As soon as I saw the Janome 15822 Hello Kitty sewing machine, I wanted it. The fact that I’ve edged into my 40s didn’t stop me one bit. I try not to have a thing for “cute” but it can’t be helped. It’s in my blood.
Fortunately, my review shows this is also a real – as I can use it to do all kinds of things and it will hold up for ages – machine. You’ll be amazed at how much this little thing can do. It might look like a toy but don’t let that fool you.
Table of Contents
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Built In Stitches / Presser Feet / Functionality / Accessories / Consumer Reviews / Pros, Cons & Manual / Price
REVIEW SUMMARY
MODEL: Janome 15822 Sewing Machine
REVIEWED BY: Erin
RATING: 4.9 
LAST UPDATED: April 8, 2015
COMPARE PRICES
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This is a solid option that won’t only appeal to kids. I’ve already sent the link to my mom to tell her this is the one she needs to consider for my next niece in the lineup. (She buys all the girl grandchildren one for Christmas when they reach a certain age. If only I’d had a girl!)
Great Stitches and Pretty (Smart) Control Knobs
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The product description says there are 22 built in stitches but there are really 25. The manufacturer must not be counting the two needle left stitches (one of the straight and one of the zigzag stitches) and the buttonhole stitch. If you see the machine in person or zero in on the pop up reference stitch which you can see on some of the online retail sites, you can easily count there are 25 images.
(Personally, this just added to the respect I already have for Janome. It means they didn’t feel it necessary to count everything in order to inflate their stitch count which I’ve seen done on other product descriptions.)
It’s also quite a useful set, too, with a mix of utility, stretch, and decorative stitches:
- Straight stitch
- Straight stitch – needle left
- Zigzag
- Multipoint Zigzag (stretch)
- Blind Hem
- Blind Hem Stretch
- Shell stitch
- Fagoting stitch
- Satin Crescent
- Satin Arrowhead
- Satin Diamond
- Satin Three Step Zigzag
- Straight Stretch
- Straight Stretch – needle left
- Stretch Zigzag
- Smocking
- Overcasting
- Stretch Overcasting
- Single Overlock stitch
- Double Overlock stitch
- Satin Stretch 1
- Satin Stretch 2
- Satin Stretch 3
- Cross Stitch
- One-step Bartack Buttonhole
The three knobs on the front are for stitch selection, altering the width (which has a maximum setting of 5mm) and for altering the stitch length (which has a maximum setting of 4mm). The knobs are smartly decorated with a red apple, tulip, and bow. I say smartly because if you’re teaching a young child to sew, think about how easy it will be to point out the right knob to a child: “No, honey, the knob with the flower on it”. Ingenious whether they intended it for that purpose or not.
For those of you who study Janome machines and like to compare them to each other, this set of stitches might look very familiar. It’s the same set as is available on the Janome Sewist 500. In fact, the 15822 is just an inch or so smaller than that model. Just one more piece of evidence that this is a serious machine.
The result of this particular collection means that you have a lot of fabric and project flexibility. It can handle stretchy materials, knits, cottons, and fleece. It can be used for quilting, piecing, making clothes, mending, hemming, and for other creative projects. You can do smocking and even trim the edges of someone’s favorite baby blanket with a scallop satin stitch.
This would carry a child right through her teen years and into adulthood.
Four Slip On Presser Feet Included
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The 15822 comes with four slip on presser feet. Slip ons are as easy to attach as snap on feet. They just slide into a slot on the presser foot holder rather than snapping into place from the bottom up.
The included presser feet are:
- General purpose
- Blind Hem
- Zipper Foot
- Buttonhole Foot
You can also buy additional specialty feet that are compatible with this machine.
Features Included with the Janome 15822
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This is a mechanical machine with a foot pedal so no computer components to worry about later – not that I ever let that hold me back but when you’re buying for a child this is sometimes a plus.
You can’t ignore the look – I like the white background with the Hello Kitty face on the front and the decorated. I also think the bright red and blue Hello Kitty badge on the bottom is acceptable.
Other features include:
- Free arm capable
- Automatic needle threader
- Front loading bobbin
- Tension control dial
- 3 piece feed dog (more about this later)
- Reverse lever (hold down to tie off stitches)
- Automatic declutch bobbin winder
- Speed of 650 stitches per minute
- 5 needle positions
- Built in manual thread cutter
- Vertical thread delivery
- Twin needle capable with 5mm twin needle purchased separately
Of the items on that list, only two make me think “Oh, so close!” First is that it has a front loading bobbin instead of a drop in. I always struggle with the front loading ones but, truly, once you get used to them, they’re not an issue. My mother has used one for years and doesn’t even think twice about it. However, this does mean there’s no see through bobbin cover so you won’t know when you’re about to run out of bobbin thread.
Second is that it has only a three piece feed dog. That’s rather weak and means that you may need more intervention in keeping fabric moving when dealing with thicker materials. I will say, though, of all the users comments I read, no one complained about this.
One other plus, though – it comes in a very pretty, pink box with a large Hello Kitty image on it. It’s nearly as cute as the machine itself and if you’re giving this as a gift, their eyes are going to pop open when they pull off the wrapping.
Dimensions: L 14.5″ x H 10.8″ x W 7.5″
Weight: 14 pounds
Accessories
- Plastic bobbins
- Buttonhole opener
- Needle set
- Screwdriver
- Darning plate
Customer Reviews
Other consumers have written very positive reviews and it looks like the split between children using the Janome 15822 and adults is about even!
Average Online Rating: 4.9
Pros, Cons & Manual
Pros: Pretty. I think I mentioned that. Pretty stitches, too. Decorated stitch control knobs make it easier for children to learn which knob performs which function. Great stitch selection. Solidly built. Extra presser feet included. While you can’t drop the feed dogs there is an included darning plate so you can do free movement sewing. Not a cheapo toy. A pretty good price for a starter Janome.
Cons: Only a 3 piece feed dog. Stitch width and length are a bit limited as compared to some other machines but children won’t notice at all. I only mention this as something of which more experienced sewers should be aware if they are considering this machine. No see through bobbin cover.
Manual: Still not available online as of June 21, 2013 but when it becomes available you’ll be able to find it here (on the Specifications tab): http://content.janome.com/index.cfm/Machines/Sewing-Quilting/Hello_Kitty_15822
COMPARE PRICES
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Features Summary Review:
I’ve been searching for a thorough review of this machine and this is by far, the best (thorough) review I’ve found for this machine. I have a lovely computerized Juki for myself but wanted a good machine for my daughter without breaking the bank. This is the machine I decided on. I tried it out at the dealer last week and felt it would serve her well for many years. Thank you for getting into detail with this review. I found it quite helpful!
Hey, since you gave suh a great and thorough review do you mind giving your opinion on something? I need a machine for home, currently a student working with a lot of leather and sometimes folded so its thicker or has something between it like bontex… Any suggestions for a good machine?… Oh and I’m a total newbie 🙂
Thanks would really appreciate it
Nyla, there are some commercial style machines made to deal with really thick leather but they can cost $1000+. Instead, check out the Singer Heavy Duty 4411. It has a faster motor than most home machines and is meant for going through thick fabrics. Singer makes a leather sewing machine needle so you’d want to make sure to use those for your projects as they’ll go through the material more easily. You also get some additional basic stitches to work with and can sew on everyday fabrics, too.
Let me know if you have any questions about that one. I do have a review on it in the Compare tab table. Thanks!
Sincerely,
Erin
Great website, excellent review (very useful). Thanks so much! Keep up the good work. 🙂
If you had to choose between this Hello Kitty machine and the Magnolia 7318 for a beginning sewer (but hoping to become an expert sewer), which would you recommend? I’m hoping to hem jeans with my machine, make home projects like curtains and blankets, and maybe even stitch leather one day. Will this Hello Kitty machine be able to handle it?
Rita, between the two and for your goals, I’d go with the 7318. It’s going to have a bit better fabric control for your heavier material than the Hello Kitty machine as the feed dog is just a touch more robust. You lose out on having a one step buttonhole by going with the 7318 but you’ll have that extra bit of fabric control and more work space in total. If you’re not tied to getting a Janome but looking to stay in this price range, you might consider the Singer 7258 as an option. You’ll have a lot more to work with and it should hold up to the projects you describe and for less than the cost of either of the Janomes.
Sincerely,
Erin
Erin, thank you so much for replying so quickly! I have never even given thought to getting a Singer because I’ve heard that Janomes are better, but now I am seriously thinking about it. Given all that you know about Singers and Janomes, which brand would you go with if you were in my position, or if you had to buy a new machine? I want a sturdy machine that will sew straight and last a long time without maintenance issues (who doesn’t?).
Rita, I do have a Janome myself and absolutely love it (the Magnolia 7330). It truly is an excellent brand. However, they cost so much more than comparable Singer models so you miss out on a lot of bells and whistles when going with the basic, mechanical Janome. While there are Singer models I wouldn’t recommend, I do think that the Singer 7258 is a great buy. For what you want to do you’ll really like having some of the extras like the sewing speed control and the start/stop button and all those extra stitches.
The one biggest regret I have in choosing my Magnolia is that I don’t have more fun stitches to work with. It’s a great workhorse but I know I could do more projects with something like the Singer.
The difference is that the Janome may last longer but I’d rather get more out of it, if that makes sense. The Singer will certainly sew straight and it’s not like it won’t last for years but it might be slightly more prone to requiring some maintenance along the way. If you follow the care instructions, though, you should get a great deal of mileage out of it and you’ll have more fun being able to work with some of the decorative stitch types with your quilting projects. That particular Singer model has excellent ratings and has been on the market for quite some time now with no serious maintenance issues coming up from other users.
I know that if I were to choose a new machine right now in the price range you’re looking at I’d either go with the Brother CS6000i or the Singer 7258.
I’ve got a comparison wizard on the site (it has some odd image issues at the moment but it still works…). That might help you see more of the differences between the three choices on your list as they’re all in that wizard. You can find the wizard button on the home page.
Thanks!
Erin
Wow!!! This is wonderful!!! I am debating on whether this would be great for plush making or not. Sometimes I do satin stitch and hope to do the nice filled zigzag stitch on some details. I use only fabric for the plushes. Would this be a good machine for it? It’s affordable and within my budget!!!
Minky fabric, sorry
Melissa – Yes, this should be able to handle minky fabric. It’s compatible with a walking foot for low shank machines, too, which I understand can be helpful with this kind of fabric (I haven’t sewn with minky fabric myself).
It is cute, isn’t it? And I can see where sewing plushes with this machine would be way too much fun!
Sincerely,
Erin
Does this machine sew through layers of fleece? Which walking foot is compatible. Thanks in advance