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Janome · Embroidery only · 7.9 × 7.9 in

Janome Memory Craft 400E review: specs, pros, cons & who it’s for

Janome Memory Craft 400E embroidery machine, official product photo
Embroidery field
7.9 × 7.9 in (200 × 200 mm)
Machine type
Embroidery only
Built-in designs
160
Max speed
860 spm
Design transfer
USB
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The short verdict

Choose it ifBeginners who want a large square field and plan to grow into bigger designs, and are comfortable with USB.

Skip it ifAnyone wanting wireless transfer, lots of built-in fonts, or PES files without conversion.

Overview

The Memory Craft 400E is Janome’s embroidery-only machine with a 7.9 × 7.9 inch maximum embroidery size. Janome lists 160 built-in designs, 6 fonts, speeds up to 860 stitches per minute and USB design transfer.

Janome’s page lists the SQ20b (200 × 200 mm) and RE20b (140 × 200 mm) hoops, and in places also an SQ14b, so confirm the hoop set with your dealer. The native format is JEF, so buy designs in JEF or convert them with software.

It is a well-known non-Brother option for people who have outgrown 5 × 7. Janome sells through dealers and lists no price online, so compare dealer support and warranty as well as price.

Janome Memory Craft 400E specifications

Machine typeEmbroidery only
Max embroidery field200 × 200 mm (7.9 × 7.9 in)
Built-in embroidery designs160
Built-in fonts6
Max embroidery speed860 stitches per minute
DisplayFull-color LCD touchscreen
Design transferUSB
Native file formatJEF
Notable featuresSQ20b (200 × 200 mm) and RE20b (140 × 200 mm) hoops; Janome’s page also lists an SQ14b
StatusListed on the manufacturer site

Source: Janome Memory Craft 400E product page, checked October 7, 2026. Maximum speed is a stated ceiling, not typical output.

Pros and cons

Strengths

  • Large 200 × 200 mm field
  • Up to 860 spm
  • At least two hoops included

Limitations

  • USB only, no wireless
  • Only 6 built-in fonts
  • JEF format: buy or convert designs accordingly

Janome Memory Craft 400E7.9 × 7.9 in · Embroidery only

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Will your designs fit?

Janome Memory Craft 400E embroidery field, to scale4 × 4: 100 × 100 mm; 5 × 7: 130 × 180 mm; 7.9 × 7.9: 200 × 200 mm; 6 × 10: 160 × 260 mmJanome Memory Craft 400E embroidery field, to scaleMaximum embroidery field as published by the manufacturer. Rectangles share one scale.4 × 4100 × 100 mmBrother 4 × 4 classreference area5 × 7130 × 180 mmBrother 5 × 7 class2.3× the area7.9 × 7.9200 × 200 mmJanome Memory Craft 400E4.0× the area6 × 10160 × 260 mmBrother 6 × 10 class4.2× the area

The 7.9 × 7.9 in label is rounded. The real limit is 200 × 200 mm. Measure the stitched design, not the fabric or the outside of the hoop, and remember a design can sometimes fit after a 90° rotation. Use the hoop fit checker with this machine preselected.

How it compares

The machines below are the closest alternatives by field size and workflow.

Manufacturer specifications, checked October 7, 2026.
ModelFieldTypeDesignsMax speedTransferShop
Janome Memory Craft 400E7.9 × 7.9 in200 × 200 mmEmbroidery only160860 spmUSBCheck price ↗
Brother NQ1700E6 × 10 in160 × 260 mmEmbroidery only258850 spmUSB, Wi-Fi, Artspira appCheck price ↗
bernette 70 DECO6.3 × 10.2 in160 × 260 mmEmbroidery only208850 spmUSBCheck price ↗
Brother PE9005 × 7 in130 × 180 mmEmbroidery only193650 spmUSB, Wi-Fi, Artspira appCheck price ↗

Frequently asked questions

What size designs can the Janome Memory Craft 400E embroider?

Janome lists a maximum embroidery field of 200 × 200 mm (about 7.9 × 7.9 in), marketed as 7.9 × 7.9 in. A design must fit inside that field; a larger design needs splitting in software and re-hooping, or a machine with a bigger field.

Can the Janome Memory Craft 400E sew as well as embroider?

No. The Janome Memory Craft 400E is embroidery-only. It stitches designs in a hoop but does not replace a sewing machine for seams, hems or repairs.

How do you get designs onto the Janome Memory Craft 400E?

Janome lists these transfer options: USB. The native format is JEF. Always check that a purchased design is supplied in a compatible format and at a size that fits the 7.9 × 7.9 in field.

How many built-in designs does the Janome Memory Craft 400E have?

Janome lists 160 built-in embroidery designs and 6 built-in lettering fonts. Built-in designs are enough for first projects; most people eventually buy or download additional designs.

Is the Janome Memory Craft 400E good for beginners?

Beginners who want a large square field and plan to grow into bigger designs, and are comfortable with USB. It is less suited to: anyone wanting wireless transfer, lots of built-in fonts, or PES files without conversion. This verdict is based on published specifications, not hands-on testing.

✓

How we evaluated it

We compare published manufacturer specifications against beginner needs: design size, sewing vs embroidery workflow, design transfer and built-in content. We have not tested this machine hands-on, and we never invent ratings. Read our methodology.

Janome Memory Craft 400E specifications

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7.9 × 7.9 in · Embroidery onlyJanome Memory Craft 400E
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