Janome Pink Sorbet Easy-to-Use Sewing Machine with Interior Metal Frame, Bobbin Diagram, Tutorial Videos, Made with Beginners in Mind!

Simplicity and Quality I have expected nothing less this machine will last a long time and does difficult projects like sewing lace. The color is not too bright and very easy to use the machine isn’t super loud I can definitely use this at night without waking anyone up. The light on the machine is helpful and it has a lot of good features

Did you know that many of the high-quality machines out there under $500 - regardless of what brand they say they are - are made by Janome? Those other brands who specialize in something else but want to sell a starter sewing machine (from Baby Lock to Sears' Kenmore brand, and I think Juki and even some of the European labels) just use a Janome and put a slightly different "skin" on it (this is true in almost every industry, BTW). I'd never heard of them and was a diehard Singer user ever since learning on my great-grandmother's 1950s Singer 301, until I went shopping for a serger and something that did a zigzag stitch a long time ago, and discovered that the friend's machine that I loved (A Kenmore from Sears) was a 20-year-old Janome. The steel frame matters a lot (the other popular brand at this price point doesn't have that), as does Janome not calling something "Heavy Duty" when it's really not (looking at you, famous grey machine).People who are struggling with this probably are using cheap thread or the wrong needle, btw. It matters a lot.When we had to solve a slight emergency I was skeptical that this machine at this price point was "really a true Janome" (used to be, heavy steel-framed machines weren't on Amazon because of the shipping cost) but wow is it ever! I did spend a few hours looking through YouTube reviews (ones that aren't compensated to pretend to try several and have the Singer HD "win"), and there were rave reviews of this little guy (including the fact that it goes through 10 layers of denim, like so-called HD machines -- it's motor is equally powerful, Janome just has higher standards for using the HD label).I considered getting a higher end one (I'm a buy-it-for-lifer) but the immediate problem was a kid needing to sew a costume for an event 48 hours later, with minimal lessons from me because I was up against a work deadline at the same time, and the YouTube videos for getting started with this machine are especially good. IE I needed the kid to learn it themselves, and if a problem arose I needed to be able to jump in and solve it despite not being familiar with this machine.This passed that test with flying colors: The kiddo (who hadn't even sewn before) watched the YouTube videos, got the machine threaded, and started sewing with just one brief check-in from me. The book and another YouTube were sufficient for us both to dive into a sewing technique neither of us had done before (applique), again with maybe 5 minutes attention from me. Twice the machine sort of "jammed" (where the thread tension was so tight it wouldn't go), which isn't a machine thing it had to do with user errors. Importantly, it was easily resolvable with the usual "tug lightly while turning the hand crank). Crucially, this machine has a metal bobbin case: you'd be surprised how much that matters.The finished project is pristine: very straight stitches, and -- SO IMPORTANT -- a kiddo who now feels that sewing is easy and awesome!! This is the same kid who has been resistant to learning to sew for 6 years after a run-in with my antique Singer.I'm now officially changing the family tradition from learning on the 1950s Singer 301, to learning on one of these!THE ONE THING that really, really, really, really bugs me is the color. It's way brighter in person, so to me it looks really cheap, it's an eyesore in a tidy sewing space, and the color "fights" with the color of what I'm sewing. If I had to repurchase I'd bump up one notch to the 212 that comes in white (and has feed dogs which drop), or a couple notches to the Babylock Joy (which is made by Janome).Another useful bonus of all these similar machines having Janome as an OEM: Lots of interchangeable parts and accessories, and knowledge. Being similar to the 212 and the Babylock Joy means local repair shops know this machine and can repair it. If you start to look, you'll notice lots of machines that are some variant on this same machine, under several brands, so if you watch a YouTube by someone using that machine it'll be really similar to do the same thing on this one.

It is a reliable machine with metal parts in side. It was highly recommended by my sewing machine repair person. It is a simple machine, but does basic stitches very well and was affordable.

I love this sewing machine! The pink color is very cute and the machine is good quality with a metal frame. It also comes with a 25 year limited warranty. I haven’t sewed in a long time and was worried about setting a machine up, but this machine is super easy to get up and running. I like that it came with a detailed manual and another short quick reference manual to trouble shoot common problems. Janome also has videos online to help with sewing and setting up the machine. It easily sews through multiple layers and denim. On older sewing machines, the bobbin always gave me a lot of trouble, but this one makes it so easy to wind a bobbin and replace. I like that there is a diagram on the inside of the machine. The machine has a handle and isn’t very heavy, so it is easy to pick up and transport.

I am an experienced sewer and now mostly enjoy quilting. When my old sewing/quilting machine broke beyond repair, I bought a machine strictly for quilting but it only does straight stitching. Recently I bought this machine for any other sewing needs and projects.PROS: It works well, the manual is good, threading is easy, bobbin loading is familiar, all around good basic machine. Good value for the price.CONS: Other machines I’ve used have had both a stitch length and stitch width dial. This one only has length. So your zigzag can get longer but not wider. Also your needle positioning is left or center but there is no setting to the right. Lastly, the retractable dual spool pins are plastic, not metal. They feel flimsy and I don’t know how long they will last before they snap off. I must be sure to puncture the paper on the bottom of the thread spool with a seam ripper before loading it. On my old machine I would just push it onto the spool pin, but I honestly don’t think these pins could survive the pressure. It’s my least favorite thing about the machine.Still, a great learning machine or simple machine to have around for clothing repairs and occasional projects.

I just received my new machine today, and sewed for while to take it for a test drive. I am in love with this sewing machine! I have a couple portable Singers, and I have sewed a lot with them; but it seems like there was always something going wrong with them. It's so irritating when you have to constantly stop in the middle of a project and troubleshoot and, hopefully, fix whatever it is. Granted, I've only just received this new machine, but I can already see a huge difference between this and my Singers. This is no cheap piece of plastic, this is a very nice sewing machine! It sews beautifully, and I'm feeling very optimistic about finally having a good machine that isn't continually having problems. And it has the added benefit of its gorgeous hot pink color!! I am already in love with this sewing machine, and I'm really excited to have one that makes beautiful stitches and gets the job done. If after some time down the road things change, I will update this response, but for now I'm feeling like I got an awesome new machine for a more than reasonable price! If you're new to sewing or a seasoned pro, or somewhere in between, this sewing machine is an excellent option. It's super easy to thread and load the bobbin, too. Take a chance, I bet you won't be sorry you did!! 👍 I know I'm not!