SINGER | Start 1304 6 Built-in Stitches, Free Arm Best Sewing Machine for Beginners
- Heavy duty metal frame ensures that the machine remains Still for skip-free sewing
- Stainless steel bedplate provides smooth fabric feed for even sewing
- Made in China
- Amps:0.6
Rosemarie Noquera Lim
very recommended for beginners
LOVE IT. It was my first time ever using a sewing machine so the instructions for how to put the string were not that easy to understand, but I looked for a video on YouTube that helped me a lot and on the same day I managed to sew my first item, a soft blanket for a baby. My mom has the professional machine (the old metal ones) and I can tell there is a great difference in the capabilities of sewing different fabrics but for me it was enough.
Sminer Codef
Excellent Little Machine.
Previously I had given this sewing machine a lesser review. But after trying and trying I finally found the Singer sewing machine class for this particular one. The problems I felt like might be why the machine wasn't working was solely due to my inability to get the thread to fit into the bobbin holder. After seeing the video of how to get the thread behind what wasn't working for me to do, (because I thought the thread would break and was putting enough pressure downward into the what appears to be no slot at all. Today I have only had to thread the machine one time while making a lot of clothing alternations. Just love this little simple machine. Now I won't be afraid to invest in something that would perform heavier duty, if I decide to do such. My suggestion is to what the video about the product if you have any problems. There is some confusion when you see the different markings on machine as to how to thread. Also the simple problem with the feeding of the bobbin was cleared up as well. Highly suggest watching video. The booklet didn't help me at all as to what I was doing wrong.
Craig Telfer
Love it!!
I am completely happy with this purchase. A month ago I made a commitment to learn to sew and with this machine I have already done many projects. It is very easy to use and perfect for beginners. I have been able to fix mine and my husband's jeans and make scarves for winter and make a caddy for my sewing machine. I am very entertaining doing things with my machine. It was an excellent investment.
Rheyann Daus
Impressive quality for a low cost sewing machine for beginners/intermediates.
Great price for a quality machine that still has mostly metal parts (some low cost machines are mostly plastic). I used to do some dress making, but these days I'm mostly doing alterations. I previously had a singer in my dress making days, and despite the low price, I've been pleasantly surprised with the quality of this new lightweight machine. The machine arrived already threaded, so a beginner could begin practising immediately. However, check against the instructions that both the upper thread and the bobbin are correctly threaded. The bobbin on mine had been incorrectly threaded causing the thread to tangle and break. I was able to resolve this quickly, but I'm sure a novice would probably spend a frustrating time wondering what's wrong. Tip for novices - there are videos on YouTube on how to thread and set up the machine, basic stitch instructions and troubleshooting advice. Threading may look complicated initially, but I can assure novices that after a few goes, you will be threading your machine in seconds.
Tiffany Alipater
Great basic sewing machine
Love this little sewing machine! Back into sewing after a 30 year hiatus, I was looking for a simple machine to replace my old, heavy one. I first bought a lightweight Brother, but it made me want to throw it out the window. I love the smooth action, the small size, and ease of use. The tension was correct right out of the box, unlike the Brother machine, which I could never adjust correctly. There are only 6 stitches, but that is more than adequate for my needs. A truly great basic sewing machine.
Walter Purdion
Nice little machine for beginners and those who don't need a lot of bells & whistles
I come to this machine from a bit of a unique standpoint: I've been sewing for over two decades now, and while I imagine the machines in the class where I learned to sew were fairly basic, I have primarily used my mom's higher-end sewing machines for the majority of the time I've been sewing, and especially in the past decade-plus. So coming to this machine (my very first machine that is truly MINE) was something of a step back for me, but I tried to not let my experience with high-end machines color my review of this product. If you have experience with sewing machines already, you could probably open the box, get the machine hooked up (there is one cord that connects the machine to power, and also connects the foot pedal to the machine, so it's a quick-and-easy setup), and start powering away. If this is your very first machine, I would recommend reading the enclosed manual first (of course, I'm generally of the opinion to always read the manual, anyway). The machine comes with a small bag of accessories neatly tucked away into the accessory tray compartment (that little box at the front of the machine that you remove to access the bobbin compartment). There's one bobbin already in the bobbin compartment, plus an additional 3 bobbins (4 total). Also included are 3 extra needles (in addition to the one already installed), 3 total feet (the "all-purpose" foot is already attached, plus there is a buttonhole foot and a zipper foot), a darning plate, 2 spool pin felts, a needle plate screwdriver, and a small lint brush with a mini seam ripper hidden inside the handle. All of the accessories fit neatly into the compartment with room to spare. The first thing I did was wind a bobbin. There are diagrams on the top of the machine that show you how to run the thread from the spool to the bobbin winder. The bobbin wound quickly, and the winder simply stopped winding once it was full, even if I kept my foot on the pedal. More diagrams on the top and front of the machine walk you through threading it, and the process is similar to every other sewing machine I've used. It lacks a needle threader, which is handy to have, but I suppose not necessary. If you have issues with threading the needle, a hand-held needle threader (http://www.amazon.com/CottageCutz-CNT1-2-in-1-Needle-Threader/dp/B000YZ462E/ for example) can still be used to help get the thread through the eye. Lead-footed drivers beware: the machine goes FAST. I'm accustomed to the speed control on my mom's machines, where you can set a top speed and, no matter how much you put the pedal to the metal (or carpet, wood, tile, whatever your flooring is), it won't exceed it. The only speed control on this machine comes from how much pressure you apply to the foot pedal, so definitely take it easy! I'm not deducting any stars from the machine for the lack of speed control, because it's not a "missing feature," since nowhere does the information on the machine suggest it has this feature, it's simply something I'm used to from higher-end machines. If this is an issue for you, you may want to consider looking at a different machine. Another feature from higher-end machines that I noticed was not included on this machine was a button to set the needle so that it stops either down or up. Of course, there's a knob on the right side of the machine that raises and lowers the needle, but it can sometimes be handy to have the needle stop down, without trying to time taking your foot off the pedal just right. Again, not worthy of a star deduction, because this is a basic machine, but something to consider. After all, if the needle stops in a position different than what you need (up, down, or anywhere in between), you can simply turn the knob and put the needle where you need it. The lever to raise & lower the presser foot is easy to manage with just a finger, and it can lift the presser foot a fairly decent height, beyond the raised "resting" position. There is a thread-cutter located on the left side of the machine. A lever on the front right of the machine allows for easy back-stitching. The big round dial at the top front of the machine (with the blue S in the center) is your stitch-selector: line up the stitch you want with the little marking at the top center, and you're good to go. It includes 3 lengths of straight stitch, 3 zig-zag widths, satin-stitch, blind hem, scallop, and the three parts to the four-step buttonhole stitch (steps 2 & 4 use the same part). There is also a dial a bit to the left of the stitch selector where you can adjust the tension of the stitching, but you'll probably want to leave it on "4" for a good majority of your straight stitching, and the manual succinctly covers how to check if the tension is "good" for what you're doing, as well as how to adjust it. Overall, it is a nice little machine, great for beginners and those who don't really need all the bells and whistles that come with higher-end machines. I tested it out on both muslin and flannel (the fabrics I had available scraps of), and it held up well on both. If you want to work on heavy-duty fabrics (corduroy, denim, upholstery fabric, etc), you will need to buy the appropriate needles, likewise for the "wispier" fabrics such as chiffon. When buying the fabric, an employee should be able to help you find the appropriate needles for your machine and fabric. I give this machine 5 stars because it does what it says it does: it gives beginners a nice little launching pad without overwhelming them with extra features.
Ashley Baker
I LOVE this product
As part of a project I'm doing, I needed to stitch velcro to some nylon straps. I was originally doing hand stitches and it was taking me a couple of hours to get the stitches done because I had to re-thread the needle multiple times to stitch all the straps. I then purchased the Singer 1304 and within 15 minutes I had it up and running and I went from it taking me at least 2 hours to do all my stitches to less than 2 minutes. And the quality level of the stitches are off-the-charts AWESOME. This product is high quality, has a great instruction manual (and has great YouTube instruction videos as well), is easy-to-use, is well-supported by the manufacturer, and creates beautiful stitches every time. I originally purchased an Armado portable sewing machine. It was really bad and broke on my first day of using it so I returned it. I highly recommend staying far away from the off-brand portable sewing machines and getting a machine from Singer instead.
Libby Cronen
Very easy to use
Very easy to use for beginners. I just made my daughter’s dress using this machine.
Sandy Stripling-Groves
Nice, basic sewing machine
First, I know nothing about sewing. My mom used to do quite a bit of sewing and I asked her if she would help me make covers for my patio furniture. Originally, I was just going to buy new cushions, but my existing cushions have curved shapes and I didn't want the cookie-cutter square cushions they sell at the box stores. Those cushions are also really expensive!!! I figured I could buy a sewing machine and fabric and make new ones following the existing pattern for a fraction of the price (mom agreed). I did not have a sewing machine, so mom looked up basic specs for what we needed and she said this one would work. She was right! She used it along with the included accessories to sew the heavy, outdoor fabric we picked out with no problem at all. Some of it was pretty thick because of the cording, and folds around the curved edges. The cushions turned out much better than expected, and now I know how to operate the basic machine. I'm sure I will have to reference the instructions if/when I pull this thing out of the box again, but I am sure it will meet any and all of my future sewing needs.
Crystal Dawn White
Excellent product
Excellent for sewing newbies or small projects! Bought this for my daughter and it's perfect! I'll also be using to take to Girl Scout meetings to see badges