This is the story of my sewing machine foot control and how it got “out of control”. I tried multiple times to repair it, but alas it couldn’t be relied upon so I went and bought another one.
What Went Wrong
A few years ago the foot control on my 2003 Janome Memory Craft 3500 would get stuck in the down position. I would be merrily sewing along, lift my foot up to adjust what I was sewing or to go around a corner, and “whoosh” the machine would keep going. Then there was a desperate mission to get back control.
The first few times it happened I’d just veer off what I was sewing. Eventually, I knew to quickly flick the switch on my sewing machine to turn it off.
The unusual thing was it wouldn’t happen twice in a row. It was quite random. Or maybe I just walked away making sure I still had all my fingers?
My Attempts to Fix the Foot Control
My husband has an electronics background so I asked for his opinion on what to do. His suggestion was to open it up, clean out any dust or debris and clean any contacts with some Rubbing Alcohol.
I am not very game when it comes to touching things that I have no business touching, so I got him to do it the first few times. When it become a regular activity, I was no longer worried. I happily opened it up and did as he suggested.
There is only one screw holding the foot control together so it was quite a simple process.
Step 1. Unscrew the foot control screw
Step 2. Put some Rubbing Alcohol on a cotton tip and rub this onto the contact points (those black tracks).
As you can see in this video when you press on the foot control it is just this white section moving. Attached to that are two bars that extend to the board beneath and making contact.
Step 3. Rescrew the foot control and see if it works properly
Is it Fixed?
As you may have guessed it worked for a little while. Weeks. Sometimes months. Then all of a sudden it would happen again. I became quite good at pulling it apart, applying alcohol and getting back to work.
This went on for a year or two.
When I had my sewing machine serviced last year I asked about the cost of a replacement foot control. They only had a second-hand one and the price they quoted was more than I would pay for something second-hand.
So the search began for a new foot control.
Where do you even get a Janome Foot Control?
This is where Google was my friend. I searched for a “Janome Memory Craft 3500 Foot Control”.
I did my due diligence and looked at all the options available within Australia. Compared prices, including shipping and the different types of foot controls.
Where I bought my Janome Foot Control
I decided to buy it from Janome Sewing Centre who are based in Queensland.
I bought some other spare parts from them (light bulb, flat felling foot, bobbins) just a few months prior and my order was delivered quickly and packaged very well, so not a hard choice in the end.
There were 3 options for my sewing machine from them. The first was exactly the same foot control I have (and is now not working) for $109. The second was a large foot control for $129. I did search what the advantages were but couldn’t come up with anything. So I went with the third option a Janome Rectractable Foot Control for $109.
A couple of reasons for choosing this foot control:
- I didn’t want to have the same foot control
- A fellow sewist liked the retractable feature
At one of my Sewing Guild meetings a year or two ago (or maybe more), another member mentioned when we were packing up our machines that she finds the retractable cord to be so useful when going to workshops.
I don’t go to too many workshops. And my Sewing Guild group only has one meeting a year where we bring our sewing machines for charity sewing, all our other meetings are presentations/discussions. But you never know what’s around the corner, and having it just retract itself rather than wrapping cords is so convenient.
Janome Sewing Centre has free shipping for orders over $400 but I knew I wouldn’t be getting to that price point. But I did buy some thread and a Walking Foot that I’ve wanted to buy for a few years (the foot not the thread). That way I could utilise the $12 Flat Rate for Postage.
Unboxing My Foot Control
My order was delivered within the week. It was packaged in a padded bag so everything arrived safely.
The foot control has a 1.5m cord that is just perfect for how I have my sewing machine setup.
To retract the cord you give it a little tug and it snaps back in.
I plugged in the foot control and put it to work.
Janome Foot Control at Work
I have been using this foot control for the last two months and it hasn’t missed a beat.
I did find it slipping around a bit on carpet, so I put on some stick-on Velcro. I used the scratchy loop side on the protruding bar, the only part that touches the carpet.
I had done this on my old foot control many years ago, and although it doesn’t stop slippage all the time, especially when you have a dog who likes to sit at your feet, it definitely limits the movement.
I had to use a different placement on my new foot pedal as only the protruding part touches the carpet, unlike my old one which is always in contact. Different design means different solution.
Overall I’m happy with my purchase and would be happy to use Janome Sewing Centre again.
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