Review on 🧵 Janome MOD-50 Computerized Sewing Machine: 50 Stitches, Buttonholes, Drop Feed, and Accessories! by Linda Diaz

First of all, I'm by no means a professional seamstress. I can sew, but I'm mostly a beginner. But sometimes it's helpful to hear how simple or complex a sewing machine is for those who aren't familiar with all of the features. I like that this machine is heavy and most of it is metal except for the outer shell. It feels very good, like something that will last. Janome has a good reputation in this regard. The bobbins are easy to thread and as long as you pull the bobbin all the way back the thread won't go underneath and wrap around the metal part it sits on. It will stop automatically when full. The plug-in bobbin loader is easy to use and it's easy to use the thread up/down button to make the warp thread catch the bobbin thread. My only issue with the spool is that the clear plate that comes on it doesn't always pop out when you slide the black button. I have to click on the upper left corner for it to detach. Not a big problem, but annoying. The auto-threading feature is useful, but you need to know how to make it slow. This isn't mentioned in the instructions so I watched videos online to find out. If you pop the needle threader out too quickly, it will either not pick up the thread or it will just grab it and snap it. So slowly lift it up and it will easily thread the needle for you. And getting the thread to the needle is very easy, because the thread just has to wrap around different parts and not pass through anything. After you've done this a few times, it will be very easy. And I had no problem pulling the thread out of the needle as long as I didn't hold onto any loose threads before I started sewing. Just make sure a few inches are pulled out and slide them back behind the plate. Then just start sewing. There is a handy thread cutter on the side so you can just pull out the material and cut the thread instantly. There is enough thread clear of the needle to start sewing again. Sewing is easy and you can adjust the speed to suit your comfort. The pedal isn't too sensitive or not sensitive enough - it's just right. I will say that the pedal should be heavier. It is very light and can be folded down. I would try gluing something to the bottom to hold it in place better. There is also a stop-start button on the front that can be used in place of a pedal. I haven't tried a really heavy fabric, but it sews through cotton well until you get to those places where you have seams that are multiple layers of fabric. With four layers of fabric, I have to carefully pull the fabric through so it doesn't get caught. It's not that hard, but when I have to do it, it makes a little click. There is a subtle light above the sewing plate, but next to my sewing machine I have an LED that really illuminates this area. . I could get another light hanging from the bottom of the car to better illuminate it. This will help you see what you are sewing. You can pull back the bottom part to sew the edges or sleeves. There is a secret place to store things in this part, but there aren't many of them. One of the most useful features is the backstitch. This is stitch 01 and a forward/backward/forward stitch about one centimeter long will automatically be sewn at the beginning when you start sewing. Then when you get to the end, press the back button and it will automatically do the same at the end. And now it resets to sew at the beginning of your next sewing pass. There is also a button to add a locking stitch anywhere. It stays in the same place and only adds about 4-5 stitches. This saves so much time that you don't have to reverse the stitch at the end of each pass to keep it from unraveling. use 10 of them. There is a card with all the stitches so you can see how they all look, but I don't do a lot of decorative stitches in my work yet. However, different buttonholes are very useful. The computer panel on the front allows you to select different stitches. It's pretty easy to use, not a lot of buttons. The display is large and easy to read. After all, the most important thing I look for in a sewing machine is that it just works and doesn't get stuck and the thread doesn't get tangled all the time. This test passes. Once you've set the tension to match the fabric you're using, stay on it and everything will work just fine. After some frustration, I found that if the line is spinning at the bottom and changing the tension doesn't work, you've loaded the bobbin incorrectly. It is very important to wrap the thread around the outside of the spool as shown in the instructions. This solves most tension problems. I've also noticed that the line gets tangled and curls up when the spool runs out. I think it's just losing thread tension on the bobbin and coming out with the wrong tension. You will eventually need to cut a piece of thread underneath the fabric to untie it. It doesn't always happen at the end of the role, but it does happen about 25% of the time. I don't know how to fix this so I really try to keep an eye on the spool and take it out when it's almost empty. In general I like it very much. It's heavy and well built. It stays on the table but stores easily in the included pouch/bag. For a beginner this machine has many features to make sewing easier and many other features that I will use and appreciate as I get better - a good machine to grow into. One thing that would make it better is that Janome would do some good tutorial videos. The guide is pretty complete, but there are a few things you simply must see. For the price of these machines, they could certainly afford it. I've searched YouTube for videos related to this car and there aren't many. And Janome mostly has basic sales videos, not instructional videos. Hopefully they will add more in the future because this is a great machine and I'm very excited to learn all of its features. Definitely recommend.