Hey hey! I updated the description to include other models of semi-industrial machines. You can shop around! I will say that the Janome HD9, Elna EF1, and Bernette b08 are *the exact same machine* just each has its own branding. That was one heck of a wild discovery. I don't own the others, so I can't really say if corners were cut in manufacturing, so do your own research!
Don't forget the Janome 1600P, which is also the HD9, with the only difference being that one of them is dealer-only and the other one is allowed to be sold online (and I never remember which is which). The fun doesn't stop there either, the Brother Nouvelle 1500 is the same as the Baby Lock BLQC, which is the same as the Brother PQ1500, all of which boast a max speed of 1500 stitches per minute. But then Brother just came out with the PQ1600 and you can guess how fast it goes! That's right, it still goes 1500 stitches per minute.
Love my hd9. I’ve had her for two years and no regrets. I have an extension table which gives me plenty of room like an industrial. The reasons you listed about getting this instead of an industrial are exactly why I got my hd9. I can take it to be serviced and I can pack her up if needed. The all metal body and mechanisms are hard to come by in a domestic type machine. Also!!! The foot pedal is amazing. Not some tiny little thing that slides around. Won’t lie, that was my deciding factor 🤣🤣🤣 It’s truly a gem!
Drooling - I’m a newbie to sewing machine sewing but want to do advanced projects. Coming from hand stitching leather …. I would love to get a machine like this but it’s waaaaaaay out of my price range since a) just starting out and b) it’s only a hobby currently - so I keep trying to learn and push my little singer hd to its max and probably beyond lol. Great video as usual!
This was a big selling point for me. I can't do delicate fabrics on the Juki DU-1181N (insert head bobbing for the numbers here). Anything lighter than canvas gets chewed up. I use my Janome HD9 for doll clothing, costumes, garments, quilts (ok sometimes), AND bags now.
I don't have this machine (YET) -- I'm still using a Janome HD3000. But another advantage over the Juki is that you can prop it up on books and have a free-arm to topstitch around a relatively small bag. Anyway, thanks for the video. Now I REALLY want one!
Great video! I love my HD9! Didn’t you do a video on the HD9, some time ago, too? Yes, yes, yes, needle size, thread, tension are keys to success!! Thank you for this!❤
I did a video on the Janome M7 Continental, which is what I sold so I could get this one. It just had so many features I never used. I have gotten SO USED to industrial workflows that going to a domestic, even a top of the line domestic, was driving me nuts.
@@fiercekittenz, thanks for clarifying. I completely agree with you. I have an M7, too, and would love to sell it, as I don’t use it like I thought I would! I really like the straightforwardness, as well as the strength, of the HD9. But, I’m also the person who loves her Pfaff 130-06, with the ‘coffee grinder’ attachment for a lot of my sewing. From the early 50’s, it’s a gorgeous, beautifully engineered machine that is so capable!! Thanks for this excellent video!
I’ve had HD9 v1 since 2019 and love it. You didn’t touch on the fact that it has two thread paths. Also, do not be afraid of setting bottom (bobbin) tension when changing thread weights.
I kind of did but I may have edited it out. I remember recording a part where I talk about the separate bobbin winding thread path. I only dissuade people from mucking around with the bobbin tension, because you can wear out those screws. It also becomes a very inconsistent game of tug-a-war.
Great video! I have the Elna Elnita eF1 which is the same exact machine as this, but it’s in a very pretty pistachio green color! Have had her for a year- and she’s powerful, pretty and perfect!
OH WOW. I just looked up that one! Yes I love that color! Sometimes it's nice to have a splash of color. I know the HD9 has a limited edition version in black, but I went with the white so it wouldn't cause exposure issues while filming. It's so funny how there's the Janome HD9, the Elna Elnita EF1 AND now the Bernette b08 that are all the *exact same machine* but with different branding. I don't think the Bernette has officially released yet, but the pricing is roughly the same as the HD9. Amazon has the Elna EF1 listed as just shy of $1200 right now, which quite honestly is a steal. There's also a Juki (I think the 2010q?) that is a semi-industrial straight stitch, but I don't have experience with it. I'll update the description to include all of these machines. No skin off my back seeing as how sewing brands haven't reached out to me ;) (they almost always want an exclusivity contract, which I refuse to sign).
Thank you so much for the great review. So many reviews of this machine have involved set up or other things about the HD9. It was difficult to do a specific assessment of the stitch and the way it sews. As a costumer with a small studio set up, I was eyeing this to go along with the other machines I currently use. Like you, I don't have room for an industrial. My good higher end machines balk at the thickness I have with tutus, bodices, and corsets... so this would be perfect for those! I'm off to my dealership!
So as a costumer you'll probably respect the fact that I made 3 steel-boned corsets in a week using this machine. The corsets had duck canvas for the interlining, linen with shapeflex for the lining, brocade or vinyl (with shapeflex as well) for the exterior. That's a *LOT* especially when you consider the fact that I made them self-binding!
@@fiercekittenz OOOOooo heck yeah! I can hardly wait to see how it works with coutil. Some coutils are like sewing into cement! And thanks for the other machine mentions...if my dealer doesn't have the HD9...maybe someone in town has the others.
Thank you! Great video! I have the HD9 and love it! I had been wondering if I should “upgrade” to an actual industrial down the road. This video makes me think that I might not need to. It’s a little thing but I love adjusting the stitch length with a mechanical knob rather than the up/down buttons for a digital display that I had on my old domestic. I have used Tex 45 in mine but was a little chicken to try something heavier even though it uses the Tex 45 just fine. I didn’t know about increasing the stitch length even more when going to the thicker thread and fabrics. I’m going to have to try some Tex 75/80. Thanks!
Yeah give the Tex 75 a try. The one thing I should have mentioned in the video is I don't think the thread cutter is good enough for the thicker threads. I tried toward the end, after putting the camera away, and it didn't fully cut the bobbin part. Not really a big deal for me in any case.
OKAY..I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH THIS MACHINE, SIMPLY BECAUSE WHEN IT'S TIME FOR ME TO DO AN UPGRADE, I WILL KNOW WHAT TO GET. I WONDER WILL THEY HAVE THIS MACHINE AT A JOANN'S OR WILL I HAVE TO GO TO A JAMOME DEALER TO PLAY WITH IT. (I HAVE A MEASLY SINGER 4411HD WHICH IS OF COURSE A BEGINNER MACHINE-BEEN SEWING FOR 3 YEARS NOW) SO I WILL KNOW WHEN I DO GET A CHANCE TO UPGRADE I WILL KNOW WHAT TO GET. THE JANOME HD9 IS AMAZING!
You need to head to a dealer, sadly. This is definitely more of an investment than the kind of beginner Janomes you can find in retail stores. It'll be worth it though to go test drive it!
Great tutorial and love ur videos. I only do bags and considering upgrading to semi or industrial machine. Im considering in getting a cylinder arm machine as it would be easier to manage gussets and other types of hard areas. I’ve always wonder you and others manage to sew bags using a table top machine with no arm. Would a cylinder arm industrial be too much of a beast ? I only use vinyls for now and maybe some thin leather. The cylinder arm machine also has an aluminum removable table so it would also be a table top. Would like you thoughts. Tyty. ❤
It's not actually that hard to bring an industrial in for service, at least a flatbed. You just tip the head back and yoink it out of the table. A cylinder bed is more of a trick since it's actually bolted to the table. For a flatbed though, any problem that doesn't involve the motor losing all its magic smoke is just a matter of hauling in the head; the table and everything else can stay put. I do enjoy my Brother Nouvelle 1500 though. I actually never realized how much nicer the thread cutter is on the semi-industrial machines until I saw someone use one of the domestic ones and the machine just sat there gronking and grinding for 5 seconds before finally cutting the thread. I'd go nuts if I had to put up with that. You can get thread cutters on industrials too, btw, it's just that most people gravitate towards the base models without them because they get sticker shock at the idea of spending $2500 or whatever on a machine instead of the $250 they're used to for a basic domestic, and I kind of don't blame them. The Juki/JIN NA-11UT is a good example, it's roughly the same as the 1181 but with a direct drive motor and a thread cutter.
I knew you could get motors to auto-lower/raise the needle for industrials, but I didn't know about the cutters! I'm so used to pulling and snipping at this point that it's not a big deal for me either way. I will say that I know you can unbolt them from the table, but they're still really heavy. I have had a double mastectomy PLUS the hip replacement, so I have lifetime lift restrictions :(
