Janome 3160QDC-G Review: Is This $749 Quilting Machine Worth It?

Janome 3160QDC-G specs

Specs above come from Janome America's 3160QDC-G product page, the manufacturer feature bullets on the Amazon listing and the Janome America Limited 25 Year Warranty document.

What does the Janome 3160QDC-G do best?

The 3160QDC-G is a true all-rounder in a portable body. At 12.6 lb with a hard cover, it is easy to carry to a class, yet it has the conveniences quilters want most: an automatic thread cutter, memorized needle up/down for pivoting at corners, a locking stitch button that ties off seams neatly, and a speed slider for slow, careful work.

Janome's Superior Plus Feed System with a 7-piece feed dog is designed to move fabric smoothly and prevent layers from shifting, and PatternReview owners praise its smooth, even stitches and good feeding. Adjustable presser foot pressure and an extra high foot lift help when you slide a quilt sandwich under the foot.

The start/stop button deserves a mention for anyone with knee, ankle or foot fatigue: you can sew without the foot pedal, with the speed slider setting the pace. And unlike a straight-stitch specialist, it sews buttonholes, zigzag and decorative stitches, so it can be your only machine.

What is the honest weakness of the Janome 3160QDC-G?

It is a small machine asked to quilt. Janome lists a work space of 6.8 x 4.5 inches, which is fine for piecing, binding and quilting table runners, baby quilts and small throws, but a twin or larger quilt becomes a real struggle to push through. Try your usual sizes in the throat space calculator before counting on it for bed quilts.

Price is the other question. At about $749 it sits close to the Brother PQ1600S, which offers far more room and speed for straight stitching, and only about $100 below the Janome 4120QDC-G with 120 stitches. Janome's page does not list a knee lifter. It is a light, general-purpose machine, not a heavy-duty one.

Several PatternReview owners of the earlier 3160QDC described a problem with a small part near the bobbin area that was fixed by replacing that part. Those reports concern earlier production, but if you buy used, ask whether that repair was done.

What do Janome 3160QDC-G owners consistently report?

• Praise: smooth, even stitches and good feeding of layers.
• Praise: easy threading and a helpful extension table.
• Praise: the thread cutter, needle up/down and locking stitch speed up piecing.
• Praise: light and portable enough for classes and retreats.
• Mixed: a few owners were unsure about it after buying, often because of the small quilting space.
• Complaint (earlier models): reports of a small bobbin-area part that needed replacement.

The general tone is contentment from quilters who wanted a capable, portable all-rounder. Our sewing machine maintenance guide covers the lint cleaning that keeps a rotary hook machine running smoothly.

What warranty and support come with the Janome 3160QDC-G?

Janome America's Limited 25 Year Warranty document covers defects for 25 years, electronic components (circuit boards, step motors and pattern control units) for 5 years, and labor free for 1 year; after the first year, labor is charged. Commercial use limits coverage to 1 year of parts and service, and needles, needle plates, bobbin cases, fuses, bulbs, knives and belts are excluded.

The warranty is void unless you buy from an authorized Janome dealer in the United States, and service requires the original receipt with the dealer's name. Check the seller before ordering and register the machine with Janome. In a search of CPSC recall listings, the only Janome America recall we found was a 2011 recall of an Elna model, not this machine.

How does the Janome 3160QDC-G compare with the Brother PQ1600S and other quilting machines?

Our Janome 3160QDC vs Brother PQ1600S comparison covers the all-rounder versus specialist decision, Brother vs Janome compares the brands, and quilting machine vs sewing machine explains the categories.

Sibling reviews: the Brother PQ1600S review, the Juki TL-2000Qi review and the Brother CS7000X review.

What table, space and accessories does the Janome 3160QDC-G need?

At 15 inches wide and 12.6 lb, it fits almost any sturdy table, and the included extension table gives a larger flat surface for quilt blocks. A folding sewing table like the Sew Ready Eclipse (about $108) has a drop-down platform that sets the machine bed closer to table height, which makes feeding a quilt sandwich smoother.

Budget about $75 to $125 for quilting extras:

• Quilting needles in the household 130/705H system, such as Schmetz Quilting Needles (about $18).
• A Supreme Slider Queen (about $40) and Machingers Quilting Gloves (about $10) for free-motion quilting small projects.
• A ruler foot if you want ruler work; confirm the shank height with a Janome dealer before buying one such as the Westalee Ruler Foot Kit (Low Shank) (about $50).
• A clip-on light such as the Madam Sew Light Strip (about $20) for extra light at the needle.

Our beginner quilting setup builds a complete starter kit around a machine in this class, and the quilt size calculator helps you plan projects that suit its work space.