94.8 This is an inexpensive Janome sewing machine that is a good choice for beginning sewists. It is also mechanical (as opposed to computerized), lightweight, and many owners report taking it to classes or sewing groups. In addition, you get basic, stretch and decorative stitches – a total of 12 stitches. However this is not the best machine for projects that require sewing through multiple layers of fabric or dealing with heavy fabrics. It just doesn’t have the power. Also, you cannot lower the feed dogs so if you want to do free motion sewing you have to cover the feed dogs with the darning plate.
Consumer Ratings
We found 27 owner ratings from three well-known retail outlets (see table below). When we applied a weighted average to these figures we got an overall score for the Janome 41012 of 94.8/100. This is a very good score, although it should be noted that we frequently see fairly high scores for Janome sewing machines (although not all). You may want to view our table of sewing machine ratings where you can view scores for all of the machines we’ve reviewed on the site over the past 11 years.
| Source | Consumer Rating | # Ratings |
| Amazon | 4.7 stars out of 5 | 14 |
| Joann | 4.6 stars out of 5 | 7 |
| Walmart | 5 stars out of 5 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
A thorough review of owner comments has provided the following pros & cons:
PROS
- Despite the light weight it feels sturdy
- Portable, easy to carry
- Sews smoothly
- Not too loud
- Very easy to thread
- Easy to setup and use
CONS
- Struggles with heavy materials
- No thread cutter
- Not great for free motion quilting
What Are Owners Saying?
Many owners purchase the 41012 as a machine to take to classes or sewing gatherings. They find the unit lightweight and portable, yet still solid and sturdy.
This is one of the more affordable Janome sewing machines and as a result it has limited features. The somewhat “basic” nature of the machine actually works in its favor for beginning sewists. Folks new to sewing really like their 41012 as it is simple and straightforward. In short, it is a good machine for beginners.
Owners also report that the unit sews very smoothly and that it is easy to setup and the controls are intuitive. In addition, it is also not too loud and the manual provided has lots of detail and is well written. There are several comments that this sewing machine is “worth the price”.
On the other hand, the 41012 is not a powerhouse and while it may be fine for handling regular fabrics, there are reports that it struggles powering through heavy fabrics or even multiple layers of regular fabric. Also, you cannot drop the feed dogs on this machine. If you wish to do free motion quilting, for example, you will have to place the darning plate over the feed dogs. It works but it’s not ideal.
You can read more Janome 41012 reviews on Amazon.
Other Low-Cost Janome Sewing Machines
If you are interested in other low-cost Janome sewing machines (low-cost being relative to other Janome units), you may want to check out the following choices (below). Like the 41012 they are all getting positive reviews and ratings and won’t break the bank. But be sure they have the features that you want/need.
Key Janome 41012 Specifications
- 12 stitches (basic, stretch, decorative)
- 1 four-step buttonhole
- Max stitch width = 5mm
- Max stitch length = 4mm
- Snap-on presser feet
- Extra-high presser foot lift
- Max sewing speed = 860 stitches per minute
- Front loading bobbin
- Manual thread tension control
- Free arm capable
- 3-piece feed dog system
- Reverse stitch switch
What You Won’t Get
This is a fairly basic machine so there may be a few features that you want that you will not get. Some of these include:
- No automatic needle threader
- No thread cutter
- No drop feed capability (must cover feed dogs with darning plate)
- No locking stitch button
- No knee lift
- No foot pressure adjustment
Stitch Chart
Following are the stitches provided with this machine.
Accessories
A number of accessories come with your 41012. You get 4 presser feet: zipper foot, blind hem foot, general purpose foot, and buttonhole foot. You also get bobbins, a needle set, a seam ripper, a darning plate and a foot control. In addition, there is a power cord and an instruction manual.
Other Features & Characteristics
As mentioned, this is a lightweight sewing machine and it weighs in at only 13 lbs. This is, in part, due to the aluminum interior frame. The low weight aids in the unit’s portability which is also made easier with a built-in fold-down carry handle (located on top of the sewing machine).
Also, potential buyers from outside the US should consider that this is not a dual voltage machine.
Warranty
The Janome 41012 carries a 25-year limited warranty. It is important that people don’t think this means your entire machine is warranted for a full 25-years. It is unfortunate that most retailers simply stop at stating only part of most sewing machine warranties as it can be a little misleading, especially for first time buyers. For example, the basics of this warranty are as follows:
• 25 Years on Mechanical Parts
• 5 Years on Electrical Parts
• 1 Year Labor
Many sewing machines have a similar breakdown but there are often differences in time frames for each area (mechanical, electrical, labor).
Sewing Machine Manual
The manual is not as detailed as some of the other Janome manuals we have seen, but then this is not a particularly complicated sewing machine. A review of the manual shows that it covers all of the machine’s important features, the writing is clear, and the illustrations are good. You can view it here: Janome 41012 Manual
Hello! My name is Alison and I started Sewing Machine Ratings over 10 years ago. Since then I’ve reviewed scores of sewing machines. Sewing has been a hobby for me since I was a young and I love to make my own clothing.