RATING = 3 THIMBLES
The Janome HD3000 is a sturdy sewing machine that is also very easy to use. It is a mechanical machine and is powerful enough to sew through thick fabrics easily. It has 18 built-in stitches and a built-in needle threader. Owners, for the most part, praise the HD3000 but there are some issues.
Consumer Ratings
On Amazon the HD3000 has been given a rating of 4.3 stars by 121 consumers. It has a rating of 4.8 stars on Overstock and 4.6 stars on Sewing Machines Plus. Other websites give it very similar scores and fairly positive reviews.
Some of the lower ratings were the result of repair difficulties due to warranty discrepancies between Janome itself and the resellers who sold the machine. There were also a few comments related to issues with the bobbin and, oddly enough, a few indicating that the machine only sewed in reverse (customers promptly returned these for a refund or replacement).
Consumer Insights
Most consumers are in agreement that this model is capable of sewing heavy duty fabrics or multiple layers of fabric (one consumer reports sewing through 6 layers of twill fabric easily). Other useful positive insights include:
PROS
– The machine is easy to use and quick to assemble.
– The 7-piece feed dog helps to ensure smooth sewing and less hang ups.
– The presser foot storage in the top of the machine is useful and convenient.
– It has a powerful motor, but still sews quietly.
– It is a great starter machine because it has enough features to satisfy as one becomes an intermediate sewist.
– It is excellent for sewing denim, making it useful for patching clothing.
– It has a free arm for easily sewing cuffs or doll clothing.
– It comes with an easy-to-follow instruction manual.
There were, however, a few issues reported with this model. The most common one is that sewing multiple buttonholes one after another can be a bit difficult. The machine is setup in such a way that the sensor has to be reset after each one. Other difficulties reported by owners include:
CONS
– It only offers a limited number of stitch options. Although, it is worth noting that those options include all of the basic stitches, as well as some of the most popular fancier stitch options.
– Some folks have difficulty winding the bobbin and also point out that it sometime jams (even though it is supposed to have a jam proof bobbin system).
– If any problems arise, it can be difficult to determine how to get the machine repaired due to warranty conflicts between Janome and resellers.
The Janome HD3000 has an aluminum frame and weighs 18.7lbs. As a result some may find it a bit on the hefty side for taking to classes or moving from place to place.
The following video is a demonstration of the HD3000 and is useful if you are not familiar with the machine:
Features
The HD3000 has many features. The key ones are provided below:
– 18 Stitches
– 1-Step Buttonhole
– Built-In Needle Threader
– Foot Pressure Adjustment
– Reverse Stitch Lever
– Dial Stitch Selector
– Top Drop-In Jam Proof Bobbin System
– 7-Piece Feed Dog
– Snap On Presser Feet
– 6.5mm Max Stitch Width
– 4mm Max Stitch Length
– Extra-High Presser Foot Lift
– Free Arm
– Built-in Thread Cutter
– Push-Pull Bobbin Winder
– Manual, Lay-In Thread Tension
– Horizontal, Full Rotary Hook Bobbin System
– Convenient Stitch Chart Inside Top Cover
– On-Board Top Storage
– Hard Cover
– Foot Pedal
The HD3000 comes with several useful accessories, including 7 presser feet: hemmer, blind stitch hem, overedge, zipper, zigzag, automatic buttonhole, and transparent buttonhole. It also comes with extra bobbins, needles, a seam ripper, a quilting bar, a lint brush, and a screwdriver.
A hard plastic case is included, along with an instruction manual. It is worth noting that there are HD3000 models available on certain resale websites, such as Amazon, that do come with extra accessories as well. That package includes extra bobbins and needles, as well as an ultra glide foot. You can see that here
Warranty Details
Janome does offer a 25-year limited warranty on this model. However, several users, on attempting to take advantage of that warranty service, were told that the reseller’s warranty trumps Janome’s during the first year of ownership. So, service options may vary, depending on where the machine is purchased. Also, even when covered by the Janome warranty, users had to find certified repair facilities near their homes or pay shipment costs and wait for quite a while to get their machines returned to them. We suggest you read our article on the Janome Warranty – we received this information directly from Janome itself.
Summary
The Janome HD3000 is a capable machine and is able to meet the needs of most sewists. It is fairly powerful and can sew through tough fabric or multiple layers of fabric. The machine is also easy to setup and very easy to use. It is a good unit for the experienced seamstress and is also user-friendly enough for beginners or even children and teens. However, it has a limited number of stitches and some owners report issues with the bobbin.
Sewing Machine Manual
The manual for this model can be found here: Janome HD3000 Manual. It is a very detailed manual and the file itself is also large (may take a while to open).
One Comment
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for telling me this. This is very very very helpful, and I think I know what my second sewing mchine is gonna be. 🙂 thanks to whomever wrote this!!