92.2 The Janome Memory Craft 6650 is a very versatile sewing machine. It has a host of features including 170 stitches, 2 alphabets, independent bobbin winding, and a max sewing speed of 1000 stitches per minute. It is great for quilting and all manner of home projects. This is a sturdy and powerful, yet quiet machine. The outer body and interior frame are metal so the unit is on the heavy side but not too bad. Owner ratings for the MC6650 are excellent, however it is probably best for the more experienced sewist. It is not really a good candidate for a beginner or for someone looking for portability.
Consumer Ratings
We found over 100 owner ratings at several popular online retail outlets (see table below). When a weighted average was applied to these figures we got a sewing machine score of 92.2 out of 100. This is a very good score and you can compare it to the score of other sewing machines in our sewing machine ratings table.
| Source | Consumer Rating | # Ratings |
| Amazon | 4.7 stars out of 5 | 18 |
| Costco | 4.6 stars out of 5 | 76 |
| Sewing Machines Plus | 4.5 stars out of 5 | 15 |
| Joann | 4.7 stars out of 5 | 6 |
| Overstock | 5 stars out of 5 | 1 |
PROS & CONS
A thorough analysis/review of owner comments has provided the following MC6650 pros and cons.
PROS
- Powerful machine
- Quiet operation
- Creates very nice stitches
- Roomy sewing area
- Very good lighting
- Great for free motion quilting
- Fairly intuitive controls
- Feels solid and sturdy
- Includes many stitch options
- Separate bobbin winder
CONS
- Heavy machine
- Some struggle getting tension set
- No knee lift included
- No ¼ inch presser foot included
What Are Owners Saying?
Owner ratings for this machine are quite good (as indicated by the 92+ rating). We’ve seen a number of very positive comments such as “a joy to use”, “love this machine”, “sews like a dream” “a powerhouse” “stitching is beautiful”.
People seem pleased and a little surprised at how powerful this sewing machine is (has no problem with thick fabrics) and that it is still capable of operating quietly. Perhaps people associate power with noise but that is not the case with the MC6650.
Folks also describe the sewing machine as solid and sturdy with the ability to sew smoothly and create beautiful stitches.
Popular features and characteristics include the bright lighting, the independent bobbin winder, the self threading needle, the thread cutter, and the push button start and stop. Owners also like just how easy it is to drop the feed dogs. Overall the machine controls are fairly intuitive.
Quite a few people have praised the large sewing area - it has a work space of 10 inches by 4.7 inches. The large area is great for free motion quilting.
While the machine is “sturdy” it is also rather heavy. This can be a pro or a con depending on your needs. If you want something portable it can be an issue but if you want something to stay put on your sewing table it can be an asset.
A few people have expressed disappointment that the MC6650 accessories don’t include a knee lift or a ¼ inch presser foot, but they can be bought separately.
You can read more MC6650 owner reviews on Amazon.
Should you get the MC6650 or the MC6700P?
The sewing machines are very similar but the MC6700P has more features and is the more expensive of the two. Following are the key differences between the units.
| MC6650 | MC6700P | |
| # Stitches | 170 | 200 |
| # Alphabets | 2 | 5 |
| # Needle Plates | 2 | 3 |
| Max Sewing Speed | 1000 spm | 1200 spm |
| Extension Table | No | Yes |
| Feed System | Superior Feed System Plus | Acufeed Flex System |
Please note that these are the main differences between the two machines. There are some other smaller differences not highlighted here and the MC6700P also comes with quite few more accessories.
Key MC6650 Specifications
- 170 stitches
- 9 buttonholes
- 2 alphabets (block and script in upper and lower case)
- Favorite stitch setting default
- Start/stop button
- Max sewing speed = 1000 stitches per minute
- Max stitch length = 5mm
- Max stitch width = 9 mm
- Top loading full rotary hook bobbin
- Manual thread tension control
- Memorized needle up/down
- Built-in needle threader
- Reverse button
- Independent bobbin winding motor
- Automatic declutch bobbin winder
- Locking stitch button
- Knee lift capability
- Presser foot pressure adjustment
- Extra high presser foot lift
- 7-piece feed dogs
- Drop feed capable (via drop feed lever)
- 3.6 inch LCD control panel
- Speed control slider
- Retractable thread guide
- Automatic programmable thread cutter
- Stitch mirror imaging
- Stitch elongation
- Last stitch recall
- 20 memory banks for storing stitch sequences
- 2 needle plates (easy to swap - no screwdriver needed)
- 10 inch metal flatbed working space
Stitch Charts
Other Features & Characteristics
The MC6650 has an aluminum outer body and an aluminum interior frame. This is a fairly large machine and despite the aluminum used in the construction it weighs in at a hefty 24.3 lbs. This makes it a poor choice if your goal is a machine for taking to classes or sewing gatherings.
Lighting on this unit is excellent. We’ve seen lighting on many machines that is poor and needs to be supplemented. This is not the case with the MC6650 and it has three groups of lights comprised of 2 LED's each. This approach provides for a well illuminated sewing area and also reduces shadows.
This machine has no free arm and there is no knee lift provided. It is knee lift capable but you will have to buy one if you want to use the feature.
Also, this is a dual voltage sewing machine and is rated 80V – 240V
Accessories
The MC6650 includes a host of presser feet including the following: zig-zag foot, open toe foot, zipper foot, darning foot, automatic buttonhole foot, free-motion quilting zig-zag foot, rolled hem foot, blind hem foot, satin stitch foot, overcast foot. You also get a seam ripper, a lint brush, small & large spool caps, spool rests, a buttonhole stabilizer plate, a quilting guide, a pack of needles, a screwdriver, a straight stitch needle plate, and a zig-zag needle plate.
In addition, you will find a soft sewing machine cover, a 6ft power cord, a foot control, an instructional DVD, and an operating manual.
Warranty
The Janome Memory Craft 6650 carries a 25-year warranty. This doesn’t mean the entire sewing machine is covered for 25-years. Rather, it breaks down as follows:
25-years on mechanical parts
5-years on electrical parts
1-year labor
Sewing Machine Manual
The MC6650 manual is 108 pages in length and very detailed. It is also full of well drawn illustrations which are fairly easy to follow. It highlights the different parts of the machine and covers topics such as preparing to sew, the different sewing machine features, basic sewing, decorative stitches, programming pattern combinations, monogramming, and sewing machine care & maintenance. You can see a copy of the manual here: Janome Memory Craft MC6650 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.