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Janome MC500E vs. MC400E

Janome MC500E vs. MC400E: Choosing Right Embroidery Machine for Your Projects

Table Of Content


Upgrading your current embroidery setup often leads to the question: which machine best suits your needs? For those having know-how in the Janome range, the MC500E and MC400E stand out as dedicated embroidery machines, each offering a suite of features tailored to creative projects. Understanding the variations between these two models is crucial for making an informed decision.

In this blog, we are going to find the comparison between these two top-line models which are under the Janome’s umbrella.

Janome Memory Craft 500E

The Janome Memory Craft 500E is a great embroidery machine forexperts alike. It offers cutting-edge features and detailed stitching capabilities to bring your embroidery tasks to life.

Janome Memory Craft 500E Features

Following features are listed below:

  1. Great Embroidery Area

  2. Embroidery Speed

  3. Embroidery Designs

  4.  LCD Display

  5. Embroidery Thread Cutter

  6. Embroidery Hoop Sizes

  7. Independent Motor Facilities


Great Embroidery Area

The Janome Memory Craft 500E gives you plenty of space to work with—its 7.9" x 11" embroidery area is perfect for larger, more detailed designs. No need to stop and rehoop constantly, which means less hassle and more time to focus on the fun part.


Embroidery Speed


With a maximum embroidery speed of 860 stitches/minute, the Janome Memory Craft 500E ensures efficient and precise stitching. The machine utilizes advanced technology to produce flawless embroidery results.

Embroidery Designs


The 500E has 160 built-in embroidery designs, including many motifs, patterns, and monogram fonts. These designs serve different styles and themes, offering endless creative possibilities. The machine lets you bring in your designs via USB, expanding your design library.

LCD Display


The Janome Memory Craft 500E features a full-colour LCD touchscreen display. This display not only makes it easy to navigate the machine's functions and settings, but also provides on-screen editing and design preview options. These features allow you to visualize your embroidery before stitching, ensuring precision and reducing the risk of errors, thereby enhancing your overall embroidery experience.

Embroidery Thread Cutter




The 500E is equipped with an automatic thread cutter that conveniently cuts both the top and bobbin threads at the touch of a button. This time-saving feature enhances your efficiency, allowing you to seamlessly transition from one embroidery task to the next, making you feel productive and in control of your time.

Embroidery Hoop Sizes  

The machine's hoop sizes can adjust to different fabric thicknesses and types. The Janome Memory Craft 500E includes multiple hoop options, such as the standard, practical, and square hoop, providing versatility for various embroidery projects. This versatility empowers you to take on a wide range of projects, making you feel flexible and capable.

Independent Motor Facilitates

The Janome Memory Craft 500E's independent motor facilitates the bobbin winding process. This time-saving feature allows you to wind bobbins while continuing to embroider, eliminating downtime and ensuring a smooth workflow. This efficiency makes you feel roductive and in control of your time.

Janome Memory Craft 500E Accessories

Embroidery Hoops

Comes with multiple hoop sizes to match whatever project you're working on big or small.

Bobbin Set

Extra bobbins to keep different thread colours ready

Spool Holders & Caps

Helps in smooth thread feeding

Needle Set

Standard embroidery needles

Embroidery Foot P 

Essential for precise embroidery

Scissors 

Small trimming scissors for cutting thread

Cleaning Brush

To maintain the machine and keep it dust-free

Seam Ripper

For removing stitches if needed

Template Sheets

Helps in accurate hoop placement

USB Cable 

For transferring embroidery designs

Instruction Manual & Quick Reference Guide

Easy-to-follow setup and usage


Optional Accessories (Sold Separately):

Extra Hoops (Larger or Smaller sizes)

Magnetic Bobbins for smoother embroidery

Embroidery Stabilizers & Threads for better results

Janome Memory Craft 400E


The Memory Craft 400E is an embroidery-only prototype with advanced editing faculty. Its notable feature is the ability to design and create in the edit screen, choosing from the machine's built-in designs, which include 160 embroidery designs, six fonts for monogramming, border designs, and normal sewing designs. With this innovative machine, the options are truly endless.

Personalising, embellishing, and monogramming home décor items, clothing, and accessories is a breeze with the MC400E. With a maximum embroidery size of 200 x 200mm, you can take on a wide range of projects. Embroidery designs are easily imported to the machine via a USB stick (up to 16GB).

These imported designs can also be edited through the machine's advanced on-screen editing functions. The LCD colour touch screen makes navigation through all of these features a breeze, ensuring that even beginners can confidently use the machine.


Features of Memory Craft 400E

  1. Full embroidery size

  2. 160 built-in designs

  3. 6 different fonts for monogramming with two and three-letter monogramming

  4. Embroidery sewing speed: 400-860 SPM

  5. Flexible stitch travelling (by units of 1, 10, & 100)

  6. On-screen editing functions include enlarging/reducing, rotating, flipping, dragging and dropping arc, combining, copying and pasting, grouping, corner layout, single colour sewing, and zooming.

  7. SQ20b Hoop (7.9" x 7.9")


Full Embroidery Size

The Janome MC500E offers a spacious 7.9" x 7.9" embroidery area, perfect for larger designs.

Built-in Designs

Comes with 160 pre-loaded embroidery designs, giving you plenty of creative options.

Monogramming Fonts

Features 6 different fonts for custom lettering, including two and three-letter monogramming.

Embroidery Speed

Adjustable speed ranging from 400 to 860 stitches per minute (SPM) for precise stitching.

Flexible Stitch Traveling

Easily navigate stitches in units 1, 10, or 100 for quick adjustments.

Embroidery Hoop

Includes a SQ20b hoop (7.9" x 7.9"), ensuring stability for detailed embroidery work.

Accessories of Memory Craft 400E

Embroidery Foot P

This Janome Metal P Foot has been custom-designed to perfectly fit these Janome Embroidery machines: MC300E, MC350E, MC370E, MC400E, MC500E, and MC550E.

5 x Janome Plastic Embroidery Bobbins

These crystal-clear plastic bobbins are compatible with all Janome Sewing and embroidery machines except the 1600P, HD9, MB4, and MB7.

Embroidery’s Needle Set

The Janome assorted needle set includes two sizes: 75/11, 1 size 90/14, 1 blue tip, and a 1-2 mm twin or double needle. Use with all Janome Machines that use the flat back type of needle.

Large Size Embroidery Screwdriver

Many Janome Machines come standard with a small and/or large screwdriver to help extract needles and other accessories from your machine. Screwdrivers should be used to tighten or loosen screws when required gently.

Flat Size Embroidery Screwdriver

The Janome Memory Craft 400E embroidery machine has a flat screwdriver as part of its accessory kit.

Lint Brush

Perfect for cleaning around the bobbin, the feed dogs and any other accessible areas.

Two Large Spool Holder

This Janome Spool Stand attachment attaches to the rear of sewing machines and holds five spools. It has a telescopic thread guide, just like an overlocker.

Two Small Spool Holder

This Janome Spool Stand attachment attaches to the rear of sewing machines and holds five spools. It is also available in small sizes.

Two Special Spool Holder

Compatible with Janome Models Continental CM17, Continental M7, DC2015, MC14000 Horizon, MC15000V3, and MC400E.

An Extra Spool Pin

Hold the thread firmly for smooth embroidery operations and the safety of needles.

Embroidery Scissor

Embroidery scissors are small, sharp, and pointy scissors designed for cutting threads and small fabric pieces in embroidery projects.

Touch Panel Stylus

A touch panel stylus is a pen-like tool designed to interact with touchscreens. It offers more precise and accurate input than using fingertips.

Bobbin Holder Cleaner

The bobbin holder cleanser is mainly used to fade and take off ashes that can collect in the bobbin case, hook race, and girding areas.

Bobbin Holder with Red Dot

This high-tension version with a red dot has approximately 13-15 grams of tension, which is ideal for sewing/embroidery machines.

Bobbin Holder with Yellow Dot

The yellow dot bobbin case has twice the tension of the standard bobbin case (red mark).

Power Cable

Janome MC400E Embroidery Only Machine Foot Controls / Power Cords.

Instruction Book

The instruction book for Janome MC400E to help the user.

Quick Reference Guide

The quick reference is a handy piece of help for the guide.

Template Sheet with Built-in Designs CD

Embroidery Design Template CD for Janome 400E. The DVD also comes in the set for the proper machine walkthrough.

Soft Machine Cover

The cover comes with it to cover the whole machine and its accessories to prevent dust.


Janome MC500E vs. MC400E


Feature

Janome MC500E

Janome MC400E


Embroidery Area

7.9" x 11"

7.9" x 7.9"

Built-in Designs

160

160

Monogramming Fonts

6 fonts

6 fonts

Embroidery Speed

Up to 860 stitches per minute

400–860 stitches per minute

USB Import Capability

Yes

Yes

LCD Touchscreen

Full-color, on-screen editing

Full-color, on-screen editing

Thread Cutter

Automatic

Manual

Independent Bobbin Winder

Yes

No

Hoop Sizes Included

Multiple sizes up to 7.9" x 11"

SQ20b (7.9" x 7.9") only

Best For

Larger, complex embroidery projects

Smaller or mid-sized embroidery jobs

Price Range

Higher

Budget-friendly



The Final Judgement

Go for the Janome Memory Craft 500E; if you need a larger embroidery area, faster stitching speeds, and a more advanced set of features. This model is perfect for those who frequently work on more significant projects or need the ability to handle multiple hoop sizes and designs without rehooping.


Go for the Janome Memory Craft 400E; if you want a dependable, feature-packed machine at a lower price. It’s ideal for those who mainly work on smaller designs or don’t require the maximum embroidery size and speed of the 500E model.


Finally, your judgment will rely on the scale and complexity of your embroidery projects and your budget. Both machines are high-quality choices, but understanding the features that matter most will help you make the right choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Janome MC500E and MC400E?

The MC500E has a larger embroidery area (7.9" x 11"), while the MC400E has a smaller area (7.9" x 7.9"). The MC500E also includes more built-in designs and advanced features.

How many built-in embroidery designs do these machines have?

The MC500E has 160 designs, while the MC400E offers 100 built-in designs.

What is the embroidery speed difference?

Both machines have an adaptable speed, but the MC500E runs slightly faster, ranging from 400 to 860 stitches per minute, while the MC400E maxes out at 850 SPM.

Is the Janome MC500E worth the extra cost over the MC400E?

If you need larger embroidery areas, more designs, and higher speed, the MC500E is worth the investment. However, for smaller projects, the MC400E is still a great choice.

Which machine is better for large embroidery projects?

The Janome MC500E is better suited for large embroidery projects due to its larger hoop size and expanded embroidery area.




Related Tags

#Embroidery Machine

Liza Charles

Vector Artist

Liza Charles is a professional vector artist and embroidery digitizing expert with over a decade of experience. Known for her award-winning designs, she crafts unique applique creations and shares valuable industry tips through her blog at Digitizing USA.