This sewing machine is just what I wanted. It is exactly like my old Sears machine, all the parts are in the same places and it threads the same way, so there was no learning curve on it for me. The only thing it doesn't have is a thread cutter, but I don't mind as I can cut it right at the fabric now and waste less thread. I only sewed one project on it so far, but it worked great, with perfect little stitches. I highly recommend it for someone who wants to make clothes or alter clothes. It doesn't seem any smaller than my Sears model, so I think I can still alter sheets, pillow cases and curtains just fine.

Love this sewing machine, easy to use and have enjoyed sewing with it.
I am not a beginner, but it does everything I need.

I bought this to replace my 30 year old machine that my mom had passed on to me, a part broke on it and would cost more to try and repair it than buying a new machine so I decided to try this one out and I couldn't be happier! The front load bobbin was very simple because my old machine had the same type and I love the little diagram on the inside of the door so I don't forget which way the bobbin should wind. Having this machine has helped me to learn new sewing skills as I constantly had to wrestle with my old machine as the tension dial was failing. I recently was able to try my hand at sewing a cushion and this sewing machine made it much easier! I highly recommend this machine for anyone that just needs a machine for projects around the house (I don't think it would work well for quilting or projects where you are working with a massive amount of fabric/really thick fabric).

The sewing machine was wonderful to use right out of the box. The instructions were easy to follow even with minimal knowledge of sewing. I am so happy with my purchase of this Janome machine.

I've been sewing since elementary school--so the better part of thirty years--and was looking to replace the 1970s Sears Kenmore machine that I'd learned on. This is marketed as an entry level machine, and it's definitely good for beginning sewists of any age, but it's enough of a workhorse that unless you're looking for a machine to do a lot of machine quilting or embroidery, it's good for experienced sewists too.

I wasn't looking for any of the bells and whistles of a higher end machine because I never use more than a few different stitches, and this machine does everything I was looking for, including stretch stitches for garment construction. It's sturdy enough to sew denim, sews smoothly on a wide range of fabrics, and is simple and easy to use.

The guts of the machine are all diecast metal, which is rare at this price point, and means that the machine should last practically forever. The only downside is that it doesn't come with an invisible zipper foot, and the invisible foot that Janome sells for this particular model isn't as versatile as I like. That was easily remedied by ordering a third-party adjustable invisible zipper foot, so my recommendation is to buy this machine and pick up the invisible foot your prefer from the seller of your choice.