If you’re looking for a heavy-duty sewing machine that takes the term “heavy-duty” seriously, then check out the Janome HD1000. Completely encased in aluminum, this solid little machine is an excellent choice for those who want a model that performs well for casual home use. Keep reading to find out the full results of my Janome HD1000 review.
Heavy-Duty and Gets the Job Done
The earliest sewing machines were large, heavy, industrial machines designed to stitch together heavy-duty items like leather saddles or ship sails. Today, industrial sewing machines still produce goods for people around the world.
However, the average home sewer usually just wants to hem some pants or put together a costume for their kid’s school play. Most people want a solid machine that will get the job done quickly, easily, and efficiently – without a ton of flashy extra features.
The Janome HD1000 is an example of an industrial sewing machine design meeting the needs of a casual home hobbyist. With a full metal casing, this machine is heavy and tough – but not so heavy and tough that it’s too difficult to use. It can handle those pant hems and play costumes, but it can also tackle larger projects as well.
Key Features
This machine doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles of more advanced computerized machines, but it gets the job done. The mechanical Janome HD1000 boasts the following important features:
- 14 adjustable stitches
- 4-step buttonhole
- Aluminum outer body
- Built-in needle threader
- Hard cover
- Extra-high presser foot
- Removable accessory tray and free arm
- 3-piece feed dog system with drop feed capability
Heavy-Duty Construction
Plenty of home sewing machines call themselves “heavy-duty” with varying degrees of success. One thing that most of them have in common is that they have a solid aluminum frame surrounded by a plastic casing (with plastic accessories).
The Janome HD1000 sewing machine is metal – inside and out. With a solid aluminum body and tough aluminum exterior, this machine is heavier than other models (but sturdier, too).
14 Utility Stitches
This is not the machine you want to handle delicate embroidery work. While it can handle delicate fabrics with some adjustments, it works best on every day and thicker fabrics.
With 14 different stitches to choose from, most home sewers will find that this machine suits their sewing needs.
Serging and Stretch Stitches Included
If you want to finish some fabric off a clean edge, this machine has a built-in serging stitch that’ll give you a nice, tight seam and prevent fraying or unraveling.
Using the adjustable dials, you can also make create stretch stitches that have a little elasticity. These are handy for using on clothing – when you need a little more give. Nobody wants to come bursting out of their pants!
Comes With Included Accessories
This machine comes with several handy accessories, all of which can be stored in the removable accessory tray.
- Bobbins
- Felt spool caps
- Needles
- Screwdrivers
- Seam ripper
- Hem guide
It also comes with some extra feet: an all-purpose foot, a blind hemming foot, a zipper foot, and a sliding buttonhole foot.
Easy Built-In Threader
This machine has a self-threading needle. All you have to do is pull the thread around the guides as directed, and the machine will do the work for you. No squinting required!
Pass Over Varied Fabric Thicknesses With Ease
If you’re trying to hem thick jeans, sometimes inferior machines can get caught up on the folded denim fabric at the bottom of the pant leg. This machine can go right over a big hump of denim without much trouble. This feature also makes it handy for quilting, too.
Pros and Cons of the Janome HD1000
Pros
Cons
Additional Tips
This machine is a little more industrial in construction and design than some other home models, which can make it a little clunky to use. Try some of these tips if you’re having trouble getting it to perform to your specifications.
- Tips for delicate fabrics. While it’s not really designed for delicate fabrics such as silk or appliques, it can handle them with a few adjustments. You can try adding a piece of tissue paper on top of your fabric to give it an extra boost of thickness. Another tip – just take it slowly! Delicate work requires delicate handling.
- Use the correct needles. When you’re working with heavy-duty fabrics such as leather or canvas, it’s really important to make sure that you have the correct needles on your machine. Also, make sure they’re fresh! A dull needle can make irreparable mistakes, especially on unforgiving fabrics like leather.
- Clean your machine. Always keep your machine in good working order. Because this machine is made of mostly metal, you may have to oil or clean it more often than on a plastic machine. But, as long as you keep your machine in good condition, it should last you a long time.
Janome HD1000 Review F.A.Q.
Can this machine be used for quilting?
Answer: It sure can! It has a few features that make quilting relatively easy on this machine. It can handle varying thicknesses of fabric without much trouble. You can also lower the feed dogs for free-motion sewing – which is important if you’re trying to maneuver large areas of fabric.
What’s the stitch speed?
Answer: This model can crank out stitches at around 840 stitches per minute. It may not be the fastest on the market, but it performs just fine. Most home machines have a top stitch speed of between 600-1,000 stitches per minute. The Janome HD1000 has enough power to handle tough projects, but it’s not so fast that it’s unwieldy.
How does the bobbin load?
Answer: This machine has a side-load bobbin. Consult the manual if you need help winding the bobbin for the first time, and you can always check out visual tutorials on YouTube.
Is it a good machine for beginners?
Answer: This machine is user-friendly and fairly easy to use. For the casual sewer who just wants something tough enough to handle jeans or other heavy fabrics, the Janome HD1000 is a good choice. Depending on the kind of sewing that you’re interested in (whether you’re making delicate fairy crowns or dog collars, for example), the Janome is a likely good choice for more intense work.
Final Verdict
Hopefully, I’ve been able to answer all of your questions with my Janome HD1000 review. While it’s not the fanciest or flashiest sewing machine on the market, it gets the job done. Its heavy-duty all-metal construction is reminiscent of sewing machines of the past, and that lasting quality makes it a good choice for the casual home sewer.
A professional sewer who logs hundreds of hours on their machine may find it inadequate for full-time use, but that’s completely dependent on the preferences of the individual. It all depends on what you’re looking for in a machine.
If you want a heavy, solid, workhorse of a machine that isn’t overly complicated – consider the Janome HD1000 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine.
My HD1000 eats my quilt. I’ve properly installed the “Even Feed Foot” and tried lowering the feed dogs, but I get a big bird’s nest of thread on the underside & the machine just stops. I’m using Extra-Loft Batting, could this be the issue? Tension at a 4, stitch length at 3! Not sure what else to do.
It sounds like you are experiencing thread nesting and jamming on your HD1000 sewing machine when using Extra-Loft Batting. There are a few potential causes for this issue:
Thread tension: Make sure that your thread tension is properly adjusted. A tension that is too tight can cause thread nesting and jamming, while a tension that is too loose can cause skipped stitches or loops on the underside of the fabric. A tension of 4 is considered to be a medium tension, if you are still experiencing thread issues, you may want to adjust the tension to a slightly lower or higher setting.
Stitch length: A stitch length that is too short can cause thread nesting and jamming. A length of 3 is considered to be a medium length, you may want to try a slightly longer or shorter length to see if that helps.
Foot pressure: Make sure that the foot pressure is not too heavy, this can cause the fabric to move too quickly through the machine, leading to thread jamming.
Batting: The type of batting you are using can also cause thread issues. Extra-Loft batting is thicker than regular batting, it can be more difficult for the machine to handle, it may be worth trying a thinner batting.
Needle: Make sure you are using the appropriate needle size and type for the thickness of your fabric and batting. A needle that is too small can cause thread nesting and jamming.
Machine cleaning: Make sure to clean the machine regularly, lint and dust can accumulate in the machine, causing thread issues.
It’s always a good idea to refer to the user manual of your sewing machine, as the instructions may vary depending on the model. Remember to unplug the machine before you start cleaning and to use appropriate safety precautions when cleaning.