New sewing machine is squeaking

When sewing from thick to thin layers, it is common for industrial sewing machines to skip stitches or produce uneven stitches. Here are some things you can try to prevent this issue:

1. Use the right needle: A needle that is too small or too large for the fabric can cause skipped stitches. Make sure you are using the correct needle size and type for the fabric you are working with.
2. Adjust the presser foot pressure: The pressure of the presser foot can be adjusted on most industrial sewing machines. Decrease the pressure of the presser foot when sewing over thinner layers to help prevent skipped stitches.
3. Use a walking foot: A walking foot can help prevent skipped stitches when sewing over multiple layers of fabric. The walking foot will help feed the fabric through the machine evenly, preventing skipped stitches.
4. Adjust the tension: If the tension is too loose or too tight, it can cause skipped stitches. Adjust the tension according to the fabric you are working with.
5. Use a stabilizer: When sewing over thin fabrics, use a stabilizer to prevent the fabric from puckering and causing skipped stitches.

If none of these solutions work, you may need to take the machine to a professional for further inspection and adjustment.

Between 3 and 4

The owner's manual would most likely have the information. If there is an adjustment is is most likely on the top left of the machine or on the left side of the cover (over the needlebar).

If you are sewing slick fabric that shifts under the presser foot, try using a walking foot or a roller foot.

SINGER Roller Presser Foot Tutorial

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Most sewing machines will cause puckering when zig-zaging, especially when sewing light-weight fabric like chiffon, etc. Try a brand new needle. You can try narrowing the zig-zag so there is not such a large gap between the left & right swing. Can also try loosening the tension a bit so the thread is not pulling so tightly. Another possibility (if your machine has the capability) is to increase the presser foot pressure so there is more pressure applied between the presser foot and the feed dogs. Or, try using a layer of wash-away stabilizer or clean (unused) newsprint paper with the fabric to help give it some stability.

How to Adjust Sewing Machine Tension on Craftsy

How to Prevent Your Sewing Machine from Puckering Fabric Howcast

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.sewing/AOhNY36JOa0

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Could be several things.

First, install a brand new needle, perhaps a top-stitch needle will work better because it has a groove in the shaft that protects the thread. Make sure the needle is the appropriate size for the thread you are using--a needle eye that is too small will cause the thread to hang or shred. When the needle penetrates the sandwich, the top thread forms a loop. If the eye is too small, the thread will not come back up through the sandwich, leaving a loop under the fabric.

Remove the top thread from the machine.
ALWAYS RAISE the presser foot and rethread from the beginning.
Set the top tension to the midway point and retest your machine on a quilt sandwich made of the same fabric layers as your project.. Tension problems are more evident when sewing multiple layers of fabric, so tweak the tension until the top and bobbin threads meet in the middle of the sandwich.

I don't believe you will have to adjust the bobbin tension, but in case you do, be very careful. Mark the tension screw setting FIRST so you can reverse any changes you make. Bobbin adjustments are made in very SMALL increments. Because I tend to use a lighter weight thread for my quilting, I have a specific bobbin case that is adjusted for my quilt thread and I keep my other bobbin for regular sewing. Then I don't have to keep adjusting the bobbin tension when going from sewing a quilt to something else.

Some machines do better with certain brands of threads than others.

Adjusting Sewing Machine Tension to Prevent Problems

Sounds to me as if you didn't drop your foot.

I would suggest that the words "heavy duty" applied to a machine sold for less than $150 is probably taking a little bit of artistic licence.

Grosgrain edging is very stiff so you will probably need at least a 100 size needle for this and they may well go blunt pretty quickly. This could be the squeaking noise, needles will "pop" and squeak if they are blunt. Change the needle and see if it stops.

I would suggest that if you are doing straight stitching in large volumes for commercial purposes, this is not the right machine, you need something like a Singer 20U industrial machine, a good workhorse which will do straight and zig zag stitches.

I have one of these with a 3/4 hp motor in a table and it is so strong, great for sewing tents, horse blankets etc. We used it for attaching vinyl to 1/2" foam for ride-on tractor seats, something it did really well. Different needle system to domestic machines and can sew heavier gauge thread too.

Sorry, this probably isn't what you wanted to hear about your new machine. Try changing the needle and see if it stops the squeaks. But you may need to reconsider your choice of machine.

Refer to the manual. If there isn't any information there. Call your Janome dealer and ask to speak with the service person.

Called the local dealer.

My Designer 1 started squeaking recently and, like you, I was concerned even though it sewed like usual. I emailed my tech. and he suggested either feed lifter mechanism or feed cam were the most likely causes - simple to repair but I would need to bring machine in for him to hear because there could be other reasons for the squeak. Well I did not have time to go then and there. Next day when I sewed, the squeak was gone!
At the time it squeaked I was sewing through several fairly thick layers (making a pot holder) and sewing very slowly. The next day I sewed normal cloth at normal speed but no matter how slowly I sewed, I could not get it to squeak. I will get it checked eventually but as long as it is squeak-less I'm not going to be concerned.
If yours squeaks all the time no matter what you are sewing then, yes, I think you should get it looked at. Be sure that nothing is rubbing against the body of the machine i.e. accessory tray and making the noise.