PatternReview.com online sewing community
Join our community of 579,268 sewists!
SIGNUP Membership is free and includes 1 free lesson
Login |
Join our community of 579,268 sewists!
Signup | Login
To participate in the PatternReview.com forums please Login or Join PatternReview
12 
Member since 5/28/06
Posts: 1449
Send Message
Posted on: 8/29/08 3:31 PM ET
It has come to this . . . I might sell my Bernina! I'll give the girl six months, and if I don't pull her out of her bag, then I'll have to sell her. My MIL will mourn the loss! If she starts crying, I might just not.

I've been looking at straight-stitch only machines and pretty much settled on the Janome 1600DB or 1600DBX. PR member Ody said that it sewed like butter through jeans. Does that mean through several layers, also chunky hems? Ody also mentioned how well this machine topstitches.

Does it have a needle threader? The Janome site says that the 1600D (the cheapest of the 3 and with the least features) has a needle threader. But it does not mention a needle threader for the other two. For goodness sake, for a machine that packs a lot of punch, why not include a needle threader? Well, do they or do they not have a needle threader?

I'm also starting to enjoy quilting. I don't know if I'll ever machine quilt . . . maybe. Does the larger harp area really work?

As for my Platinum 770, I like using her for buttonholes. Her buttonholes are lovely! The parallel beads are just beautiful, but her straight stitch could be better, esp when sewing on med-weight quilting cotton. Sigh. It's just sad that I have to fiddle with the tension just to sew a good looking straight stitch. I hope that the tech can fix that. We'll see.
  
Member since 4/22/04
Posts: 7282
Send Message
Posted on: 8/29/08 8:35 PM ET
In reply to poplin
I don't have one of the machines but I was thinking about your question as to why only the 1600P has the needle threader and the other 2 do not. I was wondering if possibly it is because the 1600P takes regular HL needles and the other two models the DB and DBX take industrial type needles.
  
Member since 12/6/03
Posts: 2758
Body Type:
Send Message
Posted on: 8/29/08 9:23 PM ET
In reply to Betakin
Ody is here and you are absolutely right! The 1600P takes regular needles, has a needle down, independent bobbin winder, THREAD CUTTER, knee lift, basting stitch up to size 6, and takes almost any industrial foot available. I was at my dealer picking mine up after her tune up (she not seen those people since I bought her! I figured she was due for some loving care.) In fact, I bought another foot today and ordered a second. It was a 1/4" top stitching foot, and I ordered the 1/8". I looked at the tube feet and started scrounging around myself in that old antique oak foot cabinet to see what I could find. This machine does wonderful TS with the regular foot, (I put marks with perm marker on the foot for a guide--or did before I bought the new feet), but I am anxious to try my new cool feet. They were BTW--$10 a piece!!

I just made a pair of capris alone with just my 6500P, so I had to do the TS with it since the 1600P was in for her spa treatment. While it did a fabulous job, it is not as fast, or accurate as my 1600P. Some say speed does not count-Ha! they have never made several pairs of drapes, a queen duvet cover, or a bed skirt in record time. I am all for careful, slow sewing to have a wonderful product, but if you have the power to rip through a seam with lots of control, and it is not a couture technique you are pulling off---why go slowly???

The harp size??? The harp size on both my 6500 and 1600 are the same size. YES AND YES!! IT MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. I loaned my old Janome 8000 to one of my older dds and went over to her house to help her make baby room stuff. While that is still a wonderful machine and sews like a dream---we are talking maneuvering fabric on a postage stamp in comparison. both of my machine I use now are flat beds and you just adjust the position of your garment if you are used to a free arm. I guess if professional sewists use a flatbed, we can too.

Well, I have stuck my neck out again and bragged about my machines. I am lucky that I really love them and they do the job so well for me. I can't tell you enough how wonderful it is to have equipment that enables you to produce professional looking sewing. I know sewers bond with their machines, so I am not knocking any other brand, but still, at the price the 1600P sells for---what a steal! It is one of the few machines I would buy on Ebay new bc it is soooooo reliable!

OK! My dh is home and I will shut up. Go to a dealer and try one out and see what you think!!!
Melody
------
"Sewing should be fun; make it that way!" Margaret Islander
Flying through life by the seat of my pants and hoping I get my crotch curve right.
"No humiliation is too great for a well fitting pair of pants!" Heidi Cooper
J6500P,
J1600P
J3160DC
J350E
JCP1000

Babylock Enlighten serger
My grandmother's Feather Weight
  
Member since 4/22/04
Posts: 7282
Send Message
Posted on: 8/29/08 10:57 PM ET
In reply to Ody
I wish I had a Janome dealer locally so that I could try out some machines. I have always been interested in the 6600. I have purchased Janome on line and one of my machines is a Janome made Kenmore. I think Janome does make wonderful machines.
I know what you mean about bonding with machines. I would hate to part with any of mine and cannot think of a reason to add another..well maybe a few reasons. I do want a large bed machine and an embellisher for some future thread painting that I plan to do and it seems that the Brother 1500 does have both and I tried the similar Babylock model and I do like the pin feed on these machines. I don't think that Babylock offers the felting attachment as does the Brother. I'm not really looking at purchasing another machine but I like thinking about a large quilter and have looked at them for years.
Bernina also offers a felting attachment but I think I would rather use it on a straight stitch only machine. I wish that Janome offered a felting attachment. I would then probably also consider the 1600P and I would purchase it on line.
-- Edited on 8/29/08 11:00 PM --
  
Member since 5/28/06
Posts: 1449
Send Message
Posted on: 8/30/08 2:06 AM ET
In reply to Ody
Quote: Ody
Ody is here and you are absolutely right! The 1600P takes regular needles, has a needle down, independent bobbin winder, THREAD CUTTER, knee lift, basting stitch up to size 6, and takes almost any industrial foot available.

I can't find the 1600P anymore. All I see online is the 1600P-DB which does not have a thread cutter.

Thanks for your quick responses, Ody and Betakin!
  
Member since 3/4/07
Posts: 510
Send Message
Posted on: 8/30/08 3:40 AM ET
In reply to Ody
Hi, is the bobbin bigger on the 1600,or reg size?
------
http://cid-ed78d046c542e086.spaces.live.com/
  
Member since 4/22/04
Posts: 7282
Send Message
Posted on: 8/30/08 3:44 AM ET
In reply to poplin
Maybe try Robinsons Sew and Vac, I think I saw that listed on line for the 1600P.
Janome also makes the Pfaff Grand Quilter and the Viking Mega Quilter which are basically the same machines but with a different outside appearance. I don't know how they compare to the 1600's but you might wish to check them out. When the Pfaff GQ came out I tested it and fell in love with the free motion stitching on it. It also has the pretension system that the Janome 1600P has.
-- Edited on 8/30/08 3:46 AM --
  
Member since 8/31/02
Posts: 93
Send Message
Posted on: 8/30/08 1:47 PM ET
In reply to Ody
So you can use other needles on the machine? I thought it required the DBX1 needles (which I'm not familiar with).
  
Member since 4/22/04
Posts: 7282
Send Message
Posted on: 8/30/08 2:31 PM ET
In reply to Brian
Brian of the 3 different Janome quilt machines I think only the 1600P takes HL needles and the other 2 machines ..are DB and DBX1 industrials.
I think the Allbrands site used to show all 3 machines (they look the same) and tells of the needles needed for each but it seems that the problem is the regular Janome 1600 Professional machines are not shown much on the sites anymore just the DB and DBX models.
-- Edited on 8/30/08 2:34 PM --
  
Member since 12/7/06
Posts: 653
Send Message
Posted on: 8/30/08 3:20 PM ET
In reply to Betakin
I have the 1600 DB and I love it. It is the least "Feature Filled" of the three of that type of machine that Janome offers. It is, because of that fact, the least expensive. The only thing it does have is Needle up/down. It, like all of the others, does have a separate bobbin winding motor, so you can wind a bobbin as you sew. None of that loosening of the hand wheel clutch. It is based on an industrial model innards, so it is quite powerful to use. It can get away from you if you are used to using a standard sewing machine and you set it to fast speed and floor it. This thing will take off and fly. I tend to like machines without a lot of bells and whistles so this machine is right up my alley. If you are used to needle threaders and a lot of "creature comforts" or gee whiz computer screens, then this machine is not for you. If you want to sew anything and do it fast, with not a lot of fussing about with settings, then this machine will do it in spades. If you spend a lot more, you can get the things you mentioned in the 1600p but it is double the price for things like the push button thread cutter, and needle threader. For double the price, I have a lot of scissors which can cut thread and do so very well. Also, How hard is it to thread a needle. I don't even use the one on the Bernina Aurora 430, that I own. It helps that I learned to sew that way, so I didn't miss anything by not having it. This is an industrial type machine, that is used on a table top, like a standard machine, and as such, it lacks lots of the things that come on home sewing models. But for straight ahead sewing it is head and shoulders above any home machine on the market. There are other machines like it that might be available in your area that will be similar. Juki 98Q, and Brother 1500. But, Janome wrote the book on this type of machine and is still the benchmark for the other manufactures to try to emulate. They are available online for about $600 and they usually throw in a free motion quilting kit or extra feet, or 100 needles. or something, to close the deal. Just remember, if you buy online the warranty is with the place you bought it from, not your local Janome dealer. The machines are so simple that there is very little that can go wrong, but it is mechanical and as they say "Stuff happens". I love mine and it has made doing some things possible that were not as easily doable, with my 2 Bernina machines. I think the stitch quality is the equal of either Bernina, also.
Give one a test drive if you have a stocking dealer and you will probably come away with it in the back seat of the car. To my knowledge, only the 1600DB and DBx are available for online purchase. That may have changed since I purchased mine a couple of years ago, but that is the way it was done back then. Hope this helps.

John
------

  
12 
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns
Metro Textiles
NYC Fabric Store
Specials!
Discovery Fabrics
High Performance Fabrics
Specials!
Fancy Frocks Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics