Are Singer Sewing Machines worth the money? Which one is best? Read our reviews to find out. We look at features, warranty, pros & cons, consumer ratings, specifications, etc.
The Singer Sewing Company often needs no introduction as the name is synonymous with the sewing machine. This company already had offices in several countries in the mid 1800’s and by the late 1800’s controlled 80% of the worldwide sewing machine market. The company is named after “Isaac Merritt Singer” who invented the first practical sewing machine for domestic use. Over many years the machine evolved and features were added and refined. In 1975 Singer released the world’s first electronic sewing machine.
| Model | Avg Consumer Rating |
| Singer Stylist 7258 sewing machine | 93.1 |
| Singer Heavy Duty 4452 sewing machine | 88.6 |
| Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist sewing machine | 88.4 |
| Singer 1304 Start sewing machine | 86.4 |
| Singer Fashion Mate 3333 sewing machine | 85.3 |
85.2 There has been an evolution of the Singer Quantum Stylist sewing machine, from the 9960 to the 9980 to the more recent 9985. They are all similar but do have some key differences - # of stitches, # of alphabets, extension table, LCD interface, etc. The 9985 is currently the pinnacle of sewing machines in the Quantum Stylist stable with over 960 stitches and a color LCD touch interface with voice assistant. But the machine is not perfect and there are issues. In addition, the base 9960 is no slouch and is less expensive.
83.4 The Singer SM024 is an affordable, mechanical sewing machine. It does not have many features but if you are a budding sewist this may work in your favor as the unit is fairly easy to use. It is also lightweight and has a built-in carry handle which make it well suited for taking to classes. However, it isn’t that powerful and will struggle with thicker fabrics. Also, the lighting is a bit weak and some owners report issues with tangling bobbin thread and even needles breaking.
83.2 The Singer M1000 sewing machine is a very affordable unit that is advertised by Singer as a “mending machine” (according to Singer the M1000 is designed predominantly for basic mending and repairs). It does not have many features and it is not powerful. This is not a machine you can use for large projects or that deals well with heavy fabrics. However, it does have a place as a lightweight, portable, easy-to-use sewing machine that is best for quick mending and small, simple projects.
82.6 The Singer Prelude 8280 is a very basic, mechanical sewing machine. Controls are simple and the unit would best fit entry level sewists or perhaps those who intend to do small, occasional projects. This is a fairly lightweight machine and the provided instructions are quite good. However quite a few owners have reported issues with thread jamming and tension. The machine seems rather temperamental and some folks find sewing with their 8280 frustrating.
61.3 The Singer M3500 is an affordable, compact mechanical sewing machine. It is lightweight and comes with 32 stitches. Some owners have reported that it is quite easy to use and that it is a good fit for the beginning sewist. However there are also a host of complaints - from bobbins jamming, to skipped stitches, to issues with the needle threader. Many owners have found one problem or another with this particular machine and as a result we’d probably give it a miss.
81.4 The Singer Simple 2263 is an inexpensive mechanical sewing machine that is indeed “simple” to use and work with. Owners feel it is great for basic clothing adjustments/mending and home projects, and it is a popular machine with beginners. The 2263 has 23 built-in stitches and a built-in needle threader. It is also fairly lightweight, making it a good candidate for taking to classes or sewing gatherings. However, some owners have found that their 2263 has issues with tension control, bobbin jamming/tangling, and the needle threader.
56.1 The Singer C5200 is a computerized sewing machine with 80 built-in stitches. It also has an LCD control panel, a free arm, and it includes an extension table. Owners find it fairly user-friendly and report that it makes a nice stitch. However there are a host of complaints about the machine and many folks find that the C5200 has issues with thread jamming and breaking. There are also a number of other concerns such as a reverse button that sometimes doesn’t work, breaking needles, and noisy operation. Overall, in our opinion, there are too many negatives reported to make this unit attractive.
81.3 The Singer 1512 Promise II sewing machine is a very basic machine with a limited number of features. It is also very easy to use. This lack of complexity, coupled with the ease of use, makes the 1512 a good fit for the beginner. The machine does come with some good features, including 13 stitches (basic, decorative, buttonhole), a free arm, a built-in thread cutter, a reverse lever, and adjustable stitch width. Build quality is average but then this in not a particularly costly machine. Some owners describe it as a decent machine on a budget.
57.6 We’ve been reviewing and rating sewing machines for over 11 years and up until now we’ve only had two machines rated in the 50’s (out of 100). The Singer 6699 Starlet now makes it three. With a score of 57.6 out of 100 the Starlet is the second lowest rated sewing machine on our site (second only to the dismal Singer QuickFix). Reasons that owners cite for their dislike of the Starlet include frequent jamming, constant problems with the bobbin, breaking needles, controls that aren’t that easy to use, and lighting that is a bit on the dim side.
88.6 The Singer Heavy Duty 4452 is the pinnacle of the Singer Heavy Duty line of sewing machines. This mechanical sewing machine sews very quickly and is very easy to setup and to use. It is a good fit for both the beginner and the more advanced sewist. It is also easy to thread and is capable of sewing through thick materials such as denim, leather and canvas. On the downside the foot pedal feels poorly made and it does not regulate speed well. In addition, a number of folks report struggling with tension issues.
78.2 The Singer Simple 3232 sewing machine is affordable and fairly basic. It comes with 32 built-in stitches and has a carry handle and a soft cover. The unit is also lightweight and very easy to use. However it suffers from some quality issues. Many owners have reported things breaking and features that stop working. While the machine carries a warranty it can be costly to ship it for repairs. That said, not everyone runs into issues with the 3232 and there are quite a few happy owners as well. It seems that purchasing a 3232 is something of a roll of the dice.
77.6 The Original Featherweight (model 221) was manufactured in 1933. For those wondering the old Featherweight is one of those beautiful, old, black/gold/silver Singer machines. Singer continued to make these until 1968. The new Singer C240 Featherweight is a modern reinterpretation of this classic machine. The C240 has 70 built-in stitches, an integrated even feed system, a built-in needle threader, and many more features. It is also easy to use and light enough to carry to classes (comes with a handle and a carry case). However overall owner ratings are not stellar and there are some complaints that parts feel flimsy and that the timing can sometimes get out of synch.
81.9 The Singer Tradition 2277 is a very straightforward, mechanical sewing machine that sports 23 stitches. Its lack of bells and whistles is seen by most owners not as a drawback but rather as an asset, as they highlight the sewing machine`s simple setup and ease of use. This is a great fit for the beginner or for those doing occasional garment repair and simple projects. It also comes with a number of accessories. Most owners are pleased with their purchase and the price point is good, however there are reports that the bobbin system can be frustrating and can cause thread jamming.
85.3 This is a fairly inexpensive sewing machine from Singer ($110-$130). It is very easy to setup and operate and is a good fit for the beginner or perhaps someone who does occasional sewing. It is probably not the right machine for an experienced seamstress or someone looking to tackle larger sewing projects. It has a steel frame and is quite sturdy, and it also sews smoothly. However the needle threader is tricky to sort out and the machine will struggle with thicker materials. There are also reports of folks not getting a sewing machine manual and having difficulty with Singer customer service.
79.4 The Singer Professional 9100 is a computerized sewing machine with a ton of features and accessories. It also sports over 400 stitches including stretch, decorative, alphabet/numeric, and buttonholes. Owners report that it is very easy to use and quite a few folks really like the machine. However there are also many reported issues with this sewing machine, from skipped stitches to difficulties with the tensioner to breaking needles. Consumers either really like their Professional 9100 or they hate it.
86.4 The Singer 1304 Start is a basic, simple, and easy-to-use mechanical sewing machine. It is a good choice for beginners and also for those looking for a lightweight, portable machine. Consumer ratings are fairly good and owners like that the unit is affordable, easy to setup and operate, and that it has a free arm. However, it does have some issues with the thread jamming and owners sometimes struggle with threading the machine.
86.7 The Singer S18 is a high-end computerized quilting and sewing machine It is generally well-liked by owners and it comes with an incredible number of features including over 400 built-in stitches and a sewing speed of 1000 stitches per minute. In addition, a large number of accessories are provided with this sewing machine, including 14 presser feet. This is a solid, well built sewing machine with intuitive controls, and it has one more particularly interesting characteristic - it is manufactured by Janome!
72.4 The Singer 5400 Sew Mate is an electronic sewing machine that is popular with beginners and those who are rekindling their love for sewing. It is capable of powering through several layers of thick fabric and many owners report that it runs smoothly and is fairly quiet. The Sew Mate also has 60 built-in stitches and comes with a generous accessories package. However the machine occasionally has issues with the bobbin tangling and dropped stitches.
77.1 The Singer Curvy 8770 comes with 225 built-in stitches including many block alphabet and number stitches. It also includes a soft cover, an introduction DVD and a number of accessories.
The 8770 is a fairly feature-rich sewing machine but consumer ratings are not stellar. Owners like that the unit is sturdy and fairly easy to use, however it is a bit on the noisy side and there are sometimes issues with the timing.
85.4 The Singer Special Edition sewing machine is also known as the Singer 90S or the 90S Special Edition. It is an easy-to-use machine with over 200 built-in stitches, an LCD screen and a simple control panel. You can also make basic monograms with the 90S. However, some owners feel the manual is poor and doesn’t provide enough information about the many features. The unit is also made with quite a bit of plastic (former Singer owners say their older Singer machines were more solid and made with much more metal).
82.5 The Singer 2259 is a lightweight, compact sewing machine that is designed for beginners or for small around-the-home projects. It is also very basic and easy-to-use. However, some owners experience problems. Issues with thread tension and getting used to the side loading bobbin have been reported. In addition, customer support from Singer can be a bit spotty.
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80.9 The bottom line with the Singer Curvy is the following: If you get a good machine you will probably like it, however if you get a lemon you will likely have a problem. A number of owners report receiving a sewing machine with problems and when trying to resolve these through the Singer Help Center, they got nowhere. The short of it is that there is some risk when purchasing a Singer Curvy.
52.4 This review is really more of a heads-up for folks looking for an inexpensive, light machine for quick sewing work. The heads-up is this - think carefully before buying the Singer Quickfix sewing machine (sometimes spelled QuikFix). Yes it is lightweight and inexpensive but it surely has some issues and many owners don't like it.
63.0 The Singer Brilliance (model 6199) is one of the least popular sewing machines we have investigated. Consumer ratings are, on average, rather poor and there are quite a few complaints regarding needle breakage, jamming, thread birdnesting, tension difficulties, etc. Some owners do like this machine but there are a sufficient number of folks highlighting issues to make one wary.
88.7 Weve looked at a lot of Singer sewing machines in the past and while some get good reviews many get only average ratings from consumers. The Singer ONE is something of an exception in this regard and owners are giving it high praise. Owners like the fact that the unit is extremely easy to use, quiet and stylish. It does struggle with thicker materials though and the instruction manual could be better.
70.1 The Singer 3116 Simple is easy to use and it is not too expensive, however it has some issues. Owners complain that it is difficult to set the tension and that there is frequent thread jamming. Also, there are quite a few comments alluding to poor quality construction. Having said that, it is not the lowest rated Singer we have investigated and there are owners that really do like it. The 3116 has 18 built-in stitches and is fairly basic but it comes with a few bells and whistles.
58.6 The Singer 2932 sewing machine is fairly basic and it is also, unfortunately, the lowest consumer-rated Singer sewing machine we have looked at. It receives a wide range of owner ratings and while some really do like the machine, many others do not. On the positive side it is quite inexpensive and can often be found for under $150 and sometimes even as low as $120. However it has chronic issues with thread and materials jamming as well as the reverse stitch lever breaking.
83.1 Built to commemorate Singers 160th anniversary, the Singer 160 Anniversary Limited Edition sewing machine takes design cues from traditional, classic Singer machines. Owners report that it is a great looking sewing machine but is wider than expected. It is also good for free motion quilting and has 24 built-in stitches.
91.2 The Singer Fashion Mate 7256 is well liked by owners and ratings are very good. This Singer sewing machine, along with the Stylist 7258, are consumer favorites. The machine has 70 built-in stitches and a host of other features including an LCD screen with stitch selections, an automatic needle threader and 13 needle positions. Consumers also report that the Fashion Mate is very easy to get up and running. However, some owners comment on the limited illumination provided by the LED light and the fact that the machine sometimes struggles on heavier material. [REF Singer Sewing Machine Reviews]
88.4 The Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist gets good consumer ratings. It is feature rich and has 600 built-in stitches, 5 alphanumeric fonts, 13 automatic one-touch buttonholes and many, many more features. Consumers report that this sewing machine is very easy to use and that it produces consistent, quality stitches. However some folks find that the manual is not very easy to understand and that the machine is so full of features that they are a little overwhelmed. [REF Singer Sewing Machine Reviews]
82.7 The Singer 7467 sewing machine comes with 70 built-in stitches and owners like the machines ease of use, quiet operation and quality of stitches. A number of consumer comments do point to some reliability issues however and a few owners have reported the need to take the machine in for repairs.
74.2 Consumer ratings for the Singer CG-590 Commercial Grade Sewing Machine are, on average, not that great when compared to other units in the same price range. Some owners really like the machine and have commented on its powerful motor and high speed stitching but a number of others have experienced reliability issues and have had the machine in for repairs frequently.
78.2 The Singer Talent 3323S is a good machine for beginners or those who would like a relatively basic machine and dont want to spend a lot of money. Is not computerized and there is no LCD screen for choosing stitches and the like. Owners like the fact that it is easy to use and it does a good job of what it is supposed to do. It is short on features however and some more experienced seamstresses may find it limiting. [REF Singer Sewing Machine Reviews]
81.8 Singer has a number of Heavy Duty sewing machines and the Singer 4423 is one of their middle of the road models. It is very fast at 1100 stitches per minute and is said to have a more powerful motor than most home machines. Owners feel that it is fast, quiet and also sturdy but some folks indicate that it will not sew through thick material as easily as they expected. [REF Singer Sewing Machine Reviews]
81.8 An inexpensive machine that is probably best for beginners, the Singer 1507 gets good grades from consumers for being quite compact and easy to use. It also comes with 8 built-in stitches, a 4-step automatic buttonhole and a 25 year warranty. It is a bit short on accessories however, and some owners struggle with the vertical bobbin and the tension settings. [REF Singer Sewing Machine Reviews]
93.1 With 100 built-in stitches and speed control the Singer 7258 Stylist is getting better reviews from consumers than many other Singer sewing machines. It is not too expensive and can be found at some retail outlets for about $150 to $200. Owners like the quiet and smooth operation of the Stylist and indicate that the manual is so easy to understand that they are up and sewing in no time. [REF Singer Sewing Machine Reviews]
79.7 The Singer 7469Q Confidence is said by most owners to be a fairly basic sewing and quilting machine that is good for beginners. Those that purchased the machine like the fact that it is easy to operate and that it comes with a wide range of accessories. But it does have its detractors. Some owners find the light too dim and the lack of instructions for items like the presser feet to be frustrating. Consumer ratings also show mixed sentiment for the 7469Q. [REF Singer Sewing Machine Reviews]
80.4 This is a hard machine to find consumer comments on, but we managed to find a few. All-in-all consumer ratings are pretty good not as good as some of the other machines weve looked at but still not bad. The machine excels with respect to being high speed but falls a little short with respect to being truly heavy duty. [REF Singer Sewing Machine Ratings]
83.4 Singers HD-110 is a heavy duty sewing machine with a powerful motor. Consumers also indicate it is very fast (commercial speed) and easy to set up. It comes with 10 stitch patterns and a stainless steel bed plate but several consumer comments indicate there are some issues. [REF Singer Sewing Machine Ratings]
82.9 The Singer 7442 Electronic Sewing Machine is considered by many consumers to be a very good starter machine. Consumer ratings and comments are fairly good often citing the ease with which the machine can be used. The Singer 7442 has an all aluminum frame and comes with 30 stitch patterns and adjustable stitch length and width. [REF Singer Sewing Machine Ratings]
83.3 If you are in the market for a basic sewing machine with a few good bells & whistles, then the Singer 7470 Confidence sewing machine may be worth a look. The "Confidence", as it is called, is popular with experienced sewers and beginners alike. It has all of the basic necessary functions, and then some. [REF Singer Sewing Machine Ratings]
From the moment that Isaac Meritt Singer invented the very first practical sewing machine in 1850 just 11 days after observing the first machine prototype, Singer Sewing Machine Company has been synonymous with quality sewing and continues to evolve into a world-class manufacturer of many more types of machines as well.
Hello! My name is Alison and I started Sewing Machine Ratings over 10 years ago. Since then I’ve reviewed scores of sewing machines. Sewing has been a hobby for me since I was a young and I love to make my own clothing.Sewing-machine-ratings.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
