Refining the One-Quarter Inch Seam Allowance

Most of our Janome sewing machines come with a variety of presser feet which expands the creative possibilities, and the fun! Each presser foot has a specific purpose; a specific function in mind, like the dedicated Janome 1/4″ Seam Foot (O), which comes with many Janome machines.

From a ton of feedback we’ve received, many sewists and especially quilters LOVE the Janome Professional Grade HP Foot, used in conjunction with the Janome Professional Grad HP Needle Plate for that perfect 1/4″. HP stands for High Performance. This skinny, all metal foot is designed after industrial sewing feet which are not snap on. The presser foot and the foot holder are one unit, which gets attached to the presser foot bar with the thumb screw of the machine.

However, this presser foot and needle plate are NOT compatible with all machines. Janome does not recommend their use on machines which do not recognize the needle plate, and does not automatically swing the needle over to the left hand needle position. Don’t despair, though, with Janome there’s always lots of options available no matter which machine you have.

In today’s Janome Canada Instagram LIVE, I’ll be showing you some of the presser feet options and techniques to help you achieve that perfect 1/4″ seam allowance! This is especially geared to those machines which are not HP compatible.

Join us LIVE at 1pm EST @janomecanada Instagram page every Wednesday afternoon to learn about all things Janome! However, don’t worry if you can’t make the LIVE presentations as they’ll be stored in the feed on the Janome Canada Instagram page and later posted as videos on the Janome HQ You Tube channel.

Check out our handy Janome Accessories Catalogue on our Janome Canada website to see more presser feet and attachments available for your machine.

Follow us on the Janome HQ Facebook page and the Janome HQ Instagram page to see what’s new at Janome Canada and information about upcoming in-person classes and presentations at our Janome Canada Headquarters, our Janome HQ,!

Happy Sewing and #sharethejanomelove!

Sew a Greeting Card!

It’s summertime, so the sewing should be easy, allowing us more time to kick back and enjoy the beautiful weather while we have it.

Just in time for Father’s Day, did you know you can use your fabulous Janome sewing and embroidery machines to create a special greeting by stitching a card? Yes! We can stitch on card stock, and some unconventional materials, not just fabric, with our Janome machines.

Our fabulous Janome Canada educator, Celine, is back LIVE every Tuesday at 3pm EST on the Janome Sewing Machines Facebook page for an entire month of sewing fun and education to help you get the most from your Janome machine!

Don’t worry if you can’t make the LIVE as all of the presentations will be saved under the Videos tab of the Janome Sewing Machines Facebook page (use the Search Box to find all the videos with Celine Ross) AND stream LIVE to the Janome HQ You Tube channel!

Today Celine will show you how to sew and personalize a greeting card using the stitches and functions built into so many Janome sewing machines. It’s such a convenient, and reassuring time-saver letting the machine do some thinking for us! Though Celine often uses the Janome Continental M17, many of the same functions, presser feet, stitches and techniques used in her projects can be found on many Janome machines.

Janome Continental M17.

Janome Skyline S9

Janome MC9850SE

Check out our handy Janome Accessories Catalog or click on the Accessories Tab on Janome.CA. to find the presser feet and accessories compatible with your machine. Click the Products tab, then scroll down to find “View all Accessories“. Click there to access the Search Box or to scroll through the pages to find the accessories you’d like. Click on the picture/description to find the Part Number and machine compatibility. And, as always, check with your fabulous Janome Dealer!

Don’t have a Facebook account, don’t worry, they will be uploaded to the Janome HQ You Tube channel under the Facebook Live playlist to enjoy whenever you wish!

Happy Sewing!

Welcome Charmed by Ashley to our Janome Canada Maker Team!

Let’s give Ashley Chaumont of Charmed by Ashley a nice Janome Canada welcome as she joins our Maker team!

Ashley hails from the Niagara Region of Ontario. You may already be one of her followers on her many social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or Pinterest .

Jack’s Duffle Sewing Pattern

We are over-the-moon excited to have Ashley joining us as she brings an enthusiasm for creating a large variety of sewing projects and she just can’t stop herself from sharing how you can make them too. From bags to clothes to home décor to sew much more, Ashely is sure to have a project you will want to dive into!

Reusable Coffee Filters

Ashley is committed to helping us all discover more joy in our sewing. As a successful YouTube creator with over 106,000 subscribers, you are sure to love her video tutorials.

Video Tutorial for Canvas Fabric Basket

Ashley is a newer Janome user and she is preparing to take you on a journey of discovery as she explores all there is to offer from her Janome Memory Craft 6700P and Janome Pro 4DX serger.

Janome MC6700P

Janome Pro 4DX

Look forward to lots of sewing inspiration and knowledge from Charmed by Ashley on our various social media platforms, Janome Canada Facebook, Janome Canada Instagram, Janome HQ YouTube and of course, right here on our Janome Life Blog!

Please help us welcome Ashely to our Janome Canada team!

Happy Sewing!

Janome Sponsored – Grand National Fibre Art Exhibition

Janome Canada is proud to support the Grand National Exhibition Association’s fibre art touring exhibition celebrating quilters and fibre artists.

Since 2003, Janome Canada has been a dedicated supporter of the Grand National and is pleased to once again sponsor the Janome Award of Excellence with a fabulous Janome HD9 BE and assorted sewing accessories.

Janome HD9BE

This years theme “Delights”, challenged all fibre artists to consider the what makes them happy, joyous and cheerful or simply, what lifts their hearts?

This juried exhibition will consist of the works of 35-40 Canadian professional fibre artists from across the county, each expressing a particular delight that has great meaning to them. Expect a diverse range of materials, techniques, ideas, concepts, and cheerful thoughts to get us all back on the path to living, having fun and enjoying the pleasures of life.

To learn more about this 2024-2025 traveling exhibition and event schedule please visit: www.grandnationalfibreartexhibition.com

June/July 2024 – Kootenay Gallery of Art: 120 Heritage Way, Castlegar, BC

Aug/Sep 2024 – United Community Arts: 148 Moffat Ave., Pilot Mound, MB

Oct 12, 2024 to Jan 25, 2025 – Woodstock Art Gallery: 449 Dundas St., Woodstock, ON

March 14 – April 25, 2025 – Saint John Arts Centre: 20 Peel Plaza, Saint John, NB

For photos of quilts from past shows, check out this previous Janome Life blog.

Happy Sewing!

Classes at your Janome Canada Dealers

It’s Spring time and the perfect time to take a class to learn how to make a sundress or an easy crop top or even a travel Fanny Pack. Most Janome Canada dealers offer a variety of classes at every level. If you ever wanted to learn to sew, or make a specific project and have your questions answered as they come up, an in person class is the way to go.

Many Janome Canada dealers have classroom machines available so you don’t have to be concerned about packing and lugging your machine. Its the perfect place to test out a machine and learn all its features to help determine if this is the machine for you. The Janome 5300QDC, for example, is a perfect machine for those who want more than just a basic machine, but don’t want anything too big with too many bells and whistles.

Janome 53000QDC

It’s an ideal machine for travel, to take to the cottage or in the RV this summer, or, to take to a class if the store does not have class room machines available for use. Contact the store for details.

Students in class at Janome Canada Dealer Giroux Sewing Centre

You will see in the photo above that the Janome 53000QDC is a popular classroom machine as it has many convenient push button controls, 400 stitches, and a large assortment of presser feet and accessories included, like the Janome AcuView Optic Magnifiers!

Janome AcuView Optic Magnifiers are included with many machines, and available separately for certain models

With Summer just around the corner, you may be looking for activities to keep the kids busy. Your Janome Canada dealer may have classes geared to teaching kids to sew, or have easy to sew project-based classes geared to what kids would like. You will find a list of Janome Canada dealers on our Janome.CA website under the “Where to Buy” tab. Enter your Postal Code to find the dealer nearest you!

While on the Janome Canada website, you’ll also find loads of free projects under the INSPIRE tab.

Please note; there are no active links in the above screenshot

Along with a class this spring/summer, maybe you’d like to spend more time learning about the various Janome presser feet, accessories and attachments available for your machine. Check out the Janome HQ You Tube channel to learn more about all things Janome! The “A to Z with Janome” Playlist, for example, shows demonstrations of many of the lettered Janome presser feet, many of which come with most Janome sewing machines. The “D” episode is for the Rolled Hem foot, for example.

When the weather is beautiful, we all want to get outside to enjoy it as much as possible. But, for those rainy days, or days when you have some down time, it’s fun to have something constructive to work on. Consider taking a class at your Janome Canada dealer’s store this summer and check out the many FREE projects available on Janome.CA for more sewing fun all year long!

Happy learning!

Monique

Presser Foot Versatility

Most of our Janome sewing machines come with a variety of presser feet which expands the creative possibilities, and the fun! Each presser foot has a specific purpose; a specific function in mind, but with Janome, there’s always more!

Not only are there many more presser feet available from your fabulous Janome dealer, there’s also more ways to use some of the presser feet. We can do more sewing applications than just what that presser foot was specifically designed to do.

In today’s Janome Canada Instagram LIVE, I’ll be showing you some of the versatility, some of the fun we can have using our presser feet for different sewing applications.

Join us LIVE at 1pm EST @janomecanada Instagram page every Wednesday afternoon to learn about all things Janome! However, don’t worry if you can’t make the LIVE presentations as they’ll be stored in the feed on the Janome Canada Instagram page and later posted as videos on the Janome HQ You Tube channel.

Check out our handy Janome Accessories Catalogue on our Janome Canada website to see more presser feet and attachments available for your machine.

Follow us on the Janome HQ Facebook page and the Janome HQ Instagram page to see what’s new at Janome Canada and information about upcoming in-person classes and presentations at our Janome Canada Headquarters, our Janome HQ,!

Happy Sewing and #sharethejanomelove!

Exploring computerized functions of the Sewing Machine

It’s summertime, so the sewing should be easy, allowing us more time to kick back and enjoy the beautiful weather while we have it.

Our fabulous Janome Canada educator, Celine, is back LIVE every Tuesday at 3pm EST on the Janome Sewing Machines Facebook page for an entire month of sewing fun and education to help you get the most from your Janome machine!

Don’t worry if you can’t make the LIVE as all of the presentations will be saved under the Videos tab of the Janome Sewing Machines Facebook page (use the Search Box to find all the videos with Celine Ross) AND stream LIVE to the Janome HQ You Tube channel!

Today Celine will show you how to create quick, easy and functional pot holders using the computerized functions built into so many Janome sewing machines. It’s such a convenient, and reassuring time-saver letting the machine do some thinking for us! Though Celine often uses the Janome Continental M17, many of the same functions, presser feet, stitches and techniques used in her projects can be found on many Janome machines.

Janome Continental M17.

Janome Skyline S9

Janome MC9850SE

Check out our handy Janome Accessories Guide or click on the Accessories Tab on Janome.CA. to find the presser feet and accessories compatible with your machine. Click the Products tab, then scroll down to find “View all Accessories“. Click there to access the Search Box or to scroll through the pages to find the accessories you’d like. Click on the picture/description to find the Part Number and machine compatibility. And, as always, check with your fabulous Janome Dealer!

Don’t have a Facebook account, don’t worry, they will be uploaded to the Janome HQ You Tube channel under the Facebook Live playlist to enjoy whenever you wish!

Happy Sewing!

Quilt Canada 2024 is Fast Approaching!

Yes! It won’t be long now before Canada’s largest national quilt show, Quilt Canada, will be opening it’s doors at the Edmonton Convention Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, June 19-22, 2024.

Be sure to visit the Canadian Quilters Association’s website for full details, including a list of classes offered, and a list of which vendors will be in the Merchant Mall. It’s a great time to connect with your quilting friends, learn a new sewing or quilting technique and shop for some fabulous sewing and quilting goodies.

Of course, Janome Canada will be there, so be sure to stop by the booth to say hello and see what fun and exciting machines and samples we have to share! If you’re on the fence about purchasing a new machine, or would love to see demos of popular machines like the Janome CM17, Janome Continental M8 with the amazing A.S.R. (Accurate Stitch Regulator), and Janome MC9480QC Professional, please stop by the booth to watch our demos and test drive the machines for yourself.

Janome MC9480QC Professional

As an extra-special treat, our Janome Canada Artisan extraordinaire, Kim Jamieson-Hirst of Chatterbox Quilts will be LIVE in our booth sharing her tips, tricks and techniques for free motion and ruler quilting at 10:30am and 2pm, Friday, June 21st, 2024.

Janome Canada Artisan Kim Jamieson-Hirst. Photo courtesy of Chatterbox Quilts

Kim will also be demoing these techniques using the Janome A.S.R. (Accurate Stitch Regulator) which comes included in the Janome CM17, Janome Continental M8 and is an optional accessory compatible with the Janome MC9480QC Professional.

Check out the Janome HQ You Tube channel for Kim’s videos featuring a variety of Janome machines, including the Continental M17, Continental M7 Professional, and the Janome MC500E.

Don’t fret if you can’t join us in person, however, as I’ll be going LIVE on the Janome Canada Facebook page and Janome HQ You Tube channel several times through the event, so everyone can share in the fun, even if you can’t attend.

Once again, Janome Canada will furnish prizes for the JN Harper Youth Challenge, with this year’s theme, “Explore”.

Be sure to check back here to Janome Life and our various Janome Canada socials for more about Quilt Canada 2024, and be sure to check out the Canadian Quilters Association website for more information and to sign up for classes.

We hope to see you there!

Happy Sewing!

Hands-on “Family Game Night” Embroidery Class

The world of Machine Embroidery can be a little mysterious when just starting out. There are a lot of questions about where to get designs, what stabilizers to use for what, and how the heck to hoop your project easily and prevent the layers from shifting? Even if you’ve been in the machine embroidery world for awhile, you may be wondering how to tackle more advanced projects.

Well, you’re in luck! We have an upcoming in-person class just for you at the Janome Sewing & Learning Centre in Oakville, ON.

KimberBell is one of the leading Embroidery design companies and we partnered with them to bring you the Family Game Night kit, which includes a series of 4 in-the-hoop (ITH) projects with detailed instructions, so even someone new to machine embroidery will feel confident and capable to finish.

We are hosting 2 separate upcoming classes, Tuesday June 11th 10-4pm and Saturday June 15th 10-4pm where we will tackle the two biggest, multi-step projects; a zippered pouch and a tote bag which lights up! You will be making these on our amazing Janome Continental M17 and our Janome Memory Craft 550E LE embroidery machines.

Did you know you could install a zipper on an embroidery machine? You can, and it isn’t as scary as you think. Not only can you install the zipper, but you can make an entire zippered pouch right in the hoop!

This tote bag is seriously impressive! Not only will you get to personalize this design, you will learn how to install lights around it, just like a marquee of a theatre!

If time permits, we will tackle the other projects: a champion mug rug and a popcorn bag/ bowl liner, but with all the skills you will learn with the other projects, you will be able to complete these smaller projects on your embroidery machine at home with ease. I’ll tell you a little secret (you won’t tell, will you?) we are currently organizing some unstructured sewing times at our Janome Sewing & Learning Centre, which means for a small fee you will be able to come in to use our classroom and machines to sew your heart out, finishing your own projects. Let us know in the comment section below what days of the week and times would work for you for these open sewing opportunities.

What all do you get with this class? Excellent question, thank you for asking!

• Family Game Night Kit with all the project materials
• All the design files so you can make the projects again
• 6 full sized spools of thread to take home with you
• Full support from our Janome Canada Educators
• Some surprise extras which you will love (trust me!)
• A full day of sewing at the Janome Sewing & Learning Centre in Oakville, ON.

What do you need to bring? A water bottle and a bagged lunch, or you’re welcome to head out for lunch as there are many options close by.

Here are the links to sign up for the classes:

Tuesday June 11th, 2024 10-4pm and Saturday June 15th, 2024 10-4pm

Don’t delay on signing up as spaces are limited.

We hope to see you there!

Amanda

Beverage Holder & Cup Sleeves

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

In our ongoing efforts to be more environmentally-friendly, these beverage holders and cup sleeves, or cozies, are a cute, easy alternative to using and disposing of a cardboard sleeve.

They’ll also save your fingers from the heat, especially if you’re a tea drinker as many shops do not include a cardboard sleeve on cups of tea.

Quick and easy to make, they use up scraps and fabrics from your stash, and they make great gifts. I found the idea for this project while browsing on Pinterest and personalized it with some optional presser feet for my Janome sewing machine and Artistic Digitizer software.

Best of all, you can sew these projects with any Janome sewing machine model.

However, since we want to customize our projects using our beautiful, high-performance machines along with Artistic Digitizer software, I modified the project by embroidering a fabric appliqué on the shoulder strap of the beverage holder. On the sleeve, I downloaded a free font and, using the software that converts ‘true type’ lettering, I typed my name, Celine.

True type font with Artistic Digitizer software

Creativity knows no limits with the right tools!

There are many previous blogs here on Janome Life all about Artistic Digitizer software and of course, there’s a whole dedicated Janome Artistic Digitizer Facebook Group, with over 11thousand members, so you have many resources for learning at your fingertips!

Left sleeve: Bias Tape application/ Center sleeve: Piping application / Beverage holder: fabric Appliqué

Assembly instructions for the Cup Sleeve:

• Cut 1 embroidered fabric for the outer sleeve / 1 insulating fabric, or batting; there’s even heat resistant batting which is great to use for pot holders and hot pads / 1 contrasting fabric for the lining.

• Optionally: apply Piping between the two layers of fabric using the optional Janome Piping Foot (I) or Janome Narrow Piping Foot (I2) OR wrap Bias Tape around the two layers of fabric OR, neither. You can keep these plain or embellish as desired, they’re just sew fun to create!

• Optionally: stitch the seam flat with a multiple zigzag stitch OR close the seam right sides together to hand-fold the lining.

Assembly instructions for the Beverage Holder:

• Cut 1 embroidered fabric for the outer sleeve portion which wraps around the cup / 1 insulating fabric or batting / 1 coordinating fabric for the lining.

• Cut 1 coordinating fabric for the strap, OR use a ready made strap, ribbon or lanyard. Cut the strap as long as you’d like, but generally it’s designed to be put over your shoulder so you may carry the cup hands free.

• Stitch the strap onto the right side of the cup sleeve, then stitch the short ends of the cup sleeve right sides together. Repeat for the lining fabric.

• Stitch the lining and cup sleeve fabrics right sides together, leaving a small opening to turn right sides out.

• Turn right side out and topstitch along both edges, tucking in the raw edges of the lining and cup sleeve fabric which was previously left open.

For a helpful step-by-step video, click this LINK from the Janome Sewing Machines Facebook page where I do LIVE presentations every Tuesday at 3pm, Eastern.

For different styles of closure ideas for the cup sleeves/ cozies, check out this article from our friends at Sew4Home.Com.

All that’s left is to tuck this trio into your handbag or even better, give these projects to someone who will appreciate and make good use of them!

Click on this LINK to download the Janome Accessories Catalogue, where you’ll find all the optional presser feet, attachments and accessories for your machine. Contact your Janome Canada dealer for details and to order!