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.
We found 62 ratings for the 1512 at a number of quality online retail outlets – see table below. When we applied a weighted average to these figures we got a sewing machine score of 81.3 out of 100. This is fairly average – not great, but not too bad. You can compare this to the score of other sewing machines in our sewing machine ratings table if you like.
Source | Consumer Rating | # Ratings |
Amazon | 4 stars out of 5 | 27 |
Home Depot | 4.2 stars out of 5 | 30 |
Walmart | 3 stars out of 5 | 2 |
SewingMachinesPlus | 4 stars out of 5 | 3 |
Model | Score (Avg Consumer Rating) |
Singer Stylist 7258 | 93.1 |
Singer One Plus | 93.0 |
Singer Fashion Mate 7256 | 91.2 |
Singer ONE | 88.7 |
Singer Heavy Duty 4452 | 88.6 |
Model | Avg Consumer Rating |
Singer QuickFix | 52.4 |
Singer 2932 | 58.6 |
Singer 6199 Brilliance | 63.0 |
Singer 3116 Simple | 70.1 |
Singer 5400 Sew Mate | 72.4 |
Singer CG-590 | 74.2 |
What Are Owners Saying About their 1512?
A thorough review of owner comments has provided the following Singer 1512 Promise II pros and cons:
- Easy to setup and use
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight and portable
- Built-in carry handle
- Not too noisy
- Easy to thread
- Plenty of online info and instructions
- Struggles with thick fabrics
- Cannot adjust feed dogs
- Some folks experience frequent thread jamming/bunching
- Bobbin is finicky and gets jammed at times
- Instruction manual only average



- 13 stitches (11 basic, 1 decorative, 1 buttonhole)
- Automatic 4-step buttonhole
- Stitch selector dial
- Snap-on presser feet
- Extra high presser foot lift (for thick fabrics)
- Automatic presser foot pressure
- Front loading bobbin (class 15 bobbin)
- Automatic bobbin winder
- Free arm
- Built-in thread cutter
- Twin needle capable
- 2 needle positions
- Preset stitch width and length (but still adjustable)
- Adjustable stitch length
- Adjustable stitch width (up to 5mm)
- Reverse lever
- Adjustable tension
- Sewing speed = 750 stiches per minute
This unit does not have an automatic needle threader and some folks wish it did. But threading the machine, even without an automatic needle threader, is still fairly easy. In addition, there are threading diagrams/instructions printed directly on the machine to help.
Following is a graphic showing the stitches provided with the 1512. These are also printed on the stitch dial on the machine. The dial makes it very easy to select a stitch.

The 1512 weighs 10.8 lbs which is quite light for a sewing machine. Our list of the best portable sewing machines has a cutoff weight of 12 lbs. Despite the weight this unit still has a metal interior frame which helps increase rigidity (which, in turn, helps to produce skip-free sewing).
Like most sewing machines today, a number of accessories are provided with your 1512 Promise II. Included are four presser feet:
- Zipper
- Button sewing
- Buttonhole

This is a "Singer 25/2/90" sewing machine which means:
- Limited 2- year warranty on electric parts such as motors, lighting assembly, wiring, speed control, switches, and electronic components.
- Limited 90-day warranty on attachments, belts, bulbs, rings, and adjustments.
The manual covers such items as Machine Basics, Threading the 1512, Sewing (straight stitch, buttonholes, free motion, choosing patterns, etc), Maintenance, and Troubleshooting. It is provided in English, Spanish and French. It is not particularly detailed but the basics are there. You can see a copy of the manual here: Singer 1512 Promise II Manual