Janome HD3000 Review

There are a lot of Janome sewing machines, but you should know that they’re not all the same. The Janome HD3000 is sturdy and heavy duty, so that it can handle anything that you throw its way.

This means that it doesn’t have the same number of built-in stitches that you might find in other machines, but if you don’t think you’ll use those types of fancy features, you might not need something so advanced.

The HD3000 sewing machine has the easy-to-use interface of a classic sewing machine, without the common HD screen that you tend to see with some of the more advanced digital sewing machines nowadays. It only has 18 stitches for you to choose from and just 1 buttonhole, but with the tough body, and of course the extendable arm, you can do everything from hemming to quilting to heavy duty sewing.

Just adjust your stitches with the included dials and get to work. You should notice the solid metal frame on this machine, which does make it a little bit difficult to transport—since it clocks in at 18 pounds—but this also does mean that it won’t move while you’re working.

Use the free arm to make cuffs and sleeves, or extend it to work with larger swaths of materials without a problem.

Specifications

When you pick up the Janome HD3000, here’s what you can expect:

• Dimensions of 16W by 11.4H by 7.3D inches
• Weight of 18.8 pounds
• Includes a hard cover
• Maximum stitch width 6.5mm (but width is adjustable)
• 18 built-in stitches
• Includes a built-in needle threader
• 4.0 mm stitch length
• Extendable work area
• Works at 860 stitches per minute
• Includes an extra-high presser foot (adjustable)

Accessories

Here’s what you have included when you buy your Janome:

• Included seam ripper
• A hard machine cover to help with transport
• Extra needles
• Included bobbins
• An instruction manual
• Extra space for storage included inside 
• Various presser feet—you can snap them on

Design

Let’s first take a look at the design of the Janome. When we first saw it, we did find it to be a rather large machine. However, it’s inevitable since it has to be strong enough to get the job done. It’s also because the chamber inside includes needles, extra feet, and anything else you need.

Design-wise, we also found the machine to look rather simple. There’s nothing complicated about the look of this machine and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. You can easily find the stitch choices on the cover, it looks white and sleek, and you can put it just about anywhere in your home.

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• Janome 500e Review
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Ease of Use

We loved how easy this Janome HD3000 was to use. It’s honestly your basic mechanical sewing machine, but with some features to it that make it that much easier to get your projects done.

This includes the built-in thread cutter, which eliminates the need for scissors, and the transparent bobbin plate. You can monitor the supply of the thread right through the plate, which will make it easier to replace the thread.

If you’re a quick sewer though, you might want something just a little bit faster. The Janome HD3000 can sew at 850 stitches per minute, which is a good rate, but it’s not the best out there.

You might prefer the slower stitches depending on your project though, and with the reverse sewing feature to reinforce stitches on heavier material, to be honest, the lower stitch rate might not be something that bothers you much at all.

Adjustability

This is a great mechanical sewing machine, thanks to how adjustable it is—making it a great option for any project. You can use the dials to switch up the pressure on the presser foot, which will let you sew through different types of fabric. It might take a little practice for you to figure out how much or how little pressure you would like, but it’s great that you have the option.

You even have the choice of using different presser feet, which will help you work for five different types of sewing.

It’s also very easy using the sliders to adjust the stitch length and width that you want. Move the slider on top to adjust the width and move the bottom slider to adjust the length.

A Heavy Duty Machine

There’s a reason why the Janome HD3000 is known for its durability. It really is a heavy duty machine, with a 1.0amp motor, meaning that you’re able to sew through multiple layers of fabric. If you’re looking to sew material like canvas, denim, layers or denim, or even lighter materials, you can do this easily.

It’ll keep working this great over time, thanks to the included hardcover, which will protect the machine from dust. Of course, this hardcover means that it’s easy to transport along with you all, although it is a little heavy, so you might not want to move it around with you too much.

Storage

We loved the included storage in this Janome HD3000 which made it that much easier for us to do our work. All we had to do was slide off the storage compartment to use the free arm.

This means that you don’t need to interrupt your work as much looking for various components.

Bobbin System

There are a few types of bobbin systems out there, so in this Janome, you can expect a jam-proof rotary hook bobbin system. Basically, all this means that you can just place the bobbin inside, and thanks to the transparent plastic around it, it’s easy to see how much you have left.

The bobbin system winds up automatically as well. You don’t need to worry about winding it up yourself or about your thread getting out of order, since it will work for you. It’s also completely jam-proof too, which is perfect for beginners and for experts.

Instructions

For those of you who are a little bit new to the sewing world, or if you’re looking to learn new stitches and a new machine, you’ll appreciate the guide panel that’s printed right there at the top of your machine. If you’re confused about which presser foot to use depending on what you’re sewing, it’s easy to just look at the quick guide.

This will help you out if you’re a beginner and trying to get the stitches down, but this is also a great reference for those of you who are more experienced and just want something to help you check your stitches before you finalize stitches that you don’t use all that much.

The Warranty

You know that the Janome is more expensive than other options, but that’s why it’s good that this machine can be maintained for a total of 25 years after you make your purchase. That being said, the warranty does not last for a total of 25 years.

You can get your electronic pieces supplied and repaired under warranty for up to five years—and this won’t cost you anything. If there’s any labor associated with your machine, the warranty will cover that for one year. You can still get labor done after that, but there will be a cost to you when you get Janome employees to help you.

Pros

Durability

Ultimately, just about every part of this machine is durable. The heavy duty metal frame is made to last, making it a little heavy to just transport around, but you know that it won’t just break down if you knock into it.

Material Types

One of the best things about this machine is that it can sew heavier materials. It’s tough to find a sewing machine that can get through multiple layers of denim, for instance, and this Janome can do that..

Simplicity

This Janome is made to be simple to use and simple to learn, so you don’t need to worry about spending a long time trying to figure out a digital machine or complicated features that you would normally never use. That being said, you also might not have any possible advanced features that you may need, but it really depends on if those are something that will be useful for you.

Quiet

This is a smooth machine. Smooth, quiet, and won’t be so loud that you can’t work in the early morning or late at night. Compared to some other machines that we tested, this is certainly one of the quieter ones, and feels good to use as well.

Cons

Price

Ultimately, you don’t want to break the bank picking up your heavy duty sewing machine especially if you’re new to sewing. The price is one of the biggest issues then, because the Janome HD3000 clocks in at a hefty price—for good reason—but you still might want something less expensive.

Stitch Count

This might not necessarily be a bad thing, but it is true that you have a limited number of stitches to choose from. This makes it easy for you to get your work done if you don’t need all of those fancy stitches, but this also limits what you’re able to do if you’re ever going to try to do anything more complex.

Embroidery

If you’re looking to do something more delicate and precise, this isn’t really your machine. It’s made to get through the fabric and layers without a problem. It’s not made to do some serious, detailed, embroidered work.

Who is it best for?

Ultimately, the Janome HD3000 is a machine that can be used for either experts or beginners. Experts will appreciate the features like the built-in needle threader and easy bobbin winding system, both of which will help beginners learn to sew and to use this machine as well. There’s even a built-in thread cutter that will certainly be helpful.

If you’re still learning to sew, all of these features are perfect for learning. That being said, this Janome is expensive compared to some other sewing machine options, and you might not want to jump right into using an expensive machine right away.

Still, especially if you have multiple people sewing in your house, this might be a great machine to share between beginners and experts. That’s because you can adjust the presser foot on this machine to set it to your specifications—just use the dial—and adjust the stitches too depending on your project and your user.

About Janome

Janome began as early as 1954 and is now based out of Japan. It’s well known for its production of a wide line of sewing machines. There’s a reason why they have such a good reputation in the sewing world, and that’s because all of their machines are always high-quality, reliable, and generally priced well.

Of course, it’s true that the Janome HD3000 is pricier than some of their other options, and might be too expensive for you to want to invest in, but if you can overlook the price, the machine itself might just be worth it.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to make a long-term investment in your sewing machine, you really can’t go wrong with the Janome HD3000. This machine is more expensive than your comparable options, but when you think about it, there’s a lot that makes it great for your projects.

The stitches and the machine itself are easy to learn and use, it’s heavy-duty and strong enough to get through all types of fabrics, and it can keep working like a workhorse for around 25 years if you keep it maintained. Use it at your home to get all your sewing projects done, and adjust the dials to your preference.