Singer Lock Stitch Sewing Machine and Activity Set Review

This is a toy, not a sewing machine.If you want to introduce a child to sewing, get
a real machine not this toy.If you want a toy, get something else because this one
is useless.

This was received as a gift to my daughter and after wasting two hours on it we've concluded
that giving her a sewing machine was a great idea (it turns out she is very interested in
learning how to sew), but that this particular machine was a poor choice.

The poor design and low quality of construction of this sewing machine is obvious - lots
of plastic, a flimsy pedal, vague instructions, and things that are not aligned properly.
Those qualities lead to frustration at every turn when trying to actually use.

First we tried to thread the thing.The instructions did not make it clear exactly where
to wind the thread around the tensioner (the physical part had three potential areas the
thread could be wrapped around, but the instructions were not detailed enough to
tell which was correct), but based on where the springs were and what happens when the
tension knob is adjusted we figured out the correct one ourselves.Then we found it
quite difficult to thread the needle (because the needle can not be brought up quite high
enough to give it the clearance that would be needed for easy threading).

After the struggles with vague instructions and poor actual design, we tried completing a
few stitches:the machine made loud noises and vibrated violently when we engaged the foot
pedal (a cheap plastic job that would not stay put because it weighed almost nothing and
was at the mercy of the inflexible cord it was attached to).We got about 20 stitches,
but they were unusably loose on the bottom side of the cloth and we basically ended up
with a tangle.

After cutting that out, and some more fiddling we noticed that the needle did not line up
with the hole in the base of the machine.We guessed each stitch the machine tried to make
failed because the needle did not go cleanly down through the hole.There was nothing in the
manual about how to adjust that, so I followed the instructions on how to change the needle,
hoping that it perhaps was not set properly in the holder, but resetting the needle had no
effect - the needle was still mis-aligned with the hole.

So I pushed the needle gently but firmly in the direction of the hole (even past it a
little) until it stayed centered above the hole by itself.Then we tried to sew again,
but this time it failed to make any stitches.The needle went properly down the hole,
but failed to create any stitches so the thread just pulled out of the hole each time
the needle went back up.We fiddled with it for another 30 minutes but never got past
this point - both threads seem to be rigged properly and there seems to be proper tension
on both, but it seems by aligning the needle with the hole I've mis-aligned the needle with
something below and now the thing can not make a stitch.

As is probably obvious from above, I personally know nothing about sewing machines.But
my mom was there helping us the whole time and she has sewed for about 40 years (on an
old Singer).After we gave up trying to get this machine to work, she took out her
old machine and my daughter was sewing with it in under five minutes - making nice
stitches and getting very excited about making things.

Our conclusion is that rather than get a cheap kids' toy for sewing, which translates into a
low quality, frustrating experience for anyone involved, it is worth buying a basic but real,
higher quality machine.

I'm going to return this plastic landfill fodder and apply the refund towards a real machine.
In my opinion Singer should not put out cheap junk like this if they want to maintain a good
reputation.


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Product Description:
Introduce budding seamstresses to the joys of sewing with this child-sized Singer Lock Stitch Sewing Machine and Activity Set. It comes with everything she'll need to start creating her very own crafts. Sewing Machine features two-speed control, an on/off switch, tension dial, bobbin winder, convenient carrying handle, storage compartment, working light, foot pedal control, control indicator lights and spare bobbin and needle. Requires 3 "D" batteries (not included).

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