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.
Following is a good video from Singer that shows what you get in the box and provides a tour of the machine's features.
Consumer Ratings
As seen in the table below, over 200 consumer ratings were found for this sewing machine. When averaged these generate a score of 72.4 out of 100, or about 3.6 stars out of 5. This is a not a particularly good score. You may wish to take a look at our overall sewing machine ratings table to make comparisons.
| Source | Consumer Ratings | #Ratings |
| Amazon | 3.7 stars out of 5 | 119 |
| Walmart | 3.5 stars out of 5 | 82 |
Those looking for a higher rated Singer sewing machine may wish to check out the following. These all have different features so look them over carefully.
| 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 |
Consumer Insights
A thorough review of owner comments has yielded the following pros & cons as well as other insights regarding the Singer Sew Mate.
PROS
- Sews through multiple layers of fabric well
- Easy to learn and operate
- Affordable
- Quiet
- Easy to thread
- Included DVD is helpful
CONS
- Bobbin can get tangled
- Thread occasionally breaks
- Singer customer service isn’t great
- Sometimes drops stitches
- Needles can break
There are many comments about how easy this sewing machine is to use and how intuitive the controls are. Beginners really like it because it is simple to setup and operate and folks who haven’t sewn for years also seem to take well to it.
Most owners report being pleased that the Sew Mate has 60 stitches and feel that these are sufficient for most of their sewing needs (see image below). In addition, the machine is capable of sewing through multiple layers of fabric and is often described as quiet.
However – and this is a big “however” – there are many, many reports of people having problems with the thread getting stuck and tangled in the bobbin. People have posted that the machine often displays C4 errors which are bobbin errors. In addition, the Sew Mate apparently displays an array of other error codes when things are not working properly, and some of the codes do not appear in the manual. Errors and issues with the machine sometimes result in it needing to go in for repairs.
A number of people report getting a defective machine and immediately sending it back for a replacement. In some cases this fixes the problem (the new machine is fine) but in other cases the replacement still doesn’t work properly.
To make matters more difficult, we have read of several instances in which Singer customer service takes a long time to answer an email and, if you call, you may be on hold for an hour or more. Their website highlights "Online support available anytime" and "Social media support". We haven’t heard of anyone attempting to take advantage of the social media support but if the other channels are any indication of support levels then contact through social media may also take a long time.
It is difficult to evaluate a sewing machine that has such divided reviews, but the 5400 Sew Mate just seems to be hit and miss. Some folks get a good one and really like it while others have nothing but problems. This is also reflected in the owner ratings which are often very high or very low. There are not a large number of middle-of-the-road ratings.
You can read more consumer reviews on Amazon if you wish.
Key Specifications
- 60 built-in stitches (essential, stretch, decorative)
- 4 automatic 1-step buttonholes
- Automatic needle threader
- Adjustable & automatic stitch and length settings
- Max 6.5mm stitch width
- Free arm
- Adjustable & automatic tension
- Automatic bobbin winding clutch
- 13 needle positions
- Auto reverse switch
- Extra high presser foot lift
- Automatic presser foot pressure
- Horizontal threading
- Max sewing speed of 750 stitches per minute
- LED lit sewing area
The front panel of the machine has a push button control panel and LCD display (see image to right).
The Sew Mate has a metal frame and weighs in at 13.8 lbs which is not particularly heavy. It also comes with a host of accessories including 3 presser feet: Buttonhole foot, Zipper foot, All-purpose foot. In addition, there are needles, class 15 metal bobbins, a seam ripper/lint brush, a darning plate, a screwdriver, a thread spool cap, an auxiliary spool cap, a dust cover, and a foot controller. In the box you will also find an introductory DVD which owners say is helpful, and an operations manual and quick start guide.
The Singer 5400 Sew Mate carries a 25-year limited warranty which breaks down into the following:
- Sewing machine head: 25 years
- Motors, light assembly, stitches, wiring, speed control and electronic components: 2 years
- Belts, rings, bulbs, attachments and adjustments: 90 days
Sewing Machine Manual
You can find the manual for this machine here: Singer 5400 Sew Mate Sewing Machine Manual. The manual is fairly detailed and has lots of illustrations. It is provided in English, French and Spanish.
You can also find a very detailed list of the machine's features and benefits here if you like.
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.