Product · Janome
Janome Skyline S3 AE: 120 stitches, extra-wide space
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The Janome Skyline S3 Anniversary Edition brings the extra-wide Skyline workspace to a lighter, simpler machine. It suits quilters and home sewists who want room for bigger projects and controls that make long seams easy, without the weight or stitch count of the larger Skyline S6. At 8.39 kg it is the lightest machine in the quilting guide.
- Throat space
- 8.25 x 4.7 in (210 x 119 mm)
- Feed
- 7 piece feed dog
- Stitch regulator
- Not stated
- Stitches
- 120
- Weight
- 8.39 kg
In its favour
- The same 8.25 by 4.7 inch space as the larger Skyline, in a lighter 8.39 kg machine.
- A 7 piece feed dog and drop feed for free motion quilting are listed.
- Start/stop, a speed control slider and an automatic needle threader are included features.
Good to know
- There is no automatic thread cutter or stitch regulator in the listing.
- A walking foot is not listed among the accessories.
Our take
Workspace and lighting
Janome lists an extra-wide 8.25 by 4.7 inch sewing space with built-in LED lighting. That room to the right of the needle matters most when quilting the centre of a quilt or managing a full curtain panel. Good lighting over the whole bed helps when following seam lines on busy prints.
Controls
An automatic needle threader, a start/stop button, a speed control slider and precise thread tension adjustment are listed. Start/stop with a slow speed setting is useful for straight-line quilting, because you can concentrate on guiding the quilt rather than holding a steady pedal pressure.
The LCD shows stitch selection, width and length.
Feed and drop feed
A 7-piece feed dog system is stated, which spreads grip across a wider area for even feeding of layers. The drop feed lets you lower the dogs for free motion quilting and embroidery. The listing does not mention a dual feed or walking foot, so consider adding one for straight-line quilting on larger pieces.
Stitches
The machine has 120 built-in stitches, including utility, decorative and quilting patterns. That is fewer than the Skyline S6 AE's 196, but more than most beginners use. The listing does not state the number of buttonholes or stitch width.
For quilters, 120 stitches still includes the essentials: a straight stitch for piecing, a few quilting stitches that imitate hand quilting, a blanket stitch for appliqué and a range of decorative borders. Most quilters rely on a small handful of these day to day.
Against the Skyline S6 AE and Juki HZL-F600
The Skyline S6 AE has the same 8.25 by 4.7 inch workspace with 196 stitches, 10 one-step buttonholes and an automatic thread cutter, but weighs 14.5 kg. The Juki HZL-F600 offers 255 stitches but does not state its workspace. The S3 AE is the lighter, simpler choice.
Within Janome, the 5270QDC is an alternative with a knee lifter and thread cutter.
Verdict
Choose the Janome Skyline S3 AE if you want an extra-wide workspace, start/stop and speed control in a lighter quilting machine. If you want more stitches, buttonholes and a thread cutter, the Skyline S6 AE is the step up, and the Juki HZL-F600 suits anyone who prioritises stitch count.
Compared with alternatives in: Best sewing machines for quilting, Janome sewing machines compared
Amazon listing title: Janome Skyline S3 Anniversary Edition Sewing Machine