I get asked many of the same questions about how to do certain things on the Janome MC9400 or MC9450. Some of these are quilting specific questions while others – many of them, actually – have to do with the settings on these machines. Fortunately, both of these Janome sewing machines have the ability to personalize the machine to the settings that you frequently use.
In this blog post, I want to answer the top 4 questions that I frequently get asked about the Janome MC9400 or MC9450.
- What foot, needle plate, and stitch do you use for piecing your quilts?
As I’m a quilter, I often get asked about what combination of foot and needle plate I prefer when piecing my quilts. This is an easy one to answer: the HP foot and the HP needle plate. This combination ensures I get an accurate ¼” seam every time.
I use them in combination with the Straight Stitch in the Patchwork area. When you insert the HP needle plate, the Janome MC9400 and MC9450 tells you what stitches will work with this needle plate, so again, you don’t have to do much thinking – the machine does it for you.
2. What foot, needle plate and stitch setting do you use for free motion quilting?
Both the Janome MC9400 and MC9450 come with a variety of free motion quilting feet and I would suggest that you try out the various ones to see which one you prefer, but I like to keep it simple. I use the straight stitch needle plate, the PD-H open toe free motion foot and the Straight Stitch 1 stitch found under the Quilting, VZZ, RW area.
I use this combination for most of my free motion quilting and find that it works well for me.
3. How can I set up my Janome MC9400 or MC9450 so it will resume the stitch that I was using when I next turn on the machine?
- One of my favourite features is the “Resume” mode. This feature allows you to retain the stitch setting that you were using prior to turning off your machine. Once you set it, you can stop stitching, turn off your Janome MC9400 or MC9450, and then return to the stitch immediately when you turn the machine back on. You enable the “Resume” mode by going into Settings and use the arrows to go through Set 2 until you find this mode. Click it on and it is ready to go.
I find this so helpful when I am stitching and have to leave the machine for a while and want to pick things up right where I left off. I don’t have to remember what stitch I was using as it is automatically there when I turn my Janome MC9450 back on.
4. Can I get my Janome MC9400 or MC9450 to keep my adjusted stitch settings?
Another feature, the “Favorite Stitch” feature is similar to the “Resume” feature but is even better to use if you would like to keep the adjusted setting that you have created for a specific stitch so that it is the automatic setting you will see when you next choose that stitch. Different from the “Resume” feature, the “Favorite Stitch” feature will always hold the adjusted settings no matter when you return to that stitch. I love this feature as I typically adjust the blanket and zigzag stitches that I use when finishing the edges of my appliqué pieces. While this is an easy feature to use, you must first remember to turn it on in the Settings area. It’s right above the “Resume” feature setting. Once it’s turned on, you can make adjustments to the width and/or length, hit the “FS” area and your Janome MC9400 or MC9450 will keep that adjusted stitch for you.
You’ll be able to tell that the stitch settings have been adjusted as they will be in a gold colour. I like to use the “Favorite Stitch” feature as I don’t have to worry about remembering what my adjusted stitch width and length is – the Janome MC9450 remembers for me.
If you have questions about your Janome sewing machine, your manual is always your first resource. Keep it close by your machine should you need to reference it.
For more detailed information on all of these questions, as well as additional information on the Janome MC9400 and MC9450, check out my Janome playlist on my YouTube channel.
What questions do you have about your Janome MC9400 or MC9450? Post them in the Comments below.
Happy stitching from Kim Jamieson-Hirst, Janome Canada Artisan in Calgary, Alberta.
Janome Life 
Is there a blue dot bobbin holder for the 9450? I wanted to do hand look quilt stitches.
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Hi,
There sure is. Part # 200445007. May not stipulate MC9450 on the blister pack but it IS the correct one.
Liz
JANOME CANADA
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How can I turn off the auto-lock that happens at the beginning of every decorative stitch? This particularly annoying when quilting as not all of my starts are places I want to have auto-lock knots showing.
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Hi Laurenlyn,
I am on the road visiting dealers in Quebec so don’t have access to the 9400 at the moment. However, I will check on this when I return to the office next week. I am almost sure this switching off the lock stitch at the beginning is only available on the Janome MC15000 but I will confirm this next week.
Liz
JANOME CANADA
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I love the HP2 foot for piecing, and am learning FMQ using the same settings and foot as you. I totally forgot about the resume mode. I will have to enable it instead of writing on post-it notes.
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I have a MC9900, and like to know more about the usb port and how to use it. There is very little information in the manual. My memory stick doesn’t seem to work. I would like to get more designs than what is in the machine. Also, interested in fonts, how large can I get. Could you do a lesson on this subject?
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Hi Dorothy,
Your local dealer who sold the MC9900 to you is the one who should be providing owner’s lessons so that you can operate your machine. Your USB stick should NOT be larger than 8 gigs. Preferably 2 gigs. And you need to have the stick formatted to put the EMB folder onto the stick. The designs needs to go INSIDE the 2 folders created. I hope that helps. If you still cant find success, let me know and I’ll see if I can help further.
Liz
JANOME CANADA
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From further reading the USB needs to be less than 1GB for the MC9900. I’m sure their are others out there that would like the same information, since the manual offers very limited information. Would you elaborate on using the USB port for the machines.
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Hi Dorothy,
We did have a number of janomelife posts on this topic but I had to delete quite a few of the early years of this janomelife blog recently as we had used up all of our storage space on Word Press. I do have this information to send you or do another post on the topic. I am currently on a business trip but I will attend to this next week when I am back in my office. I will ensure you receive the information you need one way or another.
Regards
Liz
JANOME CANADA
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Kim, always enjoy your information. I have a Janome 9400 and like the Janome needles. However they are almost impossible to find here in Ottawa, do you have any idea why? Even the Janome dealers don’t have them! The other one I like is Organ but only found them by chance at a quilt show a few years ago. Yesterday I was at Quilt Canada and looked for either brand there, no luck not even at the Janome booth!
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Hi Irene,
These needles are in stock/available at our warehouse. Please ask your Ottawa dealer to order them for you. For your information, Organ makes our needles. And I’m sorry you did not find the needles on our booth. One of our dealers on the booth actually did have blue, red and purple needles to sell although it was sold on a request basis. We did not offer an accessory booth as we had 3 booths and 9 classrooms and it was just not possible to add thousands of small items as well. But all our dealers can order these items for you.
Liz
JANOME CANADA
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