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The only problems I've had with this Singer Simple sewing machine have been with tension on the thread. Once I got that figured out, I found that it sews beautifully. I've had it several years and sewn acres of cloth with it, and it has been very durable. If you've had trouble with the thread, I've explained below how I got it to work for me. I hope it helps you, because this machine is wonderful once you figure the thread out.
My husband bought this sewing machine for me because the old one I loved from the 1970's just couldn't be fixed any more. I was so excited to have a new machine, but right from the first I had trouble with the thread. It was easy enough to thread through, but as soon as I sewed, I would get a huge glob of thread on the bottom of the fabric, and it would get stuck down underneath, and I'd have to cut the whole thing out with scissors. Very frustrating. I struggled with it for months, and narrowed the thread problem down to two main things: the bobbin has to be threaded a specific way, and the tensioner on the upper thread sometimes doesn't catch the thread tight.
If the thread balls up underneath the fabric, there is no tension on the UPPER thread. If the thread tension knob is set correctly and there's still no tension on the tread, then the thread isn't seated right in the tensioner. I figured out how to fix it by accident. As I threaded the machine for the umpteenth time, I realized that I had pulled far too much thread out and wanted to not waste it. I took hold of the upper thread and dragged it back toward the spool. Then I realized that I had pulled that too far, so I pulled it down from the needle end again. The thread started to feel as if it had a little drag instead of freely moving, and then when I sewed, it worked perfectly!!! After all the hours of research and frustration, it worked!
Now when I thread the upper thread, I grasp it at the top and hold that part firmly so that the thread doesn't slip forward as I thread it through. Before I thread the needle, I give the thread a little tug, and if it has tension, I'm all set. If not, I pull it back and forth the way I described above until I feel tension. I've found that if I hold both the top and the bottom thread firmly as I pull back and forth, it seats more quickly, usually only once or twice. Ever since I've done this during the threading process, I haven't had a problem with balled up thread. I.E., once the tensioner is engaged, the thread doesn't slip out of tension while you're sewing. It only matters when you change thread and have to re-thread the machine.
One little note: If you try to pull the thread back and forth after you've threaded the needle, the needle will probably snap. (Yes, I had it happen to me.) So do the back-and-forth thing before you thread the needle.
Also, I found that it's a good idea to test your machine on a scrap piece of fabric right after you thread it to see if it is sewing correctly, instead of just sewing into--and ruining--that beautiful piece of velvet. Once I got used to how it felt when the thread was seated, I stopped testing it out so much. But until then, I found testing was a good way to save myself some frustration. (And sometimes I still do it to make sure everything is right before I sew into something that could be ruined.)
OK, the bobbin: the tensioner for the bobbin is right in the case. It is that little flap of metal that the thread has to pass through. You can adjust it with the screw that is visible on the outside. But that's probably not the issue, especially if you've checked it once. The thing to be sure of is that the bobbin has to be inserted into the case so that the bobbin will turn counter-clockwise when you pull the thread.
To seat the thread in the tensioner, put your thumb onto the bobbin to stop it from turning, and pull the thread through the slit in the metal flap that's screwed to the case. Pull it all the way across so that the thread pops into the rectangular hole. Now give the thread a little tug and check to see that the bobbin turns counter-clockwise. If it does, that's good. Wrap the thread to the left of the rod thingy that should be pointing up, and hold it with your finger against the outside of the case. Now turn the bobbin case around so that the thread should now be on the right side of the rod. Insert the case into the machine so that it's level and square with the hole it is going into. If it gets a little crooked, it can get stuck. Once it is in, gently pull up on the little flap that covers the center of the bobbin case. It will only come up about halfway. When the flap pulls up, you can push the bobbin case forward a little more to seat it,then let the flap close. That center flap slides a small piece of metal over so that the bobbin is held in the machine securely. You can then use the upper thread to pull the lower thread up through the hole, close the door, and replace the shoulder, ect.
I never got a DVD with my machine, so I never got any supplemental instructions except for the manual. But this is what I found works for me, and once I figured it out, I haven't had any problems. Sews like a dream.
As far as the other features, I've tried more than half of the offered stitches, and all of them have worked fine. The button-holer works great if you follow the instructions carefully, and I've made many vests with lots of button holes on the front that looked just beautiful. But I had to practice first, to learn how to do it. Once I had done about 10 or 15 I knew how to do it. Maybe it's not so simple, but this machine works very well.
I tried to use the threader, but just couldn't get the hang of it. I was used to threading by hand with my old machine, so I just continue to do it that way with this one. I've made clothes, quilts, pillows, costumes, curtains and even chenille stuff with this machine, and I just love it. I took off a star because there is some skill to be acquired in threading the machine correctly, and it won't work a darn if the thread isn't seated right. I almost gave it away before I figured it out. But once I got it right, it had been a wonderful machine. Very inexpensive (my husband paid $89 at Walmart several years ago), but a very good value.
I wished someone would have told me how to fix the thread problem earlier--that's why I'm writing this review now. It is a good machine, once you figure it out.
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