The bad news is, my Janome Agneau d’Or Y101 is now officially dead. We took it to a Janome dealer last week, a little shop in a nice small street. A nice woman greeted us and she gasped when we showed her a piece of fabric with loopy stitches on it. She then tried to move the wheel but it was stuck. It wasn’t stuck before!
We told her about my sewing ‘habit’, she seemed impressed and asked permission to take some pictures of things that I made and worn that day, my dress and pencil pouch, Sidra’s jacket and bag, and my husband’s bag. She told us that she worked in the research department.
But apparently my poor machine couldn’t handle the load of works I had been forcing it to do. It is a sewing machine targeted for beginners, and actually it’s a very decent machine which can sew almost anything. I’ve used it to sew more than forty bags and almost the whole wardrobe of the family and it performed perfectly for almost two years. But since it was not meant to do such hard work, the sewing machine aged quickly and finally met its fate after finishing the last stitch of Sidra’s pants. See? It even finished the last job before it collapsed. What a decent machine.
The Janome woman said that we can trade the broken machine for a discount for a newer one. She then proceeded to present a sewing machine in front of me, supposedly better suited for my needs. The machine was beautiful. I tried it and it felt different, it felt better. It doesn’t move around when I was using it. Its feet grabbed the fabric smoothly but strongly. It was love at first sight that I didn’t even bother to try the other sewing machine that the woman showed me.
My husband looked at me and asked, “Well?” I showed him my best puppy eyes. He turned to the Janome woman and said, “Yes, we’ll take it.” ♥♥♥
Here is my new sewing machine: Janome Equle CP4850! Click this link to go to the Janome page and see what it can do! It’s in Japanese and of course I can’t read it but it sure looks cool!
The machine arrived the next day (no delivery fee!) and I’ve eagerly tried it to make these tissue cases. They are pretty easy, but since some have asked, I’ve prepared a simple tutorial for making them. Will upload it later today!
16 Comments
Hello!
I just found your blog TODAY!
So I just bought the same purple machine you had YESTERDAY!
And I am an American living in Japan.
I’m now beginning to learn to sew with a friend here teaching me.
I am looking forward to reading your blog!
Thanks and I hope my machine will work well for what I need.
Jess
Check out our blog:
http://web.me.com/greensagemama/Adventures_in_Japan/Blog/Blog.html
Hello,
I also live in Japan and was thinking of buying a Janome sewing machine. My question will sound dumb but they couldn’t answer me at the shop: is the instruction booklet also in English? I am scared not to be able to use it if I can’t read the instruction…
Thanks,
Julie
Unfortunately the instruction booklet is in Japanese. I don’t read Japanese either, so I only look at the pictures and drawings in the booklet and try to understand it. Most sewing machine are basically the same. Sometimes I look up on the internet (Google search) if there’s something that I need to know.
Thanks for the quick reply!
Very nice website by the way!
I know, it is already not gonna be actual, but let me say: “Congratulations!” :D
Your new machine looks amazing! And your story-telling makes it even more gorgeous! :-o
Thanks to your post I’ve started to look for similar Janome with hidden compartment for thread on the top, but it seems a bit complicated to find this particular type on not-in-Japanese pages.
May I ask you for some other link with info about your machine? It could really help me. :oops:
Thank you very much.
Have a nice day and wish you many new great creations! :)
Losing a machine is like losing a friend isn’t it? Arlene
Losing a machine is kind of like losing a friend isn’t it? Arlene
Wow, this is totally inspiring me to get a new machine! I have a singer on the way out, but its funny how sentimental I am over the old one (ahh, but she has seen me through so many projects…). Anyway. Your new machine looks lovely..Enjoy :)
I love how nice and neat the compartments look. Rest in peace, old Janome, and welcome new Janome! I can’t wait to see all the new projects you’ll make with this new machine!
What a great looking machine! Can’t wait to see the things your gonna create with that beauty! Love your site and your work :)
Congratulations on the new machine. It looks like a good, sturdy helper to power through all the projects you will be making.
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Dear, I am so happy for you! You got a new sewing machine, yay! I am expecting more pictures of your beautiful creations! <3
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it was sad to let the old one go, but hey! a big yay for the new machine!!
happy back to sewing :) and I can’t wait to see new creations with the new machine!
Congratulations! I have a Janome, too, and that thing is a workhorse! I use mine all the time and I do lots of quilting, which I guess can be kind of hard on a machine.
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ah, what a great story! you had such a great relationship with your old machine. i wish you many happy successful projects with your new one!
Woohoo, a brand new machine! You are going to get even busier with this new toy of yours :D I have a Janome, too (Memory Craft), hope you will love the way this machine works. Enjoy.