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.
Consumer Ratings
Owner ratings were gathered from quality online sources and compiled in the table below. In all, over 120 ratings were found and when a weighted average was applied the SM024 received a score of 83.4 out of 100 (or about 4.2 stars out of 5). This is a fairly average score (maybe even a little below average) and you can compare it to that of other sewing machines in our sewing machine ratings table.
| Source | Consumer Rating | # Ratings |
| Amazon | 4.3 stars out of 5 | 32 |
| Michael's | 3.8 stars out of 5 | 56 |
| Joann | 4.7 stars out of 5 | 33 |
If you would like to see higher scoring machines from other manufacturers then check out the Top Ratings Charts at the top of these pages:
- Brother Sewing Machines
- Singer Sewing Machines
- Janome Sewing Machines
- Juki Sewing Machines.
However, if Singer is truly your brand of choice you may find the following machines of interest.
|
TIP - High Scoring Singer Sewing Machines
Singer sewing machines that did not score well and you might want to consider avoiding include:
- Singer QuickFix - Singer 6699 Starlet - SInger M3500
- Singer 2932 - Singer 6199 Brilliance - Singer 3116 Simple - Singer 5400 Sew Mate - Singer CG-590 - Singer C5200 |
PROS & CONS
A thorough analysis of SM024 owner reviews and comments has provided the following list of pros and cons.
PROS
- Needle threader is generally easy to use
- Uncomplicated machine
- Lightweight and compact
- Feels sturdy
- Sews fairly smoothly
CONS
- Lighting could be better
- Poor manual
- Struggles with thicker fabrics
- Some issues with bobbin thread tangling
- A bit loud
What Are Owners Saying?
Most owners agree that this is a decent choice for the budding sewist or beginner. It doesn’t have too many features, and what features is does have are fairly easy to use. The unit is also compact and reasonably lightweight which makes it portable – a good fit for classes and sewing gatherings.
The needle threader on the SM024 is praised by most owners – not all, but most. The bulk of owners find the threader practical and easy to use. Also, several folks report that the machine feels sturdy and that operation is smooth. A few have also stated that this unit is good bang for your buck.
Probably one of the most reported SM024 annoyances is the poor instructions, with some people stating that the manual is close to incomprehensible. Fortunately several folks have pointed out that there are some good online videos which make all the difference. We’ve provided one of the most useful videos below:
Owners also feel that the LED lighting on the machine could be better. There are comments that the lighting is effective around the needle area but it is too dim nearer the throat. Fortunately there are some good sewing machine lighting solutions available on the market today – a popular example on Amazon is shown below.
The SM024 will sometimes struggle when sewing through thicker fabrics or multiple layers of fabric. In addition, there are reports of tangling bobbin thread, thread breaking, and also needles occasionally breaking. It should be noted however that these reports are not in the majority.
You can read more SM024 owner reviews on Amazon.
Key Specifications
- 24 built-in stitches (basic, stretch, decorative)
- 4 step buttonhole
- Adjustable stitch length
- Front loading bobbin
- Class 15J transparent bobbin
- Automatic bobbin winder
- Needle threader
- Free arm
- LED lighting
- Drop feed capable
- Twin needle function
- Reverse lever
- Snap-on presser feet
Stitches
Note that you will sometimes see marketing materials for this machine highlighting “97 stitch applications”. A stitch application and a stitch are two different things. See our Singer M1000 review for an explanation and video.
Stitches are printed directly on the front of the machine for easy viewing. The stitch chart can be seen below:
You can read more about all the different stitches in the manual provided at the bottom of this review.
Other Features & Characteristics
This is a mechanical sewing machine with manual controls and it sports a metal frame. Some owners describe the SM024 as sturdy and this may, at least in part, be due to the structural integrity provided by the metal frame.
The SM024 weighs in at a fairly lightweight 12.8 lbs. It also has a built-in carry handle that helps with portability. When not in use the carry handle can be folded down so that it is flush with the top of the sewing machine.
You can drop the feed dogs on the SM024. There is a drop feed lever that allows you to lower the feed teeth. To raise the feed teeth you move the lever in the opposite direction (opposite direction that you moved it to lower the feed teeth) then turn the handwheel toward you one full turn.
Accessories
Several accessories are provided with the Singer SM024 including three presser feet: all purpose foot, buttonhole foot, and hem guide foot. There is also a pack of bobbins (15J transparent), a pack of needles, a multi-function screwdriver, a seam ripper, and a foot pedal.
Most accessories can be stored in the built-in storage compartment. Also, removing this compartment allows you to use the free arm.
Warranty
The Singer SM024 carries a 25-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. For this particular machine we believe this means the following:
- Limited 25-year warranty on the sewing machine head.
- 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
You can see more details about this warranty here.
Sewing Machine Manual
The manual for this machine is provided in English. It shows the main parts of the machine and walks you through all the features. In addition, there is information on the different stitch types as well as how to care for your machine, and even troubleshooting tips. You can see the manual here: Singer SM024 Sewing Machine Manual
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.