2010-08-10
By cls
First, let me say I haven't sewed in about 25 years. I decided I wanted to get back into sewing, but not on my 35+ year old machine. I had a couple of "must-haves" on my requirement list: 1) Automatic needle threader 2) a machine with a manual tension adjustment 3) a machine that isn't always jamming.
I also thought I'd like an electronic model with a few utility stitches, and maybe a push button start/stop instead of having to use a pedal. I knew I didn't want a Singer or a Brother machine. Well, I got everything I wanted - and thought I wanted - in this Janome AQS2009 model at an excellent price. I absolutely love this machine. It's so quite to run, has a bright light, fills the bobbin evenly, has a sewing speed control, and a needle up/down setting, free arm, it's small and lightweight, and the automatic needle threader is the best thing since sliced bread. Oh, and it has a 25 year warranty.
The stitches are a very nice quality on this machine, regardless of the thickness of material you're sewing. I've already sewed 6 layers of material (fabric and bias tape) together with this machine, and the stitches were perfect. The fact that this machine is a 3/4 size model was a plus. I intend to take some quilting classes, and at 12 lbs. this machine will be easy to tote back and forth.
You might have trouble finding accessories for the AQS2009, but since this machine is a duplicate of the retired Janome Jem Platinum 720, finding additional feet, etc. is a breeze. Oh, one last thing... I thought I didn't receive the buttonhole foot, but I found it inside the extension table (the part you remove to expose the free arm) so make sure you look for it there.
