Janome

Janome Memory Craft MC9500 Computerized Embroidery Sewing Machine Lets You Sew Faster and Create Gorgeous Embellishments

If you’re reading this, you probably want to know what the Janome Memory Craft MC 9500 Sewing and Embroidery Machine can offer you. You’re probably wondering what advantage this advanced sewing and embroidery machine has over your old sewing machine. Maybe you’re wishing you could sew clothes faster than the speed at which your present sewing machine allows you to. Maybe you’re even wishing you could add designs to fabrics you already have. An embroidery machine can do that for you. You’re then presented with two choices: Buy a new sewing machine plus an embroidery machine, or buy a machine that’s a combination of both.

The Janome Memory Craft MC 9500 Sewing and Embroidery Machine, like the smart phone of the 21st century, has a touch screen. That’s as advanced as a sewing and embroidery machine can get. But the good news doesn’t stop there; the touch screen isn’t all this machine has to offer. It’s jam-packed with technological advances. The Janome Memory Craft MC 9500 has built-in memory, 98 stitches, 90 built-in embroidery designs, multi-language support, and zooming capabilities. And there are many other features, which we’ll display next. When you see them, we think you’ll come to the conclusion that this machine isn’t in any way similar to the sewing machines that your mother used to mend your clothes with when you were younger.

“I’m starting to run out of room for my sewing machines. I looked around the other day and found leather machines in the garage, sergers and sewers in the attic–it’s getting a tad ridiculous. But I use them all, and couldn’t bear to get rid of a single one (kind of like my computers.) So, short of buying a bigger house, the only thing left to do is start buying combination machines. That’s why this Janome Memory Craft 9500 is such a great tool. It’s an amazing sewing machine and embroidery machine all in one small package. Don’t be fooled though, just because it’s a small, portable machine doesn’t mean it lacks for power.”

Janome Memory Craft MC9500 Sewing and Embroidery Machine-Review

The reviews that we found on the Janome Memory Craft MC 9500 Sewing and Embroidery Machine weren’t many, but they were extremely promising. The customers who wrote about their positive experiences with this machine couldn’t stop themselves from raving about it, it seemed.

One customer called the Janome Memory Craft MC 9500 Sewing and Embroidery Machine a great machine. She was evidently satisfied with it. In fact, her words were “extremely happy.” She was talking about the machine’s overall performance when she said this, and one reason she gave for her satisfaction was that the Janome Memory Craft MC 9500 Sewing and Embroidery Machine, unlike a sewing machine that she previously owned, didn’t fail to live up to its promise of being heavy duty. She also commended the machine’s ability to hold tension, as well as its heavy weight, which lent it more stability.

Another customer said that she was able to fully maximize her sewing and embroidering skills, primarily because the modern technology of the machine saved her time and, consequently, extra effort. She was able to use the Janome Memory Craft MC 9500 Sewing and Embroidery Machine for work and in her personal life. Switching from sewing to embroidery and vice versa became a pleasurable task, affording her the luxury to create and design clothes, beddings and quilts.

According to one review, there were some customers who had minor issues with this product. Some found that the Janome Memory Craft MC 9500 could improve with the addition of a knee lift, and others commented on the unusual basting stitch. Their overall experience with it was still satisfactory, though.

It should be obvious by now that we think highly of this combination sewing and embroidery machine. We’re impressed with all it has to offer, and the positive reviews validate our admiration and belief. Janome Memory Craft MC 9500
s definitely highly recommended in our book, and we think that if you decide to purchase it, you won’t regret your decision.

So, exactly what comes with the machine?
Glad you asked. There are a ton of included accessories. Here are the details:

• • Embroidery Hoop (A) (With Template) Embroidery area 5″ × 4.3″
  • Embroidery Hoop (B) (With Template) Embroidery area 5.5″ × 7.9″
  • 4.7” Backlit LCD touchscreen
  • 90 Built-in designs
  • 98 Sewing stitches
  • Sewing speed: 820 stitches per minute
  • Embroidery speed: 400-650 stitches per minute
  • Sewing variable controls
  • 3 Built-in embroidery fonts
  • 3 Letter monograms
  • Upper thread, bobbin thread, and presser foot sensors
  • Automatic thread tension control
  • Automatic drop feed mechanism
  • One-piece sewing light
  • PC link with ATA PC card
  • Embroidery area tracing
  • Foot Control
  • Template Sheets (for Built-in Designs)
  • Hard Cover (Carrying Case)
  • Automatic Buttonhole Foot R
  • Satin Stitch Foot F
  • Embroidery Foot P
  • Zigzag Foot A
  • Blind Hem Foot G
  • Overedge Foot C
  • Zipper Foot E
  • Overcasting Foot M
  • Button Sewing Foot T
  • Screwdrivers (2)
  • Set of Needles
  • Scissors
  • Spool Pin Felt
  • Lint Brush
  • Additional Spool Pin
  • Seam Ripper
  • Spool Holders (Large and Small)
  • Bobbins
  • Basting/Darning Foot P-2
  • Quilting Bar
  • Foot Control
  • Power Cord
  • Instruction Manual

  Sewing and Quilting Perfection

  All the Memory Craft models are great, but this updated version of the 9000 model runs twice as fast. The regular sewing speed is 820 stitches per minute with variable speed control, in case you need to slow down a little around those tricky corners.

  You get superior stitch quality from the sewing machine with 98 decorative and utility stitches built in. These range from simple embellishment to heirloom quality work. Of course, since this is a sewing machine it also doubles as a quilting machine. Piecing is a breeze. Freeform quilters appreciate the specially created electronic system that feeds the fabric smoothly and evenly for stunning results.

  As if you didn’t get enough stitches to choose from, you can also modify the stitches slightly and save your favorite stitch combinations with the built in memory. A nice feature if you do production work on a variety of pieces. Variety is a thing of beauty!

  It can sew, but how does it handle embroidery?

  You’re going to love how easy it is to add names to Christmas stockings and make those fancy blouses you see in the mall. There’s an instant switchover button from sewing to embroidery work. No embroidery attachments to fiddle with like other combination machines. So, you save time converting between the two functions. Feel free to let your imagination run wild as you embellish and embroider everything from your daughter’s wedding dress, personalized children’s and baby clothing to sports jackets to T-shirts. This fully computerized sewing machine comes with everything you need, including embroidery feet, PC-link via ATA card, 90 builtin designs, monogramming fonts, embroidery area tracing an easy drag-and-drop editing placement. You can flip your designs vertically or horizontally, which is cool for making symmetrical designs.

  The machine embroiders at a speed of 400-650 stitches per minute. The maximum embroidery size is 5.5″ x 7.9″ (140mm x 200mm) and the machine comes with large and standard size hoops. While you may want to use preprogrammed Janome PC design cards, you also have the option of programming your own designs using a compact flash memory card (the kind you use in a digital camera.)

  The backlit LCD touch screen is great for easy viewing. It comes with easy menus and instructions for onscreen editing. All you have to do is point, drag-and-drop the digital controls to resize, flip and automatically create your own designs. The settings let you resize to 90%, 100%, 110%, or 120%. And all directions are available in lots of different languages.

  Janome quality is second to none

  Janome was the first to develop a computerized machine for home use in 1979, and the first to introduce a professional style embroidery machine to the home market in 1990. Their goal is to provide powerful, sophisticated technology that inspires, but never intimidates. They strive to make all their products versatile enough for the professional and intuitive enough for the beginner. They believe the better your tools, the more inventive, artistic and pleasurable your sewing experience. You never have to worry about a quality issue when you buy a Janome machine.

  What actual users are saying about the Janome Memory Craft 9500:

  This computerized sewing and embroidery machine has been getting great customer reviews online for many years, usually rating 5 out of 5 stars. One reviewer states she purchased the machine from an online company after much research and was so glad she did. She enjoys the fact that she can tackle fancy sewing, mend blue jeans, and put her grandkids’ names on quilts, shirts and bags for birthday gifts. She was also thrilled to find out that if there is a thread jam or other error, the solution is displayed on the computerized touch screen. Janome makes it so simple to just keep sewing.

  Other reviewers have said they enjoy the flexibility of being able to purchase one model and upgrade with software downloads. They praise the smooth quiet movement and the easy bobbin threading. It’s also nice to know that many reviewers who were not familiar with computerized sewing machines found it easy to follow the instructions and had no problem learning how to use this machine.

  Here’s a review from Some Blog site

  “I use this machine mostly to embroider but it is a great sewing machine as well. I love that switching between sewing and embroidery mode happens at the push of a button and foot change. I had to turn my old machine off then attach the embroidery arm then turn it back on.
  The needle threader is a real time-saver (and eye-saver).
  This machine also has a nice number of decorative stiches built-in which are great for making pretty borders without hooping, I particularly like the french-knot.
  The mechanism that drives the needle is smooth and relatively quiet.
  The touch-screen is great for navigation. I read through the manual briefly but most everything is pretty obvious on the machine and on the screen.
  The start/stop button is in a prominent place on the front of the machine. Combined with the machine speed slider, I almost never use my foot control anymore.The foot control has a retractable cord so it stores neatly.
  The machine comes with a nice plastic cover with a storage compartment built-in for your hoops and the pedal – nice and neat.
  The machine has great storage built-in and stores most of the feet in labeled molded slots.
  The machine has a handy stitch sticker on the inside of the top lid for quick reference.
  These are just a few things that rock on this machine – overall, the it is wonderful and I would highly recommend it.

  Additional comment on 5/11/2008 – I just wanted to leave a note to all that read this that I still love this machine. I have owned it now for well over a year. I’ve had it serviced once and the dealer indicated that the machine had no issues with it. It has turned out to be quite the work horse. It works reliably and still does a beautiful job on my embroidery designs.”

  Are there any drawbacks to this machine?

  Comments in some blog posts mention a few minor complaints such as an unusual basting stitch, and the lack of a knee lift. Some also wish the accessories didn’t cost so much, but they’re happy that so many do come with the machine.

  How much should you pay for this machine?

  Some online stores are advertising the list price as $2699, with a sale price around $1499. Makes me wonder if they just made up the “list price” so they could look cheaper. Anyway, you should expect to pay between $1500 and $2000 for this model.

  Amazon.com is the cheapest online source I’ve found so far–it lists for about $1499 as of this writing, which includes free shipping. They’re also the most trusted online shopping site offering sale prices on a featured selection of patterns, software, books, cases and other related in-stock items. Ordering sewing equipment from Amazon gets you sewing quickly. Your order is perfectly packed, so there’s no damage to the delicate machinery. And your personal information is completely protected by their strict privacy policy.

  While you can get good stitch quality from just about any high-end sewing machine, embroidery machines vary greatly. It’s important to find the highest quality machine in your price range, if you want to enjoy the immense satisfaction that comes from creative embroidery projects. The Janome Memory Craft MC9500 compares to machines five or six times more expensive. It may be the only sewing/embroidery combo machine you ever need.

Last winter I made a beautiful Medieval-style coat for my daughter. It had huge needle-felted flowers all over the hem and cuffs. She was thrilled with the gift and wore it all season, but oh my aching wrists! The problem with felting by hand is it takes a long time and the repetitive stress on your fingers and wrists can aggravate (or even cause) carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis.

Since the needle felting process involves stabbing a needle up and down through several layers of fiber and fabric, doing it by machine just makes sense. A machine can work much faster and more evenly than you can by hand, and you don’t hurt afterward. Best of all, it’s easy. You just move the fabric freely under the needles and watch your design come to life.

Which is the best stand alone needle felting machine?
Stand-alone machines are the size of a standard sewing machine and have about the same table area. If you’re planning to work on large projects like quilts or wall hangings, you can purchase extension tables for some machines separately. There are several needle felting machines on the market including the Babylock Embellisher, the Fab Felter from Nancy’s Notions, the Pfaff Smart 350, Singer ER-10, and Huskystar ER-10.

But after researching for a while, I found the best machine for reliability, speed and features is the Janome XPression (now called the Janome FM-725)

What makes it the best?
First of all, it comes from one of the best manufacturers in the business. You know a Janome machine isn’t going to break down on you in the middle of a project. Considering all you’re getting is a set of needles going up and down, you don’t have a ton of extra features to make a machine more expensive. So, purchasing an inexpensive model from a reputable brand is a smart choice. Janome isn’t the cheapest, but it’s the least expensive of the recommended models.

The Janome XPression machine comes with a 5 needle unit and a single needle unit, both of which use coarse size 36 triangular needles. Recently, Janome has come out with a new replacement needle unit that takes individual needles, giving you the option of using different size and shape needles like the other stand alone machines. If you’re handy with a hacksaw, you can also cut hand felting needles to the correct size. Hand needles tend to be cheaper and come in a greater variety than machine needles.

It’s possible to remove one or more needles if you want to attach something narrow like ribbon to your project. Using fewer needles will prevent unwanted needle holes along side of the yarn or ribbon. The new needle holder costs about $40, which is a great value considering you also get a new needle guard and 10 needles. It also comes with a separate needle holder that holds one needle. This allows you to attach yarn or other thin fibers without making unnecessary holes. It is very nice to have this extra needle holder. I don’t know of any other machine that offers a single needle holder as part of its standard package.

The Janome provides two throat plates, one with 5 small holes and one with a single large hole. And it runs at a speedy 900 rpm. Fibers can take time to felt properly, and the speed helps move projects along quickly.

Are there any drawbacks to the Janome XPression FM-725?
The only drawback I’ve found with the Janome XPression FM-725 is the difficulty with raising and lowering the needle guard. You want the guard as close to the fabric as possible to prevent needle breakage, but when you’re using different materials for different projects, the thickness varies greatly. So, you have to adjust the height of the needle guard from time to time. Some machines have a knob at the top of the machine to raise and lower the needle guard depending on the thickness of your project, but the Janome requires you to unscrew the needle guard at the rear of the machine, adjust it and re-tighten it. This does make the needle guard easier to remove when you need to.

Features for the Janome FM-725

• Five-hole needle plate (2mm x 5mm)
• Five needle unit
• Single-hole needle plate
• Single needle unit
• Free arm and flat bed capability
• Retractable carrying handle
• Easy clean lint box
• Clear see-through adjustable presser foot
• Clear see-through finger guard
• Clear see-through adjustable eye guard
• Standard foot control
• Bright work light
• Instructional DVD
• Machine Size: W389mm x H278mm x D150m

Is there any time you shouldn’t use a machine for needle felting?
I find most projects are best done with a machine, but sometimes you have tiny little details like fish scales or veins on a leaf where it’s better to work by hand with a single needle. You get more control and can work with really small amounts of fiber. Fortunately, all felting needles are the same–whether they’re designed for machine use or by hand. So, you can just take one machine needle out and use it like a hand needle with no problem. (Note: you can’t use hand needles in your machine, unless they are specifically cut to size.)

What about needle felting attachments for regular sewing machines?
Two needle felting attachments are available for Bernina and Brother machines. These are just snap-on presser feet and work with the drop-feed mechanism on the machine. These may seem like a great deal, especially if you already own the correct machine. But beware! The needle felting process leaves a lot of debris behind. I don’t recommend using your sewing machine for needle felting because you’ll clog your gears and feed dogs with lint, dust and other particles which will severely damage your machine if not cleaned out thoroughly on a regular basis. Plus, the attachments can cost almost as much as a stand-alone machine. Think of it like buying a cheap printer for your computer. It’s not a good deal if you have to spend a fortune on ink. Trust me, it’s much better to pay a little more for a separate felting machine.

Where’s the best place to buy a good needle felting machine?
If you have a dealer nearby, that’s a great option. But I find most people don’t have this luxury. And many dealers don’t keep the felting machines in stock. I prefer to purchase my sewing machines online, from Amazon.com if possible.

Amazon is my preferred dealer, and here’s why: they have the best price on the Janome FM-725 needle felting machine and currently are running a free shipping offer. They’re the most trusted online shopping site offering sale prices on a featured selection of patterns, software, books, cases and other related in-stock items. They deliver quickly and often for free. Your order is perfectly packed, so there’s no damage to the delicate machinery. And your personal information is completely protected by their stringent privacy policy.

If you’re interested in learning this simple but elegant embellishing technique, or just want a way to save your wrists from the pain of hand felting, I urge you to check out the reviews and pricing on this machine for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.