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Text, photos and video by Tom Hintz
Posted - 9-19-2018
One of the benefits of the rapid growth of Yesmensew.com is the ever-expanding input from its viewers. The latest “word from the masses” focused on requests (some more demand-like…) for a Review of Janome sewing machines in general and the Janome 4120 QDC-B in particular. The “B” represents the Janome 4120 QDC with a free quilting “Bonus”. Considering the already lengthy list of features and included hardware, adding the uber-popular quilting capabilities seemed like a major league no-brainer.
The Janome 4120 QDC-B has a footprint of just 19.8” by 12” by 16 inches and weighs a stout 22.4lbs. Much of that weight comes from the extensive use of heavy-duty design and materials that insure smooth, accurate operation over the long haul. Since sewing budgets are a real concept for most of us, longevity and reliability are important points of value. The Janome 4120 QDC-B feature and capability list mean it will remain “current” well into the future.
The Janome 4120 QDC-B has 120 built-in stitches, including three alphabet fonts: American, European and Cyrillic. This machine also has a trick using the on-board stitches where more than one can be combined, one after the other - something I have not seen before. We will look at this closer a bit later in this Review. It also has 7 one-step buttonhole programs and an included button hole presser foot that makes one-step buttonholes possible.
In addition to the well-written instruction manual you also get a DVD that demonstrates the basics of operating the Janome 4120 QDC-B. Many things are easier when you see them done rather than reading about them or even viewing still photos. Don’t put the instruction manual far away. It has extensive explanations and how-to info on the many stitches and features.
Something that is less common is getting a protective hard cover that accompanies the Janome 4120 QDC-B. This is literally a “cover” and not a carry case. This hard cover slips down over the Janome 4120 QDC-B (power and foot control cables must be removed) and does a good job of protecting the machine from things that might tip over or fall on it. In our house the hard cover also prevents our inquisitive cats from seeing just how long that thread really is.
The Janome 4120 QDC-B has a full range of intuitive control buttons and selections. The LCD is back-lit which is a huge benefit in many lighting environments, especially with my 60-something eyes. Surrounding the LCD screen are buttons that reverse sewing, tie the threads off below the work, and clip both the upper and lower threads – very cool. The touch screen next to the LCD gives full control of stitch selection, width and length. You can also mirror many of the stitches, something that could give your project a unique personal touch.
The Janome 4120 QDC comes with the familiar foot pedal / variable speed controller. The farther down you press it, the faster the machine runs. However, the slider switch on the front of the Janome 4120 QDC-B limits the maximum speed but leaves the variable control of the foot pedal. This combination of features can be very handy on jobs where you need the variable speed at times and more consistent, faster sewing in other parts of the project. You can adjust the slider speed control while the Janome 4120 QDC-B is running.
Hold the Start/Stop button in and the motor runs slowly. Release the button and the machine ramps up to the speed selected by the slider switch. Press and hold the start/stop button again and the machine slows down, then stops when the button is released.
To prevent some of us from messing things up, the motor will not run while the presser foot is in the up position. For those who have not made this mistake, trying to sew with the presser foot up is a great way to produce near-instant, world-class bird nests that can mess up your project and attitude quickly.
The upper thread path is clearly marked with printed graphics on the machines outer shell. Threading the needle is simple thanks to a nifty mechanism that lacks glitter but works very well with virtually no learning curve. This is a simple system that works consistently, something lots of “automatic threading” can’t say with a straight face.
The lay-down bobbin is dead simple to reload. If this is your first lay-down bobbin it might seem a bit spooky because of its simplicity but have faith, it works. You do have to “pick up” a loop before sewing but all we do is push the needle up/down button twice and then pull the loop out. It sounds more complicated than it is.
There is a thread cutter button on the front of the Janome 4120 QDC-B which clips the upper and lower threads at the proper length. That lets us move the fabric to the next needed position (or removed) easily with dramatically less mess and waste. This thread cutter turned out to be a favorite of mine on the Janome 4120 QDC-B. My FlyingRC.net Protector Set work involves several sewing operations where the stitching starts and/or ends far from an edge so there is considerable thread wasted every time I move to the next position. With the thread cutter I can stop no matter where I am on the project, push the thread cutter button and virtually nothing is wasted.
The Janome 4120 QDC-B has stitch variations allowing us to add regular reverse locking stitches automatically or virtually invisible locking stitches at the beginning and end of a line of stitches. These stitch variations have ends added to the graphic that appears on the LCD screen when those stitches are selected. We do have to place the needle where the stitching is to begin but follow the instructions (well written manual) and the machine makes the locking stitches virtually invisible. That leaves a clean looking line of stitches without the back and forth that can look like a mistake.
There is also a button that lets you run the needle full up or full down. You can program the Janome 4120 QDC-B so that when you let off the foot control the needle stops full up or full down.
The Janome 4120 QDC-B is equipped with a super-smooth feed system that does not seem to care about variations in material thickness. We can adjust the presser foot pressure on the Janome 4120 QDC-B which for some reason something that is missing on many other current machines. The feed dogs can be withdrawn altogether for freehand operations.
The Janome 4120 QDC-B presser foot raises higher above the table surface than any other machine I have tried. Though I don’t need that much clearance all the time it is crucial when I do need it for the type of work I, and I suspect many of you, encounter from time to time.
Packed with the Janome 4120 QDC-B is a surprisingly useful group of snap on presser feet. You get a zigzag foot, overedge foot, zipper foot, satin stitch foot, blind hem foot, 1/4" seam foot, custom crafted zigzag foot, and an automatic buttonhole foot. There are more presser feet included in the Quilting accessory set, a special bonus with this Janome 4120 QDC-B package we focus on later in this Review.
Tip for those who don’t read the manual first - When the presser foot is raised the start/stop button and foot control will not run the motor. Nice safety that prevents creating a bird’s nest and other bad things.
The Janome 4120 QDC-B has 7 one-step button hole routines on-board that not only makes creating button holes simple, they offer versatility. I rarely use buttons but there are plenty of folks in the sewing world that do and will benefit from this feature. All button hole variations are available in Mode 2 on the LCD screen.
You get a special, auto-sizing button hole presser foot that eliminates lots of setup and layout. Put one of the buttons for which the holes are being made into the “measuring” part of the presser foot, slide it closed on the button and lower the button-hole trip lever.
Once the fabric is positioned correctly just press the Start/Stop button and the Janome 4120 QDC-B runs the routine creating the buttonhole currently selected. No foot controller input, just sit back and watch it happen. In my case, that means less chance of me messing something up which would be a desirable feature of any sewing machine.
The Janome 4120 QDC-B has the unique (to me anyway) ability to program a series of different stitches to run one after the other in segments and then sew them seamlessly. Simply enter the stitch number (in the appropriate mode) and push “MEM”. To add more copies of that identical stitch press MEM again for each copy wanted.
Unfortunately, there is no way to “save” your stitch design other than writing it down. I suspect adding the capability to save such programming on board would require adding more electronics and hardware to an already feature-laden machine.
You can also tweak the length and height of the individual stitches as you program them, including creating larger or smaller versions of the same stitch to follow one after the other. To change the same stitch, enter the stitch number again after committing the previous version to memory. Make the desired changes such as length, width or mirror to the stitch and hit memory. Not all transformations are available for all stitches and the instruction manual identifies those.
The Janome 4120 QDC-B repeats the programmed sequence of stitches until you release the foot control to stop sewing. This makes it easy to create a specific stitch pattern you like from a couple stitches and just let the machine continue to repeat them. Also, the Janome 4120 QDC-B “knows” the maximum speed at which it can do a good job of creating the stitch variations. Don’t be surprised if the Janome 4120 QDC-B slows while sewing when it gets to a particular stitch. When the next stitch allows, it speeds up again.
The Janome 4120 QDC-B has a special routine programmed into it for sewing select patterns with the included twin needles. Also included is a second thread spool holder to place second thread spool in the right place to be out of the way and operate tangle free. The stitch card shows the twin needle-compatible stitches by shading them on the card. The manual covers using twin needle stitching very well and is worth the read.
Included with the Janome 4120 QDC-B is the free quilting package. We get a Janome open toe darning foot, Janome walking foot, Janome cloth guide, Janome quilt guide, Janome 1/4" seam foot, and a Janome darning foot. Also included is a large 16” by 11”-extension table with leveling feet.
I have never made a quilt in my life (yet) but could not do most of the things I do without a larger work table than comes with most machines. The included walking foot is the only smart way to work with multiple layers of fabric. Discovering this “Quilting Package” as a free bonus is like finding free money. Plus, all the pieces are genuine Janome products, not a cheap “freebie” aftermarket pieces. Most of us wind up making a wide range of project types. The components of this bonus package will serve you well in many of those projects, not just with quilts. Of course, having this set means learning what it takes to make quilts is in my not-so-distant future.
The first thing I noticed about the Janome 4120 QDC-B was how smooth-running it is. The table that I originally sewed on was rather flexible so a machine with any appreciable vibration can work its way into a sizable up and down lope that can make the area surrounding the needle difficult to focus on. Where I would have to slow the lesser machines down considerably to be rid of the vibration I can run the Janome 4120 QDC-B wide open.
The smoothness of the Janome 4120 QDC-B belies the power this machine has for working with a huge range of fabrics and layer combinations. I routinely work with three-layer sandwiches, canvas, batting/padding, and flannel when making my FlyingRC.net Protector Sets. Then, joining the sandwich-based panels can double or triple those layers. When encountering those multi-thickness junctions, the Janome 4120 QDC-B seems not to strain at all. It just hums along placing stitches where they are supposed to go. Thread tensioning appears unchanged despite many of these fabric thickness changes, making the stitches appear surprisingly consistent as well.
When I first saw the range of features packed into the Janome 4120 QDC-B I thought learning to operate it might be a long-term endeavor. As with anything, it takes a bit of time to get familiar with the controls and selecting stitches. However, the well-done instruction manual and logical layout of the controls shortens that learning curve considerably. Learning to use the core set of daily use features took minutes to figure out. Something else that impressed me was the adjustments make a difference in what is happening at the needle without being excessive. Sneaking up on the precise result needed is surprisingly simple. Once set, the adjustments remain consistent until changed by the operator or another significant factor. Chasing a setup just isn’t part of the deal with using the Janome 4120 QDC-B.
The selection of stitches makes it a good bet that you can find something that works with your project. And, the Janome 4120 QDC-B sews these stitches with exceptional sharpness. I’ve not noticed any deficiency in applying a stitch on whatever fabric I am using. Stitches keep turning out clean, sharp and consistent.
A word of caution regarding the alphabet stitches that live within the Janome 4120 QDC-B computer. As with virtually any sewing machine we are limited to the 7mm height. That is an important consideration when thinking about how the finished letters appear with the rest of the project.
Also, when it comes to sewing lettering the Janome 4120 QDC-B makes a great sewing machine and a poor embroidery machine. I know there are combination embroidery/sewing machines out there, but I think the best of those add sewing capabilities to a purpose-designed embroidery machine. Without the stepper motor running a moving fence, whatever you “embroider” with the Janome 4120 QDC-B is going to be extremely basic and 7mm tall.
Prelude: I have been doing Reviews for decades on everything from Woodworking, Metalworking, Radio Control and now Sewing. Despite having Reviewed dozens of high-quality tools and machines in the last couple decades I must admit being shocked at how good the Janome 4120 QDC-B is. The other sewing machines currently in my “shop” and the ones I have Reviewed earlier all work well, do their jobs, often better than expected, and represent good values for the number of our dollars required to obtain them.
The Janome 4120 QDC-B is in a different class and I realize that is literal as it cost roughly twice as much as many of the other machines I have Reviewed/used. That said, the Janome 4120 QDC-B is worth every penny and I have, at this writing, been using it a few months longer than the other machines I have Reviewed. Either the Janome 4120 QDC-B really is that good or I have had some sort of metaphysical rebirth in my sleep that includes a dramatic upgrade in my sewing skills. Mystical I am not so it must be the Janome 4120 QDC-B.
The list of features built into the Janome 4120 QDC-B could be intimidating were it not for thoughtful design and engineering. The result is a surprisingly user-friendly machine that I could run effectively in minutes of taking it out of the box. That kind of regard for the end-user can transform your home sewing, especially if the Janome 4120 QDC-B represents your jump to computerized sewing machines.
At $649.99 (8-24-2018) the Janome 4120 QDC-B is not the cheapest machine available, but it just might be the best value on the market considering everything it comes with and its capabilities. The “B” quilting bonus is no small consideration here, even if you are not a quilter – yet.
My plan has been to buy the best sewing machine I could find for the dollars I had available, use it, Review it and then sell it to begin funding for the next machine to be Reviewed. Having used the Janome 4120 QDC-B in my shop for a few months now (9-18-2018) on projects skewed my future intentions for this machine. I think this machine will stay in my shop. While not ruling out the possibility of getting a better machine in the future I am reasonably certain that will not happen anytime soon. It is going to take some doing to out-shine the Janome 4120 QDC-B in my or anyone else’s shop.
If you are looking to upgrade to a newer, better sewing machine the Janome 4120 QDC-B should be high on your must-see list. It is going to be hard to get more bang for your sewing machine buck, if that can be done at all.
All yesmensew.com written, photographic and drawn materials are property of and copyright by Tom Hintz and NewWoodworker.com LLC 2013-2019. Materials cannot be used in any way without the prior written permission of the owner.