Welcome to the official Janome.com Blog Page!

  • 9/16/2021

    Cooler nights and diminishing sunlight are gentle reminders that we are transitioning into sweet Autumn. A season of change is also a great time to slow down and learn a new surface design technique, aimed at invigorating your current sewing practice.

     

    Welcome to hand block-printing on textiles! The blocks that I like to use are wooden blocks created by Indian Artisans. You can also create Lino blocks like the one pictured above, but you would have to carve them. Sometimes we have the most interesting printing objects around our house; look for objects that have interesting bases, random shapes that bring you joy, and are suited to hold on to ink without damaging the piece. The textile ink that I use is permanent once dried, but always water-based, never oil. Experiment with creating shapes on potatoes (cut in half), printing with broccoli or dry leaves found during walks or in your yard.

    By Janome Artisan Maday from Sustainable Textile Design

     

     

     

    The possibilities to create marks on textiles are infinite and the whole family can get involved. Print on fabric; sew your printed textiles into every day, machine sewn projects later. Use block-printing as the starting point for applique-ing with your Janome, monogramming, creating geometric shapes or simply, printing on garments to give them a new life.

     

    Helpful Hints:

    Practice printing on paper first; it will inform how much ink to use before printing on beautiful fabrics. You must apply more ink to blocks when printing on textiles.

    Cover tables to avoid damage and secure textiles using painter’s tape to create smooth printing surfaces. Allow fabrics to fully dry before ironing or sewing.

    I have included two brands of textile ink that I use; purchasing versatex which comes in smaller containers is more economical and allows you to explore without breaking the bank!

     

    Supplies:

    2 Solid cotton or linen fat quarters

    (yellow and light grey) - optional

    Contrasting Cotton thread

    Organ needle size 14

    Wooden blocks for printing

    Strong, dried leaves from garden or flower arrangements (optional)

    3” foam brayer with plastic handle

    Speedball hard brayer (optional)

    Versatex screen printing ink – 326 navy blue (small container)

    Ecotex Jet Black Water-based ink (giant container, optional)

    Painter’s tape

    Paper or plastic to cover printing surfaces

    Small brush (helps displace ink throughout block)

    Cardstock paper

    Paper plate to keep ink during the printing

    Gloves

    Apron

    Machine

    Janome M7 Continental HP foot and plate

    Foot F open toe and zig zag plate

     

     

     Prepare surfaces by covering the table with paper or plastic.

    Use painter’s tape to attach textiles to the table for a smooth printing surface; this makes it easier to lift blocks once the ink has been transferred to the cloth.

     

                 

    1. Load a small amount of Ink into a disposable dish or dish used solely for ink. Use a variety of leaves to print if blocks are not readily available.
    2. TIP: Practice printing on cardstock to learn about ink and pressure, for a smooth design print. Once you are satisfied, you are ready to practice on your fat quarters.

                 

     

     

        

     

     Using the foam brayer or brush, apply textile ink evenly on a wooden block.

     

    Press block firmly onto cloth to make the imprint. Twenty seconds is a good estimate. Lift straight up to minimize ink spread. Tip: Cut fat quarters into smaller sections to make it easier to print.

                

               

     

    Tip: Add fabric cutouts and raw edge applique using the hp foot, to the center of the shapes (see step 7 photos below). Apply more ink to blocks for greater design depth and less transparency. You will have to reapply ink every time you wish to print.

    Mix it up by using different block combinations, fabric prints, and/or textile ink colors.

     

       

     

     

    Use the reinforcement stitch under Utility, to create more texture while stitching rows or adding raw edge applique. 

    I cut the printed, yellow block in ½, flipped and sewed it back together for a different look.

        

     

    You can follow the same format to create whole quilts or panels for garment making. For my complete scarf tutorial please visit Janome at https://www.janome.com/siteassets/inspire/projects/garment/boro-inspired-scarf/boro-insired-scarf-from-maday-delgato.pdf

     

        

     

     

    I love the look of upcycled materials or patchwork, that offer surprising combinations and liven up Midwestern winters. Adding block printing to projects, using the ink color you most like, gives you the flexibility to customize everything in our homes and even what we wear. It can also help us create a bridge where younger generations embrace machine sewing that includes playful techniques while honoring traditions.

    Below I share a few projects that include block-printed segments.

     

    I block printed on this store-purchased shirt with Ecotex Jet Black Water-based ink.

     

     

    The tote below was machine pieced using my Janome M7 Continental. The pattern is the Fika Tote by Noodlehead. I loved including the block printed panel (below), as part of the tote’s exterior pockets.

     

        

     

     

     

    I hope you make this technique your own and always have fun sewing.

     

    Happy Autumn!

     

    Maday

    www.sustainabletextiledesign.com

     

       

  • 9/7/2021

    We are delighted to have Janome Canada's National Consumer Education Manager Michael Smith on the blog! Michael is an expert with all things Janome and loves to share his knowledge in Janome machines and attachments in a fun way! 

    If you have questions about which Janome sewing machine will meet all of your needs (and then some), Michael's review will probably answer many of your questions. You can also visit your local Janome Dealer to see firsthand what this machine can offer you! 

     

    As you know, Janome is all about giving you choices; there’s pretty much a machine for everyone! One reason you may choose to upgrade to a more advanced, computerized machine, like the Janome Continental M7 Professional is to gain some convenient, time-saving features and extra presser feet which speed up production while improving the accuracy of your results.

    Janome Continental M7 Professional

    My partner, Joe, recently shared with me his top 5 favourite features of the Janome Continental M7 Professional, which he used to sew a very special quilt for me as a surprise birthday present. Joe has tackled a few sewing projects before, so isn’t quite a beginner, but this is the first time he sewed an entire project all on his own, without me guiding or helping him. The Janome Continental M7 Professional was all the help he needed!

    Seeing Double Stars – a free pattern from American Patchwork and Quilting. Yes, I’m a BIG Star Wars fan!

     

     

     

    1/4″ Presser Foot with Guide: Janome has many presser feet which help achieve the perfect 1/4 inch seam, which is the hallmark seam allowance used in quilting. See some of the options of Janome 1/4″ presser feet on the Janome HQ You Tube channel. The Janome 1/4 inch presser foot with a guide; the “O” foot comes with the machine and was Joe’s preferred choice to piece the quilt blocks together as he liked having the guide to help improve the accuracy of his seam. He especially loved using it for the many half-square triangles which make up the star points, as he felt that helped him achieve sharp points when he sewed the blocks together.

    Janome 1/4 inch Presser Foot with Guide comes with or is available for most Janome sewing machines.
    Sharp points of Half-Square Triangles are easy to achieve with the 1/4″ presser foot.

    LCD Touch Screen Controls: Along with those 1/4 inch presser feet, there are many ways to achieve an accurate 1/4 inch seam, and a computerized machine like the Janome Continental M7 Professional gives you those choices with just the touch of the screen! Given Joe sewed this quilt on the sly, without my knowledge, he didn’t want to do anything to mess up my machine, so the icons on the large LCD screen did all the machine adjustments for him without any guesswork. It’s great to have a machine do some thinking for us, which minimizes mistakes.

    Adjust stitch width to 91 needle positions; adjust stitch length; select the Auto-Pivot icon to automatically keep the needle in the fabric while lifting the presser foot, for example.

    A large 7 inch LCD touch screen makes adjusting the machine a breeze!

    Or, select the T-shirt icon for the Sewing Applications Menu, which offers a variety of automatic machine adjustments for various sewing functions, like sewing on a button or installing a zipper, and quilting functions, like Ruler Quilting, Free Motion Quilting, and Patchwork. There are sew many adjustments available at your fingertips!

    Janome Sewing Applications Menu built-in to the Continental M7 Professional saves time, and saves possible mistakes by automatically adjusting the machine
    with just the touch of the screen!

    Workspace: No matter what you’re sewing, you need an ample work area to conveniently and efficiently construct your project. The Janome Continental M7 Professional features an impressive 13.5 inches to the right of the needle by 5.5 inches high. Lots of room for a quilt of any size! Joe also appreciated having the large extension table, which comes included with the machine, so he had lots of room to support the quilt as it grew.

    Love, love, love that convenient accessories drawer!

    Convenient Push-Button Controls: Since Joe made this quilt while I was out of the house, time was very precious to him, so he made use of the many convenient, time-saving features of the Janome Continental M7 Professional; features which are also built-in to many electronic Janome sewing machines which any sewist will love! Reverse, Lock-Stitch, Needle Up/Down, Scissors, Auto-Presser Foot Lift, and the Speed Control lever are built-in functions conveniently arranged above the needle area, so they’re within easy reach, and help speed up production.

     

     

     

    Bright Lighting: Another important feature on any machine is bright lighting so we can see exactly what we’re doing. After all, you can’t achieve accurate results if you can’t see where you’re stitching! Joe loves the abundance of bright LED which washes down all over the bed of the Janome Continental M7 Professional; in the throat space and in two places around the needle. You can even adjust the brightness to suit you, so there’s less strain on your eyes. Joe was often sewing later at night, so having an ample supply of crisp LED lighting helped keep his stitching in order and helped reduce strain and fatigue on his body.

    The Instruction Manual shows how to adjust the lighting in the Settings Menu so you get it where and when you need it.
     With no lights on in the room, there’s plenty of bright LED lighting available from the Janome Continental M7 Professional.

    There are definitely more fabulous features of the Janome Continental M7 Professional which Joe has yet to discover, but he’s off to a great start now that’s he’s truly more comfortable with the machine. The overall ease of use; intuitive, feature-rich controls of the machine make it easy to see why!

    I can’t wait to receive my next quilt! (hint, hint, Joe, lol!)

    May the Force be with you in all your sewing endeavors! lol!

    Happy Sewing!

     

    You can test drive a Janome Continental M7 by visiting your Local Janome Dealer, find your Local Dealer HERE

     

  • 8/19/2021

    Welcome back to the Rainbow Quilt Block of the Month designed by Janome Maker Carolina Oneto! You are over halfway done with your beautiful quit! Give yourself a pat on the back and get ready to start your next block!

     

    This month you will learn how to make block seven, the Rolling Stone quilt block.

     

     

    From Carolina:

     

    I sew all the blocks on my Janome 1600P-QC, which I really love, one of the great things about this machine is that the bobbin winder is independent of other mechanisms and the speed control is variable depending on the user’s need. These are only a couple of the features that make sewing and quilting fuss-free.

     

    Please read through all instructions prior to piecing. Remember that all the blocks will have a finished size of 12” so that means the unfinished size will be 12 1/2”. All seam allowances are 1/4"

     

    Fabrics:

     

    White background

     

    • Five 4 1/2” squares
    • One strip 2 1/2” x 18”

     

    Light Blue:

     

    ·Sixteen 2 1/2” squares

     

    Blue:

    One strip 2 1/2” x 18”

     

     

    INSTRUCTION FOR SQUARE IN A SQUARE UNITS

     

    Mark the wrong side of the LIGHT BLUE 2 1/2″ squares in half once diagonally. Lay marked square right sides together with a white 4 1/2″ square and sew on the marked line. Repeat on the diagonally opposite corner. Repeat on the other corners. Make 4. Unit measures 4 1/2″ unfinished.

     

     

    INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE RECTANGLE UNITS

     

    • Sew the two long strips of fabric, right sides together. Next, cut your sewn strip of fabrics into four equal parts. 4.5”. Press to the dark side.



    FINAL ASSEMBLY:

    • Arrange your blocks in the correct layout
    • Using a quarter-inch seam allowance, sew together in rows. Join all rows, using a quarter-inch seam allowance.
    • Press your completed block and trim down to 12.5″ square (if necessary).

     

     

    And that’s all!

    I hope you enjoy this new block! And don’t forget to share it!

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Block One     HERE

    Block Two     HERE

    Block Three  HERE

    Block Four    HERE

    Block Five     HERE

    Block Six      HERE   

     

    After you make your block, we’d love to see them!

    Janome Sewing Classroom

    Janome America Instagram – Be sure to tag @janomeamerica and use the hashtag #janomemakes and also tag @carolinaoneto!

     

     

     

  • 8/16/2021

    Janome is excited to partner with the newest and most innovative show in designer reality competitions THE HYPE! 

     

    "The worlds of streetwear, business, and culture collide! THE HYPE features ten streetwear professionals who will compete in challenges to prove they can talk the talk and deliver the product. Every episode will offer unique tips and takeaways about the intricacies of designing, the business of fashion, and the savvy it takes to identify the latest trends. See which contestant can elevate their designs and entrepreneurial sense to avoid elimination — while still remaining authentic to their own style."

    Follow along as these talented designers create their one-of-a-kind looks on the Janome HD 3000 sewing machine, Air Thread 2000D, Memory Craft 550E, and Janome Artistic Digitizer software.

     

     

    THE HYPE studio was set up for success with the following Janome machines and instruction from our Janome Education Team:

     

    The HD-3000 is a heavy-duty machine, perfect for a beginner or sewist looking to do a wide range of sewing. A handy instructional guide is located in the top tray door of the machine, which indicates the feet and stitch settings for a variety of sewing tasks. Heavy-duty aluminum body and 18 stitches, including a one-step buttonhole, give you the tools you need to handle any kind of sewing project. Stitch length and width adjustment are conveniently located on the front of the machine, and a hardcover comes standard for easy storage.

    Serging Simplified. Every project is easier with the right tools for the job, and the AirThread 2000D provides all the tools you need to deliver professional quality finishing. With Janome's One-Push Air Threading System the tedious threading of upper and lower loopers is a thing of the past. The 8-Piece Feed Dog System will easily grab and feed your fabric, from slinky knits to denim, the AT2000D will meet the challenges of your sewing projects. 

    The Built-in One-step Converter makes changing from 3-thread to 2-thread applications easier than ever. And with a built-in needle threader, manually threading your serger needles becomes easier than ever. One unit provides threading of both the right and left position needles. 

     

     

     

     

    Janome's largest stand-alone embroidery machine, the Janome Memory Craft 550E is a perfect companion to your sewing machine. Personalizing your projects has never been easier or faster now that you can use the new RE36b hoop that provides an embroidery field of 7.9" x 14.2" with magnetic clips. Your built-in embroidery library contains 180 embroidery designs, that include classic designs, floral alphabets, in-the-hoop monsters, and Sashiko designs. Add in 6 fonts, and the possibilities are endless. The MC550E comes with an extra-wide extension table, four embroidery hoops, the already mentioned RE36b hoop, SQ20b 7.9" x 7.9", RE20b 5.5" x 7.9" and SQ14b 5.5" x 5.5". 

    Designs are easily imported through a USB and edited through the machine's advanced on-screen editing functions. Navigation through all of these features has become easier with the MC550E’s LCD color touchscreen.

            

     Meet the designers, the cosigners, and find out what THE HYPE is all about! 

      

    Watch the hottest competition this Summer, stream

    THE HYPE on HBO Max!

     

  • 8/13/2021

     

     

    Have you been sewing along with Natalie Santini for the Candy Crush Quilt Along?

    Natalie has been hosting Facebook Live events on the Janome Sewing Machines Page on Fridays at 3 pm ET to go over the current week's tasks and also provides tips and tricks for better results! 

     

    We are into Week 2 of the #candycrushQAL and Natalie is super excited!

    If you've already signed up, you'll be receiving your email Saturday morning with Zoom log-in info (if you want to join the Meet & Mingle happy hour). I'm hosting meetings weekly, it's a low-pressure atmosphere to answer questions or share motivation and progress. 

    This is an easy quilt to make. We basically are sewing squares or strips of squares together. You can DEFINITELY do this!

    To be eligible for the GRAND PRIZE of a Janome Sewist 721 sewing machine, post a photo of your finished quilt top (does not need to be quilted and bound) by September 4, 2021. 

    A random winner will be chosen from those who have finished the quilt top and share the finished quilt, it doesn't have to be quilted and bound. There will also be other fabulous giveaways for participating during the event! How cool is that news?

    (Entries for the machine are limited to U.S. residents only, 18 years of age or older, due to laws and restrictions)

     

    You can sign up at any time, the quilt along will be open through August.

    On September 5th, after the QAL is finished, we will be awarding the grand PRIZE of a Janome Sewist 721 sewing machine to one lucky winner!

     

     

    Whether you are just beginning your sewing journey or are an experienced sewing enthusiast, the Janome 721 mechanical sewing machine has features to enhance your sewing experience. The 19 built-in stitches offer everyday stitches including stretch stitches and a 4-step buttonhole. Features include Adjustable Foot Pressure, Built-in Needle Threader, Extra High Foot Lifter for thicker fabrics, Drop Feed plus a Hard Machine Cover for safe storage. Plus it is lightweight for easy transport to classes.

     

     

    I pieced my entire quilt on the Janome Skyline S7, then quilted straight lines diagonally over the whole quilt. It was so fun!

     

    Here's an introduction video if you'd like to see more!

    It feels like I harp about using quality machines and tools all the time, but there is something to be said about really understanding this. When I started sewing a long time ago I didn't have a quality machine, and EVERYTHING was so difficult to complete because of jams and problems. After my patience was worn out I called a local sewing shop and went to get the machine I truly needed. I've never looked back, and have had zero regrets for investing in ME.

    That's how it should be viewed- it's not just "buying a machine" -- it's investing in YOURSELF.

    We hope to see you on the quilt-along! Be sure to tag@sewhungryhippie and @janomeamerica in your posts and use the hashtags #candycrushQAL! If you are sewing along on a Janome please also use the #janomemakes hashtag!

    Sign up here.

     

    -Natalie AKA Sewhungryhippie

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