Our studio uses the Janome 3160QDC-G sewing machines and Baby Lock Celebrate sergers. Learn each skill in order: read the steps, watch the video, then practice. Janome manual: janome.com/product/3160qdc-g (Download Manual).

Meet Your Machine

Know the Parts

Find these parts: spool pin, thread guides, take-up lever, tension dial, presser foot and lever, needle, needle plate, bobbin cover, feed dogs, handwheel, bobbin winder, screen, stitch buttons, start/stop button, speed slider, reverse button, needle up/down button, foot control, power switch.

Always turn the handwheel TOWARD you.
Turn the power off before changing the needle, foot or bobbin.

Winding the Bobbin

Wind a Full Bobbin

Put the thread on the spool pin with the spool holder.
Guide the thread through the bobbin-winding thread guide.
Wind the thread end a few times clockwise around the empty bobbin.
Put the bobbin on the winder spindle and push it to the right.
Hold the thread end and start the machine; trim the end after a few turns.
It stops when full. Push the spindle back to the left, cut the thread and remove the bobbin.

More: How to Wind a Bobbin on a Janome 3160 QDC

Inserting the Bobbin

Drop-In Bobbin

Raise the needle (needle up/down button) and turn the power off.
Slide the bobbin cover release and lift off the clear cover.
Drop the bobbin in so the thread unwinds COUNTER-CLOCKWISE.
Pull the thread through the notch and along the guide.
Cut the extra thread with the cutter at the end of the guide.
Replace the cover.

Threading the Machine

Thread It Right

Raise the presser foot (this opens the tension discs).
Raise the needle to its highest position.
Pull thread through the top guide and down the right channel.
Go around the bottom and up the left channel.
Hook the thread through the take-up lever from right to left.
Go down and slip it behind the guide just above the needle.
Thread the needle front to back – use the built-in needle threader.
Pull 4 inches of thread under the foot and to the back.
Hold the top thread, turn the handwheel toward you once, and pull up the bobbin thread loop.

More: Janome Sewing Series – Threading the Machine

Changing the Needle and Foot

Needle and Presser Foot

Needle

Power OFF. Raise the needle and the presser foot.
Loosen the needle clamp screw and remove the needle.
Insert the new needle with the FLAT side to the BACK, push up all the way.
Tighten the screw.

Presser foot

Power OFF. Raise the presser foot lever.
Press the black button at the back of the foot holder – the foot drops off.
Line up the new foot's pin under the holder and lower the lever – it snaps on.

Stitches and the Screen

Choose Your Stitch

Find the stitch chart on the machine (inside the lid) – each stitch has a number.
Use the stitch buttons to select the number; the screen shows it.
Use the width and length buttons to change the stitch; the screen shows the setting.
Straight stitch length 2.5 is our standard for seams.
Test every new stitch on a scrap first.

More practice: see the Stitch Practice page.

Your First Stitches

Practice First

Practice on paper first (no thread) – follow straight lines, corners and curves.
Then use two layers of scrap fabric.
Line the fabric edge with the 5/8" mark on the needle plate.
Lower the presser foot, start slowly, guide the fabric – don't pull it.
Backstitch (reverse) 3-4 stitches at the start and end.
To turn a corner: needle down, foot up, turn, foot down.
Finish: needle up, foot up, pull the fabric back and cut threads.

Cleaning and Care

Keep It Clean

Power OFF and unplug.
Remove the needle, presser foot and needle plate.
Remove the bobbin and the bobbin holder.
Brush lint from the feed dogs and the bobbin area.
Put everything back; check the bobbin holder sits correctly.
Do not oil the machine – ask Mrs. Chehrehsa.
Cover the machine at the end of class.

More: Janome Sewing Series – Basic Maintenance

Safety Rules and Machine License

Our Machine Rules

One person per machine.
Fingers stay away from the needle – keep them on the sides of the foot.
Power off to thread, change the needle or foot, or clean.
Never sew over pins – remove them before they reach the foot.
Keep hair, sleeves and jewelry away.
Strange noise or jammed thread? Stop and ask for help.

Machine License: before you sew alone, show Mrs. Chehrehsa that you can wind and insert the bobbin, thread the machine, choose a stitch, sew a straight line with backstitching, and clean the bobbin area. For the serger, thread all four threads in order and sew a clean chain.

Serger: Threading

Jet-Air Threading

A serger trims the edge, sews the seam and wraps the edge in thread all at once – like the inside seams of a T-shirt. Our Baby Lock Celebrate threads its loopers with air (Jet-Air Threading), and each thread path is color-coded.

Set up

Place the serger on a flat table; plug in the power and foot control.
Raise the thread guide all the way up and put the 4 cones on the spool pins.
Check the dials: stitch length about 2.5-3, differential feed 1.0 (N).

Threading (loopers first, then the needles)

Raise the presser foot and turn the handwheel toward you to line up the threading marks.
Loopers: follow the color path, push the thread into the looper port and press the Jet-Air lever.
Right needle, then left needle: follow their colors and thread front to back.
Pull all threads under the foot and to the back; sew a thread chain.

Serger: Sewing

Serging a Seam

Feed fabric so the knife trims a tiny bit of the edge; guide, don't pull.
Never sew over pins – the knife can break.
At the end, keep sewing off the fabric to make a 4" chain; cut with the side thread cutter.

More: Perfect Rolled Hems · What is the Differential Feed?

Serger: Problem Solving

Fix It Fast

Loops on top: tighten the upper looper (or loosen the lower looper).
Loops underneath: tighten the lower looper.
Seam pulls apart (ladder): tighten the needle tension.
Wavy or stretched seam: raise the differential feed (1.5-2.0).
Puckered seam: lower the differential feed (0.7).
Skipped stitches: change the needle, check that the foot is down and rethread in order.
Thread broke? Rethread that thread AND every thread after it in the order.

Serger: Cleaning and Care

Serger Care

Power off and unplug; open the front and side covers.
Brush out lint around the loopers, knife and feed dogs after each class.
Do not oil – ask Mrs. Chehrehsa.
Close covers, lower the thread guide, and cover the serger.