97.3 If you are looking for the ultimate mechanical sewing machine that only sews straight stitches, then look no further than the Janome 1600P-QC. This is a sturdy, workhorse of a machine that is as close to industrial as you can get without paying the really big bucks. Owners like their 1600P and praise it for its ability to sew through almost anything and to sew extremely fast (up to 1600 stitches per minute). This is also a very popular machine with quilters. On the other hand if you want a lightweight unit, something with a host of stitch options, or if you are a beginner, then this is likely not the best machine for you.
Owner ratings for the 1600P are extremely good. We found 24 ratings from several online retail outlets – see table below. When we applied our weighted average to these figures we got a score of 97.3 out of 100. This is very good score. You can compare it to the score of ALL the sewing machines we’ve reviewed in our sewing machine ratings table.
Source | Consumer Rating | # Ratings |
Amazon.com | 5 stars out of 5 | 10 |
Amazon.ca | 4.2 stars out of 5 | 4 |
Sewing Machines Plus | 5 stars out of 5 | 4 |
SewVacDirect | 5 stars out of 5 | 6 |
A thorough review of owner comments has provided the following pros and cons:
- Very “heavy duty” machine
- Sturdy unit
- Automatic thread cutter
- Great for quilting
- Sews through thick materials easily
- Very fast sewing speed
- Feeds material well
- Makes a great stitch
- Smooth operation
- Cannot drop feed dogs (but they can be covered)
- Some folks find it a bit awkward to thread
- No free arm
- Only sews straight stitches
- Too heavy to be easily portable

Most owner comments sing the praises of this sewing machine, although it is apparent that you need to know what you are buying as this unit is not a fit for everyone. Having said that, it is apparent that owners have done their homework (as well they should given the price of the machine) and they are very happy with their purchase. We’ve seen comments such as “sews through anything”, “good heavy duty machine”, “excellent value”, “meets all my expectations”, “I highly recommend this machine”, “I love it”, etc.

- Straight stitch only
- Large reverse stitch lever
- Maximum sewing speed = 1600 stitches per minute
- Speed control slider
- Built-in needle threader
- Automatic thread cutter
- Side-loading, industrial rotary hook bobbin
- Independent bobbin winding motor
- Simultaneous sewing and bobbin winding
- Programmable needle up/down
- Can use a feed coverplate if you want to do free motion
- Stitch length adjustment (up to 6mm)
- Stitch locking
- Adjustable tension (via a dial)
- Presser foot sensor
- Up to 11 lbs pressure from the presser foot
- Foot pressure adjustment
- Hinge type of presser foot
- Extra high presser foot lift
- Pre-tension thread regulator
- 2 lights illuminate sewing area
- Electronic foot control (liquid response so no stalls)

The Janome 1600P weighs in at a very hefty 32 lbs (14.5 kg) and it has a painted aluminum body. The work area (to the right of the needle) is also fairly large at 8.85 inches x 5.5 inches.
A number of accessories come with your Janome 1600P-QC including a pack of needles:
- (2) HL x 5-11
- (1) HL x 5-14
- (1) HL x 5-16

The 1600P-QC carries Janome’s 25-year warranty which breaks down into:
- 2-years on electrical parts
- 1-year for labor
The manual for the 1600P-QC is written in English, Spanish and French. It is fairly detailed but not as detailed as some of the other Janome sewing machine manuals we have run into. Presumably this is the result of the 1600P being a fairly straightforward machine (not full of bells and whistles). The illustrations are well-done and easy to follow. You will find information highlighting all the features, how to setup and prepare for sewing, how to sew, caring for the 1600P, maintenance, troubleshooting, and even how to oil the machine. See a copy of the manual here: Janome 1600P-QC Manual