Janome Jem Gold 660 Portable Sewing Machine (White)

Got it for my son. His review:"A novice sewer, I've only ever used one other sewing machine, a Brother, while doing everything else by hand. Forget that! I've had the Jem Gold (omg I love the name) sewing machine for about a month and made a couple of projects and done a few exercises with it. So far, no problems at all.PROS++The light above the needle is super helpful.+Winding bobbins, easy peasy, automatically stops when full.+Little needle threader is also super hepful!+(?)Must say I don't actually understand what is happening when I catch the bobbin thread with my needle thread before sewing, but I do manage to do it every time, so it must be a pretty good design.++The foot lifts up perty darn high, which has come in handy: sewing straps onto a bag after the fact, I thought I had to do it by hand--got frustrated, tired, and bored, thought, "well damn I'll just do this last one on the machine"--and it was not hard at all to fit a layer of satin and two(/three?) layers of burlap--all kind of awkwardly semi-folded--under the foot and needle! I ripped the other three seams out and redid them on the machine!++Pedal is nice, I can go as slow as I want. Or fast as lightnin!CONS--There is nothing that *prevents* you from sewing with the foot raised, as there was on the Brother I used, but there's also nothing that *prevents* you from hitting your head on a low ceiling--you just get used to it.NEUTRALS~~I have not used anything other than the straight stitches yet, so I can't speak to the Janome's zigzag or buttonhole capabilities or anything like that. Yet.Love it, buy it! Accomplished seamstress I got a few tips from also said it was her favorite machine by far, and she didn't know I had one when she said that. So, I trust that as well."

I was looking for a good, basic sewing machine for doing the odd repair on garments or household items. I didn't foresee doing embroidery or anything complicated. Inexpensive machines that I saw in stores were just plain cheap: lightweight, badly made, with obtuse instruction manuals and flimsy accessories. Similar models online got indifferent or negative reviews.I decided to spend a little bit more than I'd originally planned and see what else was available. Zeroed in on this machine because it had nothing less than a 4-star review. I'm very happy with my purchase! The machine is everything that reviewers said it would be: sturdy, lightweight, a real little workhorse. This was my first experience with a top-loading bobbin, and it's been no trouble at all. Setup was easy and the directions were clear. From the first repair (mending an open seam on a pair of pants), this machine has met my expectations.Time will tell about reliability, but if other reviewers are correct I can expect years of use.

As a beginner looking for my first machine, I wanted good value for money. I needed a portable machine for my sewing class, but I also wanted something sturdy & reliable that I would be able to use for a long time. After poring over reviews, I decided on the Jem Gold and it turned out to be just what I wanted. It's a 3/4 size machine but it works like a full-size one - in fact, the full-size Singers that I used at those one-day classes at a certain large fabric store chain seem flimsy & cheap in comparison. I'm interested in garment-making & according to my instructor, this should do pretty much everything I need it to do. The fact that there are so many positive reviews on Amazon & elsewhere testifies to the value of the Jem Gold.I was also very impressed by the quick delivery from this seller. Originally, I ordered the same machine from the same large chain I mentioned before and tried to cancel the order almost immediately since they estimated a delivery time of almost 3 weeks. Dealing with them has been a nightmare. Then I turned to Amazon, which is what I should have done in the first place, and my order arrived within a couple of days. Live and learn...

This is a great little machine and truly only weighs in at 12 lbs. I can carry it anywhere, which is great for quilting and sewing groups. It takes the same feet as my big Janome so I didn't have to purchase anything extra. It offers a couple of extra stitches whereas many of these lightweights only use a straight stitch. I am totally sold. I also think this would be a great gift for a young person just beginning to sew.

I have to accept that this machine is not my Bernina, and say that I appreciate it for the reason I bought it. A lightweight travel machine to take to classes. Biggest thing I don't like is the inability to adjust stitch length. Only 3 choices. A fine little machine for simple sewing, however, and I do use it

Purchased for a friend per my recommendation and she doesn't have an Amazon account. She loves it! Great new sewer machine. I have purchased 8 Janome sewing machines in the past 10 years... for myself and as gifts. They are EXTREMELY well made and are real workhorse machines. I use two Pro models in my small home business and they ALWAYS perform and require very little maintenance. I do not recommend the Gem series for heavy duty sewing... but for quilting and dressmaking ... they can't be beat! Buy 10 Janomes instead of one Bernina or Viking and you will be happier and have less issues!!!!

This sturdy little machine fits neatly into a medium gym duffle bag. It's compact, lightweight size make it an excellent choice for home sewing and as a workshop take along. The stitch quality is excellent, and despite its small size; this machine does not wobble even with fast sewing. I love it!

Due to medical conditions, I have not been able to carry my regular sewing machine to quilting class, which is a requirement of the class and which means I have not been able to take the class. This little sewing machine, which only weighs 12 lbs. is perfect. And don't let the size fool you. It's a really nice machine and fits my needs perfect.I had looked at much more expensive machines, but decided to give this one a try. And I love it!!