Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Got this for a 10-year-old niece to start her sewing lessons on. I have two full size Janomes and am VERY IMPRESSED with this little machine! I know from experience Janomes are very dependable, sturdy workhorses that keep going for years, and mine have never needed maintenance besides cleaning dust out of the bobbin case. It stitches out and sounds exactly like my big machines - very smooth and precise and all the stitches are perfect. There's definitely no reduction in quality with the reduction in size/weight. Weighs a little less than 13#, so it would be a perfect weight to carry to classes vs 20#. But it's almost the same measurements as the full size so you have almost the full size workspace - both are 15" long, the 2212 is 1" shorter overall at 11" tall vs 12", and 6" deep front to back vs 7" . The harp or throat area (opening) is the same 6.5" from the needle to the motor casing, and only 1/2" shorter at 4.5" vs 5" high. So if you are able to quilt on a standard machine, close to the same size roll of fabric/batting would go through this too. Baby quilts or throws - no problem. I have made full size quilts on my standard size Janome. Doesn't have a lot besides straight stitch and zigzag, but would be perfect for piecing and basic garment/craft construction. Stitch length is adjustable from 0 to 4 on straight stitch, zigzag, tricot/darning stitch, knit stitch, blind hem stitch, and decorative shell stitch. Width is adjustable too on zigzag, it's not pre-set like on Hello Kitty, but the other non-stretch stitches are preset width. All the stretch stitches are pre-set length and width and can't be adjusted - straight stretch, rickrack, smocking, decorative, and blanket stitch. It does have drop feed-dog for free motion stitching. For bobbin winding you pull out the handwheel, very easy to do. The bobbin case is in front instead of top-loading if that is an issue with you, it doesn't appear to have the thread tangling problems that frontloading Singers do. It does not have an automatic needle threader, needle up/down button, or adjustable presser foot pressure. If these options are important you need to upgrade to a more expensive model. For a basic sew & go or beginner machine at a great price, I don't think the 2212 can be beat. FEET: It requires a phillips screwdriver to remove the snap-on shank, which is not included. If you buy extra feet for it, make sure you get feet made for the 5mm front-load bobbin style, as the needle is in a different spot and can't accept generic or other Janome feet made for 7mm top-loading, unless there is a wide opening for the needle. The right toe of a 7mm will barely touch the feed dog as it's too wide. Generic straight-stitch feet won't work, the needle will hit metal. You canNOT use a standard Janome or generic spring-load darning/FMQ foot because the needle shaft of this machine is shorter than normal, and it cannot raise the hopping foot high enough to move the fabric. Look for Janome brand darning foot for front-load machines. UPDATE 2-14-12: Just finished a 50x60 rag quilt made from two layers quilting cotton with flannel for the batting. The 2212 didn't balk or complain at sewing 6 layers together. Of course it's louder when sewing through thick layers but all other machines are too. I was able to join the blocks without a walking foot, but joining long strips of blocks required a walking foot because it would eventually start pushing the top layer forward. Since I clip the seam allowances at the ends of the blocks before joining strips, I don't have to sew 12 layers like some people make rag quilts, I doubt the 2212 could do 12. If you need a walking foot, be sure to get the Janome front-loading 5mm foot, the generic and other brands of 7mm will work but the needle ends up on the left and it's hard to tell where your seam is going to end up. The only 'con' is it being front-loading bobbin as a beginner machine for a young girl, as my niece did have thread jams until she got used to turning the wheel to get the needle in the right spot. Once she got used to it, no more jams. The wheel must be hand turned to get the needle positioned correctly before starting a new seam, or will jam every time you start stitching, as will all other brands of front-loaders. It's just the 'nature of the beast' and I'm not lowering my 5 star rating for it. As I've sewn many years, it didn't take long for me to automatically turn the handwheel and get the needle in position for the next seam before ever lifting the presser foot to remove the fabric and pull out the thread tails. No more jams. Just be aware, a beginner will have a harder time than with a top-loader. The Janome quality is there and I expect it to last for years trouble-free :o))