Janome Sewist 500

The Janome Sewist 500 comes with the following 25 built-in stitches:

Straight
Straight (needle to the left)
Zigzag
Multi-stitch Zigzag (also known as Tricot)
Elastic Blind Hem
Blind Hem
Shell Tuck
Rampart
Crescent
Arrowhead
Diamond
Three-step Zigzag

Straight Stretch
Straight Stretch (needle left)
Double Ric Rac
Honeycomb
Overedge
Overcasting
Slant Overedge
Double Overedge
Peak Point
Pulse
Strong Stretch
X Stretch
1-step Bartack Buttonhole

Choosing a new sewing machine involves making a number of decisions and one of the most important is determining which machine has the stitches you'll use the most.

Built-in stitches are the patterns that are pre-programmed into the sewing machine. The machine will sew those stitches with no assistance or manual intervention. You cannot add more built-in stitches unless you buy a machine with a card reader or one that has a USB port that allows you to download additional stitch patterns. The Janome Sewist 500 does not have such a feature.

However, stitch width can be adjusted up to 5mm and stitch length can be adjusted up to 4mm. Changing a stitch pattern's width and length give you more options for stitches that look different but are really just exaggerations of the built-in pattern. Being able to change length and width also provides more flexibility for working with different kinds of fabric.

This particular sewing machine has a great selection of stretch and overedge stitches, most often used for strong seams, finishing off the edges of fabrics that might tend to ravel, and for garment construction. Besides being great for making clothes, these strong stretches are perfect for many home accessory projects using a variety of fabric types and thicknesses.

Janome is known for precise, even stitches and the Sewist 500 produces beautiful work.

Besides finding a set of stitches required for the types of sewing you want to do, getting a machine with the right features is also important. The Janome Sewist 500 comes with a number of features to make set up and sewing as easy as possible.

Some of these features are really convenient, but not necessary for a great sewing experience, like the needle threader. However, a Janome at this low price that also comes with these features is certainly a bargain.

• Automatic Needle Threader


• Top Loading, Drop-in Bobbin


• Adjustable Pressure Foot Pressure


• See-through Bobbin Cover


• Drop Feed Dog Lever


• Reverse Lever


• Free-arm Sewing (removable flatbed)


• Adjustable Thread Tension


• Horizontal Spool Pin


• Accessory Storage

Presser feet partner up with the feed dogs to manipulate the fabric under the needle. A general presser foot looks like the end of a small fork and has space in between the prongs for the needle.

Other presser feet can be used to create certain kinds of stitches or for working with different kinds of fabric. The Janome Sewist 500 comes with six presser feet. These are snap-on style presser feet that are easy to change. The Sewist 500 also uses low-shank presser feet which means a number of generic presser feet can be purchased separately.

The included presser feet are: General Purpose, Zipper, Overedge, Buttonhole, Button Attaching, and the Blind Hem presser foot.

Several sellers have been listing the Sewist for a great price, well under $300, and including a hard cover case with the purchase (along with free shipping!).

You can check the current price here: Janome Sewist 500 Price