Janome Presser Foot Spotlight – Darning Foot (PD-H)

The Janome Darning Foot (PD-H) is mainly used for mending/repairing a rip in garments, tote bags, backpacks, etc. It’s a quick, easy way to patch a hole in a pair of jeans, or to reinforce the elbows of a shirt which has become worn, but hasn’t yet ripped to create a hole. The extra stitching you provide will help secure the area from further stress and damage.

It’s intending use may be quite utilitarian, however there are also some fun, more creative things you can do with this foot.

Available in both Closed Toe and Open Toe for most Janome sewing machines, here are some of the possible uses:

Janome Closed Toe and Open Toe Foot (PD-H)

• Recovery/Recycling: As mentioned earlier, this foot is designed to facilitate mending/ repairing of damaged fabric. It allows you to sew reinforcement stitches over holes, tears or worn areas so you get more life out the item and save it from going into landfill.

• Free-motion quilting: Because of the unique design of the Janome Darning Foot (PD-H), the foot actually hops up and down because of the spring built into the foot holder portion which attaches to the machine. This allows you to easily move the fabric under the needle so you can create unique stitching patterns by meandering in any direction you wish without having to rotate the fabric.

Free Motion Quilting with multi-colour thread

• Freehand embroidery: Move the fabric slowly to build up dense stitches which mimics hand embroidery. Techniques such as thread painting and variable zigzag, which is a unique feature of many Janome sewing machines, can be done using a variety of thread types and weights for some unique effects.

• Basting: Temporarily secure layers together by basting; using a long stitch length which you determine by how far you move the fabric from the needle without clipping the threads in between. These threads can later be clipped and easily removed. Many Janome sewing machines have this Baste Stitch as part of the Utility category, such as here on the Janome Continental M7 Professional.

Hold the fabric tightly and press the foot pedal or Stop/Start button. The machine stitches one stitch then stops automatically. The foot hovers above the fabric allowing you to move it however far apart you wish. Detailed instructions will be included in your machine Instruction Manual, and if you have the Janome Continental M7P, the free AcuSpark App. If you have the Janome Continental M17, you’ll find information in the free AcuAssist App.

If you don’t have the Baste Stitch built into your machine, drop, or cover the feed dogs, take one stitch, and move the fabric forward however much you wish before taking the next stitch. It’s so easy! Any machine can do this.

It is recommended to consult the Instruction Manual of your sewing machine to know all the functions, how to make adjustments and of the specific uses of each presser foot supplied with your machine.

When mending over a hole or tear in the fabric, it’s a good idea to reinforce the area with a patch of similar fabric, or at least similar in colour to help fill in the gaps. Notice the white bed of the sewing machine showing through the holes in the denim fabric below.

A patch of denim on the wrong side of the fabric fills in the holes and will add stability to the fabric around the damaged area.

Choose a thread colour to match the fabric, or contrast to add a unique design element. In many machines we can adjust the stitch width and length to suit your preference. Below I used a 4.0 zigzag to securely cover the tears and holes in the denim..

Experiment with your machine to see what look you prefer and what works best for the application.

Visit your local Janome Canada dealer to see a demonstration with the Janome Darning Foot (PD-H), to stitch some test samples and to purchase if not included with your machine.

Quilting in the hoop

After piecing a quilt, the next step is to quilt it. That means attaching together your quilt top, some batting and your backing fabric. There are different methods you could use to do that. Some quilters like to hand quilt, some like free motion when others prefer using their walking foot. One other method if you have access to an embroidery machine, is to quilt in the hoop. That means using an embroidery design to stitch the three layers together.

Obviously, bigger your hoop is, faster the whole process will be, but in theory, you could use any embroidery machines even if it only has a smaller hoop. You will just need to rehoop more often.

I recently finished piecing the Ombre Tree Line quilt from V and Co and used the Janome Continental M17 to quilt it in the hoop.

First you need to choose an embroidery design. Most Janome machines have some quilting designs already included but there are so many options available online by embroidery companies. You need to chose a design that is preferably a continuous line of stiches. You don’t want a lot of stop and go creating a lot of knots in the backing.

I chose a simple loopy quilting design that mesured 10 in by 10 in. The design fitted perfectly into the ASQ27d hoop. This hoop is perfect for quilting as it uses magnets to hold the fabric in place. Since you don’t use stabilizer for quilting in the hoop, you can’t just float your fabric. You also can’t hoop it the traditional way as your quilt sandwich is just too thick.

The ASQ27d hoop comes with the Continental M17 but is part of the Acufil Quilting kit for some other models.

I loaded the design into the machine like you will do for any other embroidery files (you can use an USB stick, or the embroidery link app on your Ipad). I used the special bobbin holder for embroidery, a blue tip needle and embroidery thread on top and in my bobbin. The template that comes with the hoop allowed me to visualize exactly where the design will stitch. I started at one corner making sure to stitch within the extra batting/backing on the sides.

Once the first design was finished, i just moved the hoop to the side, using the template to align the new design to the one already done.

I kept going, moving the hoop after each time. When the first row was done, I started the second row to keep quilting throughout the whole quilt.

I didn’t want big knots at the back of my quilt when the machine was starting a new design. So I made sure to bring my bobbin thread up before the start of the embroidery.

With the big size of the ASQ27s that allowed me to use a large design, I had my quilt done relatively quickly. I really like this look. It gives you the impression of long arm quilting.

And finally I sew my binding and my quilt was finished !

What do you think ? Will you give quilting in the hoop a try ?

Marie-Agnès

I Love First Peoples Updates

We love hearing about school visits from I Love First Peoples! We at Janome are so proud to support learning opportunities for Indigenous youth living in remote communities through the Sew & Sew program!

In September we shared with you all about a fashion show which was put on by the students of the Chief Ahtahkakoop School in the community of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation on Treaty 6 Territory. We are excited to have a video to share with you now.

Recently, sewing program coordinator Jenny Ambrose visited Chief Ahtahkakoop School to spend some time with sewing and culture teacher Marcy Whitefish. Earlier this year, Janome Canada gifted their existing sewing lab with two Janome FA4 sergers during their community fashion show.

Jenny was able to spend an afternoon with Marcy and one of her students to help get them comfortable threading their machines both the quick way (tie on method) and from scratch. Now that they are pros at threading, their new sergers will be a welcome feature in the sewing lab!

Many of the I Love First Peoples partner schools have set up their sewing labs in the culture or land based learning spaces. One of the beautiful perks is that you get to learn so much more than sewing skills! Yesterday the room at Ahtahkakoop doubled as a moose meat processing station! Please note, no sergers were harmed during this sewing lesson!

Over the summer, Ahtahkakoop community members built this amazing sewing cabinet with sliding barn doors. Now all the machines, fabric, tools and notions have their place and can be easily found!

The I Love First Peoples sewing program can only happen with the dedication of teachers like Marcy who inspire the youth in their communities every day. They do so much more than teach, they build support around their programs by including elders and aunties who all help to keep the sewing labs exciting and culturally significant.

If you would like to support this program, please consider donating here:

https://www.ilovefirstpeoples.ca/donate

In-Person Event at the Janome Sewing & Learning Centre in Oakville, ON! December 9th, 2023

We are beyond thrilled to announce an in-person event happening at our Sewing & Learning Centre!

On December 9th, we will be crafting customized holiday cards utilizing a variety of classroom machines, fabric scraps, and decorative accents. Once we’re done sewing and embellishing, we will glue the fabric onto cards! 

Have you been wanting to try out new top of the line machines like the Horizon Memory Craft 9480? We’ll be using an assortment of wonderful Janome machines for this class, and switching around so everyone can try out different models!

Janome Horizon Memory Craft 9480QCP

Sign up before it’s too late! We are offering two time slots (10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm) with 6 spots for each class. Click here to choose a time slot and sign up.

This is a great opportunity to meet like minded sewists, and get a taste of future classes coming next year at the Sewing & Learning Centre. We will have some treats and hot drinks as well!

If you have some fabric scraps laying around, feel free to bring them! If not, we will have a fantastic spread of fabrics for you to choose from.

Visit shop.janome.ca to learn more and sign up. If you have any questions, please send us an email: classes@janome-canada.com

We hope to see you there!

Janome Presser Foot Spotlight – S foot

All sewing machines come with the ability to use different presser feet according to what projets you wish to do. Using the proper foot is often what makes your sewing successful. Janome Sewing machines always come with an assortment of feet and you can always go to your dealer to add to your collection.

One very useful foot is the Ditch Quilting foot or S foot . Why stitch in the ditch? Invisibility! A stitch in the ditch is stitching right in a seam line in order to create an invisible line of stitching from the top of your project. The guide on the foot spreads the seams allowing you to stitch perfectly in the ditch.

It is available as a snap on foot and also as an attachment for the Acufeed foot (P/N 846413006).

Most often, the stitch in the ditch foot is use to finish quilts. After you are done piecing your quilt top, you need to attach it to the backing and the batting. One way is to stitch in the ditch along some of your piecing seams. The stitches will be invisible from the top, but visible on your backing fabric.

You can also use a decorative stitch to finish your quilt and use the guide of the foot to perfectly balance the stitches on both sides of the seam.

Another use of the stitch in the ditch foot is to attach binding on your quilt. Once you sew the binding on the right side of your quilt, you can fold it over to the back, making sure it goes pass the line of stitches. If you stitch in the ditch along the right side seam, it will be invisible from the top while catching the binding on the wrong side.

But the stitch in the ditch can also be used as an edge foot. The foot allows you to move your needdle to the right or to the left of the guide making it a perfect foot for topstitching.

I used it to stitch a strap for my bag and it created a perfect line of stiches along both sides of the strap.

The stitch in the ditch foot is really a versatile foot that is very helpful to use. What is your favorite use for it ?

Marie-Agnès

Upcycle an Old Quilt

Do you have an old quilt that can be updated or upcycled. I am loving these Christmas Stockings.

Find a stocking template or use an older stocking you may already have to use as a pattern template. I placed the template on a angle so that the stocking was a little wonkier. I also only cut the front of the stocking using the quilt. For the back of the stocking I used an off white felt to make it look like wool, plus the felt will not fray or ravel at the top.

Using my Janome Pro 4DX Serger I serged the edges of the quilted Stocking Front all around including the top edge.

I added decorative lace to the top of the stocking and sewed on the lace using a long stitch and the A Foot to secure in place.

With right sides together, I sewed the front and back of the stocking using the Acufeed Foot 1/4″. Turn inside out and add a satin ribbon to hang. Add a decorative button if you wish.

Happy Upcycling

Monique

Janome Canada Instagram LIVE TODAY, WEDNESDAY 1pm EST

Join us LIVE today on our @janomecanada Instagram at 1pm. Janome educator Tobias Binder will be showing us the differences between an old Janome 234 serger and the new Janome Air Thread 2000D serger!

Janome Presser Foot Highlight – Ruler Feet

What is Ruler Work?

Ruler Work is a type of machine quilting that is done using a specially designed Acrylic Template Ruler to sew or quilt designs on a quilt top. The rulers are thicker than the normal cutting rulers and should not be interchanged. Quilting with rulers and templates is a great way to achieve perfect patterns every time

Did you know that not all Janome Sewing machines have the same Ruler Foot? The QR Ruler Foot, is a stand alone accessory developed for doing ruler work. Guide quilting templates along the edge of the foot to create straight, curved, or repetitious patterns depending on the ruler or quilting template. The v-shaped gap in the front enhances visibility. Part Number: 862896007

This accessory works with the following models:

• Continental M17
• Continental M7
• Continental M7 QCS
• Continental M8
• Memory Craft 15000 QM
• Memory Craft 6650
• Memory Craft 6700P
• Memory Craft 9400
• Memory Craft 9410QC
• Memory Craft 9450
• Memory Craft 9480QCP

The Ruler Foot

The Ruler Foot attachment to the Convertible Free Motion Quilting Foot Set | Part Number: 767434005, fits perfectly next to rulers and templates to achieve great results. The Frame Quilting Attachment will give you the look of a long arm quilting foot if you are using your machine on a quilting frame. Please note this foot only works on machines that do not have the automatic presser foot. 

This accessory works with the following models:

• Memory Craft 11000 Special Edition
• Memory Craft 12000
• Memory Craft 6600P
• Memory Craft 6650
• Memory Craft 6700P
• Memory Craft 7700QCP
• Memory Craft 8200QCP SE
• Memory Craft 8900QCP Special Edition
• Memory Craft 9400
• Memory Craft 9450
• Memory Craft 9850
• Memory Craft 9850 SE
• Memory Craft 9900
• Skyline S3
• Skyline S5
• Skyline S6
• Skyline S7
• Skyline S9

This set includes ¼” Ruler Foot and Open-Toe Frame Quilting Foot, which are designed specifically for frame quilting, the forte of the new 1600P-QC. The ¼” Ruler Foot as a high ‘heel’ and ½” diameter for free-motion quilting with a ¼” thick quilt rulers and long arm quilting templates. The Open-toe Frame Quilting foot has an opening that faces sideways to provide a clear view of your work when standing at the handles of a quilt frame.

• Please note: This set can only be used with the Convertible Free-Motion Quilting Foot Set — 767433004 

Don’t forget that all these Ruler feet should be combined with Ruler Quilting specific Acrylic Rulers. A good place to start is with Janome’s Ruler Work Kit.

For added best results when doing any kind of Free Motion or Ruler work you may want to change your bobbin Case to a Blue Dot Bobbin case for a better tension. Couple the convertible Free Motion Quilting and Ruler Feet with this handy bobbin holder preset with lower tension to make it even easier to achieve even tension control.

For additional information or where to purchase these wonderful parts, contact your local Janome Dealer.

Happy Quilting.

Monique

Easy personalization with your sewing machine

Sewing doesn’t need to be complicated or long. Sometime all you want is a quick and easy way to achieve your goal. As we roll into the holiday season sometimes a quick personalization takes a gift to the next level.

A new pencil case is a great gift for the studious people on your list. You could sew it from scratch, pick your favourite fabric and favourite pattern, add embroidery and really make it a beautiful, personalized item. However, all of this takes time. Time you might not have in this busy period of the year.

Another alternative is to start with a ready made pencil case and use your sewing machine alphabet to add some personalization. To make it possible, the only thing you need to do, is open one of the side seam.

I like to use a small piece of woven stabilizer to help with the stitches. I just apply it on the back where I will add the name.

To make it easier, I also mark with a friction pen where I want to stitches to go.

On your sewing machine, select the alphabet and type the word you would like to sew. I am using the Skyline S9 but all Janome machines have a pretty similar interface. You could also add decorative stitches if you wanted before and after the name.

With the open seam, you can place the pencil case properly under the needle and start sewing.

When it is done, all you have to do is erase the mark and sew back together the side seam.

And voila ! Sewing doesn’t need to be long and complicated. With few steps and some letters you can make a personalized item in no time.

BLACK FRIDAY SALE – November 12-24

Have you been waiting for a great deal to come around? Not sure what to get your friends or loved ones for the holidays? You’re in luck because we have some incredible black Friday deals for you!

This ‘Black Friday Sewing Kit’ is full of treasures that any sewist at any level can use! 30 Janome J bobbins in 3 different colours, 5 packs of Janome universal needles in assorted sizes, 8 spools of high quality Hilos Iris quilting cotton thread, a Janome square bobbin saver, 1 pair of snip scissors, and a Janome pen! They come inside of 2 stackable T-lock storage cases!

At $79.99, it’s an incredible value. To buy all of the contents separately would be much more! For a more in depth look at the ‘Black Friday Sewing Kit’, check out our recent Instagram live where we go through the kit in great detail!

*Note: the kit is only available in-store, on November 24th, 2023, at participating dealers. Contact your Janome Canada dealer to check availability.*

First up for machines, we have the Janome Sewist 740DC. At $498, that’s an absolute STEAL! It’s a computerized machine with a dc motor, so it runs smoothly and quietly. It has a speed control slider so you can set the machine to sew very slowly, no matter how hard you press on the pedal!

It would make a perfect gift for a young sewist in your family who is either just starting out, or looking to upgrade from their first machine. Or even for yourself as a backup/travel machine! It has all the lovely features we can’t sew without, such as: easy set bobbin, automatic thread cutter & needle up/down button.

For those who prefer the feel of mechanical machines, we’ve got you covered! The top loading drop-in bobbin and one step buttonhole makes the Janome Sewist 725S a fantastic option! And at that price, you can’t go wrong!

Next up, a great opportunity to enter into the world of sergers. The Janome Four DLB is simple and rugged, with enough features to keep you happy for years to come! The lay in style tension system makes it easy to thread, differential feed for all kinds of fabrics, and a built-in rolled hem plate for neat finishes!

If there’s a sewist in your life who’s looking to go to the next level, this would be a perfect gift for them to start their serging journey. At $399, it’s a great price for a solid serger.

Last but certainly not least is the Janome Quilt Maker Pro 18 Versa. A fantastic mid-arm option for professional quilters who don’t have the space for a full frame. The table height is adjustable from 25.5” up to 39.5”. Giving you the option to quilt while sitting or standing! The table has a surface area of 31.5” x 36”, and paired with the 18” throat space plus 8” of vertical space, you will enjoy quilting any project with it! At our Black Friday price of $4999, now is a great time to invest in one of these fabulous machines.

*Note: Black Friday machine sale prices are valid until November 24th, 2023, only at participating Janome Canada dealers. Contact your dealer to confirm pricing.*