There are a few quirks that seem to be peculiar to the 350E. One issue is that, while the display screen is very easy to see and user friendly, the setting for it's clarity changes on it's own while I'm embroidering. I have to reset it's brightness/contrast several times in a sitting. The model in the showroom did the same thing and I was told that it's just the way it is. This certainly wasn't a deal breaker for me, but a little irritating that Janome has not been able to get this right.
The other quirk that I found is that the "low bobbin" warning doesn't always work. Again, I have read that this is another issue with the model, in general. Sometimes I get no warning until the bobbin totally runs out. Sometimes I get a brief message on the screen....if I happen to catch it while it is displayed. And, sometimes I get the audible beep along with the message. I'm going to speak with my dealer about this. But, again, I have read that this is a common issue.
Other than those two things, I am completely thrilled with this machine. And, these two issues are the only reason I gave the Janome 350E 4 stars. In every other aspect, I would give it a 10 star rating.
I've now used this machine for about six weeks, and find that I needed to downgrade my 4 star rating to a three star rating. My LED screen has failed. Luckily it is under warranty, and my dealer has ordered a replacement part. But, after being a Janome user for almost 17 years, I am really disappointed to have this issue in just these few weeks of ownership.
NEW DOWNGRADE TO MY REVIEW. It is now October, and I've had my 350E for 8 months. I got a new screen installed in my machine a few months ago. While it is better, it still fades in and out until the machine warms up. I'm not pleased at all with this, but it seems to be the way it is. AND, today, in the middle of sewing some Halloween designs, my machine totally locked up and is in error message mode. I understand it is probably a sensor problem, so back to the shop it goes. I am going to see if they will either give me a new replacement for this machine, or give me my money back. Two major problems in 8 months is totally unacceptable, especially since I hardly used the machine over the summer months. As I stated earlier, I am so disappointed in Janome.
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I've had this machine (purchased from my local quilt shop) for about a full month now and am LOVING it! I started out with the 200e which was okay, but for the money (I paid) I needed more machine. This 350e will last me forever (esp once I get that 'Digitizer Jr!). A tiny bit disappointed in the designs (only SOME) that are loaded on the machine, but WAY over HALF of them are very useable for pillowcases, blouses, etc .. even just frame-able art, if you are so inclined. Now, I am still very new to machine embroidery, so some more experienced users may disagree about the designs and their uses. There are several butterflies, lots of flowers (daisies and roses) in individual arrangements and in baskets, several pieces of fruit, some household items (don't want to give away everything!), and some really pretty borders.The bobbin winder is impossibly (scary!) fast. The auto needle threader works without a hitch ~ perfect every time (unlike the 200e never did work in the two weeks I had it!). OHH .. this machine has a "low bobbin thread" warning !! Love that! And there is the ability to skip around the design and stitch just what you have the thread for! Love that too ! If the thread breaks or runs out, there is the thread counter and arrows so you can go back to the exact spot the thread stopped ... and it works too ... I ran out of the bobbin thread, heard the warning beep and let it go to see what would happen then used those "back up arrows" and got right back in position. LOVE THIS MACHINE !! I know there are fancier machines out there, but this one is just right. OHH, and the AUTO THREAD CUTTER when 'that color' is finished is WUNNERFUL !!! :D Making and saving your own designs is easy too.
Can you tell I'm happy?
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UPDATE as of 2 APRIL 2012 ... well, not so happy right this minute :( .. machine has been in the shop for 2 weeks as of last Saturday. My BOBBIN WINDER has been on the fritz. Took it back to the shop where I bought it and their "mechanic" has been out on some sort of personal leave (surgery I think) and he's doing the best he can to work while recovering (poor guy, but you know how times are!). Evidently they had to send my machine off someplace. I called to check on it Saturday and it's still going to be up to 2 more weeks :(((.
Also having TENSION ISSUES, but I think that is going to end up being a result of the thread I bought here on Amazon Polyester Embroidery Thread Set 40 Spools (500 meter spools/40 wt.) Set D Brilliant Colors ... maybe, maybe not.. not sure yet, but several things I've worked on have not come out very well, and I was using that thread. It's too loose on the spool once the machine starts working, either standing up or laying on the Janome 350e's horizontal spindle. I've got brand name thread, just don't want to use it :) but I'm going to have to I guess ... I've got an nice machine to make nice gifts, gonna have to do the right thing and use the right stuff. It doesn't pay to cut corners ... It COSTS. Please learn from my experience. I think the thread may be okay for some applications, but I'm not going to spend/waste a whole lot of time adjusting tensions and fiddling with stabilizers to figure out what goes with what ... I've got good thread, good stabilizer and an average tension I know works, so I'm done with it. I've got it if I need it, but other than that, never mind it for good embroidery.
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UPDATE = May 24, 2012 ... I should have done this a couple of weeks ago. Got my baby back (LOL!) and to make a long story short, I sort of ended up fixing it, another LOL, HMPH! The bobbin winder still wasn't working right when I got it home (NOTE TO SELF, and OTHERS ... ALWAYS check the work that's been done (if possible). Dummy me, I didn't check the bobbin winder before I left the store ;( .. just happened to have an Embroidery Class that day too (had plenty of time) Anyway. I got home and set out to fill some bobbins ~ wasn't working right, fortunately I was the only thing steam was coming out of! So I kept pressing the machine to go on and fill the dang bobbin 'cause it knew it wanted to ..... and so it finally did! But now I think it doesn't stop like it is supposed to 8-}, you know, like when it gets full .... I may be wrong about that, it's just that I watch it so closely that I stop it when it Looks like it should stop .. I'm a little afraid to let it keep going. But I think it's going to be okay now. I love my Janome 350e ... I've done so much with it since I've gotten it back .. Free Standing Lace, monograms on handtowels, I'm making something for my hubby for Father's Day ... Very Happy! (again :-)
Best Deals for Janome 350e Memory Craft Embroidery Machine
I purchased this machine from a very helpful dealership that I already had experience with. I want it mainly for embroidering altar linens so I have been purchasing various Christian crosses and other related Christian embroidery designs off of the internet. I have two other Janome machines from the same shop, and the attachments and operating buttons, bobbins, threading, etc. are the same for all three, which is so helpful.So far, I have had no problems at all with the machine, and it is so easy to operate. The screen menu items are easy to decipher and the ones I have used so far, make sense, that is, the icon images on the touch screen are not ambiguous, but represent just what you would guess that they represent.
A lady at the shop got me started with the basic steps to go through to get the stabilizer and the fabric into the hoop correctly and get the hoop hooked up to the machine at the back. She also recommended the best kind of stabilizer for the jobs I am doing. It is the "dissolves-in-water" kind, and is very slick. Works well.
My first altar linens have come out very well with various beautiful cross designs in gold. I have been pleasantly surprised at how easy the machine is to set up. It also tells you on the screen if you have done something wrong, and it won't run typically if there is something wrong, so that you can correct the problem before it damages your project.
I sure have my fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong with the machine as others have described. So far, I couldn't be happier! I have wanted to embroider altar linens for a very long time. So satisfying to be able to do it at last! I love Janomes, really, but also, an honest, helpful dealership makes so much difference!
I would like to add to this review that the biggest hoop this machine takes is the 5" by 7" hoop, so it won't do big projects.
Also something that I learned after I got started using the machine: if downloading embroidery patterns from the web and putting them onto a memory stick to use in the machine, don't get a huge-capacity stick, and keep only a max of fewer than 20 designs on one stick. The embroidery machine can't read a stick with lots of designs or lots of memory on it, even if the stick itself has plenty of room for more designs. You end up "losing" some of the designs on the stick because the machine can't find all of them. This is one of the things that the instruction booklet won't tell you. Ask your dealership how big a memory stick to use and how many designs to keep on it.
Honest reviews on Janome 350e Memory Craft Embroidery Machine
I bought my Janome 350E used in March 2012. I have had no problems with this machine at all except operator error. For example, I have tried to use a flash drive that has too many designs on it and it kind of fritz-es out. Then I read, I need a 1 or 2 gb flash drive. I am currently using a 4 gb but only putting one large design on it at a time.But since this is an older machine now and not really TOTL anymore, what can I expect? It makes beautiful, beautiful stitches and I have had so much fun since buying it almost a year ago. it came with a 4x4 (140x140 mm) hoop and a 5.5x7.9(140x200 mm) hoop.
The only thing I really regret is not discovering machine embroidery years ago. If you have a chance to get a Janome 350E for a great price and are looking for an embroidery machine, jump at it.
This has given me a taste for wanting a machine with a larger than a 200x140 mm hoop (not counting the Giga Hoop since you can't actually do a large design without rehooping)--so saving up for something larger to have in addition. I keep wishing Janome would put out another embroidery only machine with large hoop capabilities!
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