Janome 3160QDC-G: A Sewing Machine That's Music to Your Ears (and Easy on the Eyes)

Looking for a sewing machine that can handle everything from delicate silks to heavy-duty denim? The Janome 3160QDC-G Sewing and Quilting Machine might just be the answer to your crafting dreams. This versatile machine is designed with quilters in mind but is equally adept at handling everyday sewing tasks. With a range of features that make it both powerful and user-friendly, the Janome 3160QDC-G promises to make your sewing experience a breeze.

Overview: A Quilter’s Delight

The Janome 3160QDC-G is a portable, full-sized sewing machine that’s packed with features. It boasts 60 built-in stitches, including six one-step buttonholes, and Janome’s exclusive Superior Plus Feed System for smooth, even fabric feeding. Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or just starting out, this machine offers the functionality and ease of use to bring your creative visions to life.

Stitches: Your Creative Arsenal

The Janome 3160QDC-G offers a wide array of 60 built-in stitches, providing you with the versatility to tackle various sewing projects. From basic straight and zigzag stitches for construction to decorative stitches for embellishment, you’ll have the right stitch for every task.

• Utility Stitches: These are your workhorse stitches for everyday sewing, including straight stitches for seams and zigzag stitches for finishing edges or sewing on elastic.
• Decorative Stitches: Add a touch of flair to your projects with decorative stitches like scallops, honeycombs, and more. These stitches are perfect for embellishing clothing, home décor items, and quilts.
• Quilting Stitches: The Janome 3160QDC-G includes specialized quilting stitches designed to create beautiful textures and patterns on your quilts.

Having a diverse selection of stitches at your fingertips empowers you to express your creativity and achieve professional-looking results.

Superior Feed System Plus (SFS+): Smooth Sailing for Every Fabric

The Janome 3160QDC-G features the Superior Feed System Plus (SFS+), a unique 7-piece feed dog system that ensures smooth and even fabric feeding. This system moves the fabric in a box motion, maintaining constant contact between the feed dog and your fabric.

Why is this important? Consistent fabric feeding prevents puckering, bunching, and uneven stitching, especially when working with challenging fabrics like lightweight silks or stretchy knits. The SFS+ system ensures that your fabric glides effortlessly through the machine, resulting in precise and professional-looking stitches.

Adjustable Foot Pressure: Tailor-Made for Your Fabric

The ability to adjust the pressure of the presser foot is a valuable feature that allows you to customize the Janome 3160QDC-G to your specific fabric and project needs.

• Lightweight fabrics: Reducing the foot pressure prevents delicate fabrics from puckering or stretching during sewing.
• Heavyweight fabrics: Increasing the pressure ensures that thick fabrics are fed evenly and that the needle can penetrate multiple layers without difficulty.

This adjustable foot pressure feature gives you greater control and precision, ensuring optimal results with a wide range of fabrics.

One-Hand Needle Threader: Threading Made Easy

Threading a sewing machine needle can be a fiddly task, especially for those with less-than-perfect eyesight. The Janome 3160QDC-G simplifies this process with its built-in one-hand needle threader.

With a simple lever mechanism, the threader guides the thread through the eye of the needle in seconds, saving you time and frustration. This feature is particularly helpful for beginners or those who find threading a needle challenging.

Automatic Buttonhole: Perfectly Sized Buttonholes Every Time

Creating buttonholes can be one of the trickiest aspects of sewing. The Janome 3160QDC-G takes the guesswork out of this task with its automatic buttonhole feature.

Simply choose from the six available buttonhole styles, place your button in the buttonhole foot, and the machine will automatically sew a perfectly sized buttonhole. This feature ensures consistent and professional-looking buttonholes every time.

Memorized Needle Up/Down: A Convenient Time-Saver

The memorized needle up/down feature on the Janome 3160QDC-G adds a touch of convenience to your sewing experience. This feature allows you to set the needle to stop in either the up or down position when you stop sewing.

Having the needle stop in the down position is particularly useful when pivoting at corners or turning your fabric. It keeps your fabric in place and prevents stitches from becoming misaligned.

Lock Stitch Button: Securing Your Stitches with Ease

The lock stitch button is a handy feature that allows you to secure your stitches at the beginning and end of a seam with just the touch of a button. This prevents the stitches from unraveling and ensures a neat and durable finish.

Snap-On Presser Feet: Quick and Easy Changes

The Janome 3160QDC-G uses a snap-on system for attaching and removing presser feet. This makes it quick and easy to switch between different feet for various sewing tasks.

7-Piece Feed Dog: Superior Fabric Control

The 7-piece feed dog system provides excellent grip and control over the fabric, ensuring smooth and even feeding. This is particularly beneficial when working with thick fabrics or multiple layers.

Drop Feed: Free-Motion Quilting and More

The drop feed feature allows you to lower the feed dogs, giving you more control over the fabric movement. This is essential for free-motion quilting, embroidery, and other techniques where you need to move the fabric freely.

Built-in Thread Cutter: Snip and Go

The built-in thread cutter is a convenient feature that allows you to trim your threads quickly and easily without reaching for scissors. This saves time and keeps your workspace tidy.

Speed Control Slider: Set Your Pace

The speed control slider allows you to adjust the sewing speed to your comfort level and the demands of your project. This is especially helpful for beginners who may need to sew at a slower pace.

Easy Reverse Button: Backstitch with Ease

The easy reverse button allows you to sew in reverse to reinforce stitches at the beginning and end of seams. This helps prevent unraveling and ensures a durable finish.

Start/Stop Button: Sewing Without the Foot Pedal

The start/stop button gives you the option to sew without using the foot pedal. This can be helpful for tasks that require precise control or for those who prefer not to use a foot pedal.

Auto-Declutch Bobbin Winder: Effortless Bobbin Winding

The auto-declutch bobbin winder makes winding bobbins a breeze. It automatically stops winding when the bobbin is full, preventing overfilling and thread breakage.

Extra High Presser Foot Lift: Accommodating Thick Fabrics

The extra high presser foot lift provides ample space for maneuvering thick fabrics or multiple layers under the presser foot. This makes it easier to sew bulky projects like quilts or bags.

LCD Screen: Clear and Concise Information

The LCD screen displays the selected stitch, stitch length, and stitch width. This clear and concise information helps you keep track of your settings and ensures accurate sewing.

Free Arm: Sewing Cylindrical Items with Ease

The Janome 3160QDC-G features a free arm, which is essentially a removable section of the sewing bed that allows you to sew cylindrical items like sleeves, pant legs, and cuffs more easily.

To access the free arm, you simply remove the accessory storage compartment. This reveals a narrower sewing surface that’s perfect for maneuvering smaller, tubular items. This feature is essential for anyone who sews garments or other projects with cylindrical components.

Extension Table: Expanding Your Workspace

The Janome 3160QDC-G includes an extension table that provides extra support and workspace to the right of the needle. This is particularly helpful when sewing larger projects like quilts or curtains, where you need more space to manage the fabric.

The extension table provides stability and prevents the fabric from dragging or pulling, resulting in more accurate and comfortable sewing.

Horizontal Full Rotary Hook Bobbin System: Reliable and Jam-Free

The Janome 3160QDC-G utilizes a horizontal full rotary hook bobbin system. This type of bobbin system is known for its reliability and smooth operation.

The bobbin is loaded from the top, making it easy to insert and monitor the thread supply. The rotary hook design ensures consistent and even stitch formation, reducing the likelihood of jams or thread tangles.

Hard Cover: Protecting Your Investment

The Janome 3160QDC-G comes with a hard cover that protects the machine from dust, damage, and accidental bumps when not in use. This helps keep your machine clean and in good working condition, extending its lifespan.

Included Accessories: Ready to Sew

The Janome 3160QDC-G comes with a variety of accessories to get you started right away. These include:

• Zigzag Foot: For general-purpose sewing and zigzag stitches.
• Zipper Foot: For attaching zippers smoothly and accurately.
• Satin Stitch Foot: For creating beautiful satin stitches and decorative embroidery.
• Automatic Buttonhole Foot: For sewing perfectly sized buttonholes.
• Blind Hemming Foot: For creating invisible hems on skirts, pants, and curtains.
• Overedge Foot: For finishing raw edges to prevent fraying.
• Overcast Foot: For creating a durable overcast stitch on seams.
• Quilting Guide Bar: For creating evenly spaced parallel lines for quilting.
• Spool Holders: For holding your thread spools.
• Bobbins: Extra bobbins for different thread colors.
• Needle Set: A variety of needles for different fabrics and projects.
• Seam Ripper: For correcting mistakes and removing unwanted stitches.
• Lint Brush: For cleaning the machine and removing lint and dust.
• Screwdriver: For making adjustments and minor repairs.
• Instruction Book: A comprehensive guide to using the machine and its features.
• Foot Control: For controlling the sewing speed.
• Power Cord: For connecting the machine to a power source.

Bonus Quilting Kit: A Quilter’s Dream

In addition to the standard accessories, the Janome 3160QDC-G comes with a bonus quilting kit that includes:

• Open Toe Even Feed Foot with Guide: This foot helps feed the fabric evenly, preventing puckering and ensuring accurate seam allowances when quilting.
• Open Toe Satin Stitch Foot: This foot provides a clear view of the stitching area, making it ideal for decorative stitching and quilting.
• Open Toe Darning Foot: This foot is used for free-motion quilting, embroidery, and darning.
• 1/4” Seam Foot: This foot helps create precise 1/4” seam allowances, essential for piecing quilt blocks.
• Quilting Guide: This guide helps you sew parallel lines at consistent distances, making it easier to create quilted designs.

This bonus quilting kit makes the Janome 3160QDC-G an even more attractive option for quilters of all levels.

Conclusion: Hitting All the Right Notes

The Janome 3160QDC-G Sewing and Quilting Machine offers a compelling blend of features, performance, and user-friendliness. It’s a versatile machine that can handle a wide range of sewing and quilting projects, making it a great choice for both beginners and experienced sewists.

While some users have minor concerns about its durability, the overall positive feedback and the comprehensive feature set make the Janome 3160QDC-G a worthy contender in the world of sewing machines.