I have an MC10000 and MBX software. I am considering purchasing the 12000 but not sure whether it is worth the price. My MC10000 is about 10 years old but working well. Any information from 12000 owners would be appreciated to help me make up my mind. I am not a very experienced sewer but love to play and as I have just retired I will have more time now.

As one who just traded my MC10000 v3 in on a 12000, I can give you my opinion.

Regrets. The manual is really poor, extremely hard to read because of the print quality and not helpful, forget finding anything useful by the index. However, the forum members have filled the gap.
The screen is black which makes it difficult to see and read. The lower part of the screen has a big circle on it to use instead of/as well as the backwards and forwards arrows. This makes the useful part of the screen crowded and the icons are small, blurry and hard to see.
A not very usefull piece of software is included, Horizon Link. Won't go into detail.
I miss the 5 x 7 hoop.
The needle threader is poor.

Good stuff. Four hoops included from free arm to very large some have magnetic clips which work very well. The decorative stitches go up to 9mm. and some are very beautiful. The embroidery stitching is top quality as are the regular stitches. A large extension came with and I leave this on permanently. It supports the hoops for embroidery and the fabric when doing regular sewing. The built-in lighting is v. good and there is an extra pull out light with illuminates the stitching area. There is also a magnifying glass which attaches for use on the stitching area. I don't use it but I can see how it might be useful for certain tasks (ditch stitching) or if your eyesight is less than wonderful. Thread cutter is a nice feature.

I do not digitize at all. I purchase my designs. I had a really old copy of Embird which I used to view designs and print templates. I can do this with Horizon Link and no longer use Embird. I can re-size up/down up to 20%. I make garments and household stuff. I do not quilt.

This is a very brief overview. I hated this machine for the first 2 months primarily because of frustration caused by the really bad manual. I am now starting to like it despite its shortcomings. If the forum members had not been so helpful, I would still hate it.

Jacquie

Jacquie

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Ladysmith BC,Janome 12000, Bernina Record, Bernina 1150MDA serger, bit of a Luddite, garments not crafts

Jacquie when you get the update you will feel differently. Remember the update allows you to change the color of the screen among other good added corrections. I am not sure why you do not like the needle threader. I hated the one on my 11,000. The 12,000 is an excellent machine and definitely a step up from the 11,000SE.

MOM

Would you recommend purchasing the 12000 and is it that much better than the MC10000. I have opportunity to purchase one at a really good price but am relatively new to sewing as have just retired and taken it up as a hobby. Must admit I love it and am learning to digitize with MBX software. Don't know if I can justify the expense for the 12000, what is your opinion?

Mom, I did not have the 11000. The one on the 10K was OK. I am still waiting for the latest update. The dealer here in Victoria does not have it yet and it is not posted on the website. I am sure that you are correct and that once I can change the screen colour, it will make a big difference.

I still stand by my comments on the manual. With the 10K, I got 3 top quality and informative manuals and when I upgraded to the V3, I received another top notch manual. Later, Janome mailed a workbook to me. I think this were photocopied pages of the dealers training manual. With the 12K, I got one measly, flimsy book and this is a much more complex machine than the 10K. This has been the cause of much of my frustration and anger.

I would have much rather had a good manuals than the useless wheeled trolley. This is an expensive machine and I really expected better from Janome.

Jacquie

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Ladysmith BC,Janome 12000, Bernina Record, Bernina 1150MDA serger, bit of a Luddite, garments not crafts

Jacquie, can't you download the update from the Global webstie?

MOM

All I can find is the 1.01 which I have already put on my machine. Am I looking at the wrong site? If this is the wrong site why is the first update on there?

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Ladysmith BC,Janome 12000, Bernina Record, Bernina 1150MDA serger, bit of a Luddite, garments not crafts

I upgraded to the 12000 from a 30 year old workhorse, Elna Carina. I had never embroidered or quilted, but sewed everything, including 13 wedding gowns. My old machine was fine. I resisted taking it in for servicing because I didn't want to be tempted to purchase a new machine. I needed to take it in...and, well, you guessed it. I am now the proud owner of a 12000 and my workhorse is at my daughter's, to be used when I visit. There is a huge learning curve, but my dealer offers free classes plus other classes, and I'm taking full advantage. Since everything is an upgrade for me, I have no complaints about anything other than the owner's manual, which isn't very good. An index would help. It's impossible to find what I need w/out thumbing through the whole book. I also would like it if it had thread numbers for other brands of embroidery thread. I'm having trouble converting the numbers. I've tried the white background, but I prefer the black (maybe because that's what I had in the beginning and simply got used to it.) I absolutely love the thread cutter and the needle threader. I wish the 5/8" seam guide was better. It is poor. The embroidery has been easy enough once I figured out how to use my Mac w/ it. I've quilted only a very small item,and I need a lot of practice, but I'm sure it will come. I absolutely love my new machine, and I'm so happy I decided to bite the bullet and buy it. I've rediscovered my sewing self.

I love the 12,000. I too have an Elna Carina, beautiful machine for its time.

I bought this machine before retirement. My early retirement gift to myself.

I love the accufeed flex feet. I use them a lot. The lighting is awesome, beats anything I ever saw. I happen to like the needle threader and the thread cutter. I have used the built in designs and they are lovely.

I pieced part of a quilt at a local quilt shop, came home and put the fabric under the foot and I was able to adjust the needle position to the exact spot of stitching from the other machine and continued piecing at home.

The larger hoops are absolutely awesome.

Most user manuals I have found are lacking. I wish Janome would jump ahead of the rest of the companies and make a stellar manual.

If you decide on this machine, make sure you get all the updates before you purchase. I negotated the price of the MBX software into the purchase price and traded in my Janome 350 for this machine. If your dealer will not do that, maybe she would throw in the Digitizer Jr with it, just make sure it is the latest versioin that has the 12,000 hoops.

On a side note, Embird now has the new hoops for the 12,000 as of today.

Good Luck in your decision.

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Sewingbunny

Janome 12,000 and Janome MBX

Jacquie: check your E-mail or your private message box.

MOM

Thanks MOM. I shall get busy on that. I am looking forward to playing with the machine. Sewing Bunny, Thanks for the info. about Embird having the info. on the hoops for the 12000. I think I might buy the basic suite as it easier for me to use than the HL

Interesting comment about the manuals from other companies also being unsatisfactory. I guess I was spoiled with the 10001. I don't understand why the quality has diminished so much especially considering the complexity and cost of these machines.

Happy sewing, ladies!

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Ladysmith BC,Janome 12000, Bernina Record, Bernina 1150MDA serger, bit of a Luddite, garments not crafts

Jacquie,

Let us know how the Embird works out for you. Also, I agree about the dial on the machine, they should get rid of it. Just my opinion of course.

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Sewingbunny

Janome 12,000 and Janome MBX

Yes, that dial is a pain in the you know where. I want a number pad that I can get there NOW. It seems that Janome has decided that we don't need to be so fast at getting our stitches. The Horizon 7700 is even worse to get where you want to go. We have a decorative stitch want to go to regular straight stitch and it is a real hassle to get there. At least the 12000 has a one push to get to Utility Stitches or any other and you can move from there by the screen pictures, but my wonderful 7700 doesn't have that and I really miss it.

MOM and Jacquie, the old thread cutter was the same on the 10000 and 11000 and I miss it terribly as it was so "automatic" and mine worked most of the time. I don't have the same success with the manual one on either of my Horizons.

Oh, to the lady that is asking about the 12000 - it is worth EVERY penny I paid for it - I wouldn't go back without a huge fight. The machine is quiet, fast, has a large sewing area - still a nice embroidery unit that is compact, the plexi-glass extended table, Horizon Link for computer stuff and transfer of designs - both embroidery and utility sewing and did I say QUIET. The manual may stink, but I've never had one that really explained it all. There is tremendous information on this website and many U-tube videos. There is also a 12000 Yahoo Group that is owned by Jim Stutsman and he is an awesome person and provides lots of good support. He is also writing a manual for the machine that he will offer for purchase - probably at a very reasonable price. His wife tests lots of stuff and he posts the information on his forum group.

If you do purchase the machine - do read the manual, as it does tell you lots, but I agree that the index is the pits and that makes finding what you know is there very difficult.

Cheryl

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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada
HMC12000, Horizon 7700QCP, 4120 QDC, Jem Platinum 760, CoverPro 1000, HuskyLock 936, Xpression Felting Machine, DigitizerMBX v.4.0

Cheryl:

I think that Jacquie is referring to the 12,000. there is no dial on the 12,000 only the 7700. We have the little application squares. I know what you mean about the #'s. the 11,000 did have a better directory, but our 12,000 is the best.

MOM

Hi All,
Thank you all so much for all the info about the MC12000. I think the price being asked of £3,900 (UK pounds) is a good one and I am not sure that I will get one at this price again. I would not mind paying the price if I can make some money back on it but as I am quite new to sewing I would not like to try to sell anything I make at the moment, perhaps later on when I improve a bit. I only make bits for my family and friends and the machine would just be my hobby........my other half has golf as his hobby so I think it is only fair that I have the machine.

Cheryl could you let me have the web address for Jim Stutson. I already belong to the Yahoo group and have got a view from Digimad..........What a great and knowledgable lady by the way she works so for hard for all the Yahoo group members.

Cheers all, Sue

Sue, Jim's address for the group, link to Jim's group He's a very experienced ex Janome dealer , whose wife is a very experienced user, together they make a fantastic team. He's a retired programmer who has now returned to programming and has written a program explaining what each foot for and how you can use it. I havent seen it but those who have love it.
mags

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digimad

Thanks for site address, I have looked at this site which is brilliant for 12000 owners/prospective owners, very helpful.

CherylAn-on the 7700, try pressing the "mode" key and then use the left and right arrows to cycle by 5 slots to get where you want and when there are 5 stitches in the window, touch one, it doesn't have to be in that little square. I never, EVER use the dial!!
As for the needle threader, if it failed to pick the thread you had to sit and wait while it reset itself-on the 12000, you just bring it back down a bit and I'm saving several seconds every time (dumb as it sounds that pleases me a lot)
The new upgrade is on the Janome Global site that all countries can access through the net AND you can change the scree to white (and that's when I realized that I liked the black screen!)

I like the black screen as well.

As far as the needle threader I agree with jsm the needle threader on the 12,000 and the 7700 cooperates with me much better than my 11,000 ever did. No matter how hard I tried the 11,000 never would work. I guess we all have our favorites.


MOM

Different strokes etc. I really like the white screen. I actually managed to carry out the update, with help, and am delighted that I have a white screen. I find it so much easier to read. And I don't like the needle threader.

Jacquie

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Ladysmith BC,Janome 12000, Bernina Record, Bernina 1150MDA serger, bit of a Luddite, garments not crafts