Janome MOD-30 Sewing Machine

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93.0 The Janome MOD-30 is a reasonably priced, computerized sewing machine. This is not a heavy-duty Janome so it isn’t really a fit for those looking to sew the likes of thick denim or leather. It is, however, quite good for light/medium sewing work – garments, home decor, quilting, etc. It is also very easy to use and a great fit for the budding sewist. In addition, it is lightweight and comes with a carry handle for portability. The MOD-30 has 30 built-in stitches and it runs smoothly and quietly. However, some owners feel the unit is constructed with too much plastic and that the lighting is a little dim.

A Word on MOD Models
There are seven Janome sewing machines in the MOD lineup. Three are mechanical sewing machines and four are computerized sewing machines:

MOD-11 - mechanical
MOD-15 - mechanical
MOD-19 - mechanical

MOD-30 - computerized
MOD-50 - computerized
MOD-100 - computerized
MOD-200 - computerized

The MOD computerized models are all very similar and share most features and functions, including their dimensions and weight. However there are some key differences.

Consumer Ratings
A careful search has found over one hundred MOD-30 owner ratings which can be seen in the table below. When a weighted average was applied to these ratings we got a score of 93.0 for the MOD-30. This is a very good score. We have found that most Janome machines tend to score high (most but not all). You can compare the score of this machine to that of all other sewing machines on the site in our sewing machine ratings table.

Pros & Cons
A thorough review of owner comments has provided the following pros and cons:

PROS
- Easy to setup and use
- Runs very smoothly
- Creates a nice, even stitch
- Lightweight and portable
- Fairly quiet
- Built-in carry handle
- Reasonably priced
- Lots of functions and features for the price
- Has an LCD display

CONS
- Not for heavy duty work
- Lots of plastic used in construction
- No thread cutter
- Sewing light is a little dim
- Needle threader works but is not great

What Are Owners Saying?
Owners really like that the MOD-30 is easy to use. Controls are fairly intuitive and the machine is not difficult to setup. Quite a few folks report that it is a very good machine for the beginning sewist.

There are many positive comments about the MOD-30 which include terminology such as “a pleasure to use”, “wonderful buy”, “great for beginners”, “love this machine”,” a great value”, etc. We see quite a few comments highlighting that you get a lot for your money and that the machine is reasonably priced.

This is also a lightweight unit and it appears that lots of folks like to take it to classes or sewing gatherings. Adding to the portability is a built-in carry handle and a dust cover. The dust cover has a hole in it for the handle.

Owners report that the unit sews very smoothly and creates and even stitch. It is also rather quiet. In addition, owners like the LCD display, the free arm, and the built-in storage.

Many owners use the MOD-30 for light/medium sewing work but some warn that it really isn’t the right machine for heavy duty sewing – like thick denim or leather. There are more heavy duty Janome sewing machines than this one.  Should you be interested in another machine you may want to see our list of all Janome sewing machine reviews. 

There are several comments about the amount of plastic used in the MOD-30 construction. Some owners feel that there is simply too much, and highlight items like the plastic presser foot lifter lever as a concern (they wish it was metal and felt more robust). Having said that, we have not read of any actual issue with the presser foot lifter lever. Some folks also say that the foot pedal feels “cheap”.

Finally, there are some grumblings that the sewing machine should have a thread cutter (it does not), and that the sewing light does not sufficiently illuminate the sewing area (a complaint we frequently see with many a sewing machine).

You can read more Janome MOD-30 reviews on Amazon.

Key Specifications
- 30 built-in stitches (basic, fashion, home decor, quilting, heirloom)
- 3 one-step buttonholes
- Automatic stitch length and width
- Max stitch width = 7mm
- Max stitch length = 5mm
- LCD control panel
- One hand needle threader
- Top loading, jam proof bobbin
- Auto-declutch bobbin winder
- 7-piece feed dogs
- Drop feed capable (for free motion sewing and quilting)
- Start/stop button
- Reverse button
- Locking stitch button
- Needle up/down (up is default)
- Free arm
- Speed control slider
- Adjustable thread tension control (manual)
- Max sewing speed = 820 stitches per minute
- Snap-on presser feet
- Extra-high presser foot lift

Some Things You Will Not Get
A few things that you might want but are not provided with this sewing machine include:
- No foot pressure adjustment ability
- No thread cutter
- No knee lift
- No twin needle guard
- No last stitch recall

Stitch Chart
Following are the stitches you get with the MOD-30. These are also printed directly on to the front of the sewing machine.

Other Features & Characteristics
This is a very lightweight machine and it weighs in at just 12.7 lbs. It isn’t quite light enough to make our list of the best portable sewing machines (we try to keep items in this list under 12 lbs) but it is very close – and the consumer ratings are high. The interior frame of this machine is made of aluminum which undoubtedly helps with keeping the weight down.

The LCD control panel on the MOD-30 allows you to quickly and easily select stitches. When you select a stitch the optimal stitch settings are automatically chosen (but they can also be adjusted).

This is also a dual voltage machine (80v to 240v). So it should work in a number of countries with different voltages.

Accessories
You will get four presser feet with your MOD-30: Satin stitch foot, zipper foot, buttonhole foot, general purpose foot. In addition, you will find a host of other accessories such as four class 15 bobbins, a needle set (assorted), an extra spool pin, two large and two small spool holders, a lint brush, a screwdriver, and a seam ripper. Most of these will fit into the removable storage compartment (sometimes referred to as the "free arm accessory storage tray" – see image to right).

You will also get a soft dust cover, a foot control, a power cable, and an operating manual.

Warranty
The MOD-30 carries a manufacturer’s 25-year limited warranty.

Sewing Machine Manual
The manual for this machine is quite good. A number of owners have commented that they find it very useful and it has plenty of good illustrations. It is 52 pages long (so it isn’t short) and it covers all the steps in setting up the machine and preparing to sew, how to do basic sewing with the different stitch types, and how to work with the decorative stitches. There is also information on maintenance and troubleshooting. You can see a copy of the manual here: Janome MOD-30 Manual