What is the Elongation function?

 

Yes indeed…….WHAT IS ELONGATION FUNCTION? Sounds fancy and it is. Many of our Janome models have this function but you may be unaware of the creative fun sitting right there in front of you…….so here’s a heads up for you:

Purple satin stitches: top row elongated 3 times and combined with a fun stitch in the Play category. Bottom purple row is one of the satin stitches elongated 5 times and combined in a progression.
This is just a test sewing piece. If it had been for a project, I would have extended the orange and green stitching to match. The orange stitching is satin stitching without elongation.

Does your Janome sewing machine have satin stitches?

Does your machine have a button or an icon with the letter E?

Did you flip through the contents page of your Instruction manual and find a section called Elongation of satin stitches or something similar?

I’m not going to give a long list of all the Janome models that have the capability to elongate satin stitches without reducing the satin stitch quality – that is the closeness of the stitches or stitch length.  That would be  a rather long list and I’m not sure I would be able to offer a complete list anyway. So look in your manual, look for the E button or icon and if you find it, voila, you have the elongation function on your Janome!

So how do you use it? I made a video recently about the Janome Border Guide foot and here is the link to this on our You Tube channel. Go to approx the 20 min 41 second mark  for my explanation of how to do elongation – was part of this video as I love to use elongated satin stitches with my Janome Border guide foot. Of course, you can watch the whole video if you wish.

I love using this function as it adds some interesting and different options to the satin stitch menu. The BEST suggestion I have for you is to experiment with different satin stitches using the X1, X2,  X3, X4 & X5 options. Yes, you can take a satin stitch and elongate it FIVE times its default length. PLAY time!!

A couple of hints and tips:

1. Use a stabilizer. It you do not, you will run the real risk of having your fabric pucker and you will not be happy with that look! Choose a suitable stabilizer. For example, if you do not want the hassle of picking out all the bits of tearaway on the back (which can also pull and distort your stitching), then select a water soluble stabilizer or an iron on interfacing type product which will stay there. DO try our Madeira Stabilizer starter pack which has a sample of TWELVE different Madeira stabilizers as well as a booklet with lots of good information about each type included in the pack. Janome Canada distributes Madeira to all our Janome Canada and Elna Canada dealers so ask your dealer about the STARTER SET Art# 9449. Buy one starter set , or buy more than 1!  I think it is a brilliant and low cost way of trying out a bunch of different top quality stabilizers without having to spend $$ to buy rolls of stabilizers you may not have tried or may not use often. Win-win in my opinion.
2. Decide what thread you want to use: you can use regular sewing thread or cotton sewing thread but we suggest you might like to try an embroidery thread: Polyester or rayon. This gives a shine or lustre to your stitches which is very attractive. Janome distributes a range of embroidery threads across Canada : ask your Janome dealer today about Madeira poly neon (available in several great gift boxes and treasure chests) as well as Hilos Iris Ultrabrite poly thread +  our Janome brand of poly embroidery thread.  We stand behind the quality of all of these thread brands.
   

   Madeira polyneon embroidery thread Smart box

   

3. Always use the correct needle for the task at hand: For elongation stitching of satin stitches? Ask yourself what thread and fabric are you using? We would like to suggest that a Janome red tip needle would be a good choice as it has a larger eye on a nice sharp needle and you will get good quality stitching and less thread breakage.  Always remember to change your needles often. 8-10 hours max per needle is recommended.

4. Did you know that you can combine your elongated satin stitches with different stitches as a combo? Many of our mid range Janome sewing machine models and up have the ability to do stitch combinations. Check out your manual and have some creative fun……your imagination is your only limit if your machine has these features!

5. You can adjust the settings of your stitches if you wish. I often like to reduce my stitch length to 0.3 or 0.35mm so that the satin stitches are closer together. OR you can opt for using a slightly thicker thread in the needle? Perhaps a 28; 30 or 40 weight thread?

6. When doing satin stitching, it is always recommended that you use the satin stitch foot which has a channel on the under side of the foot through which the stitches can pass without getting “hung up” if you use  a foot without this channel. So do switch from the regular A foot to the satin stitch (F for fun!) foot for best results.

7. You will need to use the zig-zag needle plate as you will be doing stitches that swing from side to side and you don’t want to break a needle on a straight stitch plate. Many of our Janome models have build in reminders for you to change the needle plate as a straight stitch plate greys out all stitches except straight stitches. But in case your model does not have this feature – take care you have the correct needle plate on the machine!