Elna eXplore 340S review

The Elna eXplore 340S is the more convenient of the two current 320S/340S mechanical models for repeated buttonholes: its included automatic buttonhole foot sizes a one-step sequence around a button. But the distinction deserves precision—the manual still tells the sewer to stop the machine when the buttonhole is complete. It does not document automatic completion stopping. With 23 stitches, adjustable presser-foot pressure and the same 6.5 kg body as the 320S, the 340S is a practical general-sewing machine whose advantage is an easier buttonhole routine and a somewhat broader pattern set.

What the extra patterns change—and what they do not

The maker lists 23 patterns for the 340S versus 19 on the 320S. Both offer a mechanical stitch selector, adjustable width to 5 mm and length to 4 mm, with stretch-stitch fine tuning. The extra choices are useful if you actually use decorative and utility stitches, but a larger count is not a measure of seam quality. Check the stitch chart and make a sample with the intended needle, thread and cloth before judging a pattern for a particular project.

Both machines use a horizontal rotary hook with a clear drop-in bobbin cover, a 3-piece retractable feed dog, foot-pressure and thread-tension controls, a built-in needle threader, free arm, manual thread cutter and extra-high presser-foot position. The documented work space is 160 mm to the right of the needle; the body measures 420 × 280 × 170 mm and weighs 6.5 kg. The stated maximum is 830 stitches per minute. The manual describes pedal-pressure speed control; there is no separate speed slider or documented pedal-free start/stop mode.

One-step, but not unattended

The included automatic buttonhole foot accepts a button to set the length, then the machine sews the sides and bartacks in one selector sequence. The manual cautions that the slider should meet its stopper without a gap and that a sample with matching fabric and interfacing is important, especially on stretch material. It explicitly instructs the operator to stop the machine when the hole is finished and reset the selector before sewing another. That is still much less dial-changing than the 320S's four-step method, but it is not a buttonhole setting that senses completion and stops on its own.

That difference matters in the questionnaire as well as in daily use. If your essential request is a one-step routine, the 340S meets it. If you also require an automatic end-of-hole stop, that extra need is not confirmed. The 320S is the four-step alternative; neither machine turns the buttonhole into an unattended operation.

The exact standard package is a useful part of its appeal

The current U.S. list includes the standard foot, zipper foot, satin-stitch foot, blind-hem foot, overedge foot C, automatic buttonhole foot R and quilting guide bar, plus three bobbins, needle set, lint brush, screwdriver, seam ripper, spool holders, additional spool pin, felt, foot controller and hard cover. The 320S instead lists the sliding four-step foot and does not list the 340S's overedge foot or quilting guide bar. These are meaningful package differences; optional accessories and dealer bundles should not be merged into the standard carton.

There is a small removable extension piece with storage beneath, but it is not a separately supplied large table for supporting quilts. A supplied overedge foot and an overcasting pattern can neaten fabric edges; they do not make the 340S a serger because it has no documented loopers or cutting knives. Similarly, the machine is a single-needle sewing setup, not a motorized-hoop embroidery, coverstitch or chainstitch machine.

Care, fit and alternatives

Elna publishes a maximum 5 mm stitch width and 4 mm stitch length, not a promise that every pattern reaches both limits. The 160 mm sewing space is workable for ordinary garment pieces but may feel restrictive when pushing bulky quilt layers under the arm. A removable accessory-storage piece does not increase the needle-to-arm opening. For bed-size projects, consider the fabric support and table around the machine rather than inferring room from its body dimensions.

The linked manual instructs owners to unplug before cleaning and shows how to brush lint from the hook race and feed dogs; follow that model-family procedure instead of dismantling other parts or applying oil without guidance. Compare the eXplore 340S with the less complicated 130 or 120 if you prefer a front-loading case, or with the 3210 Designed for Jeans if the higher listed stitch width and extra-high foot position are more relevant. The 3210 is heavier and shares the limitation that one-step buttonholes still do not stop automatically. Elna's product language is not an independent test of how any model handles a particular stack of denim; test the actual materials before buying for that task.

Sources: Elna USA's eXplore 340S product page, its linked 320S/340S instruction manual (especially pp. 8, 10, 12, 54–58 and 88), and the 2024 model-family specification sheet (pp. 1–2). The reviewed sources are not hands-on tests; dealer bundles may differ from the listed standard accessories. Reviewed October 26, 2026.