Janome Skyline S3 Review – Efficient, Powerful Machine

Sleek, modern, efficient and quick, the Skyline S3 from Janome is one of the best home sewing machines on the market. Designed with convenience and precision in mind, this machine offers more than 100 stitches, dozens of needle positions, one-step buttonholes, multiple LED lights and just about every feature a seamstress could dream of.

Janome Skyline S3 Features

• 120 built-in stitches
• Multiple needle positions
• Adjustable stitch width
• Bright LEDs in three locations for complete illumination
• Automatic tension system
• High presser foot lift
• Backlit LCD screen
• Automatic thread cutter
• 25-year factory warranty

What Sets the Skyline S3 Apart from the Competition?

Janome designs and manufactures sewing machines for serious seamstresses. Every last detail of this machine was created to make sewing easier and more enjoyable. With Janome’s precision and high-end design, you get professional results every time when you use the Skyline S3.

To understand just how powerful and advanced this machine is, you need to explore its features.

120 Built-In Stitches

The Skyline S3 comes with an impressive 120 stitches, so you can choose the right stitch for the job. The machine also includes seven one-step buttonholes and one alphabet.

All of the stitches are listed and depicted on a chart inside the machine’s top cover. Just use the keypad on the front of the machine to choose your stitch, and get ready to sew.

Four Ultra-Bright LEDs

Let’s face it – the lighting in your home isn’t optimal for sewing. That’s why most sewing machines come with a built-in LED light that illuminates your workspace.

The Skyline S3 takes it one step further by offering not just one but four LED lights.

These ultra-bright LEDs light up your entire workspace, so you can see your project clearly in any light.

Automatic Tension Control and Thread Cutter

The Skyline S3 was designed to make your life easier. That’s why Janome included an automatic tension control and an automatic thread cutter.

When in “A” mode, this intelligent sewing machine will adjust the tension as needed based on the thickness of the fabric. You also have the option of adjusting the tension manually if you prefer this method.

Backlit LCD Screen

The Skyline S3 comes equipped with digital controls for easy stitch selection. The blue backlit LCD screen displays not only the stitch number, but the tension level, width and other useful information.

With the Skyline S3, you can see virtually all of your settings at a glance in one central location.

Multiple Needle Positions and Stitch Widths

Want even more control over your stitches? The Skyline S3 allows to choose from 71 unique needle positions for extreme accuracy with decorative stitches. The multiple needle positions alone make this sewing machine a great option for quilters.

In addition to being able to choose the needle’s position, you can also adjust the width of the stitches up to 7mm. With extra-wide stitches, you can take your decorative stitches to the next level by making them the center of attention. This also allows you to easily fill in large areas with more stitching. The stitch length is adjustable, too, up to 5mm.

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Convenient Controls and Features

The Skyline S3 makes it easy to adjust the machine’s settings, and offers convenient features that every seamstress can appreciate.

At the front of the machine, right above the needle, are easy convenience buttons. These buttons allow you to:

• Start and stop the needle
• Lock the stitch
• Move the needle up and down
• Cut the thread
• Control the sewing speed
• Reverse stitches

There are other convenient features, too, like the conversion plate on the front of the machine that allows for one-step conversions.

Other great features that save you time include:

• Bobbin winder
• One-hand needle threader
• Easy-set bobbin
• Drop feed
• Memorized up/down needle position
• Free arm

The S3 makes it easy to set up the machine and get started on your next project right away.

Superior Plus Feed Dog System (SFS+)

The Skyline S3 comes equipped with Janome’s famous SFS+ system (Superior Plus Feed Dog System). The SFS+ has a 7-piece feed teeth, but it also has a feed system that rotates in a box feed system instead of the usual elliptical rotation. In other words, the feed teeth all come up at the same time, move back at the same time, and drop down at the same time.

The SFS+ system ultimately gives you a more controlled feed.

High Presser Foot and Pressure Adjustment

Speaking of a more controlled feed, the S3 also has a pressure adjustment feature that allows you to control how hard the presser foot pushes down on the feed teeth. And the extra-high presser foot lift allows you to work with extra-thick fabrics.

Multiple Accessories

The Skyline S3 comes with a slew of accessories to help you get started, and there are optional accessories you can buy as well.

The standard accessories include:

• Zipper foot
• Automatic buttonhole foot
• 1/4″ seam foot
• Blind hem foot
• Satin stitch foot open toe
• Overedge foot
• Zig-zag foot

These additional presser feet allow you to take on just about any sewing project you can imagine.

But if you want to kick it up a notch, you can buy additional accessories (there are dozens) including:

• Applique foot
• Binder foot
• Hemmer foot
• Pintucking cord guide
• Quilting attachment kit
• Scissor kit
• Ruffler
• Circular sewing attachment
• Quilting guide
• Darning foot
• High shank for free motion quilting
• Seam ripper

These are just a few of the many accessories you can buy for the Skyline S3.

What We Liked

There’s a lot to like about the Janome Skyline S3. It is less expensive than the outstanding Janome 7700 and still has just about every feature a seamstress could want in a sewing machine, and it’s made by one of the most respected brands in the industry.

Here’s what we liked about this sewing machine:

• More stitches than you’ll ever need
• Extra-wide stitch width for decorative stitches that stand out
• Ultra-bright LED lights, so you can see clearly in any lighting
• Automatic tension control and thread cutter is convenient
• More than 70 needle positions for fine stitch adjustments
• Easy threading and easy-set bobbin
• Multiple presser feet included
• Large workspace (8.25″)

What We Didn’t Like

It’s difficult to find any fault with the Skyline S3. The quality is top-notch, and the features are advanced and convenient.

The only real complaint we have is the cost – and that’s a hard complaint to justify. The S3’s cost may be out of reach for a lot of home seamstresses, but if you’re serious about your craft, it’s a machine worth saving up for.

The Janome Skyline S3 is the entry-level model in the Skyline series, but still offers some of the best features you can find in a home sewing machine.

Whether you’re a serious hobbyist or a professional seamstress, the S3 is a great fit for any craft room. This high-end machine will give you the control, precision and speed you crave to tackle even the most challenging sewing projects.

Janome’s quality is hard to beat and the versatility of this machine makes it a worthwhile investment. The S3 is just as comfortable sewing a pair of leggings as it is working through a thick quilt or leather purse.

Click here to view pricing and availability of the Janome Skyline S3

Other Quilting Machine Options

The Janome S3 is a fantastic quilting machine, but may not suit your needs or be out of your budget range. Not to worry, there are many other models you can choose from. If you want to see some quilting machines we recommend you can find them on this post.