Reddit reviews SINGER 7258 100-Stitch Computerized 76 Decorative Stitches, Automatic Needle Threader and Bonus Accessories, Packed with Features and Easy Sewing Machine

Singer sewing machine

I had this problem a lot when I first got back into seeing a couple of years ago. I was using my grandma's old machine and when I talked to her about it she said it was probably the tension. The tensions on the top and bottom need to be right for your fabric and each other (from what she said). I fiddled with it forever and couldn't fix it. I finally realized (thanks to my hubby pointing it out!) that I wasn't even enjoying sewing because everything would get so messed up and frustrating. To solve the problem I just cheated and bought a new machine that auto adjusts the tension. It seriously is amazing and now I can just sit down and sew without getting mad. I friggin love this thing.

SINGER 7258 Stylist Award-Winning 100-Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine with DVD, 10 Presser Feet, Metal Frame, and More by Singer
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003KK807M/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_hEjVtb1T77AFH

My grandmother had a Singer that she loved so that sort of swayed my hand a bit but for the most part I was just looking for something highly rated. This came up on Amazon and I looked into a bit more and still found good reviews so I went with it. (I spent an extra few bucks buying it from Sears so that I could get it the same day). It came with a bunch of feet so that should be fun figuring out what they're all used for. I like that locking your stitches is just a press of a button and not holding a button AND pressing the pedal (simple but nice) and it's easy to change whether the needle stops up or down which is also convenient.

What kind of sewing do you love? Are you sewing garments where you need a basic straight stitch 99% of the time? Do you like to quilt so you need more room? Are you doing embroidery where you want all the fancy functions?

Personally I sew clothes so I am ok without all the fancy bits. I had a walmart brother for a couple of years and upgraded to this singer about 4 years ago and I LOVE it. I paid 120$ though so it’s worth shopping around. This machine has some decorative and stretch stitches but I haven’t used many. I may just be boring though. Would you be able to use the gift card for anything? If I could get groceries with it then I would do that and buy a slightly nicer machine.

If i'm googling the right pfaff 90 (blocky greyish blue/beige color) I would definitely look in to repairing it. Seeing how not a lot of them are on the resale market it definitely is a machine worth keeping. Pfaff's are frankly a better quality than most new plastic Singer machine currently on the market.

Now if you purchase a Singer Stylist from amazon new it would be $159.

While a Pfaff 90 at it's age and build is holding steady at $99-129 on ebay.

Considering the age of the Pfaff it may need some adjustments to have it properly working again. It's cheaper in the long run as in years long run to have the Pfaff worked on versus buying a what most would consider a disposable Singer Stylist.

Since the Pfaff is mostly all metal it probably has some lint build up or thread tucked in to one of the nooks and crannies of the machine. I have a bunch of vintage machines and that is pretty much what is the problems I've encountered.

That's just my two cents. wink

Sewing friends! Which one would you pick!?

this one
OOOORR
[This one] (http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Computerized-130-Stitch-Quilting-Machine/dp/B00FMYYGA4%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIQPEDDM7HYZ53GMQ%26tag%3Dhappy09-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00FMYYGA4)


Dont worry about the price difference! I GOTS A GIFT CARD FROM AN AWESOME AUNTIE!!

This machine, Brother CS-6000i has gotten great reviews and I've considered it myself. This one or the Singer 7258 are ones I've been considering (I'm not OP). However, I wondered if, with more money, I'd be better off spending more. From your reply, it seems it would do the trick.

It does not have an automatic tie off, am I correct? The Singer 7258 does, apparently.

However, the Singer does not come with an oversized table for quilting, nor does it come with a quilting foot, both things I'd like.

Thanks for sharing.

Hiya! You're right, everyone's been super nice so far. It's awesome.

As far as learning to sew, I have this machine right now and love it. It's pretty reasonably priced, too. If you want something even more basic, this is pretty close to the first one I had.

As far as learning, I recommend buying a pattern for something simple (there are a lot of beginner's patterns for skirts and things) and just try it out. You can find tons of tutorials on websites and YouTube if the directions confuse you. (They still confuse me a lot.)

I also have a book by Singer, this one, that has been incredibly helpful at explaining things. I'm still new-ish to the craft (3 years sewing and costuming, but in no way full time) but found that diving right in was the easiest way to learn. You might occasionally sew a skirt panel to a zipper by accident, or put on a sleeve inside-out, but you learn from mistakes, as they're so, so tedious to rip out and fix, lol.

So yeah, simple pattern, inexpensive fabric (not stretch to start with, preferably) and just go for it! :D Good luck!

I usually don't recommend non-vintage Singer machines, but the Singer Stylist 7258 can do embroidery, is computerized, is easy to use, and has lots of good reviews. It's also only $166: http://www.amazon.com/7258-Stylist-Award-Winning-100-Stitch-Computerized/dp/B003KK807M

I have a Singer 7258. I'm still fairly new to machine sewing, and I don't have a serger, so I was wondering which stitch I should be using in place of one. (I'm not going to be serging anytime soon, I just want to know for future reference)

Thanks!

I know this thread is a bit old now, but I don't think it's ridiculous at all to want to alter t-shirts. I have plenty of tees with awesome graphics (and white tees) that I want to take in at the waist so things don't gap quite so much on me. For what it's worth, I got an inexpensive sewing machine. I actually did my first pass through on the machine today with scrap fabric for a couple of hours, learning different stitches. Then I dove in and altered a dress I had laying around that didn't quite fit. Ultimately learning how to finish the seams inside of clothes will be challenging, but it will save me both money and time (metroing to the tailor, waiting for alterations) just doing the alterations myself.

I'm a paralegal by trade and in school for computer science, so this is hardly my day job! If you're interested, I think learning to alter your basic clothes is well worth it.

So I realize this is probably dumb but I got this sewing machine, and know nothing about sewing. I would like to start learning how to hem my trousers, tailor my shirts, and fix jean rips, best place to start learning for someone who knows absolutely nothing about it?

I started on a thrift store singer, which I would only recommend if you have hella patience and are broke. I learned a lot about what can go wrong.
Now, I have something like this and I LOVE it. Makes everything so easy.

What about a singer? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003KK807M/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=C7P4KVE0I63T&coliid=I2VVMD8QKPVNOR

I'm thinking of just leaving the denim work for a local tailor since I usually only have 1 pair of jeans that I wear. I'm hoping to hem and taper my own chinos and trousers though.

You need to get a sewing machine but not a serger. (yet) The two popular brands are Singer and Brother. Check out machines and reviews on Amazon you can look to your hearts content! Here's a couple to get you started: http://smile.amazon.com/Brother-Feature-Rich-Built-In-Auto-Size-Buttonholes/dp/B000JQM1DE/ref=sr_1_6?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1404702445&sr=1-6&keywords=sewing+machine

http://smile.amazon.com/7258-Stylist-Award-Winning-100-Stitch-Computerized/dp/B003KK807M/ref=sr_1_3?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1404703151&sr=1-3&keywords=sewing+machine