The first version i received was assembled incorrectly: the plastic body had 2 exposed tabs and did not fit together. The bobbin winder was misaligned and did not work. The needle was too far off adjustment to align it with the bobbin hole, even when taking the cover off and adjusting.
The second version was functional but required adjustments and the tensioner seems to stray frequently. The lift arm mechanism in the thread path is not a smooth piece of metal which causes snags with fine threads.
The rewind bobbin option didn’t work and I had to take the stupid thing apart and clean off the litter and then oil it. It finally worked with some tinkering.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting singer.com
Customer Rating
1
Do not recommend for beginners
on March 18, 2026
Posted by: Jamjmcd
from Nashville
I've been working with this machine for a year now. I bought as a simple straight stitch backup whole my other machines were being serviced. I do not recommend this machine for beginners for these reasons.
-Lightweight, even though it says heavy duty, it's a very lightweight machine and u less you have it affixed or a non slip grip mat under it will move with anything remotely large.
-the upper Looper is constantly coming undone even if you have it all perfect before beginning depending on what you are sewing how fast you sew or just an odd day that stupid upper Looper isn't quite right and consistently comes undone
3. Should be cleaned and oiled after every project or it will start to make noise and skip stitches.
If you use the cutter st the side of the machine after sewing your seam it will NOT be long enough for it to not come out of the needle the next seam you try to sew, this is most aggravating and doesn't make sense.
I have been sewing for over 35 years I have worked with everything from a Husqvarna to a Janome to a baby lock to a brother to Industrial machines you name it I have used it and this is by far the most frustrating machine I have ever worked on now granted is a portion of the price of what I usually pay for machines I will give it that but for a seasoned seamstress it has too many quirks and if you are showing 8 hours a day like I am it's better to just keep it as an absolute must have backup and that is it for when your other machines are down I do not recommend this machine at all especially for beginner and I've heard this from many many seasons designers seamstresses people that work on machines all day we are all having the same issue with it