Janome 11543 Heavy-duty Sewing Machine

Rating

Excellent for any common sewing job--heavy duty enough to handle denim and it makes nice slipcovers too.

Rating

MY FIRST TIME EVER WITH A SEWING MACHINE I WAS CLUELESS I REALLY DIDN'T THINK I WOULD BE ABLE TO USE IT WITH OUT SOMEONE EXPERIENCED SHOWING ME, I GOT ON YOUTUBE AND LOOKED AT DIFFERENT VIDEOS ON HOW TO SEW AND IT WAS ALL I LOVE IT I MADE CURTAINS THE SECOND TIME I USED MY MACHINE, ITS NOT EASY BUT ONCE YOU GET THE HANG OF IT IT IS NOT COMPLICATED AT ALL I WOULD RECOMMEND IT. I LOVE IT COMES WITH MANUAL AND PEDAL BOTH VERY USEFULL.

• How often do you shop at Overstock.com? Monthly
• Are you a Club O Member? No

Rating

This is a great basic machine. It has plenty of stitch patterns that will keep the beginner to intermediate sewer occupied for quite a long time. Sewing with this unit is easy and fun. I have made a multi-layered dress with it and have had no problem with the stitiches coming apart.

• How often do you shop at Overstock.com? First time
• Are you a Club O Member? No

Rating

This is a GREAT machine. It is heavy duty, yet easy to use. I read a review that said she had trouble contacting the company, but I had a question and they called me three different times to make sure I was happy with the machine and it was running well. You can't find that kind of service anymore. I also read where there was a problem with her threading. That is simple user error and very easy to fix:When thread bunches up on the bottom of the material it means that the there is a problem with the way the machine is threaded.I would first lift the presser bar.Then turn the tension dial to zero and then to four.Then thread the machine with the presser foot in the up positionWhen you get to the part where you thread the needle then lower the presser bar.Remember that when you thread the machine to have the presser foot in the up position so that the thread can catch in the tension dial on the inside of the machine. The tension is like two disks on the inside of the machine. When the presser bar is in the up position it opens the disks- the thread needs to go in between the two disks for the tension to work.That fix will work with almost any sewing machine. Can you tell I used to be a teacher? ;-)

• How often do you shop at Overstock.com? Monthly
• Are you a Club O Member? No

Rating

I purchased this product, not minding that it was refurbished since I've purchased refurbs before with great results. Unfortunately this wasn't one of them. From the day I pulled it out of the box, the bobbin thread knotted horribly and no amount of fiddling with the needle or bobbin thread tension could fix it. I contacted the company that holds the warranty and BUYER BEWARE: they're tech support hours are only from 9-3:30PM. So, unless you're retired, or a stay at home individual, you're never going to get tech help. Not to mention that I had to email them to get the number since it's not provided in the owner's manual AT ALL.I come from a family of sewers and know my way around a sewing machine but I've never been so frustrated or disappointed with a product in my life. I could do more even and consistent stitches by hand than this machine could do after FIVE DAYS of messing with it to make it work. My advice, steer clear and purchase a Singer, Brother or Huskvarna (sp).

• How often do you shop at Overstock.com? Few times a year
• Are you a Club O Member? No