallmark.
Features
- 18 built-in stitches
- Automatic needle threader
- Drop-in bobbin
- Heavy duty
Cons : Dim work light is annoying. You need to rely on exterior lighting.
2. Janome 2212 (Mechanical Sewing Machine)
This is the least expensive machine in this list. In fact 2212 is the only popular Janome machine in the under $200 segment. To be honest, this machine is very limited in features and is good for only very basic sewing tasks but it does one thing very well, it sews exceptionally good stitches. The stitch quality and durability are the only factors that kept this machine in list of most reliable sewing machines.
Features
- 12 built-in stitches
Cons : Expensive for the features. It doesn’t even have an automatic needle threader or a drop-in bobbin, forget the 1-step buttonhole. For the price you can get a full fledged computerized sewing machine like the Brother CS6000i . Then you may ask me why I included 2212 in this list. The reason is its stitch quality and durability.
3. Janome Magnolia 7318 (Mechanical Sewing Machine)
Janome 7318 is another quality machine to consider. It sews one of the best straight stitches. The machine is very stable at high speeds, it is not a traveling machine.
Features
- 18 built-in stitches
- Drop-in bobbin
Cons : It is a noisy machine, so if you have small kids, this machine might irritate them. It doesn’t have automatic needle threader and 1-step buttonhole.
4. Janome 8077 (Computerized Sewing Machine)
Janome 8077 is the best computerized sewing machine from Janome. It is a machine with all advanced computerized features. It is one of the best machines in terms of build quality. 8 layers of denim is a walk in the park for Janome 8077. The best thing about this machine is that the stitch quality is pretty consistent irrespective of the type of fabric used. It is very quiet as well. The programmable needle up/down is a blessing for quilters.
Features
- 30 built-in stitches
- 6 one-step buttonholes
- Automatic needle threader
- Drop-in bobbin
- Programmable needle up/down
- Locking stitch button
- Auto-declutch bobbin winder
- Sewing start/stop button
- Speed control slider
Cons : Not a lot to mention. Probably Janome could have included a bit more built-in stitches.
5. Janome Magnolia 7330 (Computerized Sewing Machine)
7330 is a good looking machine with floral graphics on the front. And the interesting thing is that, it is no different than Janome 8077 (previous machine) except for the floral designs. Both machines are identical in terms of features and performance. Moreover, this machine is currently more expensive than 8077. There is no point in buying an expensive sewing machine for a couple of graphics. So you would be better of going with 8077 than this machine.
6. Janome DC2015 (Computerized Sewing Machine)
This is the latest offering from Janome. As the model name suggests, it was released in 2015. This is the most feature packed sewing machine in this list. DC2015 is not an upgrade of DC2014, Janome built this machine from ground up. Like all DC series machines, this one is also an excellent performer. Multiple layers of denim is not a problem at all. It is quiet as well. However, DC2015 is also the most expensive machine of this list. Being the latest machine from Janome, the build quality is excellent and it looks more upmarket.
- 60 built-in stitches
- 6 one-step buttonholes
- Automatic needle threader
- Drop-in bobbin
- Programmable needle up/down
- Locking stitch button
- Auto-declutch bobbin winder
- Sewing start/stop button
- Speed control slider
Cons : Being a new model, I can’t quite comment on how long this machine would last.
7. Janome Jem Gold 660 (3/4 Sewing Machine)
Jem Gold 660 is different from all other sewing machines in this list as it is not a full sized sewing machine. The machine caters to beginners who want to carry their machines to sewing classes. Weighing at just 12 pounds, it is an ideal sewing machine for beginners. The straight stitch quality is pretty good. It can bear all kinds of rough handling.
Features
- 12 built-in stitches
- Automatic needle threader
- Drop-in bobbin
Cons : Beginners will overgrow the machine quite quickly. For a 3/4 machine, I think the price is on the higher side.
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Thank you Smantha! Glad to hear you found what you were looking for with this article! Appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. Check our new posts and tell us what do you think from you professional point of view. Your opinion is important for us.
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