Janome Memory Craft 550E Limited Edition Embroidery Machine
Brand: JanomeProfessional-style embroidery at home
Features
- Stitches designs up to 360 x 200mm
- 180 built-in designs and 6 fonts, with 2 and 3-letter monograms
- 30 exclusive large designs on the USB stick, sized for the RE36b and optional RE28b hoops
- Speed adjustable from 400 to 860 stitches per minute — slow down for metallic threads and fine detail
- Handles designs of up to 200,000 stitches
- 4MB of built-in memory, with your own folders to keep designs organised
- Resize from 80% to 120% in 1% steps
- Rotate in 1° or 45° steps, and flip horizontally or vertically
- Combine designs, copy and paste, group, arc text and create corner layouts
- Drag designs into place, zoom in, or let the machine centre them for you
- Stitch a multi-colour design in one colour, and trace or baste the outline before you start so you know it fits
- Thread colours shown by brand, including Janome, Madeira, Mettler and Robison-Anton
- Colour touchscreen (approx. 135 x 80mm) with touch pen
- Stops automatically at each colour change
- If a thread breaks, it returns to the right spot so you can carry on
- Step forwards or back through a design to restart exactly where you need
- Upper and bobbin thread sensors warn you before you run out
- Built-in needle threader and automatic thread tension
- Top-loading drop-in bobbin, easy to check at a glance
- Shows how long a design will take and how many stitches it has
- 5 LED lights for a clear view of the hoop
- Updatable firmware and 14 on-screen languages
Janome Memory Craft 550E Limited Edition Embroidery Machine
£1,779.00
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Tested before dispatchEvery product checked by our team
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Repairs & servicingDomestic and industrial machines
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Visit the shop286 Streatham High Road, London
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Delivery & returnsRead the full policy before you order
Brands we supply
- JUKI
- Janome
- Brother
- Bernina
- Singer
- M-Tech
- Silter
- Wilcox & Gibbs
- Necchi
Product Details
Why choose the Janome 550E Limited Edition
● Room for the projects you actually want to make. The 360 x 200mm hoop handles large motifs, long names and border designs without splitting them up.
● A hoop for every job. Four come in the box, from a neat 140 x 140mm for pockets and badges up to the full 360 x 200mm.
● Extras you'd otherwise pay for. The Limited Edition adds 30 exclusive large designs on USB and AcuStitch software.
● Tweak designs on the machine. Resize, rotate, flip, combine and curve lettering on the colour touchscreen, then stitch — no computer needed.
● Works with designs you buy online. As well as Janome's own formats, it reads Tajima .DST, one of the most common file types sold by design shops.
● Less snipping afterwards. The thread cutter and programmable jump-thread trimming take care of the loose ends between colours.
● Built to stay steady. A rigid die-cast aluminium frame keeps the machine stable as it stitches, at speeds you can set anywhere from 400 to 860 stitches per minute.
Who is it for?
Embroiderersready to go bigger. If a small hoop is holding you back, this is the natural next step.
Sewists who want a separate embroidery machine. Keep your sewing machine free for garments while the 550E works through a design beside it.
Gift makers and small personalisation businesses. Names on towels, monograms on bags, logos on jackets and sweatshirts — the bread-and-butter work it handles well.
Quilters adding embroidered blocks, motifs and quilt labels.
Schools,colleges and textile departments looking for a reliable, easy-to-teach embroidery machine.
The 550E has a single needle, so it pauses for you to change thread at each new colour. That's fine for most home and small-batch work. If you're producing workwear logos by the hundred, a multi-needle machine will save you a lot of time and we're happy to talk you through both options.
Information
If you've ever split a design across two hoops and spent the evening lining them up, you'll see the appeal straight away. The Janome Memory Craft 550E stitches designs up to 360 x 200mm in one go — big enough for a jacket back, a cushion front or a full quilt block.
It's a dedicated embroidery machine, which means every part of it is set up for one job and does it well. The Limited Edition arrives with four hoops, magnetic clamps for the large hoop, 180 built-in designs and a USB stick of 30 exclusive large designs, so there's plenty to stitch on day one.
Worth knowing before you buy: the 550E embroiders only. It doesn't do everyday sewing. Most of our customers pair it with the sewing machine they already own. If you'd rather have one machine that does both, give us a ring on 0208 769 2998 and we'll point you to the right model.
Specification
- Brand
- Janome
- Product type
- Professional-style embroidery at home
- Category
- Domestic Machines
- Availability
- In stock
- Model
- Memory Craft 550E Limited Edition (MC550E LE)
- Machine type
- Computerised embroidery-only machine
- Max embroidery area
- 360 x 200mm
- Hoops included
- RE36b (360 x 200mm), SQ20b (200 x 200mm), RE20b (200 x 140mm), SQ14b (140 x 140mm)
- Built-in designs
- 180
- Bonus designs
- 30 large designs on USB stick
- Fonts / monogramming
- 6 fonts; 2- and 3-letter monograms
- Embroidery speed
- 400–860 spm
- Max stitches per design
- 200,000
- Built-in memory
- 4MB
- File formats
- JEF, .JEF+, .JPX, .DST
- Screen
- Colour LCD touchscreen, approx. 135 x 80mm
- Connectivity
- USB port (no Wi-Fi)
- Thread cutter
- Automatic, with programmable jump-thread trimming
- Thread sensors
- Upper and bobbin
- Bobbin
- Top-loading full rotary hook
- Lighting
- 5 LED lights
- Frame
- Die-cast aluminium
- Languages
- 14
- Software
- Optional Extra
- Dimensions
- 566 x 532 x 335mm (W x D x H)
- Weight
- Approx. 11.5kg
- Voltage
- 220–240V (UK plug)
What is in the box
Everything you need to set up and start your first design:
● Janome Memory Craft 550E Limited Edition embroidery machine
● Four hoops with templates: RE36b (360 x 200mm), SQ20b (200 x 200mm), RE20b (200 x 140mm) and SQ14b (140 x 140mm)
● 8 magnetic clamps for the RE36b hoop
● USB stick with 30 exclusive large designs
● AcuStitch software (download)
● Embroidery foot
● Special embroidery bobbin holder and bobbin holder cleaner
● 5 bobbins and needle set
● Spool holders, spool caps (large and small) and extra spool pin
● Touch pen, scissors, lint brush and screwdrivers
● Seam ripper
● USB cable and power lead
● Soft cover
● Instruction book and quick reference guide
You'll also need embroidery thread, bobbin thread and stabiliser. Not sure where to start? Ask us and we'll put together a simple starter kit for the projects you have in mind.
Add-ons worth considering
Once you're up and running, these optional extras open up more projects:
● RE28b hoop (280 x 200mm) — a handy middle size between the two largest hoops
● RE10b hoop (100 x 40mm) — for cuffs, collars and small items
● Hat hoop insert — used with the RE20b hoop for caps
● AcuFil quilting kit with ASQ18b hoop (180 x 180mm) — for quilting designs
● Clothsetter — helps you place designs accurately
● Multi-spool thread stands
● Janome Artistic Digitizer — for creating your own designs
Looking after your machine
- Clear the fluff regularly. Brush out the bobbin area after each large design.
- Change the needle often. A worn needle causes thread breaks.
- Use good thread. Cheap thread sheds lint and snaps.
- Don't oil it unless the instruction book says to.
- Keep it covered when you're not using it. Keep the firmware up to date. Ask us if you're unsure.
- Service it once a year. Our London workshop can do this for you.
Why buy from us
Talash vs The Marketplace
A sewing machine is about more than the price. Here's what comes with buying from a specialist.
| What matters | Talash | Typical marketplace listing |
|---|---|---|
| Advice before you buy | Speak to a specialist | Message the seller |
| Installation | Available on selected machines | Rarely offered |
| Tested before dispatch | Every product | Not stated |
| Repairs & servicing | In-house engineers | Find your own |
| Visit in person | Streatham, South London | Online only |
| Experience | 40+ years | Unknown |
Before you order
Delivery, Installation & Returns
Do you service Janome embroidery machines?
Yes.We service and repair domestic sewing and embroidery machines in our London
workshop.
Can I see it before I buy?
Of course. Call 0208 769 2998 to arrange a visit to our shop at 286 Streatham High Road, London.
How heavy is it?
About 11.5kg. It has a carry handle and works best on a sturdy, level table.
Question What else will I need to get started?
Embroidery thread, bobbin thread and a stabiliser to suit your fabric. Let us know what you're planning and we'll recommend what to buy.
Can I embroider caps or quilts?
AnswerCaps need the optional hat hoop insert. For quilting designs, there's the optional AcuFil quilting kit with the ASQ18b hoop.
Do your machines require installation?
Industrial machines often require setup, calibration and proper configuration. Professional installation is strongly recommended to ensure correct operation and long-term performance.
Can the Janome 550E sew as well as embroider?
No —it's an embroidery-only machine. That's actually why many people choose it: you can keep sewing on your usual machine while the 550E stitches out a design next to you.
What's the biggest design it can stitch?
360 x 200mm, using the large RE36b hoop that comes in the box.
What's the difference between the Limited Edition and the standard 550E?
The machine itself is the same. The Limited Edition comes with extras: a USB stick of 30 exclusive large designs and AcuStitch software.
Can I use designs I've bought online?
Yes.It reads Janome .JEF, .JEF+ and .JPX files, plus Tajima .DST, which most design shops offer. Designs in other formats can be converted with embroidery software.
How do I get designs onto the machine?
Save them to a USB stick and plug it in. There's no Wi-Fi on this model
I use a Mac. Will that work?
For transferring designs, yes — any computer can save files to a USB stick. The supplied AcuStitch software is Windows only, though.
Is it a good choice for a beginner?
Yes.The touchscreen, needle threader, thread cutter and thread sensors take a lot of the fiddliness out of embroidery. Hooping larger pieces and choosing the right stabiliser take a little practice — we're always happy to help with that.
- Fast UK deliveryDispatched within 48 hours
- Pickup availableUsually ready in 2–4 days
- Tested before dispatchBy our own engineers
- 40+ yearsSpecialist supplier