Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $299.99
Sale Price: $159.99
Today's Bonus: 47% Off
Before reading, please understand that this is my fist sewing machine. So while I do not have a lot to compare it against, I can provide what I've learned through my research that led me to choose this product, as well as my experiences with it so far.
After doing a lot of research, I chose THIS sewing machine for some pretty specific reasons:
1. It's pretty heavy, weighing in at 27 pounds. Why is this a benefit? It's sturdy, very sturdy, with a metal frame inside. Everything I've read leads me to believe that the lighter plastic machines simply don't last, while the old-school metal monstrosities keep working forever. I feel that this one has the best of both worlds. It looks sleek and classy, but can still sew through multiple layers of denim or thick fleece with no trouble.
2. The controls are all analog, with no digital programming to malfunction. You just push the buttons to select your stitch and go, and there are sliding levers for stitch width and length. It seemed that the digital models are wonderful, but sometimes they go wrong, and I just wasn't willing to deal with that.
3. It got good reviews. I read all the reviews for a number of different machines I was considering by Brother, Singer, and Janome, literally thousands in total. Considering that I was trying to come up with something that would LAST and be an investment without spending an arm and a leg, this one beat out the others. I also considered % of reviewers who rates it 4 stars or higher vs. 3 stars and under for each machine. They all have some 1-star reviews for some reason or another, but at the time of both my purchase and the writing of this review, this one seems to have less than its share of unhappy buyers compared to other similar machines here on Amazon.
Now, I'll share a bit of my actual experiences and observations now that I've been playing with this thing for about a month...
Pro's:
-Threading is incredibly easy. It does not have the "1, 2, 3..." instructions printed on the machine, but it does have little diagrams with arrows to remind just how the thread should go through each step. The auto-threader to get though the tiny needle hole is VERY easy, and the bottom bobbin is easy to put in right.
-The built-in light is bright and well-placed, making it very easy to see your work from all sides. It comes on automatically when you power on the machine.
-There is a reverse function to lock your stitches... just push once and it completes a stitch in reverse for you.
-The storage compartment is roomy enough for 5 regular spools of thread plus needles and the darning plate and bobbin cover discs and felts.
-The stitches are illustrated on the front (as you can see in the product photo), so you can just look for what you want, press the button, and go.
-It's really easy to use, and the tension seems to come out right just set on "auto." However, if needed tension adjusts by turning a dial on the top.
-Comes with CLEAR and EASY TO READ instructions with good diagrams/drawings to help you figure stuff out if you don't want to deal with the DVD.
-Also comes with a DVD tutorial! How cool is that?
-The stitches all seem to come out beautifully and effortlessly. It pulls the fabric in at the needed speed, so all you have to do is guide it side to side. There is also a darning plate that easily pops into place for "free form" work if needed. (Like if you wanted to sew in a circle or tight curve... wide curves you can just guide without the darning plate.)
-The foot-pedal is easy to operate. You can vary from one slow stitch per second so you can see what it's doing, to wound up going really fast. Apparently some are rather "all or nothing" in their control, but that has not been the case for me with this one. Barefoot or with shoes on my feet, it has been very easy to get used to it, so that now I can get it to the exact speed I wish for effortlessly.
My only "con" is that it has a limited number of stitches, and already I have seen a stitch called for that was not available exactly. However, it seems that all of the basics are here, plus several decorative ones.
So, overall, 5 stars. The only other thing that I think is worth mentioning is about the thread. From my research, it seems that using quality thread is highly important in helping your machine last a lifetime. Don't buy bargain threads it's just not worth it. You can evaluate the quality by pulling to test for breakage, and also by looking at the thread under a microscope. Lots of stray fibers will wear away at internal components of your sewing machine over time. The most perfectly smooth thread I've been able to find is "Coat's Cotton" which is 100% Egyptian Cotton, and "Coat's Extra Strong" for denim and jeans, both by Coats & Clark. I would imagine their silk and polyester would be ok too, and they are available at any and every fabric store in the U.S.
I hope this helps you in making your decision! There are so many machines out there that it took me forever to decide on this one, but I am 110% delighted with it, and would recommend it to anyone. I was also VERY pleased with Amazon's service in getting it here safely and promptly. It was very well-packaged and arrived as pristine as if I'd carefully brought it home from a local store. Truly, I am a very tough customer, yet couldn't be happier.
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