Janome Sewist 500 User manual

Beginning ewing eBook
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1. Spool Pin – This ho ds your thread as
you sew.
2. Bobbin winder spindle – Ho ds the bob-
bin in p ace when winding bobbins.
3. Bobbin release – Once your thread fi s
the bobbin, this re eases, causing bobbin
winding to stop.
4. Stitch width dial – Contro s the width of
your stitch. Higher number equa s a wider
stitch. Use this on zig zag stitches.
5. Stitch Selection dial – Use this to se ect
from the various stitches on your machine.
Computerized machines may have buttons
and an LCD screen to indicate stitch se ec-
tion.
6. Handwheel – Use this to manua y raise
and ower the need e from the fabric. A -
ways turn the handwhee toward you.
7. Stitch length dial – Use
this to change the ength of
your stitch. A higher number indi-
cates a onger stitch. The ongest set-
ting is ca ed a basting stitch, and is used
to ho d fabrics together temporari y.
8. Reverse stitch lever – Use this to sew
backward. Predominant y used to ock
stitches at the start and end of seams.
9. Power Switch – Turns machine power
on and off.
10. Bobbin winder tension guide – Regu-
ates the tension on the thread when wind-
ing a bobbin. Use your manua or use
indicators on the machine to determine the
threading process for bobbin winding.
11. Thread tension dial – Contro s the ten-
sion of your top thread. A higher number in-
dicates more tension app ied to the thread.
12. Thread take-up lever – Moves up and
down with the need e bar as you sew.
13. Needle clamp screw – Ho ds the nee-
d e in p ace. Loosen to remove an o d nee-
d e, put a new need e in p ace, then tighten
to secure the need e.
14. Presser Foot – Is raised and owered
using a ever on the back or right side of
the need e bar. When down, ho ds fabric in
p ace for sewing. When it is raised it re-
eases thread tension. A ways thread the
machine with the presser foot in the raised
position.
15. Bobbin cover – Covers the bobbin
area whi e sewing.
16. Bobbin cover release button – Push to
re ease the bobbin case cover and insert a
new bobbin.
17. Feed dog – Group of ‘teeth’ that feed
fabric forward when sewing. Some ma-
chines have a ever to drop the feed dogs,
enab ing the user to feed fabric manua y
(not recommended for beginners – used
for specia app ications).
18. Needle – Moves up and down to cre-
ate stitches.
19. Needle plate – a meta p ate beneath
the need e and presser foot. Often con-
tains markings to aid in stitch p acement.
Contains an opening for the need e, and
one for the feed dogs.
Specia thanks to sew4home.com.
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Use this se ing machine
map to help you get
acquainted ith the
parts of your se ing
machine.

Cutting
• hears
• nips
• eam Rippers
• Pinking hears
Measuring and Marking
• Chalk Pencil
• Tape Meausre
• Gridded Ruler
• Vanishing Fabric Marker
• Regular Pencil

ewing
• Thread
• Pins
• Needles
• Iron
• Bobbins
• Fabric
Your Machine
Mechanical Computerized
The Janome ewist 500
• Use dials for stitch selection
• Components are controlled by
mechanical means, rather than a
computer
The Janome Magnolia 7330
• Computerized machines offer a
wider range of features, and
memory capabilities

Mechanical Machines
Stitch Selection
• Change stitches by
dial selector
• May be called Pattern
election
Handwheel
• Use this to manually raise and
lower your needle
• Very important for turning
corners, when you want your
needle to remain in the fabric
• Always turn the handwheel
toward you
Stitch Length
Adjustment
• Use this to adjust your
stitch length for differ-
ent applications
• Adjust stitches from
1-5; Use 2-3 for normal
sewing
• A long stitch (5),
called a basting stitch,
can be used to hold
fabric together tem-
porarily
• Remember: the
smaller your stitches,
the harder it is to
remove them!
Stitch Width Adjustment
• Use this to make your
stitches wider – especially
helful on zig-zag stitch
• Be careful which foot you
have on when making
adjustments, so you don’t
break your needle!
Reverse Stitch Lever
•Used to secure
stitching at the start
and end of seams
Tension Adjustment
•When diagnosing tension problems, always re-
thread your top and bobbin thread and try
sewing again. This often does the trick
• When tension is out of balance, threads will
break, or seams will pucker
• Problems with the top thread will appear on
the bottom and vice versa
• To loosen, adjust to lower number. To tighten,
go to higher number; move 1/2 step increments
and test
• This only adjusts the top tension, if you have
loops on the top of your fabric, make sure the
bobbin thread is in the case correctly
Threading
• Make sure you always thread your
machine with the presser foot up
• Many machines have numbered
guides to follow
• Reference your manual for specific
threading instructions

Computerized Machines
Convenience Features
•Computerized machines in-
clude a number of additional
features to make sewing easier
• These include a locking
stitch button, a memorized
needle up/down button and
a start/stop button
Speed Control Slider
•Use the slider to control
your speed. et it low for
difficult angles and curves
Stitch Adjustment Buttons
• Buttons, rather than dials, allow
you to change stitches and
settings

Feed Dog
• This feature pulls your fabric forward
when sewing
• The more advanced machines may
have a higher number of feed dogs, or
may have additional abilities, like a built
in walking foot, to advance fabric from
the top and bottom at once
Plate Guides
•Use seam guides to help guide your
fabric as you are sewing
• Line the fabric with a guide, and look
at that as you sew, not at the needle
and fabric
• There are also add-on fabric guides,
and feet with guides for special tasks

Winding a Bobbin
• Reference your machine’s
manual for specifics
•Follow threading instructions
• Push-Pull type — pull out
handwheel to wind
• Auto-Declutch — Push over
the bobbin pin; the bobbin re-
leases when full
Inserting the Bobbin
•Reference your machine’s man-
ual for specific instructions
•The bobbin locks the stitches on
the bottom of your seam
• The bobbin thread has its own
tension, and you have to make
sure that the thread is engaged
in the tension spring

Making eams
•You need to secure or lock your stitches at the beginning and ending of each seam
•Use the reverse stitch lever/button to sew in reverse at the start and end of seams
• If your machine offers it, you can use a Locking titch button at the start and end of
seams. This function will tie off your seams for you.
• When sewing, line the fabric up with the needle so that your stitches “catch” when you
start sewing.
Backtacking
• tart at the edge of the fabric and sew a few stitches
• Press the reverse button or lever
• ew backward to the edge of the fabric
• Release lever and sew forward
•Repeat at the end of the seam
Locking titch
• imply press the button at the start and
end of each seam
• Keep the foot pedal depressed until
needle stops moving
• Makes a knot at the back of fabric

Important titches
Decorative
titches
Buttonhole
Blind Hem titch
traight titch
Zig Zag titch
Overedge titch
Basting titch
(straight stitch
with longer
stitch length)
titching Corners
•Needle up/down — keep
needle in fabric at corner,
raise presser foot to pivot
•Clip the corners when
turning to reduce bulk

Make a Simple Hem
Step 1: Cut the abric into one 18” square
Step 2: With wrong sides together, old one edge
over ¼” and press in place. Fold over another ¼”
and press again. The raw edge is now enclosed in
the old.
Step 3: Repeat Step 2 on the edge across rom the
edge you just olded.
Step 4: Pin the two pressed and olded edges in
place.
Step 5: At the machine, stitch the hems in place,
keeping your stitches about 1/8” rom the olded
edge. One trick is to put the right outside edge o the
presser oot against the old to keep a straight line.
Step 6: Repeat steps 2-5 or the remaining two oppo-
site edges o the napkin. Pay special attention to the
corner olds, as there is added bulk in that seam.
Step 7: Press the inished napkin. Repeat steps to
complete additional napkins.
Supplies & Mate ials
• Fabric o Choice or Napkin – You will need
one 18” square or each napkin (You can
get our napkins out o 1 yard o abric
• Thread in a color to match napkin
• Scissors
• Pins
• Iron
• Sewing Machine
Make a Napkin
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8

Step One: Make a template.
Step Two: Place the two pieces o abric or the acorn bot-
tom with right sides together. Trace around the acorn bot-
tom template with a pencil or abric marking pen. You may
choose to pin the abric pieces together.
Step Th ee: At your machine, stitch the two pieces o abric together, ollowing the line drawn rom the
template.
Step Fou : Trim around the shape, leaving about 1/8” o abric past the
stitches. Cut a hole in the abric o the back or turning right side out. Be
care ul to stay away rom the seam edges when cutting, and don’t cut
into the ront o the acorn!
Step Five: Turn the shape right side out and press lat.
Step Six: Repeat steps 2-5 to create the acorn top.
Step Seven: Pin the acorn bottom in place on the napkin, then stitch in place, placing stitches 1/8” rom
the edge o the acorn.
Step Eight: Pin the acorn top in place (we overlapped the bottom slightly). Stitch in place, making
stitches 1/8” rom the edge o the acorn top.
Step One: Create the acorn template.
Step Two: Trace the template onto the back o your
abric, and cut out the pieces.
Step Th ee: Pin the acorn bottom piece to your base
abric and stitch in place, making your stitches about
1/8” rom the edge o the abric.
Step Fou : Pin the acorn top piece on the abric, and
stitch in place, making stitches about 1/8” rom the
edge o the abric.
Step Five: Press.
Supplies & Mate ials
•Scraps o abric or top and bottom o acorn
• Thread in colors to match abric scraps
• Scissors
• Pins
•Pencil or abric marking pen
• Template plastic or cardboard or
acorn templates
• Iron
•Sewing Machine
Appliqué - Raw Edge
Appliqué is attaching abric or embellishment to a base abric.
With raw edge appliqué, you just stitch the shape to the base abric without
turning under the raw edges o the abric.
Step 1
Step 2 Step 3
Finished Raw Edge Appliqué
Step 6
Appliqué - Faced
In Faced Appliqué, you stitch two pieces o abric together, then turn them
right side out so that the edge o the abric is inished.
Supplies & Mate ials
• Napkin or other product or embellishment
• Scraps o abrics in two colors or acorn
• Thread in colors to match abric scraps
• Template plastic or cardboard or
acorn templates
• Scissors
• Pins
• Pencil or Fabric Marking Pen
• Sewing Machine
Step 1
Steps 2-4 Step 5
Finished Faced Appliqué