The phone goes and it’s the, which sewing machine for bag making question again.
This time it’s a young woman from Bristol and she’s come up to Manchester to visit her grandmother. She phoned to ask if she could call in and try out the Janome HD9 sewing machine.
A few days later, she appeared and, for a change, this young woman had brought a bag full of samples with her.
Janome HD9 – The Bag Maker’s Best Friend
So look – If you make bags for a living, or even just for the love of it, you’ll know that most sewing machines don’t take kindly to thick seams, heavy fabrics, and awkward bulk. The Janome HD9 does. In fact, it relishes the job. This isn’t a “multi-purpose” model that happens to cope with heavier work — it’s a straight-stitch specialist, built for power, speed, and precision.
Built for the Tough Stuff
The HD9 is heavy-duty in more than name. Its all-metal body houses a high-torque motor capable of 1,600 stitches per minute. That means you can feed through layers of canvas, denim, leather, or webbing without the machine groaning, slowing, or skipping. Where a domestic zigzag machine might chatter or stall, the HD9 just drives the needle through.
Straight Stitch Only – and That’s the Point
Don’t be asking why it doesn’t do zigzag. Excuse me, why doesn’t it do zig-zag. Didn’t I just say…
The answer is simple: the HD9 is designed to do one thing brilliantly. By focusing entirely on straight stitch, Janome have made it faster, stronger, and more stable. Every stitch is locked down, straight, and balanced — even through the thickest seams.
The Space to Work
Bag making often means manoeuvring awkward, bulky shapes. The HD9 gives you more room to do it with a generous flatbed and extra harp space (that’s the gap between the needle and the body). Whether you’re attaching straps, sewing gussets, or topstitching a large tote, you’ll find you’re not constantly wrestling the fabric.
Precision and Control
Speed is great, but control matters just as much. The HD9’s foot control is large, smooth and responsive, letting you creep stitch-by-stitch through tricky corners or fly along long seams. Combined with an industrial-quality straight stitch plate and feed system, you can keep your work accurate from first stitch to last.
For Professionals – and Serious Hobbyists
We see a lot of HD9s leave our shop destined for professional bag makers, small studios, and leather workers. But we also sell them to keen home sewers who want the right tool for a demanding craft. It’s not a “beginners’ machine” — but it’s one that rewards anyone who works with it.
Why Buy from Bambers
In a word – Aftercare. We are a family business and we still believe in providing old-fashioned service to all our customers. So, we offer Unlimited Free Tuition on any sewing machine, overlocker or embroidery machine bought from us. This means you can always arrange for tuition in the shop, or phone us for help and advice.
Janome HD9 – Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Janome HD9 suitable for beginners?
A: Not really. It’s a professional-grade straight stitch machine designed for heavy fabrics and high-speed work. If you’re new to sewing, it’s better to start with a more versatile domestic model and work your way up.
Q: Can the HD9 sew leather?
A: Yes — within reason. It will handle most garment leathers and bag leathers with ease, especially when paired with the right needle and thread. For very thick saddlery leather, you’d be looking at a true industrial walking foot machine.
Q: Why doesn’t the HD9 do zigzag or decorative stitches?
A: It’s built purely for straight stitch. This single focus gives it more speed, stability, and power than multi-stitch domestic machines.
Q: How fast is the Janome HD9?
A: Up to 1,600 stitches per minute — that’s more than double the speed of most domestic models.
Q: How much space is under the arm?
A: You’ve got around 8.5 inches of harp space — plenty of room for manoeuvring large bags and bulky projects.
Q: Is the HD9 portable?
A: It’s heavy enough to stay put while you’re sewing, but light enough to move if needed. Think of it as “workshop portable” rather than “take to a class every week” portable.
Q: Does it need regular servicing?
A: Yes — like all quality machines, it benefits from annual servicing to keep it running at its best. Our workshop team is fully equipped to handle HD9 servicing.
Q: What makes it so popular with bag makers?
A: Power, precision, and space. It goes through multiple layers without hesitation, keeps the stitch perfectly straight, and gives you room to work without fighting the fabric.
Bamber Sewing Machines
445-449 Liverpool Rd
Eccles, Manchester
M30 7HY
0161 707 7786
www.bambersew.com
A family business since 1946
