Getting Accustomed to the Janome Memory Craft 6600 Professional
Tuesday January 9, 2007
The folks at Janome are so nice -- they've agreed to let me start reviewing their sewing machines. The first arrived yesterday, a Memory Craft 6600 Professional. I haven't sewn a stitch with it yet, but I've been reading the documentation and it sure sounds good. It has a knee lift, a feature I'm addicted to, and the machine is equipped with a permanent even-feed system. There are many other handy features on the 6600, including an automatic thread cutter that you can touch to snip threads when you're finished sewing -- or you can program the switch to clip threads automatically. It looks like a wonderful sewing machine and I can't wait to get started with it. Do you use a Memory Craft 6600 or another Janome? I'd appreciate any hints you'd like to pass on before I start sewing.Photo © Janome
Comments
I have a 6600 and I love it! It is quiet, and I love the even-feed foot. It is an easy machine to learn to use. I like the bigger sewing area and the table that slips off or on. The only thing I miss is a sleeve arm.
I hope they let you do the 11000
I’m anxious to get started with it, because it looks wonderful. On the 11000, will go take a look to see if it’s one I should request.
I purchased the 6600 after sewing on a Kenmore machine for over 25 years. I absolutely love the Janome. Of course any new machine would have impressed me since I had never had automatic needle threading and the multitude of stitches that this new machine provides. I’m very impressed with the instruction manual and how easy the machine was to learn about. I’m a beginner at quilting, but have done my fair share of craft sewing and wardrobe maintenance. I test drove a Bernina, but the Janome was just so much more intuitive and again, easy to learn how to use. Enjoy!
The auto threader should be interesting. I have a Bernina with one and can actually remember how to do it about half the time. The little trick to it evidently hasn’t sunk in yet .
I just recently purchased a Janome MC 6000 Professional. I love it. I still have a Kenmore (made by Janome) which was one of the reasons I purchased another Janome. It is loaded with features which are easy to learn and operate (the manual is well documented). One of the best features is the automatic thread cutter. I would highly recommend this machine to anyone. The cost is excellent considering all the features and attachments that are built in and come with the machine with ease of operation.
I have a love-hate relationship with the auto threader on my Bernina. If I’ve been using my machine regularly, it’s instinctive and no problem; but if I’ve neglected it for a while, I have to figure out the ‘knack’ all over again!
I have the 6600 and love it. Its even feed system makes it possible to acheve really accurate piecing. And the walking foot is always there for you…just drops down.
I just purchased one – eager to hear your feedback.
There is a learning-curve when trying to install the even-feed foot as the screw is blocked by a metal slide. On the plus side: Better lighting! Also, you can program the machine to remember the stitch & needle settings when you turn the machine off. Great machine!
I’ve had the Janome 6600 for a year now. I really like it, but there are a few things I don’t like about it. One it has a tendancy to pull the starting fabric down into the hole where the bobbin thread comes out. After you use the cutter, when you start again, it causes the thread to bunch underneath. I either use a scrap thread to start with or pull the bobbin thread up more on the top. To use the needle threader, I put the presser foot down & that holds the thread as you put it to the threader. You can also pull on the thread to be sure it is in the tension discs. If it pulls thru, the thread isn’t in the tension good, so rethread it. The only other thing, there was too much pressure on the foot, even at zero, so I took it to the dealer & he adjusted it some. It was almost like the shaft is too long. It effects the Free Motion quilting – it doesn’t move as freely under the darning foot as I would like it to be. Other then that, it is a great machine. They have came out with another plate & a 1/4″ foot combo.
I traded my Janome 6500 for the 6600 when they first came out. I love it and use it everyday. I like the knee lift, but what I really like is the even foot feed, the automatic cutter, and the on/off control. The even foot feed was a little difficult to change at first, but that didn’t last too long. They make several extra even feet(open toe, quilt ditch, 1/4 inch and circular). I use them all the time, hardly ever use the regular feet.
I have arthritis so using a foot petal is difficult. I only use the on/off button. Start a little slower than normal until you get used to using it. I never use my foot control.
Sews fast and the extra light is great.
The 6600P is a fantastic machine! The dual feed feature enables you to stitch multiple layers together with minimal or no pinning. The needle up/down, thread cutter, and start/stop buttons on the front of the machine are so easy to use. The machine has two light sources and a nine-inch harp giving you a large, bright work area. This machine offers a great number of decorative stitches and alphabets. Also has an automatic bobbin winder that can work independently while sewing. Can’t say enough about how much I love sewing on this machine!
Hints from a one-year veteran (6600)
1. Make sure you hold the thread down on top of the machine as you thread it through the tension disks…listen/feel for the little click as it sets itself.
2. Have patience learning to install/remove the acufeed feet. It seems awkward at first, but I can almost do it blindfolded now.
I bought my 6600 yesterday so can’t say too much about it at this point. I only know that I’ve read good things and that’s the reason I bought it. I’m sure there will be a culture shock in learning to use it as I’ve used my Singer 401 for the last 50 years! The automatic needle threader will be a bonus as I’m finding it more and more difficult to find that hole in the needle!
I’ve had my 6600p over a year now and love it. You will find when doing machine applique that using the start/stop button and the needle up/down button will give you perfect control over your sewing!
You will also lesson ‘nests’ when starting a new piece after using cutters if you remember to hold the top thread.
I’ve had my 6600 for almost 2 years and just love it. I have just recently purchased all the different walking feet and the stitch in the ditch foot is awsome. I had trouble changing the walking feet also, but now I use a long handled screw driver and have no problems. I could go on and on about how wonderful this machine is. So start sewing and enjoy.
I received my 6600 for Christmas this year and I absolutely Love it! It runs smooth and quiet. The manual is easy to read and understand. I am still at the “learning” stage of using this, but boy, I never knew sewing/quilting could be this much fun on a REAL machine!! Enjoy!
Hard to change feet compared to my 165 Bernina. Also you can’t infinitely adjust the stitch length and width when using a stitch number. But I have only had the machine a few months.
I got my 6600 in may, i love this machine! I have purchased the SS plate w/the 1/4 foot, and SID foot..they work fab! The memory stitch is my favorite. i have never even taken the foot peddle out of the bag it came in, i only use the start/stop button. Auto cut.YES! I like not having to unthread the machine to wind a bobbin..great feature.
I don’t care for the FM foot, i use the “Big Foot” instead. And i wish it had a low bobbin warning..I started using bottom line thread, and it seems to last forever..so i use only that.
Also, please take a moment to locate the oil wick under the bobbin racer..i oil mine once a month, 1 drop. I also bought a mini vac attachment on ebay, and it works really well to clean out the fuzzies..
I recently purchased the 6600 to replace a Viking 1+. Love the machine. Much smoother in stitching and being able to set the speed for free motion stitching and not use the foot control is great for more even stitching.
I have had the 6600P for a year and LOVE it. It is great for free motion quilting, and the large harp makes it much easier to handle a large quilt.
I also really like the Accufeed system for heavy fabrics (I also sew purses)
Have had the 6600P few a year now, it is a fantastic machine, love the duel feed, extra lighting,large harp for ease with my quilting, needle threader automatic thread cutting, just everything about it.
I have had my 6600 for a year.It is a great machine.I traded in my bernina 1130LE for it.I loved my 1130,but I am visually impaired and the 6600 is so much easier to use vision wise than the bernina.I also love the 7pt feed system.I had 1 lesson,but I really learned how to use the machine on yahoo group.That group is awesome!!!
What I don’t like is it unthreads easily,it does pull fabric into the throat plate,after a few time times you learn how not to have this happen!!
It is very user friendly,makes great buttonholes.I even taught my 6 yr.old DGS how to use it.But he is obsessed on writing his name with it.
I LOVE my 6600…well, OK, technically it is Janome’s because they have been generous enough to include me in their artist’s loaner program, but they’ll have to pry the 6600 out of my cold dead hands before I’ll give it up!
First the 6500, then when it came out the 6600, are my DREAM MACHINE. After a top of the line Bernina (the 1630 in 1996) followed by a top of the line Pfaff (the 7570 in 2001), I can say I prefer this machine without question.
First, the open space in the harp area is important since I quilt a lot (I’m selling my work in a gallery and from my website, have patterns, teach and will have a book coming out next year).
Second: it handles ANY thread… my Pfaff was very picky and wouldn’t sew with many of the deocrative threads and combinations I wanted to use. I got tired of the machine dictating how my quilt would look–I wanted to choose the threads! The 6500 and 6600 permit me to do that.
3. I can free-motion with zigzag, have a wide array of decorative stitches when I want to use them, and it is remarkably quiet. Unlike a previous writer, I have had no trouble at all free-motioning at will.
Compared to the 6500, the lighting is much improved, and the display is even easier to read– no scrolling through tons of screens like on the high-end computerized machines that make life too complicated. You see a stitch on the chart, punch in the number, and you’re good to go.
Minor tweaks I’d like to see: I wish they had a round, metal free-motion foot; I adapted the 1/5″ Juki foot to use on my machine. They need to add a low-bobbin light. Even though you can see through the window to the bobbin area, you can’t see that if it is under a large quilt!
The screw to swap the presser feet *is* awkward, but you get used to it quickly enough.
I don’t miss the free-arm, even on kids clothes’; I learned to sew on an old flat-bed Singer, and know how to sew from the inside of the cuff.
And the needle threader actually *works*! When I test drove the 6500, the saleslady suggested I use it, I said oh they never work, and she gave a polite shrug and said OK nicely. Well, she was right…it is the easiest one to use I’ve tried.
Can you tell I totally LOVE this machine? Yes, I’m affiliated, and have published a couple things in the Janome International Digest in exchange for them loaning me the machine, but I’d say all these wonderful things even if I’d paid top dollar. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!
I bought the Janome machine a few months ago, and it totally changed my quilting life. I absolutely love it. I bought the new plate that is used with straight stitching, and the machine no longer sucks the fabric into the hole. It is awesome. The thread cutter is the greatest thing on the machine and saves lots of thread for me. I learned to free motion on this machine and am already quite good at it. I wish it had a low bobbin warning light. That would make it the all around best machine ever, but for now, it is still the very best I have ever had.
I did forget to mention what I paid for my new 6600P machine. I bought it a local sewing center in Stevens Point, WI, and only paid $1800.00 for a brand new one. This is a much better price than the $3000.00 Pfaff that my friend bought.
I have owned the 6600P for about 5 months now and am delighted with it. As others have said the needle threader takes some getting use to but is worth it in the end! I have found it ok with any thread I have wanted to use but friends with the same machine have had problems. Look forward to reading more comments.
I love my Janome 6600 and I’ve had it a yr now. You can also go to the Janome 6500@yahoogroups.com for lots of information.. You can join this wonderful group for lots of help too
I just bought my 6600P last Sunday. So far it is great. I also have the Pfaff Grand Quilter and several old Singers. I had said I didn’t need the new machines for quilting but I couldn’t resist. I haven’t had much time to play with it but I do have a question. What are the differences in the stitch’s in Direct and Mode 2? They look like the same straight stitch in both but the manual says 11 is Mode 2 is for patchwork. Stitches 11 and 12 in Mode 2 look to be the same. What do the little numbers between the stitch’s stand for?
I really like my 6600. I was having trouble with it eating the fabric as I started sewing. I always used a thread saver on my other machines. ( Pfaff, Elna, Brother 1500 and Viking) With the cutter, you don’t have that so when I cleaned it out, I found that the feed dogs had got filled with lint . Since cleaning those out, I have had no problem. I have quilted for years and taught quilting and was pleased with the evenfeed foot, when I sewed on a binding and it turned out , the most even one, I had ever done.
My DH bought me the 6600 for Christmas because he was so impressed with it. I have a Pfaff 2040 which I still use but my new 6600 is even nicer. I started sewing with it right out of the box and have not found a thing wrong with it yet! This machine has made my quilting life even better! I would recommend this machine to everyone.
I have the 6600 and absolutely love, I don;t know what I did without it. Love the Accufeed
I have the 6600 and absolutely love, I don’t know what I did without it. Love the Accufeed
I am having a lot of problems with the message “Stop for safety purposes” when I have been doing free motion quilting – I’m also having problems with the tension with loops on the back or the front – At the moment its driving me slowly up the wall (and the machine has just been serviced) – does anyone have any advice? (Ive cleaned the thread race, so its not that)
I use the Janome 6600P as my “main” machine, it is a workhorse and will sew through nearly anything. I also have the Pfaff 2144 and the BErnina 730E, both of which I love, but the Janome is TOUGH. I don’t worry about damaging it and I love the fact that the cutter cuts all the time, every time!
I’m on the verge of purchasing the 6600 and a friend directed me to your site. Thank you, thank you…it’s great to hear all your good points as well as bring up questions I should ask the dealer. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to write and say how in love I am with the 6600!
I’m on my second 6600 Janome and am starting to wish I’d never heard of Janome. After three trips to the rotton LA dealer, he finally stopped blaming me and returned 1st machine to the factory. Janome replaced it without mentioning why! The dealer charged me $80.00 to service 1st machine (that was replaced)—no refund! My 2nd Janome is starting to break just like the first. It starts with crooked looped stitches and ends up being a loss of proper tension adjustment. During free motion work, it still ladders even with the $59.99 1/4″ plate. Both have sewn beautifully until around their 7 month of use. I don’t know what I will do about this lemon. I will not put more money into Janome. I e-mailed Janome that I would switch to another brand before I had any further dealings with their LA creep. Any suggestions out there? There’s nothing like a lemon to eradicate the joy of ownership!
I have just purchased this machine and have to say with the straight stitch plate that you can buy as an extra this machine can sew from finest chifon to the thickest ….ie tarapoline..and leather
I wanted it for the extra throat space for quilting queen size covers
THAT actually makes more of a difference than I had dreamed it would
…free motion is so easy I was hopeles on my bernina with out the bsr
All in all the machine far surpases any expectations I had of it…all in all VERY VERTY impressed It is comfortable an easy learning curb and makes me want to try more creative items ….(it is pleasure to use)
I’ve had my 6600 since the end of May and I am loving it. I got the ss plate with the 1/4 foot and the sid foot for the accufeed. I am now considering the open toe foot that goes with the accufeed. I haven’t had time to take my free class from my dealer. I have been so busy finishing up quilt tops that I kept putting off with my old machine which I had enjoyed also. But the Janome has made me want to sew and quilt more. It also appealed to my frugel side. You get more machine for the money.
I have had my Janome 6600 for 6 weeks and love it! No complaints at all!
I have had the 6600 for 4 months. I do not quilt and wish I had bought the 4900 instead. Not crazy about it and especially do not like standing on my head to take the accufeed foot on and off. This machine is definitely for quilters.
Want to sell your Pfaff 2040?
I’ve had the 6500 for about 3 years now and have never had any problems. A true work horse. I’m considering trading for the 6600 because of the accufeed. Any advise?
Does anyone know what mode and stitch number the hand stitch is? I have just started using my machine and have not had time to thoroughly explore it. I need to finish the top a quilt. Help!
I bought this machine on Tuesday.. this is the best quilting machine.. The stitch quality is near perfect. I did have difficulty figuring out how to change the foot, but finally did it.. look forward to many years with this machine!
I am having trouble using the automatic needle threader. I can’t seem to do it. Any tricks?
Like Christine’s comment (#38) I too am having trouble with tension. My repairman replaced the whole tension mechanism, and today again, the machine “forgets” it needs to have tension! When I turn it off and on again, the tension returns. I’m wondering if the problem is static electricity due to poly threads top and bottom, or because my computer is nearby, and I leave it on all day. Any suggestions? I want to love this machine…..
I bought my 6600 memory craft two weeks ago and after a frustrating problem with looping threads, found out that the machine cannot be threaded with the needle in the down position. Now that THAT problem is solved, I absolutely love this machine. I bought it because I wanted to learn machine quilting and I didn’t have a walking foot with my Kenmore. I LOVE the automatic thread cutter and the automatic threader is really terrific and easy to use. I love the built in walking foot and find it very easy to change all the various feet. Love the stitch in the ditch foot and the 1/4 inch foot. I have been working with the monograms and I wish there was a dash or slash to put in between the day, month and year. My first impression of this machine was “Wow, this is a super quiet machine. I still have lots of experimenting to do with the various stitches and I have not tried out the free motion quilting yet. I do love the automatic start and stop push button. The machine is too heavy to bring to classes so I will keep my older Kenmore for that purpose. I definitely would reccommend this machine for any level of sewer or quilter.
I have had my 6600 for less than two weeks — and I’m loving it! I have no difficulty changing the feet, and don’t even need to consult the manual for it anymore! But the free motion gave me quite a tension hassle, until I read the directions COMPLETELY and readjusted the foot pressure. I love the extra space for working quilts. The operation is all so smooth. I love it! Worth every penny.
I just bought the Janome 6600P and I am very pleased with it. It free motions with the best of them and when you put silk thread on it, wow, it really shines. Wonderful machine, easy to use and nice work bed. ***** I give it 5 stars!
I bought a Janome 6600P in August 2007 and have used it a lot. I had a Janome 4800QC that I absolutely loved and thought the 6600P would be a great step up. I’m very disappointed in the 6600 and miss my 4800 every time I use the new machine. The problems I’ve had are: 1) The needle threader is so sharp it cuts the thread. I have to be very careful to pull the thread through the needle just right or it will completely break off and I have to re-thread. 2) The automatic thread cutter leaves very short tails so when I start sewing again, the thread knots up beneath the fabric. Actually, this also happens without using the thread cutter. I have cut the thread with scissors, but the same thing happens…only there is a bigger knot of thread. The thread knots can be eliminated by using a leader fabric or holding the threads tails with your fingers as you begin to sew. Using the leader fabric is an extra step at the beginning of sewing, and you also have to cut it off after sewing. Obviously, this isn’t difficult, but it’s definately inconvenient. If I were quilting a project, I’m not sure what I would do since I’d be unable to use the leader fabric or hold the thread. I guess I’d just wind up with “gobs” of thread knots all over my quilt. 3) If I start sewing on the edge of the fabric, the fabric will more often than not be pushed down in the hole of the needle plate. This is REALLY aggrevating!!! To solve the problem, I had to buy (at a cost of $40.00+!) a new needle plate with a smaller hole. Why Janome doesn’t just GIVE their customers the plate with the smaller hole is a mystery to me. I can’t believe I’m the only person having this problem. Using the needle plate with the smaller hole is also very inconvenient because every time you need to use stiches other than a straight stitch, you have to change the plate. This isn’t hard, but, again, very inconvenient and time consumming. 4) The pressure setting is difficult to manage. The book says to set it at 3, but this is too much pressure. One person at the store where I bought the machine said to set it at 1, someone else at the store said it needs to be set at 3, which, IMHO, is too much for normal sewing on cotton fabric. Again, this shouldn’t be this difficult to manage!! 5) Every once in a while the thread “jumps” off of the thread take-up lever. I haven’t been able to figure out what the sequence of events is that causes this, but it certains jams up the machine to where you have to stop sewing, cut your threads, remove the fabric, re-thread the machine and start all over. Way beyond simple aggravation!!! 6) I recently did a project that required applique stitching. While going around corners and curves and stitching very slowly, the threads sometimes “looped” on top of the fabric. Pretty ugly if you’re trying to do a pretty applique stitch!
Bottom line, there are a couple of features I love on this machine…the thread cutter and the extra arm space…but, if I had known at the time I purchased the machine what I know now, I would have never bought it. I’m simply not happy with it at all. And, for what this sewing machine cost, I should be estatic over it rather than regretting my purchase!!! After only 7 months of using this machine, I’m beginning to look around for another one. I’m currently considering a Bernina 430 or 440, but, whew, those are REALLY expensive!
I’ve have my 6600 for two weeks and have been sewing flannel with it. Every thing was great but I’m now having a problem with the thread getting tangled in the bobbin area and I get the message ‘Stop for Safety Purposes’. I cleaned the bobbin area but I can’t sew with it anymore. Has anyone experienced and resolved this problem?
I am having Cherrie’s problem, too, although I have been sewing cotton not flannel. So far, whenever this happens, I fill a new bobbin and then I can sew again for awhile before it happens to me again.
Is this a symptom of the bobbin run wick needing more oil? Help!
Dear Liz, I know what you mean about the 6500/6600. I have never been so disappointed in a machine. Piecing is just impossible. I purchased the straight stitch plate too, and it was not very effective. I have masterpiece thread, wonderful fabric, and a nice sharp needle. I talked to a sewing machine rep today and he tells me that the great thing about the 4400-4900 is that they have a nice little extra feed dog and that is why they chain so easy and never “eat” the fabric and make nests of thread. The 6500 is made for the folks that use the 5/8s seams for sewing garments. The 1/4 inch foot doesn’t really help because it sits to the left of the right feed dog and sometimes it just doesn’t “read” it. I am sending the 6500 back. Don’t even get me started about the bobbin case problems. It jumps up and becomes out of place and the thread gets all bungled up on the lower right side. Just a mess. I will eventually get a 4400 (which I am told is the 4800 without the quilting hype advertising. Try Sew Vac Direct. They are truly great to deal with. All I want to do is sew my little squares together. Janome should get this figured out.
I spoke w/ a very nice Janome rep at the Dallas Quilt Show on Friday, March 14. I told her about all of the problems I was having and she said I should talk w/ my dealer immediately. I did that today and now I’m REALLY upset. One of his comments was that he has never heard of anyone having these kinds of problems before. Well….none of those other people have used my machine for any length of time!!! He did take the time to set up the machine and then sewed a couple of seams on test material. Naturally, none of the problems I mentioned occurred. Not only did he sort of dismiss me as an idiot who doesn’t know how to use a sewing machine, I felt like an idiot who doesn’t know how to use a sewing machine. The dealer then suggested that I take the machine home and use it and when one of the problems I was complaining about occurred, stop the machine where it is and bring it back so they can see the problem. I don’t really know how they can determine the cause of any of problems I mentioned at this point, but needless to say, I didn’t leave my machine for servicing. I think I’ll look around for another dealer who doesn’t make me feel so dumb…. The only other Janome dealer in the city is owned by the same family, so I’m going to have to look somewhere out of town.
I’m now having a new problem that just started in the last couple of weeks. When I’m winding thread on the bobbin, it takes the bobbin winder motor a couple of seconds to kick in…like something is slipping. The dealer tried it without a bobbin on the bobbin spool and, again, the motor worked fine. He said I might be holding the thread to tight, which would keep the bobbin from turning. My holding the thread too tight is simply not the prolem, but how can I argue w/ him when he sees the motor working fine. Again…I felt like an idiot!
After learning on mom’s kenmore, my hubby told me to find a machine of my own. Well I found the Janome MC6600! I am in love! I love the precision of this machine. I’ve had mine since Feb 2007. Since then I’ve made quilt after quilt. I’ve also worked with the letter embroidery, since I do swaps. This machine almost does everything for you.
Its a keeper in my home!
I’m with Liz. I hate this machine. Two years later and I still hate it. The 1/4 inch foot sucks. I’m tired of fighting with it. It wobbles and jams up when it hits intersecting seams. I hate the 7mm feed dogs. They weren’t meant for quilting use and just eats the fabric.
The thread comes out of the take-up lever at times jamming the machine. I hate that I had to buy another plate for this machine and that I never use it. It’s not any better than the plate that comes with it.
I’d dump it, but hubby bought it for me as an anniversary present and he’d be so hurt if I did. The couple of times I’ve talked with him about it, he doesn’t understand.
That doesn’t mean it’s not a good machine. It is. It’s just not the machine for me.
Ohh..it feels so good to say that I hate this machine out loud. Someday I’ll find a machine that I love.
I had a 6500 and loved it. Got a 6600 and hate it can never get a good 1/4 in seam to start for about 1 inch.
I have had my Janome 6600P for a bit over a year. Its due for its yearly cleaning. Its nice to not have to deal with oiling it myself (dealer needs to do it once a year) After a major lemon with a different brand, I am very proud to own my Janome. I have never had any major issues with it. Yes, you need to hold the thread before stitching to avoid nests as others have said. I have managed to use it with metallic threads! Find a needle specially made for metallic thread! Trust me, it makes life a lot easier. Look up tips on the web for other ideas with sewing and metallics before starting. I have done quilting, tote bags, and denim 4 layers thick. My applique with freezer paper has turned out beautifully. My feather and blanket stitching is so consistant with the accufeed. I am still considered a beginning quilter. I admit the manual could be geared a bit more for a beginner in sewing it is enough for me. Oh and you really should only use Janome bobbins in it. They have a slight inside curve to the spindle and it seems to make them run much smoother instead of the domed singer bobbins or other class 15 bobbins. To date I have tried: various Coats threads (previously blamed for issues with my other machine) which work perfectly on the Janome, Mettler, Robinson Anton and various antique spools of thread that came from my grandmother many on wooden spools. I want to buy the new ruffler foot for it next.
I have a Janome 6600 and love it except for the thread cutter. If you cut your thread with this you have to be sure and pull the threads out 3-4 inches before sewing again. If you don’t, the threads will get sucked down into the hole. I never had to do this with my Brother 6500. In fact I never had to pull them out before sewing. I miss that!!
Gee, I was considering getting the 6600 but now not so sure after reading about some of the problems. I was also looking at the MC4900QC, as it was MUCH cheaper. Maybe I’ll go with that one. I am a quilter and wanted the big space the 6600 provided, but not at the expense of tension problems etc.
Any MC4900QC owners out there?
Sharon
You don’t have to worry about the 6600. I got my own a couple of days ago and checked out everything people complained about it. I didn’t have problems with the “big hole” in the plate, and even if they ocurred, the SS plate would be a good solution. The machine is a very high quality and is BIG. You’ll have a lot of space and you’ll love it, be sure. It’ll make things much easier. And, if you quilt, the walking foot is a great help. The changing to different feet has to be done with a screwdriver, but it takes just 10 seconds instead of 5. I sew almost professionally and I think I already know everything about handling a machine, and what I can say is that 95% of all the problems people usually have with machines (and also tension and bobbin problems mentioned here) are cause by an insufficient knowledge of the sewer itself, not by a wrong machine. My mum always gets the threads stuck in the bobbin and claims “I didn’t do anything”…I don’t know how she does it, but I never have such problems and she makes the machine stuck almost every time she sews. Well, usually it’s the wrong threading, bent needle, turning the handwheel in the opposite direction… All I want to say is, don’t blame your machine for everything.
As a seasoned sewer, I have only raves to express about the Janome 6600. I have been the proud owner of a Kenmore for 30 years and it still sews perfectly, primarily because it has been well taken care of. Several months ago I purchased a Jamome 6600 to carry me into my old age. After extensive research, Janome offered more bang for my buck, and knowing that Janome makes Kenmore I was convenienced. My best buddy is getting one for Christmas and can’t wait.
The 6600 has all you need in a machine to sew garments, accessories, quilts and probably your fingers together if you put them in the way of “Accufeed”. The 6600 is a top of the line machine without the inflated price tag of other makes.
As stated in a previous comment, no sewing machine can overcome the frustrations of the inexperienced sewer. Patience and practice and music will assist the novice to move past the aggravation stage. True there are lemons manufactured in equipment and that includes sewing machines, but I have nver known anyone who got a lemon machine.
Most hair pulling can be eliminated by cleaning out the bobbin case, lint and getting up for a coke. After your break remove thread and needle from machine. Take another break. Come back and put a fresh needle in and then rethread slowly. Examine the bobbin and only use if thread is wound evenly. If not wind a fresh bobbin. Throw that needle away…it can have a barb on it or be ever so slightly bent and be the source of the trouble
I ordered all the additional feet, plate, and blue bobbin to have for midnight experimentation but for the less adventurous you are provided with all you need.
Get your machine and get creative!!!!
I hate to be a spoil sport since there are so many great comments here, but I have had lots of troubles with mine. It has been into the local Janome shop 4 times and sent off to Janome twice. I wish I could trade it in on a Bernina.
If you were looking to buy Jamome 6600 would you buy it again?
I have a 6500 and bought a ss plate and a ruffler to use for it. Will it fit a 6600? I am considering purchasing a 6600 and have been reading the comments. It gives you a lot of food for thought.
I purchased a Janome Memory Craft 6600P in September of last year. Up until this past weekend, I have been very pleased with the machine. However, Sunday I received an E5 ERROR message. The books says it is a control circuit problem. What is happening is that I cannot pull the bobbin thread to the surface so that I can no longer sew a seam. Is there a way I can fix this or do I need to go to the dealer? Has anyone else had this problem?
I have a problem with the foot control, it runs by itself, it also strats by its self. runs slow then fast, then slow, then it stops. Has a mind of it own. it makes sewing instresting.
I was lucky enough to be able to purchace my 6600 used (was a turn in on a Brother) Their lose my gain. I the book was easy to read and I’m sewing w/out a problem after 1 day. I have had a 40 year old singer that I have a special attachment to ( My mother bought it for me when I was 13) but it time to move on. Oh the projects I will make…..
I hate to even comment because it sounds as if my problems with the 6600 are because I am an “”inexperienced sewer”. Maybe I expected too much when I upgraded to this machine from my $500. Brother. The needle threader always worked on the “cheap” machine and I have given up on the Janome one. The tension is driving me nuts and I have spent another $150. to get the new foot and bobbin case for free motion that is supposed to stop that problem. I don’t understand why I had to pay for an option to fix a problem Janome knows the machine has. Even with the new equipment the machine will be going along just fine and everything is working well and then I will get huge snags and webbing in the bobbin thread. Naturally, since the top looks perfect I don’t find out the bobbin side is a mess until I finish and take the quilt out. I have threaded and rethreaded, changed the needle,cleaned the machine, but nothing has kept the tension even consistently.I have finally gotten to the point of looking at the Bernina 440 QE and love the stitch regulator option. I didn’t have any problem with tension using that machine. I would rather not spemd more money to replace a very new machine but I am not happy with constantly ripping out stitching either. Not to mention that my son and his wife may never get the king sized quilt I have nearly finished because I can’t get the couple of squares I want to finish with free motion. It is beyond a pain in the neck. I have been back to the shop with the machine several times but so far nothing helps for more then a short time.
I’ve had my MC 6600 for a little over a year and have been fighting problems with it. The biggest problem is having the thread in the bobbin area getting caught by some mechanism and making a big mess. Of course it’s gotten ‘unthreaded’ and has eaten my fabric a number of times too. I couldn’t use the tension recommended for the different Modes and stitches because the tension mechanism stopped working properly. A couple of times, the machine kept running when I was not pressing the foot (or the button) and had to turn off the power to make it stop. I finally took it in and was told that it needed an overhaul. So I paid to have that done, and endured a 20 minute lecture by the repair person who told me all the things that I was probably doing wrong which caused the problems I was having. For instance, I was not using the right thread (I use Gutermann) and that it should be thread on a cone; I was not using the proper needle and that I was probably not changing it often enough; I was not cleaning the bobbin area properly with pressurized air (I use the brush and a cotton swab every time I start a sewing session), etc., etc. He hinted that my machine was probably a lemon, but he said that since I wasn’t doing all the right things, I can’t prove it. I need to find a nicer place to take my machine or give up quilting. I have a very old New Home machine and used it while my 6600 was in the shop. I noticed that the stitches looked more even and the machine sounded more solid. Most people are happy with their machine; mine must be a lemon.
I have wanted to buy a 6500 or 6600. I am concerned about getting a lemon, as it appears that there are a lot of lemons out there. I notice that there seems to be a common thread here (pardon the pun) about dealers mistreating their customers. There is one local sewing machine shop where I bought my Viking for quite a bit of money years ago. They are very condescending to all of their female customers. I went in with my husband one day, and the attitude was totally different. Makes no sense since women are frequently the ones buying the machines. I will not be buying my next machine from them. My friend bought a 6500 from a shop the next county over from us, and was not treated well. I want the whole package. A good machine and a good dealer!
When I do free motion quilting on my 6500, I get large loops on the back – not always but often enough to be very frustrating when I’ve done quite a bit of quilting before I notice it. I always do a test run for tension before starting on a ‘real quilt’ and it appears fine there, so find it hard to solve the problem. It’s not the ’small loops’ or the upper tread showing a bit on the bottom from uneven motion, this is large loops! HELP!
A friend and I opened a small quilt shop and longarm business 3 years ago. We also teach classes every week. I have a bernina 1530, and she has the 6600, we sew with our machines at least 40 hours a week. the 6600 has all of the problems described above and my friend has also wore out the whole bobbin housing and had to have it replaced twice. I am a very experienced sewer and deal with many different machines in my class plus the longarm machine also. I would not take a 6600 if they gave it to me. Be very careful buying this machine!!!!!
I bought a 6600P about six weeks ago and as a new sewer have been beating it to death and it’s been great. I’ve not had a single problem mentioned here with my machine. I wish it had a free arm but I’ll find a way around that.
I was thinking of buying this machine tomorrow, now thinking of an Elna or Bernina 440 QE. I don’t know what to do it sounds like lots of lemons out there.