snipforfun

The thing that has helped me the most besides the threading change is to have a single hole needle plate. It allows the fabric to not be pulled down into the hole. Also I always use a leader and do chain stitching when the occasion calls for it.

sewNso

i got my janome 6600P amost as soon as they came out. around may/june 2005. i was told in a quilting class to go get the best/newest which was the 6500, but when i got the the dealer's the 6600 had just came out.
soooo, 8 yrss? and it is the best machine i have ever had. my machine will use any thread. we alllll have to be careful, and make sure the bobbin is threaded, and put in completely right in every aspect. as well as the top threading also.
me as well. and my thread does slip out of the silver take up lever also. pain in the sit-on-it. and if my sewing is right on the edge of the material, yes, it will knot up. just use your long tail on the thread, to help pull your material thru to begin with, to get it away from the edge.
i will make a note of those genie magic bobbins washers tho. it also helps to clean your machine often. i have a medium paint brush i keep handy to clean under the bobbin casing, etc. that is the trick with this machine for free motion quilting. CLEAN EVERY TIME BEFORE YOU START QUILTING. i even prefer my janome in a quilting frame made for another machine. i have even considered getting a new one after 8 yrs. does anyone else keep their machines this long? thx

laurafet

I have a 6500. I have found that I can use any thread, as long as the top and Bobbin thread are the SAME. Also, only use Janome bobbins. The other brands seem to be just a hair off in size. Once I stopped using them, I had no problems at all. If you purchased the machine used, check your bobbin case. It may be cracked or just worn on the edges of the plastic. A very inexpensive item to replace.

C.

I have had my 6600 going into my 7th year now. I have never had one problem with it and I use every type of thread. Yes, you do get the birds nest, but I will use leaders and enders to solve that issue. I have taught several classes and worked on a lot of gals machines during class and 9 out of 10 times it was threaded wrong. But the bunching up of thread underneath was almost always due to the bobbin being placed backwards, as some need to be clockwise and others counter clockwise. With the 6600 it MUST be in counter clock wise or shall I say, the thread has to come off into the counter clockwise motion. If not, your machine will not operate properly. It is the best machine I have, as I have two other Janomes. It is my work horse and free motion quilts beautifully. I will never part with it. Having said all that I would check the bobbin out and your threading and if you still have a problem, go back to dealer. Good luck. C.

Lady Diana

Try again, rethread the machine, if it messes up again, CHECK THE TAKE UP LEVER TO MAKE SURE YOUR THREAD IS IN THE TAKE UP LEVER. I use a variety of threads in my machines ( I have two 6600's) one for home, other for cabin. Love this machine. I have never had a single problem with either one. They are real workhorses. I never use Coats and Clark thread.,,,only because their quality is not as good as the other brands. BTW, Your dealer is also suppose to give your wife free lessons on all the functions of her new machine. Getting back to the take up lever....this is the culprit 9 times out of ten. I go to alot of quilt classes and guild quilt ins and this happens all the time with a number of machines. Janome finally got smart and started making their take up levers with a latch on it so the thread cannot slip out once you thread the machine property. It is hard to see the take up lever on these machines, since it does not come out of the top when you turn the hand wheel like alot of machines so, so peer into the slot with a flashlight...you should be able to tell if the thread is in the lever. I hope this is your problem...and this solves it.

TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THE THREAD COMING OUT, THREAD THE LEVER FROM, LEFT TO RIGHT RATHER THAN RIGHT TO LEFT WHEN GOING THROUGH YOUR THREADING STEPS.
Feel free to PM me if you like. I have owned Janome machines for 35 years. Diana in TX

cricket_iscute

A rat's nest on the bottom means 1) the upper tension is not right or it is not threaded correctly and/or 2) you didn't hold your threads when you started a seam. Since I have used a thread starter -- which is a very small piece of fabric in which I take the first four stitches, then sew on air for a stitch or two, then sew my real seam while still connnected to my thread starter -- I have not had one rat's nest. Not one. Before that, I had a lot of them.

cricket_iscute

When I was taking classes to be a sewing machine mechanic, my instructor said to ALWAYS unplug every machine if you are not right there using it. He says he knows of 26 house fires started by sewing machines left unattended and something fell on the foot pedal: a cat, a kid, someone moved a chair or box on it, etc. Twenty-six houses burned, some to the ground because of that.

irquilter

Yes the Janomes seem to work best with the more expensive threads. Also because the 6600 sews so fast the thread may be coming out of the uptake lever. It is true that when they work well they are great machines, and your service rep should be able to make that happen for you.

patricej

i've had my 6600P for a few years. (three, i think.)
the only problem i've ever had is the thread slipping out of the uptake lever. soooo ... thanks to those who suggested the "backward" threading through the lever. (thanks also to those who referred to that part by a proper name. so much easier to type than "the little arm thingy that goes up and down. LOL)

i use generic Class 15 bobbins with no problems whatsoever.
i have not yet found a brand or type of thread it doesn't like.
- i use mostly Connecting Threads; Aurifil from time to time; and have even played around using Gutterman hand quilting thread in the top (not good for bobbin. creates tension issues.). there's a truely cheapy-cheap generic brand i use occassionally, too.
- i cannot attest to C&C because i can get several other brands for less so stopped buying it before i ever bought the 6600P.
- it's been a while since built bird nests because i put the bobbin in backward, but i promise it was more often than i will ever admit in writing. LOL

i have a lot of the optional accessories, too.
the three i use the most are the 1/4" Accufeed Foot (for attaching binding. i stick with the O2 for piecing), the Open Toe Accufeed Foot, and the blue-dot bobbin case for quilting.

liscarlm9326

Hi Do not despair I was almost tearing my hair out with mine after taking it to Janome dealers to fix and they couldnt I rang a man who used to service my machines 30 years ago and he told me to check the tension spring. Hurray It had slipped out and that was the problem have had no trouble since I was ready to throw it to the tip only it cost me too much.It is fiddly to get to but I would say that is the problem Carmen Australia