Replies

1. 
   daynamay | Jan 06, 2003 07:43am | #1

   hi cherylo---i just bought a jnome10000--it is the top of the line but just so you dont think you are talking to yourself  i thought i would write you to tell you what a great machine i think this is--janome is supposed to have nooo repair probs--mine is very solid--and in one of the shops the owner said--oh yes they are the most solid built---so it is not my imagination....dont know any thing about the other machine though--good luck--i ahave been away from sewing too cuz i had an old featherweight that kinda ran and a 20 year old 90 $ white that never ran--and have had small children and a job too---to now my girls need to learn to sew and it is a great excuse to do it too!!--so far its been great fun!! let us know what you get!!

1. 
   cherylo | Jan 07, 2003 10:18am | #2

   Thanks d for answering back....I don't feel so alone now! Anyways, I've narrowed it down to the Craft Master 5000 which is made by Janome and is equivalent to their Memory Craft 3000. I'm not an avid sewer (yet) and I wanted something in my price range but one that would have alot of extra features so I could play around with it.....get the feel of a new machine. I feel this will do just fine for me for now. If I enjoy getting back into sewing and taking on the challenge of learning to quilt, then this machine will have done the job for me and I can expand to a more expensive model in a few years.....but for now I'm thinking economically and it will definitely be a plus just to have a machine than not. I've heard good things in the last few days about Craft Master and that I will enjoy it very much.....so a Craft Master it is.....I will let you know when I get it and figure it out......(I'm new to computerized sewing machines) and tell you what I think of it.

   Cherylo

   Have a great day d !!

1. 
   daynamay | Jan 09, 2003 07:11am | #3

   congratulations on making a deision--that was the hardest part for me!!--in my travels thru the web people have talked about trading up so keep that in mind if you really get back into sewing again!!--good luck--enjoy!!

2. 
   joress | Jan 17, 2003 01:00am | #4

   I had a Janome MC3000 and absolutely loved it. In fact, I loved it so much that within a month I traded up to the Janome MC4800--because I could. You'll be delighted with your Craftmaster! Congratulations--enjoy!

2. 
   SEWNMACHINE | Jan 17, 2003 04:44pm | #5

   I have the Janome MC3000 ( plus the MC 5001, very old, MC4000 and MC 7500 ) Even the very old machines (circa 1980's) are still going strong.  You will love your CraftMaster. It is marketed as the internet approved model by Janome. The local dealers were grousing so much about losing sales to online dealers that Janome had to restrict internet sales on the Janome/NewHome brands. But they didn't want to lose the internet sales either, so they came up with the CraftMaster brand that online dealers can buy and sell. I personally am a NewHome addict. In addition to the above mentioned computerized machines I also own and use regularly the NewHome MX3123, 2018 and 372 flatbed.  However as a spur of the moment purchase I buy a Euro-Pro Stitch Art from ebay and very pleasantly surprised. It came LOADED with accessories and sews very quiet and smooth.  I take this machine on the road ( vacations) when I don't want to risk transporting my computerized machines.  I really think the Euro-Pro brand is highly under rated. I do not know of any dealers that support the machine ( although ANY dealer can repair the machine).  My thoughts are this:  for the low low price that the Euro-Pro machines can be had, I really don't feel strongly about not having dealer support. And you do get alot of machine for the money.  This is a perfect machine as a back-up or for someone who only sews sporadically. 

   Once you get bit by the computerized bug though, you will be hooked. And Janome/NewHome machines are reliable workhorses.

   Lately though I have been eyeing the Brother PC6000 because of the awesome stitch package is has.  I have a Brother PE150 embroidery machine, and it's ease of use and reliability has me taking another look at the Brother products.  I only use the embroidery machine for an occasional embellishment however, and it's sewing field is only 4x4. But with the large size hoop even that can be compensated for.

   Anyway, enjoy your new machine,  it will serve you well. I keep my MC3000 set up all the time.

    

1. 
   daynamay | Jan 18, 2003 07:13am | #6

   thx --you know--you always wonder if you made the right purchase--so far dealer support has been great--confusions are instantaneously fixed---will take multiple sessions to get it all in place...i think---tomorrow i take a class with my 10 year old daughter ---she is soo excited....you must be quite a sewer--even taking your machine on vaca!!--by the time i hit that i need suspended animation---or at the very least a verrry quiet beach!

2. 
   cherylo | Jan 18, 2003 08:34am | #7

   Thanks for your input .....really appreciate it.....I still haven't received my CraftMaster yet.....will be getting it delivered Monday......very anxious to see it! It'll probably take me days to figure out how to turn it on...lol......this is all new to me.....just like computers were 10 yrs ago. The day I called the dealer to get more information about sewing machines.......before I even mentioned a brand to him.....I asked him what brand of sewing machines would he recommend and his response was CraftMaster or Janome, or Brother.  He said he gave his sister a Craftmaster for Christmas....the mechanical one.....and that he had any choice of sewing machine to give and he picked this one for her.  She loves it. I had a Singer, don't know what model it was......but bought it new about 8 yrs ago and I enjoyed it, didn't have any problems with it, very easy to work with, but I moved from Canada to California and didn't bring it with me, but my daughter has it and hasn't touched it at all. It did what I wanted it to do which was crafts, pillows etc. I'm sure I will see a big difference with the CraftMaster compared to the singer. I will let you know how I like it.

   cherylo

1. 
   SEWNMACHINE | Jan 18, 2003 05:02pm | #8

   Oh, you won't have any difficulty figuring out how to use it.  This machine is probably the most basic of all computerized machines. But it does a few of nice features of the more sophisticated models....... needle up/down, combining patterns in memory, and very easy buttonholes.  Otherwise, just a very basic machine, but still fun to use.

1. 
   cherylo | Jan 22, 2003 05:00pm | #9

   I received my Craft Master 5000 on Monday. It is sooo pretty! The first thing I did when I fired it up was thread a bobbin. I put my foot on the peddle and couldn't believe how smooth and whisper quiet it was. My old machine used to shake the table and it was so noisy. It's very easy to operate, and figure out. It works like a dream. I love the up/down needle position. Love the stitches that come with it and the ability to memorize different stitch patterns as you like, (I haven't gotten that far yet), my first little project was to sew my dogs a little toy made out of the faux sheepskin fleece and the machine went through the layers of thick material like a breeze. My old machine would have broke the needles in no time flat, or the thread. So far, so good with this machine, I just need to learn more about all the features it comes with and learning the tension, width and length of the thread for each stitch. But I do love it! One question if I may ask.....I'm trying to learn to quilt.....(a real beginner at this).....what is stitching in the ditch? and how do you do it...and what needle or attachment do you use?

   cherylo

2. 
   daynamay | Jan 30, 2003 10:03am | #10

   hi!--stitching in the ditch is--to my understanding--sticthing ---something shut over aseam---so you dont see it--so you sew one side of the binding buy stitching in the ditch of the other side of the binding....the junction of the binding and material.... goota go to bed! sweet dreams

3. 
   lynrob | Mar 11, 2003 08:45pm | #11

   Your talk about your new machine gave me much insight as I try to decide which machine to upgrade to. I learned to sew on a 1951 Singer (forward, back and buttonholes) and treated myself to a Viking in 1980 as a reward for leaving a job I disliked. Now 22 years later I am "complaining" because it needs servicing....I am trying to find more time to finish a couple of quilt tops and would like a new machine. Keep us posted on how you're doing with the 5000. I liked lots about it including the better price and now the fact it is made by Janome.

   Edited 3/11/2003 1:46:32 PM ET by lynrob

4. 
   cherylo | Mar 18, 2003 06:30pm | #12

   I love my CraftMaster 5000! It sews like a dream......quiet....sturdy...and does beautiful stitches. I never have to change the tension on any of my stitches, or materials. I work it pretty well all day long and it keeps on going. It goes through several layers of fabric like a breeze. When I first got it I broke a pin in half from sewing over it and it got caught down inside the feed dogs along with the material....I thought oh oh now I've done it......a couple minutes of taking the plate off and wiggling the material and pin out of it, I was up and running again! The feet are so easy to change....threading is done in about 10 seconds for me......it's the easiest machine I've ever used to thread. I love the up/down needle position! I received alot of extras with this machine when I ordered it including the quilting package. I've looked at other machines in the stores since I've bought my CraftMaster and I love the looks and styling of my CraftMaster far better than the more expensive machines.....it's very pleasing to the eye and very user friendly. I would recommend this machine highly........now I'm looking to purchase a serger......I may go with the CraftMaster.....the only thing that is making me hesitate about their serger is that it doesn't have a freearm......which I'm not sure if I really need one or not....I guess it would be nice to have it for sleeves and cuffs.....I need to do more research on it.

   Good luck with your decision and let me know what you decided on!

   cherylo

5. 
   SewerDMcG | Mar 19, 2003 07:32am | #13

   I'm a new home/janome/kenmore sewing machine oowner but I have an Elna serger and love it. It doesn't have a free arm and I thought it would be a problem, but it's not. Good Luck