Janome’s new quilting tools
Years back I was a faithful Bernina user. I never considered switching until the Janome 6500 came out. When the 6600 came out, the even feed system got my attention. I sold the 6500, bought the 6600, and haven’t regretted the decision.I’ve been very satisfied with my machine quilting. However, it was after learning that certain things do make a difference. They are:
- Hold the thread on the top of the machine while threading through the tension disks and leave the need in the up position;
- use the plastic cap thingy to hold the sewing machine thread in place;
- clean out the bobbin case regularly to remove lint; and
- periodically add a drop of oil on the wick within the bobbin case.
I visited my local sewing store because my quilting foot was squeaking like crazy. He told me to put a drop of oil on it.
But he also quickly added that he had “the new free motion foot” and the new “free motion bobbin case.” He raved about them — smoother, quieter, better stitches, and so on — but I wasn’t interested. Once home, however, I started thinking about it. I do like the idea of it being quieter and better stitches sounds good. A few weeks later (I can be slow) I purchased them.
My old foot is on the right. I used a heavy scissor to clip out a hunk of the plastic making it easier for me to see what I was doing (yes, I realize these are being sold but it wasn’t available when I was looking to buy). The new foot doesn’t have a front opening (and I’m not using scissors on it <g>), but it does have a screw adjustment above the spring. By turning the screw, you can adjust how high or low the foot sits off the fabric.
The bobbin case has a blue dot on it to distinguish it from the regular bobbin case which is marked with a red dot. I suspect the case is just about identical to the one with the red dot except that its tension is different. Anyone comfortable with adjusting their lower tension probably doesn’t need the case.
Knowing that I will not remember what color is for what, on the back of the sewing plate I wrote B=Q, meaning blue equals quilting.
After threading and starting, I snapped a needle! User error. I didn’t have the foot tightened.
After doing a lot of experimental stitching using various combinations of new foot and new case, new foot and old case, old foot and new case, I concluded that the front and back looked nearly identical to my eye. However, it was quieter and it felt better. The foot seemed to glide a bit better and it did seem smoother. I suspect this was due to me adjusting the space between the foot and the fabric, moving the foot up a bit. I also was surprised that for whatever reason I had no problem seeing where I was going and what I was doing. Generally when I use metal free motion feet, there is a small blind spot that bugs me.
I have read that many excellent machine quilters go full throttle on the presser foot. Not me. I tend to use a medium speed or even medium to slowish. Doing so helps me to get good tension front and back, and I get better control. With this set up, however, I was able to push the speed while still maintaining control and not having any problem with the back tension.
Even so, being that I didn’t see a difference in the quality of the sewing (drats!), was it worth that $50 plus for both? Several times I went back and forth, trying to determine if there was a difference that I was missing. Nothing jumped out at me. I will add that I only experimented with a rayon thread on the top, cotton on the bottom. It could be that if I do more experiments with difference types of thread that the differences could be more obvious.
In any event, I do recommend the foot. While I didn’t see any difference in stitch quality, it is quieter and you can adjust how high it sits off the fabric, making it glide better — totally worth the approximate $20 price.
For those who can adjust the bobbin case tension with no fears (like my sister-in-law, Sarah, who is brilliant with all things mechanical and has yet to meet a sewing machine that she wasn’t able to fix), the case may be a waste. However, for those who can afford the approximate $30 price, it certainly can’t hurt to give it a try.
(6-16 update: I heard from Pamela Allen, famed Canadian quiltmaker, and she tells me that the bobbin case made a very noticeable difference in her tension and that’s it’s very forgiving with mixing threads. So there you go — a great endorsement and reason to get both!)
I have a new top that I will hopefully be quilting soon. I’ll use both the foot and the new case with it. Generally, problems I have are all user errors (as in I messed something up). Even so, I’m curious. I hope it doesn’t fall into the “if it’s not broke don’t fix it” category but instead (like the 6500 to the 6600) goes into the “while that was good, this is better” box.
June 16th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Thanks for this information.. I have a Janome 4800 and since I haven’t been quilting long this information is great for me.. I do adjust my tension on my bobbin case but, I too was using a foot like yours and would like to try the new one…
June 16th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Thanks for the information. I have a Janome 9000 and just love it.
June 16th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Hi Gloria,
I just wanted to drop a note and tell you that your generous sharing of information is very much appreciated.
Your posts on Quilting Arts are closely read each time, and I have gotten much good information from you.
(Testfabrics is great!)
thanks!
Betty-
June 16th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Oooh … thanks for the kind words! :)
June 16th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Hi Gloria!
Thanks for the info on the new Janome FM foot and bobbin. I have two FM feet for my 6500, one open toe and one closed but both creat the blind spot you mentioned. And the squeeking! Even if I oil the thing it drives me nuts! Off to check out the new foot.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I am quilting a big quilt on my 6 month old janome 6600 for the first time and have been getting loops in the bottom tension using superior bottom line. With my Pfaff and Bernina I always adjusted my bobbin tension to deal with this, but with the janome I could not figure out how to do it. I tried to fix the problem by adjusting my top tension like the book advised, but it did not resolve it. So yesterday i spent $50 to order heavier weight thread. I didn’t realize I could have spent the same and solved my problem with equipment, lol.
thanks
June 16th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Hi Judy!
I don’t think the same is made for the 6500. :( However, if not, tell the dealer to use some heavy duty oil to stop the squeak.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:02 am
Judy … regarding the bobbin tension … a couple things:
– When threading the machine, hold the thread with one hand on the top area and thread with the other hand to keep the thread taunt while going through the tension disks.
– On the bobbin case, there is a little screw where you can adjust the tension. However, I’ve used bottom line with no problem, the tension was fine. That makes me wonder if your case needs a little adjustment anyway. How is it when stitching with a regular foot?
June 17th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I bought the set yesterday. I anxious to try them out. I have always had a problem with the thread on the back of the quilt when I do FMQ. I did not know this was available until you mentioned it. Thanks!
June 17th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Gerrie,
Let me know how it works out for you. I did get a couple emails telling me that the bobbin case did make a positive difference in the tension on the back of the quilt.
June 17th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
It works fine when using the regular foot. It felt like it was getting the occasional snag when free motion stitching and pulled about an inch of thread on the back, about a foot or so between snags. I may try adjusting the little screw and see what happens.I am anxious to hear if it makes a difference for Gerrie, sounds like we may have the same problem.
June 17th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Judy,
A couple more things — do you use the white plastic thingy to hold down your thread? I initially didn’t, and my tension wasn’t as good as I wanted on the back. My sister-in-law told me to use it (large side down on the spool) and it made a difference. No idea why other than maybe the thread wasn’t coming off the spool as it should have.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:45 am
ok, I have finally resolved the problem. did I tell you I got the fmq foot and bobbin? well I couldn’t stitch more than 3 inches without the thread breaking. I tried switching out every thread combination I could think of. I ended up going back to the regular fmq foot and used king tut cotton, worked great. It looks better for this quilt than the bottom line would have anyways. In the mean time i got on the janome yahoo list and read comments about the new fmq foot. they recommended a 90/14 needle. I have been using a top stitch. I got the 90/14′s popped one in, switched out the bobbin case and foot and low and behold it works! I can’t believe there is that much difference between those two needles! I also did tweak the tension on the bobbin case, I think it was a tad loose. Thanks for pointing out that was possible.
The fact that the foot doesn’t bob up and down makes it all so smooth. I can hardly wait to get back to the quilt and really put on some mileage.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Interesting that you need that needle. Knock on wood, thus far I haven’t had that problem. In fact, I’m using a much smaller needle – a 65. I’m using a thin Maderia rayon. I’ve no idea of that makes a difference.
Thanks for the update, though!
December 3rd, 2008 at 10:34 am
I received an email from Kathy B from Westport, MA. She tells me that the new bobbin case does fit the 6500! So, anyone with a 6500 and interest in the bobbin case, you’re in luck!
May 16th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Gloria,
Where were you able to find both the Janome Free Motion Quilting Foot and bobbin holder for fifty dollars? My local store sells the two pieces for a total of seventy five dollars. Would love to know!
Thank you.
May 17th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
At the American Sew-Vac in Princeton, NJ. Give them a call. They do ship.
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Do you know where I can order this set thru the mail? I have a local Janome dealer and had ordered the foot and the bobbin 3 maybe 4 months ago and still not received them when call to check status.
I’m at the point that I don’t want to deal with them now.