Janome HD1000BE HD1000 Black Edition All Metal Body Sewing Machine, one size

First - I love the look of this machine! It isn't clunky looking like most machines nowadays. It has a sleeker look. IT is actually a "mostly" black metal outer body. FINALLY! So sick of the plastic that scratches if you even look at it wrong! IT is QUIET! I tried a couple of machines before I found this one and they are so loud, and make a sort of galloping sound that I could do without. They were hard to thread, or too loud, or sewed too slowly, or the stitches didn't look pretty, or were too complicated to want to mess with, or too persnickity, etc, etc, etc. I was about to give up in my sewing altogether ------- then I found this!!!! OMG - I keep going into the study just to look at it and make sure it isn't just a dream. Yep, it's still there, and it's real. The price is so reasonable and it comes with lots of extras, including some really cute decals that I used to decorate mine with. Such a fun and thoughtful idea! Only one thing - I wish the light were less blueish tones, and more incandescent like the Featherweight, but I can live with it. I don't write many reviews, but I am so excited about finding this machine, and I thought maybe some other people might be interested to know what they are in for with this machine. BTW, I am not a great seamstress by any means, I mostly do basic sewing, and lots of craft sewing. I don't need 300 stitch patterns as I mostly do straight stitching. All I know is my stitches look great - nice and smooth, and realiable. Just so happy! Don't ask me if I want to marry it, because if I weren't so happily married I might consider it!

I returned a Singer Heavy-Duty machine for this one and am I EVER glad I did. This machine sews beautifully, handles heavy-duty fabrics...it's a tad tricky to thread and has a couple of other issues, but they're issues one has to learn to remedy. The stitch tension is great, the overall performance is great thus far. I'm keeping the box just in case! UPDATE: December 2021 - This machine crapped out and I threw it out. I'm going to try one more from this brand. NOT HAPPY that it didn't last forever because I take good care of my sewing machines.

This is titled as having an “all metal body” - just look at the title. Pulled it out of the box and discovered it’s not - there is some metal at the backside of the machine, but the rest is plastic. Cheap plastic with sharp edges, especially parts that stick up like the spool holders.The “case” is just a stupid lid that fits on top, open slot for the handle and completely open at the bottom, lol. So it won’t even keep dust out.Also, the machine I got had greasy residue on it like it had been touched by oily hands or something. Not a quality item for the price.I immediately stuck it back in the box and returned it to my nearest UPS store. I had to call an Uber for this errand, as well as carry it down 5 flights of stairs by myself. I actually injured my shoulders doing this. They still hurt a week later. And it cost me $12 to get this to UPS. Amazon would pick up but I’d have to pay the same amount and still get it downstairs.Now that the machine has been received at Amazon for over a week already, they STILL have not refunded me my money!!! 😡😡😡 I AM SO UPSET!! They owe me $363.05 and it’s messing up my personal finances. Apparently they have a new return policy that is very vague and with three phone calls each agent gave me false information. They tell me that my item can only be refunded AFTER 30 DAYS (!!!) after it’s been received. This is INSANE. And, it is WRONG. In their new policy, the order can be refunded WITHIN 30 days —- which is f-ing vague as heck. I know from past purchases that a manager has the ability to refund a return in advance of inspection, and if anything is amiss they will charge you, so they can do that here. Their customer service agents don’t seem to be fully educated on their policies however. One girl I spoke with actually started raising her voice at me and talking super fast in an accusatory tone. I never raised my voice or acted angry either- she was just super unprofessional.I’m going to curb my spending with Amazon and never ever buy anything like this from them again. It’s just not worth it.

I have to say I really like the Janome! I have been using it pretty steadily since May 3, making masks and other apparel and it's a workhorse. I like now much it's a no-nonsense machine. There's little to no digital interation, and everything's analog which makes it easier to manage when it gets fussy. Of all the threaders I have seen on machines, I like this one the best, it doesn't seem to get as clogged or stuck when in operation. However, like all machines there's little drawbacks - one is getting the bobbin wound on this baby. To disengage the belt to get the machine to start winding the bobbin was a small fiasco! I guess you have to be very careful how tightly you turn it to disengage, as on the very first day I got stuck with a jammed machine unable to wind a bobbin or sew from turning it too far. Multiple cussing and viewing of youtube videos later, I was able to manually fix the machine and it's been faithful since (side note - so grateful it was all parts and no electronics!). It's also fussy about the tail length of thread, so be sure to give it a little longer thread than you might, otherwise it may jam on you. However, it goes through multiple layers like nothing I've ever experienced - well worth it!