Review on 🧵 Best Sewing Machine for Beginners: SINGER Start 1304 with Free Arm & 6 Built-in Stitches by Tara Ford

I'm approaching this machine from a somewhat unique perspective: I've been sewing for over two decades now, and so far I've assumed the machines in the class, where I learned to sew were pretty basic, most of the time I've sewn I've mostly used my mother's high-end sewing machines, especially over the last ten years. Switching to this car (my very first car that's really ME) was a bit of a step backwards for me, but I've tried to keep my experience with high-end machines from coloring my review of this product. If you're experienced with sewing machines, you can probably open the box, plug in the machine (there's a cord that connects the machine to power and also connects the foot pedal to the machine, so a quick and easy install), and turn off. If this is your very first machine, I would recommend reading the manual that came with it first (of course, I generally think you should always read the manual). The machine comes with a small accessory pouch that neatly stows in the accessory compartment (the little box on the front of the machine that needs to be removed to access the bobbin case). There is already one bobbin plus 3 more bobbins in the bobbin compartment (4 in total). Also included are 3 extra needles (in addition to the one already installed), 3 ordinary presser feet (the "universal” foot is already installed, there is also a buttonhole foot and a zipper foot), darning plate, 2 spool pins. Felt, a needle blade screwdriver, and a small lint brush with a mini ripper hidden inside the handle. All accessories fit neatly in the compartment, leaving more space. First I wound up the spool. There are diagrams on the top of the machine showing how the thread is drawn from the bobbin to the bobbin winder. The bobbin winds quickly and the bobbin winder just stops winding once full, even if I keep my foot on the pedal. Additional diagrams on the top and front of the machine help you with threading, and the process is similar to any other sewing machine I've used. It doesn't have a needle threader, which is handy but not necessary in my opinion. If you have trouble threading your needle, you can use a manual needle threader (e.g. http://www.amazon.com/CottageCutz-CNT1-2-in-1-Needle-Threader/dp/B000YZ462E/). Used to facilitate threading through the eyelet. Beware of early drivers: the car is going FAST. I'm used to adjusting the speed on my mom's cars where you can set the top speed and no matter how hard you press the gas pedal (or carpet, wood, tile, whatever floor you have) it doesn't stop. t surpasses it. The only speed control on this machine is based on how hard you pedal, so by all means relax! I am not taking a single star off the car for the lack of cruise control as it is not a "missing feature" as nowhere does the info on the car indicate that this feature is present, it is exactly that, what I'm used to higher end cars. If this is a problem for you, you should look for another device. Another feature on the higher-end machines that I noticed wasn't included on this machine was a knob to set the needle to stop either down or up. . Of course there is a handle on the right side of the machine that raises and lowers the needle, but sometimes it can be handy to stop the needle in the down position without trying to take your foot off the pedal in time. Again, it doesn't deserve a star deduction for being a base car, but it's something to think about. If the needle stops in a position other than what you want (up, down, or somewhere in between), you can simply turn the knob and move the needle to the position you want. The lever for raising and lowering the presser foot is easy to operate with one finger and can raise the presser foot to a fairly decent height past the raised "rest" position. There is a thread cutter on the left side of the machine. The lever on the front right of the machine makes reverse sewing easier. The big round dial at the top front of the machine (with a blue S in the middle) is your stitch selector: line up your desired stitch with the small mark in the top center and you're done. It includes 3 straight stitch lengths, 3 zigzag widths, satin stitch, blind stitch, shell stitch, and three parts of a four-step buttonhole (steps 2 and 4 use the same part). There's also a dial to the left of the stitch selector for adjusting stitch tension, but you should probably leave it on "4" for most of your straight stitches, and the guide is short. covers how to verify that the voltage is correct for what you are doing and how to adjust it. Whistles that come with more expensive machines. I tested it on both muslin and flannel (the fabrics I had available) and it held up well on both. If you want to work with heavier fabrics (corduroy, denim, upholstery, etc.) you will need to purchase appropriate needles, as well as for finer fabrics such as chiffon. When shopping for fabric, a member of staff should help you find the right needles for your machine and fabric. I give this machine 5 stars because it does what it says on the tin: gives beginners a good starting point without overwhelming them with extras.