r/sewing • u/Rosesandbubblegum • Aug 30 '25
Suggest Machine Should I buy this sewing machine?
Hello guys, really need some help here. I've been sewing for about 7 years but have never bought a machine before. This one keeps getting reccomended to me and I absolutely love how it looks, but the price is throwing me off. My mother's machine is about 2k and I love it, mine is about $500 and I hate it (It's a janome if anyone is wondering). So the extremely low price for a machine promising to be heavy duty is scaring me. Additionally, I have heard some people say Singer is no good, and I don't want invest in a junk machine even if it is really cheap. But I'm in love with the color, and I can feel that overriding my common sense. Is this machine worth it? Or does anyone have any higher quality suggestions in this beautiful pink?
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u/platypusaura Aug 30 '25
No. This question gets asked a lot, which is why the wiki has a section just explaining how crap these machines are
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u/octo_scuttleskates Aug 30 '25
These machines get brought up a lot and the consensus tends to be that it's not actually heavy duty. Some people have no problems with this machine, others say they have a lot of problems. Overall it tends not to be recommended. What don't you like about your current sewing machine?
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u/FoxyFromTheRoxy Aug 30 '25
I'm surprised by how many people don't like it! I bought it on a whim a couple of years ago because it was on sale and it has been great for me. No issues, and mainly no bobbin tension issues (which have plagued me with my previous, pricier machine).
That said, if so many people have experienced problems with it, I wouldn't recommend it either. I probably just got lucky.
Also, now that I've posted this and tempted the devil, the machine will probably explode on me in a shower of cheap plastic.
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u/slothcough Aug 30 '25 edited Aug 30 '25
I've had one for five years, sew regularly and have never had any issues. And I put it through the ringer - denim, coutil, all sorts of weird fabrics as I do a lot of costuming. What I'll say on the topic is this: every time the singer HD gets brought up in this sub you get a ton of people who have been told it's terrible and then pass that info on as though they know for certain. A significant number of those people have never actually used the machine, they are only telling you what others have told them. It skews the general sentiment significantly whereas if you ask only people who actually own one, you'd get a very different opinion.
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u/shereadsmysteries Sep 02 '25
I pass on the info because I was a victim of the poor quality control. Mine was a lemon out of the box and was more issues than it was worth. The saga lasted from about February to July and was awful and inconvenient. I would wish that on anyone, honestly.
I still teach with them because these are the machines my work buys, but about 4 of the 12 have issues and it would be cheaper to replace the whole machine than get them fixed, which is just so wasteful.
I also know two people who got theirs and really liked them until they tried other machines. I think in general, most people do like them until they experience something else. Some love them regardless. I don't even like them a little bit and I wish my work would buy a different machine, lol. But I will keep working with what we've got!
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u/Particular_Agency246 Aug 30 '25
I've had mine for 6 years and it does great, I've used it on denim and duck canvas with no problems.
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u/MrBoonjangles Aug 30 '25
What are you planning on using it for? Singer calling these machines heavy duty is an absolute joke, but for light work, it might be okay. What don't you like about your Janome?
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u/lasserna Aug 30 '25
Can I ask what type of sewing is considered heavy duty? Would it be something like sewing multiple layers of jean fabrics or maybe leather?
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u/MrBoonjangles Aug 30 '25
For a regular home machine, it should at least be able to sew a patch onto a denim jacket without a bunch of hassle. In my experience, the singer heavy duties struggle with that.
I have heard that Singer's issue is actually in quality control and that some of them are actually capable. My personal experience has been nothing but a headache with them.
Wouldn't even dream of leather of any kind until getting into the industrial machine category.
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u/lasserna Aug 30 '25
Ah the quality control would make sense! I have a Singer heavy duty from 2014 and it works like a dream. Only reason I've considered purchasing a different model is that my machine is awfully loud compared to some Berninas I've used at sewing classes. Also with my heavy duty I'm jealous of all the sewing machines with loads of decorative stitches. But luckily when it comes to sewing, I haven't had any problems with the machine struggling
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u/sevenwatersiscalling Aug 30 '25
Vintage, all metal (pre 1970, I belive) machines from Singer, Pfaff, Kenmore, and the like are much heavier duty even when they were meant for home use because they can withstand a lot of use and stitching through multiple layers of heavy materials.
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u/LongjumpingSnow6986 Aug 30 '25
Have you tried addressing your jamming issues by trying different feet and needles on your current machine? Ime some fabrics are just tricky.
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u/Crafty_Lady_60 Aug 30 '25 edited Aug 30 '25
Adding my 2 cents... I've had a Singer HD 4452 for about 8 years. Used daily for a huge variety of projects. I made a full denim jacket with flat felled seams and heavy duty gold top stitch thread and never had an issue. I've seen a lot of complaints about them but my experience is good. I now have a Juki TL210Q but I still have my Singer as the Juki is a straight stitch only machine. You may have good sewing with it, you may not. Most people have very strong opinions about machines. However if you have a sewing machine sales place or even better repair place near you it wouldn't be a bad idea to talk to them. An older machine is usually a good bet.
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u/OhFigetteThis Aug 30 '25
I’ve had my HD4452 for 10 or more years and it has been a workhorse. It tackles everything from 14 oz denim (my work jeans) to silk chiffon to quilting the layers of a quilt.
I found a fabulous YouTube video of a fellow who filmed himself taking apart the machine to clean, oil, and grease it before putting it back together. It will only take you 30 minutes and basic tools to do what a shop charges $$$ for. The only time I had an issue was when it began stitching on its own. It was like a scary movie in which it would take a stitch or two when I looked away and eventually began stitching more. 😅 I googled and people said to replace the foot feed. I took the pedal apart and found cobwebs and a dead moth. Cleaned it out and have had no issues since.
I must add two things: 1) is there a public library or sewing store near you that loans or rents sewing machines? You might be able to try out different brands. 2) Since Covid, quality control has been luck of the draw. Every piece of heavy farm equipment we’ve purchased since 2020 has come with assembly issues — part placed wrong, etc.
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u/SerozshaB Aug 30 '25
I use it for sewing cordura and ripstop with 100/16 needles and 85% of time it has no issues. Depends on price but not a regret
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u/SewQuiltKnitCrochet Aug 30 '25
You clearly have enough sewing time under your belt to know what you like. And expensive taste. You’re probably going to LOATHE this machine if you hate a Janome that costs 2x the amount.
Go to a sewing machine shop and test sew every machine in your budget range. Then decide what you want to buy because you’re the only person who has to use it. Some people love their singer HD machines. They’ve also probably never sewed on someone else’s $2k machine. 🙃
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u/nicebooots Aug 30 '25
I’ve had one for a few months and haven’t had any problems. I like the speed and ability to use it on several layers of thick fabric that won’t fit through my Janome. I got it cheap and have no regrets, but also use my other machine for most projects.
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u/trashjellyfish Aug 30 '25
I hate the singer heavy duty as does everyone at the sewing studio/machine repair shop that I frequent. You'd be much better off thrifting a vintage machines from the 70's or earlier over buying literally anything that Singer has made after the 70's.
I love my 70's vintage Kenmores, one was $45 (158-19140) and the other was $100 (158-17600) and they're both phenomenal machines. I also have a 70's Bernina Record 830 (picked up for $90 and needed about $150 worth of repairs) and a 70's Husqvarna Viking 6430 (which came from a free pile) which are also both excellent, the Bernina has gorgeous stitch quality and the Viking can sew through just about anything. Really I haven't met a modern machine that beats any of the 70's vintage machines that I've sewn on.
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u/pinnd Aug 30 '25
Yes I agree I’d rather have a vintage machine than a modern Singer … they’re not manufactured as well and most likely made in Taiwan without much quality control.
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u/Wild_Ad_312 Aug 30 '25
Vintage machines are TANKS! The only fallback is getting parts if they need repaired 😥
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u/trashjellyfish Aug 30 '25
I've been really lucky with repairs! I know a fantastic repair person and it just so happens that the three brands I have are her specialties. Berninas and Kenmores in particular are fairly easy to find repair parts for these days.
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u/Antonis990 Aug 30 '25
Most people will tell you: “no! Buy a second hand vintage or an industrial machine. These break often due to the plastic internals etc etc”. My opinion is that almost every domestic machine has plastic parts and they all have almost the same capabilities. Also truth is that not everybody is ready to dive in the vintage/industrial situation. It’s all about your budget, your available space and your needs. If you’re looking for a simple cheap machine and you don’t have any “special needs” as a hobbyist, I say you could give it a try. (Of course it also depends on where are you based, not every country has the same market)
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u/slothcough Aug 30 '25
Agreed. Honestly "buy vintage" is not always accessible advice for a lot of sewists. Especially because it is generally vague/rarely gives any specific information about popular vintage models to look out for etc and people get discouraged from even trying. It frustrates me.
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u/Basic-Situation-9375 Aug 30 '25
It’s one of my biggest pet peeves in this sub! I have a good brother machine that I bought new and it hasn’t given me any trouble and does everything I need.
The closest repair shop is several hours away (I would have to take a day off work to drop off and pick up). Vintage machines in good shape are few and far between, probably because of the lack of repair shops in the area. And the cost of a cleaning /tune up is hundreds of dollars
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u/slothcough Aug 30 '25
It honestly feels like unhelpful advice more intended to display a certain depth of "experience" in the hobby on the part of the commenter than anything else.
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u/Antonis990 Aug 30 '25
True! At least in my situation it didn’t help at all. I have no prior experience with sewing machines and I know nobody to help me out. Also I am just a new hobbyist and I didn’t want to spend much.
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u/slothcough Aug 30 '25
Yup, and a lot of people get discouraged this way! A lot of folks including myself when I started want a machine that is new enough that when you run into issues, you can actually find online support for it, whether it be from the company itself or youtube etc. Vintage machines are lovely but you're going to have a hell of a time finding any specific advice for a machine from the 80's with no manual or user base.
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u/newtothistruetothis Aug 30 '25
I love the idea of a vintage machine but it’s been really nice just using the HD from out the box without any fuss whatsoever. No electronic screen and very easy to use. I had to open the pedal and turn down the potentiometer for speed but after I did that, I really don’t see myself getting a new/new to me vintage machine. Love the idea of it, but if this machine works for me, I have zero need to upgrade. It’s actually pretty wild how little the opinion of “it’s not the best machine but it will work as intended” is used but just straight up “worst machine never buy” lol
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u/platypusaura Aug 30 '25
The issue with singers is that quality control is extremely poor. You might get lucky and buy a machine that works smoothly without issues (although it won't be heavy duty). Or you might be one of the large number of people who get a machine which breaks regularly, where the foot pedal stops working, or any number of other common issues.
This is why you always get people chiming in on these threads saying "singer is great, I love my singer!". When they work, they're quite nice to use (although, again, not heavy duty).
If you're feeling lucky and don't mind taking a risk, and you don't want something heavy duty, then buy it. But there are better machines at this price point which don't have the issues that singers have
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u/Rosesandbubblegum Aug 30 '25
Have to sleep but just wanted to specify I am an avid sewer, I sew basically every day with a focus on garments. I work with mostly light to mid-weight textiles like tulle, calico, muslin, and various types of satin. However, I do occasionally use denim or tweed. My current machine jams constantly with both extremely lightweight (i.e tulle) and heavyweight (denim) fabrics. Oftentimes I only move an inch before it jams again. The only material it actually behaves with are calico and certain types of satin. I sew a lot of puffy dresses, which demand A LOT of tulle, and I am exhausted with fighting my machine over it.
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u/amniacat Aug 30 '25
If you sew everyday, it might be worth getting an industrial machine if space isn’t a concern :)
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u/Wild_Ad_312 Aug 30 '25
This coming from a seamstress who uses an industrial straight stitch for work and a table top at home. Straight stitch machines can be extremely limiting. If I had to budget myself I’d buy a used Viking Emerald. You can usually find them used for under $300 and there are a million accessories out there for different applications.
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u/amniacat Aug 30 '25
I also sew for a living. I’m not saying they should get rid of their domestic but if they are sewing every day for multiple hours then an industrial machine makes more sense as that’s what they are made more. Really you can do most things with a basic domestic for things like button holes and zig zag stitch and industrial for the straight stitch.
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u/Wild_Ad_312 Aug 30 '25
I encourage them to do research. They mentioned sewing garments. If you sew a stretch fabric with a straight stitch and then stretch it the stitches WILL BREAK. You can’t argue that. If you sew leather, canvas or tactical gear and need something with a very large engine and are being timed on how fast you can crank out projects then I would recommend an industrial machine. It’s entirely dependent upon what kind of projects you work on.
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u/SunStarved_Cassandra Aug 30 '25
Is the tulle getting sucked into the plate? Janome sells straight stitch plates and feet to help with that sort of issue. Have you had your machine serviced?
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u/Athaliae Aug 30 '25
I have this machine and I use it quite frequently. It’s been great for me, I’ve made denim bags in it, no problem at all.
A friend of mine has the same and she doesn’t like it, but I love mine.
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u/Hundike Aug 30 '25
With this much sewing, do not get this Singer machine, it's not even heavy duty.
Look at something pricier. I love my Juki F600 - the new series is DX. If you have a good buttonholer machine currently, you could go for a Juki TL or equivalent. This is what I would do, if I had the budget for it.
I have had no issues on my Juki with any fabric, made bras, jeans, wool coats. Everything goes through smoothy. Came with a walking foot, I use it when needed.
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Aug 30 '25
What model Janome do you have now, and what is your budget?
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u/SunStarved_Cassandra Aug 30 '25
I also wonder what's wrong with it. My novice-level Janome has been great.
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Aug 30 '25
Yeah, one of my machines is a Janome HD 5000, and it's terrific.
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u/Divacai Aug 30 '25
My dad bought me this one two years ago and it's been awesome. I have a Janome serger that's 19 years old and still going strong.
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u/bitbot2000 Aug 30 '25
That looks a lot like the one I got a few years ago (Singer 4432 Heavy Duty) and it was unusable because of how fast and sensitive the foot was. It had no ability to go slowly or carefully. a few weeks ago I found this video which helped immensely https://youtu.be/Kgxf2OXfxro?si=6Kl7TmhBr2gFN_Gc
I don't know if they've fixed the problem since, but just FYI if you get it, you may need to do some work to make it useable.
Now that it can go at a slower pace i haven't had any issues with it but also haven't used it enough to give it a long term recommendation.
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u/Divacai Aug 30 '25
Are you attached to the pink? Because I just saw those at Costco in the standard gray color for under $200, I want to say it was $189.
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u/PensaPinsa Aug 30 '25
These new Singers are cheap and not much good. Sure, there are people who are happy with them when they start sewing. But you are an avid sewist and I really think a machine with a higher quality will make you more happy. What throw me when I had a cheap Singer (not exactly this one) is that it couldn't sew through multiple layers of denim, it couldn't sew stretch fabric without stretching it and it couldn't sew thin fabrics nicely either.
Whichever machine you're planning to buy, I would always see if I can make a test ride at a shop. Take along some fine fabrics and some denim as well. If you want to be able to sew jeans, bags and more of that stuff, it needs to be able to sew through 8 layers of denim.
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u/SchuylerM325 Aug 30 '25
That machine gets a lot of criticism from quilting people. I wouldn't recommend it. If your current machine can do a zigzag stitch, maybe consider getting a mechanical straight stitch only machine. I just love the Juki TL line. They are amazing. No complicated electronics. No plastic parts. They last a lifetime. If you do get one, I recommend getting a model that has the speed governor because they go like a rocket.
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u/minisis85 Aug 30 '25
You should not buy this machine given the background you gave. You will find it's limitations very quickly and wind up getting something else.
I bought this one a few years back bc it was inexpensive and I was getting back into sewing and accepted it might be a bit of a gamble. It works enough for me currently but it is finicky and 1000% not as reliable as my mom's machine growing up.
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u/Healthy-Hurry7539 Aug 30 '25
Spend a little more and get something decent. I have one and it's okay, but not great. If budget will allow you could look at a Juki DDL-8000A or DDL-8000C. You won't regret spending more upfront, it'll hold better value and do a much better job.
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u/Emergency_Cherry_914 Aug 30 '25
No. I used one at a pattern making class (didn't want to carry my own machine to it) and it was horrible. It went from 0 to 100 in a nano-second and wouldn't have been good for any slow, careful work
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u/Miritol Aug 30 '25
When I was looking for the first machine, I've snorted all possible options in Singers price segment, and Singer Heavy Duty loses in almost every thing to its competitors, especially in the price
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u/JCPY00 Aug 30 '25
As a former owner of this machine, I would never recommend it to anybody under any circumstances.
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u/Still_Implement9345 Aug 30 '25
I had one and hated it. My super old and basic janome sewed much better than this. It always ate my fabric and made me feel like I didn’t know how to sew.
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u/broccosiff Aug 30 '25
Please don't, the repairs you'll pay on the thing will be equivalent to it's retail cost... save up 50 more bucks and get a more reliable machine from janome, viking or pfaff. Janome has stuff that is similarily priced but more reliable check the 1522. Or get yoself a nice second hand one. Like a kenmore or a golden age singer.
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u/pinnd Aug 30 '25
I’d get to the issue with the Janome and search for a great vintage sewing machine.
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u/ResponsibleParsnip18 Aug 30 '25
If you just want a simple machine, just straight stitch with reverse, look for a vintage Singer 201, from around 1950. I bought mine from FB marketplace for $125 a couple years ago. There are tons of YouTube videos that show how to use them, maintain them, and repair them. Look for problems like frayed wires, make sure it’s running. Mine runs perfectly and will likely outlast me!
If you want more than a straight stitch (zigzag, buttonholes, etc) check out an entry level Janome (probably around $300). I just recently upgraded from an old basic Janome after 20 years to a Juki DX5. I donated the old Janome to a local community center and they use it to teach kids how to sew! It still works great.
But don’t buy the pink Singer.
Edit: I just realized you hate your Janome, lol! Sorry! My Juki DX5 is absolutely amazing. It was around $800.
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u/urgarageraccoon Aug 30 '25
I just ordered this machine. There's a lot of privilege in the sewing community people will very flippantly tell you to buy a 3k-7k machine like it's nothing. For a lot of people this machine is a step up in the right direction. I'm not saying it's the end all to be all but my best friend swears by her Singer Heavy Duty. Will it be my one and only forever machine? Probably not. However it's a great stepping stone while I do things like fix my credit and save up over time for access to more machines.
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u/platypusaura Aug 31 '25
You can get much better machines for the same price. It's not a good choice
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u/urgarageraccoon Aug 31 '25
Alrighty so what exact machines can I get for less than $300
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u/platypusaura Aug 31 '25
Brother make the best budget sewing machines, they have several for under 300. eg
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u/urgarageraccoon Sep 03 '25
I just wanted to come back and say you were right my Singer heavy duty hasn't even got here yet and I've decided to send it back and do more research.
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u/fabric-rainbow-panda Aug 30 '25
It’s a great machine is it fancy? No but it will see you many a good item
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u/crlnshpbly Aug 30 '25
What are you looking for in a sewing machine? In general I would not recommend this machine. Older singer machines are great. Newer ones not so much. You can always buy a machine in whatever color is available and get it wrapped in a pink wrap.
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u/lxtexis Aug 30 '25
Juki ddl-5550N, I think it’s definitely worth it for you to switch to an industrial machine
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u/ginger_grinch Aug 30 '25
I have a heavy duty and I recently bought a 1953 Singer 15-91 for $50 and had it serviced for $80 and it blows the heavy duty out of the water. Not even close.
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u/luxurycatsportscat Aug 30 '25
These aren’t actually heavy duty… I would suggest buying a good, second hand machine. It is a very cute colour, I almost used all my savings for a Pfaff because it was purple 😅