Sergers offer the best way to finish your seams in a professional way, but until recently have been too pricey for the average home sewist.
Janome, who have been manufacturing the best user-friendly sewing machines for many years, are now making it affordable for even hobby sewists to experience the high speed fun of sewing with a serger. They have introduced several affordable models of sergers over the last few years. I was very excited to get my Janome Juno 3434d.
This serger is easy to use, serges beautifully, is super fast, and offers exceptional features. I got it for less than $200, on sale at Hancock Fabrics. I bought this model because it was, at the time, the most affordable option available. I know from personal experience that Janome’s entry level sewing machines offer the most helpful features and are well designed, so I knew that I could expect the same from Janome for their entry level serger.
I had not used a serger before, so I felt certain that I was in for a long learning curve in beginning to use this completely new machine. I was amazed to discover instead, that I could use this sweetie immediately, and finished my first serger project the first day I obtained my machine. This simple mechanical machine is extremely easy to understand.
The Juno is a 3/4 thread serger, so you can use it with either 3 or 4 threads. The threading is not at all difficult to do. The manual explains a helpful method of “tying-on” new threads when you change them. This simple step saves a lot of time and makes changing thread colors super simple. When you do have to thread this machine from scratch, that too is easily accomplished, because all four thread paths are color coded and clearly marked.
Serging is extremely useful for many applications, but my favorite setting on the serger is the rolled hem. On some other sergers, you have to change both the foot and the throat plate to switch between serging and rolled hemming. But on the Juno, as well as all the Janome sergers, you simply disengage the knife, flip a switch, and change a setting on one knob to switch between these two functions. I love being able to easily and swiftly roll hems for making napkins and handkerchiefs, for example.
You would also adjust the tension disc when going from serging to rolled hemming. I was concerned that learning to set tension for four different threads would be a lot of trouble or frustration. But Janome eliminates all of that! The manual for this machine is short and sweet but illustrates everything you need to know. It clearly notates exact tension settings for all sorts of applications and also fabrics, eliminating any guesswork. Care of the machine is also well covered in the manual, along with plenty of troubleshooting tips.
I have had my Juno for nearly a year now, during which time it has received heavy, daily use. It has never given me any trouble or problem at all.
This machine will be worth so much more to you than the price you pay! You will not believe how many ways owning a serger will speed up your sewing. And your seams and details will be so professionally finished that you will wonder how you ever got along without your serger.
For more on Janome’s other affordable sergers, you can check out the serger page on my blog. For ideas for what to make with your new serger, check out my other article, 10+ Easy Things to Make With A Serger.
