I've been quilting for about 3 years now. Part of the fascination for me besides the fabric and artistry is the machinery. I own more than a few machines of different brands. I have 3 Singer machines and find them so reliable! Easy to operate, clean and oil... really nice stitches and accurate in that sometimes elusive quarter inch seam! THANK YOU so much for your channel!
I have been searching for a lightweight, portable sewing machine that I will be able to take when I go visit family -- and here you are! My local Joanne's still has this model in stock, so I'll be parting with my $$ this weekend. Thanks for the great review. Hope you're still using and enjoying this machine.
In about 1974 l bought an Elna portable because I needed to sew a dog pack and a backpack for myself. I needed a machine small and light enough to carry in a backpack which would sew zippers and some leather reinforcement pieces. Until l started these projects l had never sewed a zipper in my life. I managed to do the dogpack (2 zippers) and moved on to the backpack (I think it had nine zippers). The only problem l had was with the instructions on the pack kits because I’m dyslexic in some odd ways and have problems understanding some written instructions, especially if they are written by a man. That little Elna sailed through everything I threw at it without ever breaking a needle or having the tension adjustment touched. My second machine is my grandmother’s Featherweight, AND it’s card table with the drop-in spot for the machine. It still runs like the day it was new. My grandmother used it for more than 30 years doing alterations for a department store and projects like sewing heavy drapes for her home.
Featherweights are just incredible! And that's wonderful to have the one your grandmother used! Bravo on all the zippers. I don't think I would survive 9 zippers in one project. Thanks for sharing about your Elna. I've never heard of that one. So I will be looking for more. I have difficulty with written instructions which is why I do things that don't need a ton of measurements. Thanks for sharing such a fun story.
Hi Patty. I'm somewhat of a new beginner. I just received my patchwork machine. Thank you for the pros and cons. I bought this particular machine because I want to continue making quilts. Six years ago, I made my first quilt. It was for my only granddaughter. I wanted something special for her to remember me by, plus express to my son how much she means to me. I'm sixty and haven't sewn a thing since homem Ec class in high school. So I made her a quilt watching a tutorial on jelly rolls. The look on my sons face when he opened my gift was amazing. In front of everyone, he asked me "you did this? " the proud look on his face was worth it. Since then, my granddaughter called me up and asked me to make her another because she was growing out of it. I bought this particular one because it was on sale for 199. I rushed to get it because I knew quilter's sewing machines were not cheap. It had all the features I was looking for and was not too complicated. Once again, thank you! Sincerely Colleen Montgomery
I love that you discuss the pros and cons of the machine with balanced measure. Precise and to the point is something I really appreciate. Love the dog T-Shirt!
I am a seasoned sewist and applaud you for your thoughtful honest review of this machine. I started sewing on my Mom’s Singer featherweight and purchased a mechanical Kenmore in the early 1980’s. It served me well. When I started to sew smocked and heirloom children’s clothes, I invested in an electronic Pfaff machine. I was able to sew for a business and later worked at a sewing machine dealership selling Pfaff machines. Yes, they are high quality and can do a wide range of sewing consistently. But not everyone can afford one. The cost does not always make sense for a lot of people, especially beginner sewists, occasional sewists, etc. I love this review. It is thoughtful, honest and very encouraging - when there is so much pressure on the Internet to buy expensive models. Thank you! I enjoy your videos!
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much. And what beautiful machine a Pfaff is. Gorgeous machine, but yes, not everyone needs it. That little Singer is all any person in a regular household would need. It's well made, and easy to use, and budget friendly. Thank you again for your comment. I really do appreciate it.
I sew on a Singer 20u73 machine mainly, its a heavier industrial type. Especially for alteration work and zippers etc, but it needed serviced. In the mean type I started a new hobby !!! Quilting Ya I'm hooked on fabric!!! When I dropped off my machine I came across a Singer 301, IT IS THE BOMB!!!! And Bought it thinking I needed something to hold me over; even if I have 5 other machines. I"m having a blast with this little machine and learning all over again , and quilting with it and experiencing the walking foot, what is more FUN!!!!! Anyway The machine your showing here sounds right up my ally, my husband would kill me if I brought another one home. For 44 years I have sewn on so many machines through work and life that I can't count. This little Singer is the Bomb, if anyone comes across an older Singer in good shape, try it. For Quilting this little 301 can do anything, not trying zippers though. Enjoy!!!
Thanks so much for weighing in Andria! I love my little Patchwork!! I would not sew jeans or canvas bags on it but I do love it for quilt piecing and small projects. It's fun and it does a ton of things! I do use my Singer Heavy Duty for the actual quilting and leave the walking foot permanently installed. I personally find putting a walking food permanently on a machine is helpful. I do change it out from time to time but mostly I leave it on to save the complicated set up and taking down constantly. I recently got my old Kenmore serviced and it's running like new! I've been enjoying it quite a bit as I finally found a place to get my machines cleaned and serviced.
thanks i have new patchwork and your utube has been so help. i am new to machine quilting i have done hand quilting inthe past. my machine was a gift, my old singer was on its lt last legs.
I hope you will enjoy this wonderful sewing machine! I have absolutely loved mine! While machine quilting lacks the charm of hand quilting, it is still quite fun and I find it rewarding to complete projects in a more timely fashion. Also it's easier on the hands.
My daughter just bought this 3 days ago and I loved it, so I bought one and I love all of its features. Today I will actually sew something. I have an old Singer dated from 1957, that I found at the dump in new condition, amazingly! I have an older White brand machine that I’ve been using for a long time, and a Husqvarna serger since 2010. The last time I bought a new sewing machine was in the ‘80’s. I like to sew and occasionally do reupholstering so those older machines always work. This will be perfect for baby blankets, clothes and maybe try out some quilting. I read the manual ( online) last night and love all the features this has, and I am anxious to get to see how well this will work. I did some scrap tests of stitches and was impressed at how easy it was! So much to love. My daughter also loves her machine, she making curtains. Thank you for your imput, very helpful.
That's great to hear!!I love this machine. Using the correct presser foot for the project is pretty important for best results. The projects you describe are a great fit for this machine, so I'm sure you will have a lot of fun sewing! Quilting is fun hobby. I never would have thought that I would like it so much given how exacting it is, but I find I really enjoy it. I stick to simpler blocks and play with color and prints and make smaller projects so the expense doesn't get totally out of hand. I appreciate you watching and taking time to comment. Thank you!
I have a Singer 403a Slant-O-Matic that I found at a small thrift store. It is from around 1958. I paid $9.99 for the machine and it is a thing of beauty. It is in fantastic shape. I'm so happy to have such a well made machine.
Pattymac, i Totally Agree with You! I Luv my Patchwork machine for several of the reasons you pointed out: buttons for needle lift & speed control, but Most of All the Auto-Tension!! Over years of sewing I've known frustration with tension issues and they will cause discouragement & walkaways just like you said. We Do want to just sit down & sew! That's what i do nearly everyday now and I really look forward to precious time with this Ez machine, gratefully. Thanx for your guidance & tips!
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment. I really appreciate that! I absolutely love my machine and don't get to use it nearly enough, but when I do it's nice to site down and have it work.
I bought the Patchwork in Oct 2020 and just love it! The decorative stitches were the reason that I selected this machine, but I fell in love with its ease of use. I rarely have issues with it (unlike my more expensive machine that o purchased in 2021). This model is a keeper for those wishes to begin quilting. Great and accurate review!
Thank you so much Michelle! Yes I'm thoroughly enjoy mine and will take a beating. So I thought if it runs that well with all that abuse, who well will it do if I take care of it? A long time I hope!
I just love listening to you! I saw you for the first time when you bought the Patchwork machine and I seriously was thinking of buying it. I wasn't sure if I wanted a computerized machine or not so I ended up buying the Singer Heavy Duty manual. I made several masks with it and it just wasn't working right. My stitches would get small while I was sewing and other times it sewed fine. Finally I took it back and told them about it and I have to say they got a little snotty and told me I had to pay a 25.00 return fee, (there was no mention of that when I bought it and she said it's a new policy). That was a big mistake for her to tell me that so needless to say I got my full return. I continued to use my 1972 Kenmore machine , mainly because I was so afraid that if there was a problem I would have to pay a fee. I sew small items, crafts, hem jeans, make curtains, things like that. After hearing you today, I feel like if I buy another machine, I would have to go Heavy Duty again. So, I think for now, I'll stick with what I have. I really like the look of the Patchwork, maybe down the line I'll try it as a second machine. Thanks for taking the time to explain the machine to all of us!
If you're sewing jeans and using the heavy decor fabrics to make your curtains, then the Heavy Duty is definitely what you want. Although, you might read through the comments to see what others are using. So many people are using Juki brand machines, and while quite a bit more expensive than the Singer, it may be more in line with what you need from a machine. Thank you for leaving such a kind comment! I do appreciate it!
Hello! I too have an old 1970z Kenmore machine. It was my mothers and ive been sewing on it for over 20 years. Dont give up on it.. go forward and buy your new machine. Just keep it on hand ive used mine as a backup and also because its a work horse! Those machines are awesome for teaching tools because they were simple to use. 👍👍 Good luck buying one.. i had the same fears, so I got my singer quantum stylus 9960 from Amazon because they maybe could help if it came broken out of the box.
I bought this last fall..I love it. I have made several lap quilts and wall hangings. I have not had one problem with it yet. It’s a good machine for someone just starting out or who is a novice like me.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience Donna! I'm so happy you've had such great success. I think it's an amazing little machine and I continue to recommend it to everyone!
Your channel just popped up in my feed and I subscribed! I bought a Singer Patchwork from JoAnn’s several years ago when it was on sale and love it. Having a hard time using the automatic needle threader but it’s more operator error than the machine. My wish is that there was more throat space for quilting larger projects. I would definitely recommend the Singer Patchwork. My main reason for buying this machine (to replace another Singer which I still own) is that it came with a walking foot. Getting more into quilting I realized that foot was needed and it was not available for my existing machine although that machine was advertised for quilting (which is why it was a Christmas gift from my daughter and son-in-law).
I"m so happy youtube popped my into your suggested videos! Hooray! Welcome to the channel! Yeah, it's a bit cramped for quilting larger projects, but I do mostly smaller things so it's been fine. I put the walking foot on my backup machine, which is a cheaper version of the Patchwork called the Brilliance, so I leave the walking foot on that machine all the time. That way I'm not constantly taking it on and off. If you gin the handwheel back and forth ever so slightly, it helps with the operation of the threader. That's what I've found anyway.
I just bought one today at Joanne for $229 on sale! I’m not even a sewing girl other than in my junk journals. I sew paper and fabric to paper and fabric covers for the journal. I’m very primitive and had been using an old Kenmore we had bought for our then 10 year old daughter in 2005! I’m SEW excited to learn and start sewing “real” things! I appreciate your video. 😊 Wish me luck y’all!
Oh my gosh you'll LOVE it!! It's a great little machine. They market it for quilting but it will do any lighter weight sewing you might want to try. I still love mine all these years later! Happy Sewing!
Hi Patty, I wanted to let you know that I watched all of your your reviews on the singer patchwork sewing machine. I purchased it today as a Christmas / Birthday present for myself today my local JoAnns. My Birthday is in Jan. They offer a free class on how to thread it, start it up etc. My JoAnns here in Indiana has a special area wher they sell sewing machines and have classes. I am super excited. I am currently using my Moms Phaff which I have shared with you before. I love that machine and I plan on taking it to have it cleaned while I learn how to use the patchwork. I want to Thank You for sharing your personal thoughts and it’s because of your videos and another UA-camr that I made this purchase today!!! 😊 👍🎉
Oh Jenny!! I really hope you enjoy using it. I absolutely love mine. It's been a joy to use and I've been so happy with it. Please follow up and let me know how you are enjoying it!
Hey Patty! I have two Singer sergers: a 4-thread and a 5-thread combo serger and coverstitch machine. I also have a Heavy Duty Singer model 4423 prior to the new computerized Heavy Duty models. I also have a light weight computerized Brother HC1850 model and the Husqvarna Designer Topaz 40 embroidery machine. Love your commentary on your pro & cons with the Patchwork. If you're going to buy the Heavy Duty Singer go for the computerized one with the extension table! I remember your disappointment when you bought a lemon. You'll really like how the Heavy Duty Singer performs.
Thanks for sharing your story Stan! I wondered why that particular Heavy Duty was so much more money. I knew I wanted it because of the extension table, but I didn't put it together that it was electronic, too. I do believe it's a machine I would use a lot and get tons of use out of. I was so sad over that lemon last year! But it did lead me to getting this one instead which has turned out to be the perfect choice for me. The Lord knows what He's doing when he puts those challenges in the way! Thanks for your input and advice.
Stan, Holy moly!! You have a laundry list of machines. Question.. do you follow wendy kratz - shiny happy world? Or crista watson? I saw your face and was sure i had seen your quilting projects somewhere else. Anyway.. thank you for sharing your story!
So first of all, I am a huge proponent of buying your sewing machine from a reputable dealer. It may not seem like the economical way to go, but it generally includes at least the first year of maintenance. I’m so glad I bought from a local dealer that I love and there is so much hands on help that I get from the store. The store I go to is in Colorado and it’s Rocky Mountain Sewing and Vacuum. They sell quite a few brands of sewing machines for different budgets and needs. I am so happy that I have the support of their store. The employees are very knowledgeable and helpful. Ok, so when I was 16-way back- my mom and I went sewing machine shopping and ended up getting the Bernina 830 Record. When I left home, I had a Riccar sewing machine (yes, at one time they made sewing machines) my mom eventually gave me the Bernina and I absolutely love that machine to this day. My daughter has it now, but doesn’t really sew, so I may take it back from her. Then my mom gave me her Bernina 1530 from around 1989? Nice machine! Then my mom bought a very nice Brother. After she died, I gave that one to my daughter-in-law and she loves it. When the light went out on my 1530, I went into the sewing machine store to order a replacement and got distracted by the Bernina 590. At the time I was in a decent financial place and you’d have to be to buy one. I ended up buying the 590. I opted to not get the embroidery package with it. That would have added another 2K and I see the embroidery as a whole new craft. I bought the 590 for quilting. It has a free-motion stitch regulator. That was the main reason I bought it. I do lots of quilting. I’m learning how to quilt my own quilts. It was a very big investment and not for everyone, but I am sure enjoying it and I still don’t miss the embroidery. I already spend enough money on quilting fabric and supplies and can’t get everything done that I want to. If I added embroidery, then that’s a huge investment into thread and supplies and then also a distraction from what I bought my machine to do- which is quilting. Sorry, this is so long! I love❤️ your videos!
Really great insight Valerie!! I looked at machines in the Sewing/Vacuum store here and they started at $800 with absolutely no features. I just couldn't justify it. They don't really do much support here. They have one guy left doing the service and he's really up there. He wants to retire but there's no one to do the repairs. My area is not a huge area for crafts like sewing and knitting, so our selection of items and service is fairly limited. I get a lot of younger viewers and people who have never sewn before who watch the videos, so I try to offer them advice as well on getting started. They are comfortable shopping in Joann so I do a lot of content here that features Joann. Something like this Patchwork is for a hobby quilter or casual sewist and is a perfect match of features and price. I definitely agree it takes a bigger, better machine to really get into FMQ and doing the physical quilting on large projects. I tried a little FMQ practice on this machine and let's just say I have a ways to go!! LOL
@@PattymacMakes it’s definitely not as easy to FMQ as the videos show. I’m sorry that you don’t have a sewing machine store that offers support. I wouldn’t consider the Denver area a big sewing and crafting area. Our neighboring state of Utah is probably the sewing/crafting capital of the world. Sometimes I make a trip there to really get a good crafting fix. I’m so glad that the seeing store near me really offers so much support and excellent staff. They also do videos of all kinds of machines to fit every need. The owner has four locations in Colorado. I’m so glad that he sees how to promote his business. We have a really great Sew Fun class each month that promotes all kinds of projects. That class has helped me meet others that like sewing. I bet if someone started a similar business model in other cities, it would do well. When the shut down first hit in March of 2020, it was right at the time of the annual Quilting and Sewing Festival that they are the main sponsor of. They were geared up with lots of inventory to sell. The owner went on the FB page and was “making deals”. As it turned out, sewing was an outlet that people were turning to in droves. He immediately sold any machine $600 or less. Experienced sewers were wanting to upgrade and business was so good that he had to hire more people. Of course, so much was and is on back order. He has stayed relevant by using social media and doing lots of online videos. Like I said, I don’t really see Colorado as a big sewing and crafting area. Our big, wonderful fabric store, Colorado Fabrics, had just gone out of business in November 2019. Will the sewing resurgence continue and remain? I really don’t know, but there are people with great vision of how to market this satisfying creative outlet and I am so happy to find people like you on UA-cam. I get that I have a ridiculously expensive sewing machine, but I also know that I could be very happy with a machine that just runs well. I love that you showed your machine. It helps to see a sewing machine as less intimidating.
@@valeriespackman4102 Thank you for such a well considered reply! Yes, I believe one of services I offer viewers is to demystify some things. To break down concepts that look or feel complicated into more digestible form. And I absolutely believe in removing intimidation! I want people to see that it doesn't require a $3000 machine to still make great projects and enjoy the process. Certainly the quality and features on an expensive machine are undeniable.....but not having that doesn't mean you still can't participate in the sewing community and make things for your life and family. I love gorgeous designer fabrics like Ruby Star, but I also like people to know that shopping on sale at Joann is another avenue to enjoying the craft. I guess achieving balance is mostly what I want to help people find. Yeah, the lack of community and in person support for sewing and crafts is difficult and honestly, it has a lot to do with why I started sharing some things here and there on youtube. My neighbor is a younger woman and she is so in love with sewing and bought this machine a couple of weeks ago when hers went kaflooey. So there are people but mostly we are so isolated now and with work schedules and children and responsibilities it makes it hard. I might be missing something, but here it seems that groups are largely formed around boutique shops and participation requires heavy investment in the boutique shop. I learned that about knitting here in town and dropped out because I didn't want to knit garments or spend hundreds of dollars on yarn every month. Anyway. I love my online community and maybe someday I will have my beautiful airstream to travel around and visit places with active communities and meet other people who love these things like I do.
@@PattymacMakes keep it up! You have the perfect personality for doing these videos! I bet I’m not the only one that would live to come sew or just spend and afternoon with you!
I sew on the Singer Patchwork 7285Q also, I really love my machine. I brought it last year when I decided to sew a quilt for myself. Then I got the idea to make a quilt for my granddaughter for her high school graduation, she loved it!
You have reassured me about the resilience of a computerized sewing machine! Singer gets criticized in general as do digital machines. Your experience as an instructor is most convincing. Though it does seem the Heavy Duty would be wiser for anything thicker than a quilt. I use a Brother LX3850 entry-level sewing and quilting machine. Purchased as a beginner sewist, bc it is mechanical with an extension table and a walking foot. I don't quilt but those are features make sewing so comfortable. Quilters just have the best machines: large working spaces and that throat space! Also, congrats on the quality of your video and you sure have a podcast-friendly voice. Thanks and cheers from Canada! 👍
Oh thank you so much!! While a little Singer machine has definite limitations, I have not paid more than $225 for my machines. So for a two hundred dollar machine, I think they are great!! As I do larger projects, I definitely wish for larger throat space. That is the main drawback to these, but for $200 one can only expect but so much. I haven't sewn anything in 3 months and when I sat down last week, I turned on the machine, ran a small scrap through and started sewing projects. No problems whatsoever. That's the main reason why I recommend the Patchwork to home sewists. It will do pretty much everything needed and it works really well. I do have my eye on a machine that's a pretty big upgrade in terms of size and throat space and I'm saving for it now. But I only want it to make quilting large projects more manageable. Thanks for a great comment!
My daughter bought me a Pfaff hobby 1132. I hadn't sewn in years, and my 82 year old Bernina 117 was too heavy and awkward to use. I loved it and had sewn all my clothes and the kids clothes as they grew up. I found a manual on line, but still quickly broke a needle, just as you described. So scared that I damaged something inside, but it seems to be chugging along. It's like driving a different car. Takes some time to get used to it, and takes some time to get used to sewing again. Thanks for talking about your experiences with your machines. Really interesting. I never knew about the needle down button till I saw a few people use it on UA-cam. I'm jealous.. lol. That would be the one thing I might like to have. This machine makes some decor stitches, but I haven't learned how to use them yet. Still trying to do the basics. Fun to have s new toy.
That sounds like a really fun machine! Yes this one is not too heavy for me to move around easily. It's a little over 15 pounds and I can manage that. It also is not too heavy for the table which is good. Definitely enjoy your new machine! I bet that old Bernina is like a tank.
I am so excited after watching this video. I inherited my Mom’s Phaff 360. My father purchased it for her when I was 3 years old and I am now 60. It is an all metal machine, work horse for sure. My Mom taught me to sew when I was 12 and I made many outfits during my high school years. I later in my 20’s bought a white because that is what was in my budget. I used it to make clothes for my children. I am very fortunate because when my Mom passed away I immediately took it to select sewing here in Indiana. They sell and repair every level of sewing machine. Babylock, Phaffls, brother and singer. I have noticed that the quilt stores here in Indy only sell Janome, Bernina and handi quilter. I was planning on saving for a new updated Phaff since I love my Moms machine so much and I still may do that but this sewing machine sounds like it would be perfect for machine appliqué not to mention the decorative stitches. I will follow up on your other videos about this machine. The quilters here on UA-cam seem to either use a Juki or a Bernina. The Juki only sees a straight stitch. Bernina machines seem expensive and you have to use a walking foot to sew through layers. My phaff as old as it is has a built in walking foot. Jenny Doan, Misty and Natalie with Missouri Star all sew on Babylocks. This can make the decision on what machine to purchase somewhat challenging. I will follow up on your other videos about how to choose a machine as well. Thank You for the info and your honest review. 💕😀
Thanks for your thoughtful comment Jenny! Well, as far as selecting a machine, I think you have done the mental gymnastics required on making that decision. 1. Does the machine do what I want? And 2. what's my budget? I love my little Patchwork and it's perfect for light sewing like quilt piecing and small housewares or bags. I do use a walking foot for the actual quilting part of my sewing, because otherwise I get puckers. I tend to keep that installed on my Heavy Duty machine so I'm not constantly fiddling with it. There are definitely limitations, especially when it comes to the actual quilting on larger projects with these machines, because the throat space is small and the machines are lightweight. The Berninas and Baby locks have much larger throat space and are heavier duty so are better equipped to do the actual quilting component of large quilt projects. I have a dream of owning a Babylock Sashiko machine because the stitch it creates is so beautiful. It only does that one stitch and it's designed for a specific look. I'm hoping to do well enough with my channel next year that I can save up and find a good deal on a used one to add to my sewing room. It's been a year so I should do my how to select a sewing machine video soon, especially as Christmas is approaching and people might be inclined to invest in something while everything is sale.
People are always asking me what is a good machine for them to buy. They usually have a little experience so this would be a good machine for them. It’s economical for them and can be purchased easily at a neighborhood Jo-Ann. Thanks for sharing. I have a Juki J-150 but it only does straight stitch but very fast. This Singer is a good basic machine for people to learn skills and figure out what types of projects they prefer to sew.
YES!! Exactly! It's perfect for a beginner, but it's also great for someone more intermediate. For an advanced person, they definitely would want the higher end machines. But for an everyday sewist or quilter it's a fun machine and you don't out grow it right away if ever. Being able to get easily at the store is such a bonus in my mind. Thanks for your input.
I learned to sew on a Singer a million years ago. I bought a Brother Innovis40 in 2008 because it was totally idiot proof and very user friendly, "plug & play" lol. I upgraded to a Brother NQ1300PRW which had a lot more throat space and some cool features, but waaaay more decorative stitches than I really needed. Branched into making quilts, bags, and home dec and had some difficulty with managing the bulk. The bag makers I took online classes from used a JUKI straight stitch; I purchased a JUKI TL2200QVP mini and love it! Easily sails over multiple layers of foam, fabric, and interfacing. I do quilt piecing and quilting on it too - my Free Motion Quilting never looked better and those "eyelashes" seem to be a thing of the past. Between the Brother 1300 and the JUKI, I pretty much used the JUKI on all my projects - I only set up the Brother to do the occasional zigzag when working on Knit items. I was truly suprised how much I could sew on that straight stitch machine alone. Although it is nice to have a "tiny but mighty" sewing machine that you can easily set up anywhere or take to classes - the Singer sounds like just the thing! And I agree about the Needle Up/Down feature - once you have it, it's really hard to do without!
Thanks for the great information Denise! I hear so many good things on those Juki machines! And never a bad word about them, which is pretty amazing. Thanks for such a thorough review of your setup. I''m sure this will be incredibly helpful to future viewers!
@@PattymacMakes Thanks! Complete disclosure - the automatice needle threader can be a little finicky and the walking foot can be challenging - but there are a lot of hacks and videos to get you through. The last thing is it's a bit pricey - but a good investment and worth it I think; it's all metal and should last a good long time! There's earlier models that are less expensive - mine came with a lot of extra feet, extension table, and a special SewStead table as part of the deluxe package I purchased from my local dealer. The latest model is the Haruka.
I bought one from JoAnnes in 2022. I love it . Mine came with a plastic bobbin. I am surprised.😮 I love this machine . I love that it can sew so fast. I don’t usethefoot pedal and love that feature . I have a JukiTl 2000 for my other bag making and free motion quilting. I can use this to take with me to sew with friends
I love this little machine! It's a great machine for portability and has so many things it can do! If I was using a metal bobbin it's because I put the wrong one in there. LOL
@@PattymacMakes I do have a machine with that feature and I have to laugh at myself when I switch to the singer as my hand automatically goes to the area that the scissor button is on the other machine! Thank goodness there is not a button there for anything on the singer!!! LOL..
I have a Brother Simplicity. I LOVE this machine. I had had a Kenmore that I truly morned at it’s passing. But this one has so many improved features. The needle up and down is fabulous. I used the multiple stitch speeds more than I thought I would. And I am able to control where I stop stitching very easily. Originally I said I didn’t want decorative stitches on my new machine, but I’m glad it has some, as I have used them more than I thought I would. Also, within a week, I am taking delivery of a Singer featherweight!!! I am beyond excited. It was manufactured 28 days AFTER I was born. I joined a quilt group earlier this year, and am thrilled to be able to take it to that. I learned on my Moms featherweight. And have been using a friends at quilt group. Happy dance. I only see quilt tops at this stage of the game. But it gives me so much joy!! Thx Pattymac!
Meant to say that I bought my machine from a sewing/vacuum store that was going out of business, so got a good price. Originally was a $800+ machine, but I got it for $500 something. Their machines have a lot more metal inside, so should serve me well for a long time.
That's a great deal and congratulations on your new Featherweight!! That's amazing! I have heard great things about Brother machines so you should get tons of use out of it. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us!
My husband bought this same machine for me for Christmas. I love it! I’m new to quilting, finding it a little challenging, but loving it. I also would recommend this machine.
It does take a little practice to get the hang of it, for sure! Using charm packs to make 4 patches is a good place to start. And then look into half square triangle blocks. I do have lots of tutorials and information for people just starting on quilting. It should be helpful for you!
Hi Patty thanks for the video nice sewing machine I have been to JoAnn to look at Singer Patchwork it is a nice machine I do like now to make up my mind which machine I want or get my machine fixed..Thank you again for showing the machine.
It's such a nice sewing machine. I always enjoy sewing with it. I added a heavy duty machine last week, and while I do like it a lot, it is missing some of the bells and whistles on the Patchwork, so I'm grateful to have both.
my machine was a gift. my old machine died. this video has help me get aquainted with my new machine. thanks Ive been sewing since an old singer tredal machine .
@@pathersick9474 Oh I'm so happy to hear that Pat! I'm so happy it helped you. I would like to do a little more comprehensive look at the machine so I'll plan on doing that sooner than later.
Hi Patty I have a Singer 08/28 Which I have had since 1982. It a basic machine that I used to make simple clothes like A line shifts, and skirts as well as doing light mending. I stopped sewing when life got in the way. Since retiring, I have used my machine to make pillows out of my cross stitch pieces and mending. Never tried quilting but have been thinking about learning to quilt. Thanks for the info on this Singer Patchwork machine.
You should try the beginner blocks I am sharing! You will only know you like quilting if you try it. I completely love it which I never expected. I like making pillows out of my stitched pieces, too! You can make smaller projects. It doesn't have to only be enormous bed quilts. Placemats and napkins are so fun. And you can turn blocks into pillows and wall hangings.
Thank you ! Mine was chosen for me for my bday. So I appreciate you selling me on the machine I was given, ha! Super excited to have a needle threader too!
@@lisafuller2027 I don't have anyone here to service it, and I don't think it actually needs it. I do clean it thoroughly every couple of months but mostly I just sew. I don't use it every day, and sometimes I don't sew for weeks and weeks. So I'm not a heavy user. It's such an inexpensive machine, I would be happy to use it and get 5 years out of it to be honest. I hope that helps.
Funny I found this video today. I have a new Singer Patchwork. I was dismayed to find out that you don’t get a manual with your machine ☹️. I struggled with the quick start to wind the bobbin and thread the machine but I was finally successful. I chose this machine based on recommendation of JoAnn staff. Want it for clothing and home decor, quilting. And I wanted a machine with a self threading feature. As we age those needles get smaller and frustration gets greater!! The cost was right in the same ballpark. I learned to sew on my mother’s machine. A kenmore from the early 50’s. It sews denim like a breeze and has made many heavy duty projects. She even made seat covers for one of my dad’s cars and worked with heavy weight fabric redoing stuffed furniture! Still love using that machine. So simple to use. And she still owns it. She’s 102!
Unfortunately, most manufacturers do not print books anymore. You can find your manual by looking up the machine on the Singer website and download it as a pdf. If you want a printed version, you can send the pdf to a fed EX store and they can print and bind if for you. But it's kind of expensive. I do think it's a great little machine, and especially for the price! It does have some limitations, but for the price I think they are minor. I would not try sewing layers of denim on this little machine, because it's a light weight machine and not designed for a super heavy sewing. For small projects like blouses and pillows and quilt piecing it's great. If heavy duty sewing is important to you, I would suggest getting the vintage machine tuned up and use it. The actual quilting part of things can be done on the machine, but the throat space is small and it's really difficult to finish a large project. Smaller things like quilted bags or wall quilts or baby sized, even throw sized quilts aren't too bad. But once you get into anything bigger, it's a struggle to do them. I love my patchwork and use for most sewing, but I am in the market for something bigger to do the actual quilting part of things.
First, I love dogs, too, and though I didn't know this machine used to have a dog stitch, I'm mad it's not there anymore! (That is my corgi Brecon in my profile photo). Second, this is the 4th machine of my life. Started on a 1930s Willcox & Gibbs chain-stitch only, no-bobbin machine which had been my grandmother's, moved onto a workhorse Kenmore in the late 1980s, somehow lost that one in a move I made at some point, bought a Singer Brilliance and wasn't in love with it (hate the bobbin placement underneath) and when I researched, this machine looked like the one for me. I'm newly retired and want to get more into quilting. I'm loving your videos!
Thank you!! I know!! That doggy stitch was the cutest. I can't believe they removed it. I have my mom's Kenmore, though it's a much newer model. More like 2008 or something and I bought a Brilliance in Lidl several years back. I don't use it at all anymore and I should probably try to sell it on Marketplace at this point. I definitely love my Singer machines but as I have gotten more interested in quilting, I find I need something with throat space. I quilted my last queen sized, flannel backed quilt on my heavy duty and just about tore the machine up. The machine itself can easily handle the stitching, but getting the bulk through that tiny throat caused the needle housing to get jostled. I like my Heavy Duty so I don't want to mess it up. I'm saving for a new Baby Lock and I think I can get it ordered in October and pay it off by November.
I have a Singer Simple 3337. It was a Christmas gift. Since the first time I used it, tension has been a problem. I have adjusted it every way I possibly can. The tension is never right. I’m interested in the Patchwork. Your video was very informative. Thank You.
Oh what a nightmare!! You might want to watch my video on what thread goes on which thread spool and see it that helps you at all. But yes, I love this little machine! It's on sale this week at Joann too!
I purchased the Heavy Duty to sew face masks when covid started. It was a nightmare getting it to sew a straight stitch, I think Amazon sold me a used machine as new. I saw your video on the Patchwork and got it. I love it, I mostly sew pj's for grandkids, masks & doll clothes. Thank you for recommending the Patchwork.
You know, I bought a Heavy Duty two summers ago and it didn't work either! I sent it back and got the patchwork instead. I did buy a heavy duty on sale at joann for black friday this past Christmas, and so far so good. I will use it for heavier projects and to do all my quilting work. And use patchwork for piecing and lighter projects. The combination is a good one. I'm really happy you like yours! I think it's a great machine.
Hi Patti, I got the Patchwork for my birthday a week ago, at Joann's, for about $250. It is a clone of the old Quantto Futura CE 200 Embroidery machine (mine is now defunct). They took out all of the embroidery hardware and software and re-engineered her into a quilting machine. So far she has sewed quilt square pieces very well. I love the easy access to the decorative stitches, and the wider variety of button hole stitches. I will hopefully be trying to do some actually quilting this weekend.
I am an experienced sewer and started with a singer, it lasted many years but later i wanted a macine that did embrodering also and so I bought a Bernina and have been happy ever since. I have upgraded many times but I must say I was so happy with my first singer
Thanks for sharing that Rhory! I think it's an excellent beginner machine! And upgrading to something later when you get really specific about what you want is smart planning. I've always used Singers and Kenmore machines, and I've always enjoyed both. I hear great things about Bernina!
I own a Babylock Lyric....I have CP on my left side(so left side of my body doesn't work great) & this machine has all the bells & whistles....automatic threading, cuts thread, knee lift, quick set bobbin, automatic tension, large working surface...I also went with this one because of all the feet it comes & the large quilting extension table it came with. I love it. ANOTHER great video!
Thank you so much Chrissy! Babylock is my dream machine!! Someday I hope to get one. They look amazing. I'll have to go read up on the Lyric and follow it along.
I enjoyed your review of this machine. I started sewing in the 70’s as a teen and continued into the early 80’s. I started out with a Singer in a case. I finally had to let it go because my oldest kept playing with it and I couldn’t find anyone to repair it. A friend gave me her Kenmore which has problems with the bobbin tension. I bought another Singer in 11-12 off of a home shopping channel but was so busy on my job I never used it. I tried to teach myself to quilt but haven’t figured it out. It is hard to keep a 1/4 in seam. I started a project 5 years ago and gave up. I need a machine that has everything so I can concentrate on the quilt. I will consider this machine because the others I have looked at are very expensive. I’m also considering the IKEA table and will send my son to see if it will work for me (we are both 6’3”).
Oh my gosh, well you might really like this. A lot of people do not like that foot, but I honestly love it and with the markings it helps keep a consistent seam. It's so important to get the points and the look of the project right. I would also suggest working with smaller projects so you get the experience of making things all the way through. And you get experience making lots of block designs, not just one over and over and over for months. Unless the big project is a thing to make one or two blocks a month or a week over a year or so to complete the project. But have the satisfaction of finishing other items in the meantime. I bet if you put the table on casters to raise it up a few inches it would work for you. Please let me know how everything works out!
Thank you Rebeccah! I really appreciate that! I"m on a little break from the long videos, but I'm trying to share at least one short everyday. I'll be back though!
I've had this machine for many years. My husband got it for me from Joann's when I wanted to do some baby blankets/bibs. Now I've transitioned to quilting. I still love it, except that I would like to start doing some free motion quilting and I'm having a really hard time with the machine.
Yes, I love it for piecing and sewing, but I agree it's difficult to quilt on. Maybe smaller projects, but nothing bigger than a baby blanket. I'm looking into getting a Baby Lock Jazz 2 for the quilting part. You might want to look into them. The best price and throat space of anything out there. I'm hoping I can get one for my birthday this year. That's the plan anyway.
I have used a Janome Memory craft for about 7 years. It is an awesome machine. I needed my janome cleaned but I sew everyday and had no idea how long it would be out of service. So I looked around for a second “backup” machine. Every group I am in I hear get a Juki get a juki. So I jumped into the Juki cult and bought the 2010q. Best purchase ever. I have had it for 1 month. I will sew on it now for the majority and use my Janome for speciality stitches. For piecing and free motion it is the best I have used. I tested 10 layers of denim and it went thru like butter, perfect stitches. I can stitch in the ditch on a quilt sandwich without a walking foot and it is super FAST. I have done bags with cork, vinyl and heavy foam with no issues.
That's fantastic info on the Juki!! I've heard so many good things about them, and I think if the budget allows, it's a fabulous choice. I think Vanessa on Crafty Gemeni uses Juki and she sews a TON of stuff. Very fast as you say! I'm not that fast of a sewer so I'm ok taking my time. LOL I watch the Sew Sweetness channel and I'd love to try some of her bag projects, but I do think they would be way, way too much for my little Patchwork. It's not designed for that kind of materials. So I would like a Heavy Duty machine as a next purchase, and I hope I can do it before the year is up.
@@PattymacMakes if you want to make bags you ready need the heavy duty machine, and I think that is the point you were making. You need to decide what you want to make. I was saving and saving for a really expensive Viking but realized I would never use it to its true capacity. I am really happy with the Juki.
@@stacylarsen1795 Well, I make a variety of things, so I think a couple of machines are my best option. My channel shares easy, light duty projects. I enjoy making that type of thing and I'm building my channel on that type of content, so having an accessible machine to demo that type of project is important. But I also am interested in doing a little bag making as a personal venture. And the actual quilting part of quilt making would flow a bit better on a heavier duty machine. I'm more likely to stay in the Singer ecosystem, because it's more of what another hobby sewist would use. But I do hear wonderful things about Juki machines! Thanks for sharing Stacy!
I have a 90’s Singer which I used for many years and is a reliable machine. But I purchased a Juki 2010Q during the pandemic while I was waiting for my Singer to get tuned up… Love the Juki and it’s now my primary machine for piecework and free motion quilting, but it only does straight stitches. I still use my Singer for the decorative stitches and for my daughter to learn to quilt. Yours looks like a great option if mine ever bites the dust.
Thanks for sharing about your machines Ellizabeth! So many people have great things to say about Juki. They must be great machines! I really like my little machine, and I hope to get many years of use out of it.
I have the Singer Patchwork. I think it does a great job. It’s my everyday machine and what I use for quilting patch work. For heavy sewing I pull out my old Sears Kenmore. It’s tougher than nails. I also have 3 other vintage Singers that make beautiful stitches.
Loved this video! I got a patchwork about a month and a half ago and LOVE IT! I’ve been sewing on and off for a few years and decided to get more into it and decided to upgrade my machine. I was using a machine I had in high school, so it was about 10-12 years old. It was a standard mechanical singer with a front load bobbin that would constantly jam. It was driving me insane. No matter what I did to clean or fix it, it would always jam. The top load bobbin has been AMAZING! I can deal with the front loader but the top loader is the way to go! I also want to learn how to do very basic quilting so this would be perfect 😍
I love mine too!!! And yes, ditching the front loading bobbin and bobbin case feels great! I've been so happy with this machine. I will add that using the right presser foot for the project is super important. When I had the issue with the zipper bag I made, it was due to using the wrong presser foot and not the machine. Now I use the all purpose foot on those and it works beautifully. My only lament is I don't get to use it as often as I would like. It's just an awesome machine for quilting. I love the set up with the 1/4" foot and the markings on the throat to help guide the fabric. I'm not a perfect sewist, but the machine helps me to do the best job possible in that moment.
@@PattymacMakes I really want to try to 1/4 foot! Other than the I’ll purpose I’ve just used the darning an embroidery foot (which was really cool!) my first time embroidering! I put names on Christmas stockings freehand because I don’t have an embroidery machine. Challenging but I felt so accomplished! 😊 excited to work with it more
@@jdefioreart3530 That's amazing!!! I've played some with the darning foot, but not too much. You'll love the 1/4" foot!! I need to do a deep dive video on using the machine. It's been on my list for a while, but I haven't gotten around to making the video.
@@PattymacMakes I’d love to see you do some videos playing around with the darning foot 😊 I’m so happy I found your channel. Such a wealth of information!
I have 2 EverSewns one for Quilting and one for general sewing. They are good machines for the price. I also have a Brother I purchase at Walmart for $79.00 but I love that machine it can sew 5 layers of jeans fabric. I also have an EverSewns embroidery/sewing which I trying to learn how to use it. I purchase these EverSewn because of Missouri Star show a video on how to use them.
I have the Singer Patchwork, and love it! I bought it in 2021 because I was just getting into quilting. I was a total beginner, and wanted a machine that was easy to use, and affordable if I ended up not enjoying quilting. I love quilting, and I really love this machine too!
I'm really happy to hear this Christine! I absolutely love my little Patchwork!! It's been easy to use and I've made tons of projects using it. It's great for general sewing as well, so don't feel like you're limited to only quilt projects. I would not push it with denim or canvas, but other than that, I think it's great.
Well, I have been thinking about buying a new machine , after watching your video, you helped me pulled the trigger! Got the best deal though Singer web site. I am so excited! Can’t wait to get it. Love your channel and your opinion! Just retired and just getting started in patchwork and quilting.
You're welcome Colleen! This is a great over all basic sewing machine. You can try out all sorts of projects and it will have what you need to try them all. It's well priced and well made, so if you take care of it, you will have a machine to last you for years.
I love my singer 201-2. It is a workhorse. I do have to put a drop or two of sewing oil in the bobbin case every once in a while which is not too bad. The other parts of the machine that need to be oiled I just do it every six months or so. I like to take my Featherweight to sewing retreats because of the weight and size of it..
These newer electronic machines just take a drop of oil in the bobbin case a couple of times a year, so the maintenance is super easy. I would like to open the upper housing and dust it at the least, but no info exists on doing that. I"m going to see if I can figure out how to open it and just brush the lint out because I'm sure there is plenty in there!
I have the Patchwork and love it. I bought it mainly for the variety of feet it came with. I’ve sewn knits for my granddaughter and made quilts. Great machine and easy to clean!
I bought mine @Black Fr sale @Joann. In 2018 ! I worked there, it was on sale and used discount. Best deal ever! Came in handy last year for scrub caps and masks. My cousin has one ,also , just for quilting. Neither one of us regret it!
@@annettegraff8323 It's such a great machine! When I worked in the education lab and saw our store had a fleet of these machines it really caught my attention. And then using it in the store was such a great experience I knew it was the one for me!
I have a Brother Project Runway machine. I really enjoy sewing with it. The majority of my sewing are garments. Sometimes I make things for the home. I have made tablecloths, curtains and scarfs for furniture. I enjoy your videos.
Great video, Patty. I almost fell off my chair when I saw you had a metal bobbin in your machine. I have the same machine and the 4 bobbins included with the machine we're clear plastic. I've been buying the 15j bobbins for 2 years and they are always plastic. Granted, I purchased my machine a year prior to your purchase, but I am flabbergasted that you are able to use metal bobbins. I have always preferred metal to plastic, but thought they would not work in my machine. This is in no way a judgement against you. I am just amazed that it works. Keep your videos coming. You have made me an Ikea convert. Be well.
Now that you've said something it will probably start giving me trouble! LOL. My Brilliance uses the metal bobbin and I just dropped it in this machine, because I didn't feel like winding another bobbin, and I was short on the plastic ones. So far it's been fine. I know you aren't supposed to use 15 and 15J interchangeably, but so far so good. You might want to try it if you have some around.
I tried to help a friend with her Patchwork machine yesterday. We couldn't figure out how to back stitch/reverse stitch at the beginning and end of a seam. I have a Bernina 440QE and the Patchwork is so much different. The fact that the Patchwork doesn't come with a full-page paper users manual probably contributed to our inability to find this information easily.
I understand the frustration! But as I understand it, nobody is printing manuals anymore. It's just way to expensive. But don't despair! They are easily available online. Singer has manuals associated with all of its machines on the page with the product, so look for the patchwork on the singer website you'll find the manual. You can always send that pdf to a fed ex store and have it printed and bound. As far as back stitching, the button on the "neck" of the machine with a little lock next to it is the back stitch button. I hope that helps!! I love my little Patchwork and have used it for years without issues.
@@PattymacMakes thank you. My friend called me this morning saying she had found the button right where you just said it would be. I saw it yesterday and based on its location I assumed it might have something to do with the threading of the machine. I believe that button on my Bernina is located closer to the needle, thus my confusion. I do think my friend and her daughter plan to copy the online manual for personal use. Trying to find and read information on these tiny cell phones is just not ideal in a pinch.
A dog and cat stitch sounds great😊. I was sewing on a kenmore years and years ago (stretch and sew days🤣)… well, I pulled the material a little too much, the needle broke off, and had I not been wearing my glasses it would have gone straight into the center of my eye😳. It struck so hard it chipped my glasses and SCARED ME TO DEATH!!! Hard way to learn a lesson🙁. Love your videos! Oh by the way, I have a babylock brilliant which I like (mostly) and also a heavy duty singer that I repair my granddaughters horse blankets on👍
What a scary story! Thank goodness for glasses! Breaking a needle is no joke, so it's worth being extra cautious. I've looked at that Babylock and think it's a beautiful machine. Maybe someday!
Sharon me to! I loved my Kenmore, I have no idea what happened to it though? I still have the sewing table. And I still have Stretch and Sew Patterns! Scary experience for you! Good thing you had on glasses.
I have a Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist, which is maybe one step above the Patchwork, but I think they are very similar machines with most of the same features. I bought it about 6 or 7 years ago and it's a fantastic machine, and has all the features a beginner would want, and more. Unfortunately, my machine developed a bit of a hiccup, where if you pushed the thread cutter button, the machine went in reverse instead of cutting the thread, or maybe if you pressed the needle up/down button, the thread cutter operated, etc. I believe there's a problem with the computer board, but rather than getting it fixed, I decided to live with it, and I upgrated to a Juki for most of my piecing and quilting. However, I still have the Singer, and I won't get rid of it because it's an amazing machine for the cost. It still sews decorative stitches beautifully and the wonky buttons sometimes work okay, and maybe one day I'll get it fixed. Singers are great machines for the price.
I've looked at that Quantum machine! It looks like a great one. Unfortunately when there's a bug like that, it's pretty hard to fix, and now with the chip shortages I think it would be highly unlikely you would be able to get that repaired. For the cost of repair, you could pretty much buy a new one. Which is how I wound up with my Patchwork. That is the downside to electronic machines. Glad to hear you can still get some use out of it though!
Pattymac, I so enjoy your videos and this one explaining the virtues of this machine is great, however you have a metal bobbin in it and 15j bobbins are plastic to not cause groves in the plastic drop in bobbin case.
Thanks Brett!! Yeah, I pulled that bobbin from my Brilliance to use up the thread. I'm not technically a perfect sewist, and you caught me in the act! LOL I wound a new bobbin and have the proper one in there now.
Hi Patty. What a wonderful video! I learned on a Singer and owned one for many, many years without any issues. Then about 25 years ago I was told the Bernina was the very best machine so I saved and saved and bought one; the worst machine ever in my opinion. It never sewed properly and it was in the repair shop from the get go. I struggled with its terrible stitching for 20 years or so and then the feed dogs broke. After some research, I purchased a Baby Lock about 6 years ago and it is wonderful. However, in retrospect, I would go back to a Singer for both longevity as well as price. Blessings, Linda
Thanks for sharing your story Linda! Oh I could never deal with something temperamental like that. And especially not for 20 years. You are far more patient than I am. I hear such good things about Babylock and it's my pie in the sky dream machine, but for now I love this little Patchwork. It does what I need when I need it and that's the main thing for me.
@@PattymacMakes my Baby Lock is on the lower level, I think one up from the lowest one. But In retrospect, I would absolutely go for the Singer Patchwork, both for value and function. Mine works great, but I’m concerned about longevity; only time will tell on that. Have a great Sunday and I hope you and your mom are doing well. Yes, I agree, the Bernina was such a frustrating experience and it still sits in the closet because of the pressure foot issue and being too old for them to repair. Nothing good on that end. Blessings, Linda
I have a Singer Simple. I bought it last March. During the pandemic I wanted to learn to make masks. I have never touched a sewing machine in my life so at first trying to sew a mask was really frustrating. But I stuck with it. Now after doing a few projects I’m finding that it really bogs down if I’m doing something with batting or anything other than a couple layers. I’ve never tried a zipper. Although I’ve purchased lots (it’s the supply collection that I’m REALLY good at). 🙈. Anyway I’m kind of in the market for something else. I’d love a machine that has an auto thread cut feature. That’s my story. Thank you for the awesome videos! ♥️🐶
Oh yeah, they are not heavy duty. I have no problem on this one sewing through two or three layers of fabric and some batting. But I also had trouble with masks. They are so thick and they were so hard on my other machine, the Brilliance, so I stopped making them after that first little batch I did. I never tried making them on the Patchwork. I quit wearing them almost a year ago now (except for going to the doctor's office because it's still required and I have to get my mother through doctor visits. I just wear and rewear the paper surgical ones for that). I think the machine next in line to the Patchwork has thread cutting but I would have to double check. That one I've never seen in Joann here so I think it has to be ordered.
Hi Patty! I enjoy your videos and I enjoy my Patchwork Singer also, very much!!! I have had no problems with it either. On your next videos can you show us where do we drop the feeddogs and more on how to use the different embroidery stitches? It’s one thing to read about them but it’s much better to see them demonstrated. 😊
I could do that! The feed dogs don't drop. You put that little plastic cover over them and install the darning or embroidery foot is you are interested in free motion quilting. But I could do some demos on that!
I sew on a Bernina Aurora 440 QE with a LARGE extension table. I love it BUT it is not practical to transport to classes or quilting groups with the extension table so I was in the market for a lighter weight smaller machine..... I bought this machine in hopes it will be 'the one' to take and use for these situations. I had also looked at the Brother CP100X which looked comparable but it wasn't available!!! Hence....I got this one!! Glad to hear you love yours!!!
Oh gosh!! I think it's perfect for travel!! I only quilt smaller projects on it, but it's done all the piecing for me from small pillows to huge bed sized quilt tops. I love the machine. It can sit for months unused and sew perfectly the first seam through.
Thanks Patty! You're a Hoot! I bought the Patchwork on your great recommendation today. I'll let you know how the quilting goes. I've had a Brilliance for forever and had trouble with thread breaking all the time - just started quilting and wanted to try a heavier machine with specificity for quilting.
The Patchwork is a great step up from Brilliance but since it's almost the same machine, the switch is not a big change to absorb. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine!! Having this machine immediately improved my quilting. I'm far from perfect, but I noticed my projects looking 100% better, and they are a lot easier to make with the guideposts for 1/4" seams. Enjoy!!
Hi Patty I also use a singer patchwork and I absolutely love it!! I got mine last year from Joannes I guess I was lucky they had one in the store…… The only issue I have with my patchwork is it doesn’t seem to wind the bobbin’s as nicely as I would like sometimes the thread is very loopy on the Bobbin…… if you have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it…… thank you so much for your wonderful videos
Thanks for sharing Cindy!! Gosh, I haven't had the same issue. I can do a quick bobbin winding video and see if it helps. Our Joann was completely out of machines until the end of the year, and I had already ordered direct from Singer by then. I love the machine and I am so happy I invested in it. My next door neighbor went and got one a couple of weeks ago, and loves hers too!
I also have a patchwork for piecing quilts. I also just got a featherweight to take to classes. I love my patchwork have made many rag quilts on it also.
I looked at machines in Joann summer 2019. At the time they only had very basic cheap Singer. Which is a good machine. My daughter actually bought 6 months later. I went to a sewing machine store and decided on a Brother PS300T. It has decorative stitches including letters. The price under $300. I have loved it so far! I also wish for a cat stitch.
Thanks for sharing that tip Regina! It's really hard to find a good, inexpensive machine and that's such a great piece of advice. I do hear wonderful things about Brother machines.
You're welcome! I have since gotten myself a heavy duty and it's fantastic for thicker projects. It lacks the needle down feature which is a disappointment, but I love the sewing machine and use it for the heavier stuff.
I had a viking husqvarna that I hadn't used in years. Decided to get back into sewing again and literally had to clean the dust off of it! Later after searching, I decided to go back to Singer and got my quantum stylist. I love it for all the attachments it came with. I sew for my grandkids and quilt and I don't have any problems. I don't think I will ever use all of the special stitches, but they are there. I do make my own labels tho!😊
I have my eye on the Quantum! When I'm ready to update from the Patchwork, I think that would be the way I would go. But I hope I can get a Sashiko machine from Baby Lock in the meantime for the beautiful quilting stitches it does. I have my eye on it for sure! I'm very happy with my Singer machines and my only problem is I don't have enough time for actual sewing.
Hi, Patty. Very helpful review. I appreciate that you give your why's, likes and dislikes of the machine. My main machine is a 48 yr.old Kenmore. I swear there is not a plastic piece in that machine! Certainly doesn't have the bells and whistles that newer machines have. But, not, it is a functional WORKHORSE and is fine if you just make basic items. Recently Inherited a 10-year-old basic Singer. I'd call it a crafter's machine because the parts are mostly all plastic. I think if something breaks on it, it's probably not reparable. For now, it meets my needs for crafting (masks, items the the grandkids, journal making and the like). I have contemplated splurging for a nicer model, but I'm an infrequent sewist so I'm really thinking of doing a cleaning/maintenance on the Kenmore. It's been a wonderful machine and would hold up if I did a bag in something heavier in denim or duck. TFS. From Cheryl in AZ
Oh yeah, those Kenmore machines are great! I would like to find someone to fix mine. I think it's a belt issue with the feed dogs. I'm tempted to get it back out and look at it again. As you say, not fancy but solid. I think the frame on the Patchwork is metal but it's certainly a plastic body and extension table. But I'm ok about that. I mostly sew and share crafts so it's perfect for me and most casual crafters and sewists. I like to work on the same thing that most of my viewers are using or that people are more familiar with. If I get 5 years out of it, then that's $200 well spent. Thanks for weighing in! I am seriously contemplating that Heavy Duty machine before the end of the year so we'll see where I am December 28th.
@@PattymacMakes Thanks for taking us with you on this journey, Patty. I'm all for learning from others' experience. I can, see, though why you like your new Singer. Too bad it's not a bit more sophisticated for you to download images, such as a dog or cat. Maybe one of these days... Take care. Have a good week. (Cataract surgery is on my agenda. 🤓)
@@rochestermanagementservice6082 Oh yes!! If I had a fancier machine I guess I could download stuff.. but they are so expensive I'm not sure I could justify that kind of spending on a sewing machine. Good luck with the surgery. I took mom for hers and she did well. So far my eyes look pretty clear so I hope to avoid it for a LONG time.
Hi, Miss Patty! I have discovered your channel a few weeks ago. I so enjoy your videos, the simplicity, projects and tips. I had an Elnita 1200, that machine and I were one. I now have a Bernina 330 which is just as great as the Elnita. I use it on blue jeans to clothes and quilts (mostly quilts). Thank you so much for your honesty.
Thank you Sara! I appreciate your kind comment and your suggestions on the sewing machine. People read comments and it's so helpful when other people can read about other options for their own sewing machine purchase.
I bought a Brother ST371HD the first part of the year. I wanted a heavy duty machine. I also have a Janome, but it is a lighter duty machine, and wasn't able to sew quilted straps onto a quilted bag. I also have my mom's old Singer (1960s vintage), but it needs some major repair work, as it got dropped about 2 feet off our coffee table. As for what types of projects I prefer to sew, I go back and forth between sewing clothes and quilt tops. I'm currently working on a lap quilt for my oldest daughter. She moved out of state for a job, and I found remnants of fabric from my mother-in-law making all of my father-in-law's shirts. The remnants are all in beige background and blue background, with airplanes or transportation on them. I am making a block pattern using strips from the remnants. It's her Christmas present.
What a wonderful thoughtful gift! I bet it's absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing about your machines and I hope you can find someone to fix the Singer!
I chose the Singer Heavy Duty 4423 for my very first machine because it was an uncomplicated mechanical machine that was suppoesed to be able to handle bulky thicknesses. I figured that if it cost a couple hundred dollars without a bunch of fancy features, then I must be paying for the quailty of the machine itself. I have had it for a year and a half and I have never regretted my decision. It does zippers like a breeze and has withstood a complete sewing machine newb with all my crazy trials and errors!
I've only heard good reports from people using those. You know I think I had on the wrong presser foot, so I'm going to try it again soon. But I'd still like that Heavy Duty to do some of the other things that are a little too heavy for Patchwork.
@@sewcraftymarigold5556 Yeah I have been concerned about my $99 Brilliance not holding together, but so far so good! Still I didn't think that having a sewing and quilting channel was good to rely on a $99 machine from a grocery store! LOL
Hi Patty love the video. I have a Singer 1120 and always a stitch/tension problem. My machine is very old. So I bought a Janome 8100. 😞 not happy with it. My wish is for a JUKI. Oh well. Thanks for the demo.
My machine is a Singer quantum 9960 that I bought around last year just after Thanksgiving on a sale through Amazon. I am in LOVE!! I follow Roxanne Stitches on utube and she has an AMAZING video series on this machine which helped me tremendously. I also have a Sears Kenmore model 1931 zig zag machine. My Kenmore is one i will keep always.. but the 9960 is such a great machine! Patty, you had mentioned sewing on heavy fabrics.. i have been given 2 very large pieces of fabric that i want to make Christmas tree skirts and stockings with.. its almost like upholstery fabric.. super heavy, sooo you would not do that on your patchwork? I may pull out my Kenmore for that project... not sure. P.S. i so look forward to your videos 💕😊👏👏
I've looked at that machine! I'm really torn on what I would select for an upgrade if I'm able to invest in something at the end of the year. So I'm really putting in some thought on the matter now. No way would I attempt upholstery fabric on my my machine. A friend wanted me to hem something on a piece that needed small repair, and my presser foot would not even lift high enough to manage the folded ends much less have the ooomph to sew through all of that. I know my limits! LOL!!! I would try canvas, but only in terms of a simple seam and not layers of canvas as in a hem. But that's me. I would rather be cautious with the machine than force something and do damage. Thanks for watching!! I do so appreciate it!
I currently sew on a Kenmore sewing machine that I bought in 1982, it has been a great machine over the years but it is time to upgrade. It can be overwhelming trying to choose the best machine without breaking the bank. I sew craft projects, the odd garment repair and am just getting interested in quilting. I am looking forward to your thoughts on the different machines on the market today.
Oh wow Teresa! Yes you should definitely investigate the new machines and see what you like! I only talk about items I own and use, so I can't speak about other brands and models. For me personally, I'm in between the computerized Heavy Duty machine and the Quantum Stylist as an upgraded machine. But the Quantum is designed for more quilting applications and I prefer the color of the body. It comes with a ton of feet and it looks like a great machine. I would recommend you browse the comments here, because people have shared really good information on what they use. I would make a list of what they are recommending and then spend some time looking at those machines online to see what has the features you desire and fits your budget. I"m sorry I can't provide you any more assistance on the matter, but I'm not a machine review channel but a creative lifestyle channel with emphasis on easy quilting and sewing. I personally love my Patchwork machine and I recommend that to everyone. But if you have the budget you might want to look into the Quantum! I'm sorry I can be more of a help on your question. Good Luck!
I want to get a Patchwork and hope to find one on sale sometime soon. I saw some on eBay but l’m leery of buying a machine that l don’t if it was abused in it’s former home. The only “fancy” stitch on either of my present machines is the zigzag on the Elna, which works fine, but the satin stitch doesn’t, which means l can’t do buttonholes either. I’m thinking it would probably do them ok if l had the nerve to touch the tension adjustment (which I don’t!). I really enjoy your UA-cam shows.
Thanks Marie! I appreciate you watching. Gosh, I would not buy my machine second hand on ebay either. Really, buying directly from Singer or in your own Joann store is the best way to go. It's worth taking an extra couple of months to save the money and buy it new on sale.
I had a Singer Quantum, I worked at Joanns, during a employee sale, I bought the Patchwork because of the price, @150. Loved it until she decided she was going on strike. Have not taken in for repair yet. Got a Janome MC6600P for $500, love it but I miss my Patchwork. H opefully to repair shop soon.
What a great price!! Honestly Deb, for the cost of repair, you might want to just buy a new one. That's why I got the Patchwork. They wanted $100 just to look at my Kenmore and do a tuneup, not fix anything. And any repair was only guaranteed for 30 days. So I could have spent the same thing on an older machine with no guarantee or buy the new one for the same price. So I got the Patchwork. And with the chip shortage, I would suggest buying something sooner than later if you like an electronic machine. Just my personal advice from one neighbor to another.
Found this video and love how its not overly advanced but yet perfect for a beginner like me!!I have a singer simple 2263 and use it a lot it was a Christmas gift from my fiance 5 yrs ago and ready to upgrade to a bit better one..have had my eye on the singer infinity and the patchwork
Thank you very much for this review. It's just what I was looking for 👍🤩 I did notice something unusual though: you put a metal bobbin in the machine. I was under the impression that only class 15j plastic bobbins were to be used in drop in bobbin machines 🤷♀️
I love this little machine and still use it as my primary sewing machine. You should actually use the 15J as that is the correct bobbin. I was just trying to get the video made and didn't realize I didn't have a bobbin ready and grabbed one from another machine to use in the demo. Amazingly, it still sewed great!
Looks like a very nice sewing machine and you got a great deal. I have a 1/4 inch presser foot & totally love it too. I made some bowl cozies and the food was awesome doing the 1/4 inch stitch all the way around. I have 2 brother machines that I am quite pleased with. One is a project runway that I use at home. It has needle up & down and option to use foot pedal or not. I take my manual one on vacation with me. I didn’t want a portable sewing machine as they just seem cheap to me. It is still light weight and sews very nicely. I was really tickled pink when I found my side cutter presser foot fit on it also and worked like a charm . So I keep it on my manual at home and use it as a serger then when I travel I put the side cutter food in my accessory box and I still have a way to finish off my seams. Currently I’m not in Chesapeake but down in Florida for an extended time. I have everything in my temporary sewing room but need to set it up. Happy Sewing & Quilting to all!
Oh well hello to you in Sunny FLORIDA Victoria!! I'm glad to hear you arrived and are getting set up! Today finally feels like fall, so I guess our beautiful late summer is coming to an end. As far as machines go, the right machine is the one YOU like best! The one that does what you want and need it to do. That's all that matters! Happy, sunny sewing. Have fun with those precious babies!
Hi Pattymac, I sew on a Janome straight stitch HD 9 which I love and I do have a Janome Skyline 5 that I’m not 100% happy with. I’ve had the HD 9 for about 3 years (the Skyline for 5), if I could go back and buy all over again (which I can’t bc they were so expensive) I would buy the Janome Memory Craft 6650 bc it’s a heavy duty machine and a quilting machine all in one WITH decorative stitches. No one at my dealership said anything about the memory craft series to me at the time. 😠 I to love decorative stitches. When I first started sewing, I sewed handbags only and the Skyline couldn’t handle it. I needed a heavy duty machine so a couple years later I bought the HD 9 but now that I pretty much only do patchwork and quilting (small bags from time to time) I only use the HD 9 and I miss not having an option to use a decorative stitch. My dream machine is (as many others dream machine) to have a Bernina. However, I’m so thankful for what I do have ❤️. These machines have been such a blessing to me 💕
Thanks for sharing your experiences!! Yeah, they like to push the expensive stuff, and certainly some people DO want and use those higher end features, but for the regular user it's generally over spending on a machine. Sewing as a profession is a different level of sewing. Even though I make videos about sewing and quilting, I'm not sewing 8 hours a day like a professional seamstress. It's very different. I don't think I would do the back packs and really complicated bag projects, but I love sewing light weight bags for sure! Even those with interfacing and batting or a heavier stabilizer are a challenge for my lighter weight machines. Berninas are the dream machines for sure!! Like the Pottery Barn styled Airstream trailer I dream about. LOL Right now I'm thinking the the Singer heavy weight line is my best bet.
Hi Pattymac! I'm coming to you from Canada. :) I'm quite a newbie when it comes to sewing and I have been borrowing my neighbour's Singer Stylist 7258 to learn. I've made a fleece blanket, hemmed a dress, altered a tee-shirt and made several heat/cool pads for my family. I came across a really good sale for the Singer 7285Q Patchwork machine and researched it by watching your awesome video. My question is if I really have no intention of making quilts, is this still a good sewing machine for me? Thank you so much!!! Laura Kelso
Oh yes!!! For sure!! I sew all sorts of things on mine. Even though it's great for quilt piecing, you'll come to love the sewing surface of the extension table. If you think you want to sew things more heavy weight like canvas and bags etc, you might want to consider a Heavy Duty machine. I have both, and honestly, it's a winning combination!!!
Tell us about your sewing machine and why you love it!! ❤️❤️💛❤️❤️
I've been quilting for about 3 years now. Part of the fascination for me besides the fabric and artistry is the machinery. I own more than a few machines of different brands.
I have 3 Singer machines and find them so reliable! Easy to operate, clean and oil... really nice stitches and accurate in that sometimes elusive quarter inch seam!
THANK YOU so much for your channel!
@@maxiedoodle Thank YOU so much for being a part of it! I can't keep doing it without the kind support of viewers like you!
I have been searching for a lightweight, portable sewing machine that I will be able to take when I go visit family -- and here you are! My local Joanne's still has this model in stock, so I'll be parting with my $$ this weekend. Thanks for the great review. Hope you're still using and enjoying this machine.
I love this machine! Still going strong.
I love my Singer patchwork. I quilt, do clothing, bags, household decor and more on it and love it's smooth sewing.
It's a great little machine! So functional!
In about 1974 l bought an Elna portable because I needed to sew a dog pack and a backpack for myself. I needed a machine small and light enough to carry in a backpack which would sew zippers and some leather reinforcement pieces. Until l started these projects l had never sewed a zipper in my life. I managed to do the dogpack (2 zippers) and moved on to the backpack (I think it had nine zippers). The only problem l had was with the instructions on the pack kits because I’m dyslexic in some odd ways and have problems understanding some written instructions, especially if they are written by a man. That little Elna sailed through everything I threw at it without ever breaking a needle or having the tension adjustment touched. My second machine is my grandmother’s Featherweight, AND it’s card table with the drop-in spot for the machine. It still runs like the day it was new. My grandmother used it for more than 30 years doing alterations for a department store and projects like sewing heavy drapes for her home.
Featherweights are just incredible! And that's wonderful to have the one your grandmother used! Bravo on all the zippers. I don't think I would survive 9 zippers in one project. Thanks for sharing about your Elna. I've never heard of that one. So I will be looking for more. I have difficulty with written instructions which is why I do things that don't need a ton of measurements. Thanks for sharing such a fun story.
So jealous of your featherweight!! Lol. No, wait I am expecting delivery of mine within a week!!! EEEEK!! Lol. 28 days younger than me. Grin.
Wow!! Loved reading your story. 9 zippers on one bag!!?? Holy smokes! Way to go.
Thank you I am also dyslexic and also can have problems with instructions but I have an added problem as I am disabled
Hi Patty. I'm somewhat of a new beginner. I just received my patchwork machine. Thank you for the pros and cons. I bought this particular machine because I want to continue making quilts. Six years ago, I made my first quilt. It was for my only granddaughter. I wanted something special for her to remember me by, plus express to my son how much she means to me. I'm sixty and haven't sewn a thing since homem Ec class in high school. So I made her a quilt watching a tutorial on jelly rolls. The look on my sons face when he opened my gift was amazing. In front of everyone, he asked me "you did this? " the proud look on his face was worth it. Since then, my granddaughter called me up and asked me to make her another because she was growing out of it. I bought this particular one because it was on sale for 199. I rushed to get it because I knew quilter's sewing machines were not cheap. It had all the features I was looking for and was not too complicated.
Once again, thank you!
Sincerely
Colleen Montgomery
I love that you discuss the pros and cons of the machine with balanced measure. Precise and to the point is something I really appreciate. Love the dog T-Shirt!
I'm glad you enjoyed it!! And as soon as I saw that print I had to have it!
I am a seasoned sewist and applaud you for your thoughtful honest review of this machine. I started sewing on my Mom’s Singer featherweight and purchased a mechanical Kenmore in the early 1980’s. It served me well. When I started to sew smocked and heirloom children’s clothes, I invested in an electronic Pfaff machine. I was able to sew for a business and later worked at a sewing machine dealership selling Pfaff machines. Yes, they are high quality and can do a wide range of sewing consistently. But not everyone can afford one. The cost does not always make sense for a lot of people, especially beginner sewists, occasional sewists, etc. I love this review. It is thoughtful, honest and very encouraging - when there is so much pressure on the Internet to buy expensive models. Thank you! I enjoy your videos!
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much. And what beautiful machine a Pfaff is. Gorgeous machine, but yes, not everyone needs it. That little Singer is all any person in a regular household would need. It's well made, and easy to use, and budget friendly. Thank you again for your comment. I really do appreciate it.
I sew on a Singer 20u73 machine mainly, its a heavier industrial type. Especially for alteration work and zippers etc, but it needed serviced. In the mean type I started a new hobby !!! Quilting Ya I'm hooked on fabric!!! When I dropped off my machine I came across a Singer 301, IT IS THE BOMB!!!! And Bought it thinking I needed something to hold me over; even if I have 5 other machines. I"m having a blast with this little machine and learning all over again , and quilting with it and experiencing the walking foot, what is more FUN!!!!! Anyway The machine your showing here sounds right up my ally, my husband would kill me if I brought another one home. For 44 years I have sewn on so many machines through work and life that I can't count. This little Singer is the Bomb, if anyone comes across an older Singer in good shape, try it. For Quilting this little 301 can do anything, not trying zippers though. Enjoy!!!
Thanks so much for weighing in Andria! I love my little Patchwork!! I would not sew jeans or canvas bags on it but I do love it for quilt piecing and small projects. It's fun and it does a ton of things! I do use my Singer Heavy Duty for the actual quilting and leave the walking foot permanently installed. I personally find putting a walking food permanently on a machine is helpful. I do change it out from time to time but mostly I leave it on to save the complicated set up and taking down constantly. I recently got my old Kenmore serviced and it's running like new! I've been enjoying it quite a bit as I finally found a place to get my machines cleaned and serviced.
thanks i have new patchwork and your utube has been so help. i am new to machine quilting i have done hand quilting inthe past. my machine was a gift, my old singer was on its lt last legs.
I hope you will enjoy this wonderful sewing machine! I have absolutely loved mine! While machine quilting lacks the charm of hand quilting, it is still quite fun and I find it rewarding to complete projects in a more timely fashion. Also it's easier on the hands.
My daughter just bought this 3 days ago and I loved it, so I bought one and I love all of its features. Today I will actually sew something. I have an old Singer dated from 1957, that I found at the dump in new condition, amazingly! I have an older White brand machine that I’ve been using for a long time, and a Husqvarna serger since 2010. The last time I bought a new sewing machine was in the ‘80’s. I like to sew and occasionally do reupholstering so those older machines always work. This will be perfect for baby blankets, clothes and maybe try out some quilting. I read the manual ( online) last night and love all the features this has, and I am anxious to get to see how well this will work. I did some scrap tests of stitches and was impressed at how easy it was! So much to love. My daughter also loves her machine, she making curtains. Thank you for your imput, very helpful.
That's great to hear!!I love this machine. Using the correct presser foot for the project is pretty important for best results. The projects you describe are a great fit for this machine, so I'm sure you will have a lot of fun sewing! Quilting is fun hobby. I never would have thought that I would like it so much given how exacting it is, but I find I really enjoy it. I stick to simpler blocks and play with color and prints and make smaller projects so the expense doesn't get totally out of hand. I appreciate you watching and taking time to comment. Thank you!
I have a Singer 403a Slant-O-Matic that I found at a small thrift store. It is from around 1958. I paid $9.99 for the machine and it is a thing of beauty. It is in fantastic shape. I'm so happy to have such a well made machine.
Oh my gosh!! What a great find! The product design from that time period was just amazing.
Pattymac, i Totally Agree with You! I Luv my Patchwork machine for several of the reasons you pointed out: buttons for needle lift & speed control, but Most of All the Auto-Tension!! Over years of sewing I've known frustration with tension issues and they will cause discouragement & walkaways just like you said. We Do want to just sit down & sew! That's what i do nearly everyday now and I really look forward to precious time with this Ez machine, gratefully. Thanx for your guidance & tips!
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment. I really appreciate that! I absolutely love my machine and don't get to use it nearly enough, but when I do it's nice to site down and have it work.
I bought the Patchwork in Oct 2020 and just love it! The decorative stitches were the reason that I selected this machine, but I fell in love with its ease of use. I rarely have issues with it (unlike my more expensive machine that o purchased in 2021). This model is a keeper for those wishes to begin quilting. Great and accurate review!
Thank you so much Michelle! Yes I'm thoroughly enjoy mine and will take a beating. So I thought if it runs that well with all that abuse, who well will it do if I take care of it? A long time I hope!
I just love listening to you! I saw you for the first time when you bought the Patchwork machine and I seriously was thinking of buying it. I wasn't sure if I wanted a computerized machine or not so I ended up buying the Singer Heavy Duty manual. I made several masks with it and it just wasn't working right. My stitches would get small while I was sewing and other times it sewed fine. Finally I took it back and told them about it and I have to say they got a little snotty and told me I had to pay a 25.00 return fee, (there was no mention of that when I bought it and she said it's a new policy). That was a big mistake for her to tell me that so needless to say I got my full return. I continued to use my 1972 Kenmore machine , mainly because I was so afraid that if there was a problem I would have to pay a fee. I sew small items, crafts, hem jeans, make curtains, things like that. After hearing you today, I feel like if I buy another machine, I would have to go Heavy Duty again. So, I think for now, I'll stick with what I have. I really like the look of the Patchwork, maybe down the line I'll try it as a second machine. Thanks for taking the time to explain the machine to all of us!
If you're sewing jeans and using the heavy decor fabrics to make your curtains, then the Heavy Duty is definitely what you want. Although, you might read through the comments to see what others are using. So many people are using Juki brand machines, and while quite a bit more expensive than the Singer, it may be more in line with what you need from a machine. Thank you for leaving such a kind comment! I do appreciate it!
Hello! I too have an old 1970z Kenmore machine. It was my mothers and ive been sewing on it for over 20 years. Dont give up on it.. go forward and buy your new machine. Just keep it on hand ive used mine as a backup and also because its a work horse! Those machines are awesome for teaching tools because they were simple to use. 👍👍
Good luck buying one.. i had the same fears, so I got my singer quantum stylus 9960 from Amazon because they maybe could help if it came broken out of the box.
I have this machine and a $5,000.00 Janome. I like this machine the best. Love it.
HOLY COW!!! WOW!!! If that's not a convincing testimony for Patchwork, I don't know what is! Thank for stepping forward to share that story!
Just watched your video this afternoon. Went to Joann's to purchase this machine this evening, got the last one, and it was on sale for $229. Yay!
That's fantastic Danielle!! I hope you love it!
I bought this last fall..I love it. I have made several lap quilts and wall hangings. I have not had one problem with it yet. It’s a good machine for someone just starting out or who is a novice like me.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience Donna! I'm so happy you've had such great success. I think it's an amazing little machine and I continue to recommend it to everyone!
Your channel just popped up in my feed and I subscribed! I bought a Singer Patchwork from JoAnn’s several years ago when it was on sale and love it. Having a hard time using the automatic needle threader but it’s more operator error than the machine. My wish is that there was more throat space for quilting larger projects. I would definitely recommend the Singer Patchwork. My main reason for buying this machine (to replace another Singer which I still own) is that it came with a walking foot. Getting more into quilting I realized that foot was needed and it was not available for my existing machine although that machine was advertised for quilting (which is why it was a Christmas gift from my daughter and son-in-law).
I"m so happy youtube popped my into your suggested videos! Hooray! Welcome to the channel! Yeah, it's a bit cramped for quilting larger projects, but I do mostly smaller things so it's been fine. I put the walking foot on my backup machine, which is a cheaper version of the Patchwork called the Brilliance, so I leave the walking foot on that machine all the time. That way I'm not constantly taking it on and off. If you gin the handwheel back and forth ever so slightly, it helps with the operation of the threader. That's what I've found anyway.
I just bought one today at Joanne for $229 on sale! I’m not even a sewing girl other than in my junk journals. I sew paper and fabric to paper and fabric covers for the journal. I’m very primitive and had been using an old Kenmore we had bought for our then 10 year old daughter in 2005! I’m SEW excited to learn and start sewing “real” things! I appreciate your video. 😊 Wish me luck y’all!
Oh my gosh you'll LOVE it!! It's a great little machine. They market it for quilting but it will do any lighter weight sewing you might want to try. I still love mine all these years later! Happy Sewing!
Hi Patty, I wanted to let you know that I watched all of your your reviews on the singer patchwork sewing machine. I purchased it today as a Christmas / Birthday present for myself today my local JoAnns. My Birthday is in Jan. They offer a free class on how to thread it, start it up etc. My JoAnns here in Indiana has a special area wher they sell sewing machines and have classes. I am super excited. I am currently using my Moms Phaff which I have shared with you before. I love that machine and I plan on taking it to have it cleaned while I learn how to use the patchwork.
I want to Thank You for sharing your personal thoughts and it’s because of your videos and another UA-camr that I made this purchase today!!! 😊 👍🎉
Oh Jenny!! I really hope you enjoy using it. I absolutely love mine. It's been a joy to use and I've been so happy with it. Please follow up and let me know how you are enjoying it!
Hey Patty! I have two Singer sergers: a 4-thread and a 5-thread combo serger and coverstitch machine. I also have a Heavy Duty Singer model 4423 prior to the new computerized Heavy Duty models. I also have a light weight computerized Brother HC1850 model and the Husqvarna Designer Topaz 40 embroidery machine. Love your commentary on your pro & cons with the Patchwork. If you're going to buy the Heavy Duty Singer go for the computerized one with the extension table! I remember your disappointment when you bought a lemon. You'll really like how the Heavy Duty Singer performs.
Thanks for sharing your story Stan! I wondered why that particular Heavy Duty was so much more money. I knew I wanted it because of the extension table, but I didn't put it together that it was electronic, too. I do believe it's a machine I would use a lot and get tons of use out of. I was so sad over that lemon last year! But it did lead me to getting this one instead which has turned out to be the perfect choice for me. The Lord knows what He's doing when he puts those challenges in the way! Thanks for your input and advice.
Stan,
Holy moly!! You have a laundry list of machines. Question.. do you follow wendy kratz - shiny happy world? Or crista watson? I saw your face and was sure i had seen your quilting projects somewhere else.
Anyway.. thank you for sharing your story!
@@GrandmaD2024 ...I don't think I follow Wendy...but thanks for the compliment!!
So first of all, I am a huge proponent of buying your sewing machine from a reputable dealer. It may not seem like the economical way to go, but it generally includes at least the first year of maintenance. I’m so glad I bought from a local dealer that I love and there is so much hands on help that I get from the store. The store I go to is in Colorado and it’s Rocky Mountain Sewing and Vacuum. They sell quite a few brands of sewing machines for different budgets and needs. I am so happy that I have the support of their store. The employees are very knowledgeable and helpful. Ok, so when I was 16-way back- my mom and I went sewing machine shopping and ended up getting the Bernina 830 Record. When I left home, I had a Riccar sewing machine (yes, at one time they made sewing machines) my mom eventually gave me the Bernina and I absolutely love that machine to this day. My daughter has it now, but doesn’t really sew, so I may take it back from her. Then my mom gave me her Bernina 1530 from around 1989? Nice machine! Then my mom bought a very nice Brother. After she died, I gave that one to my daughter-in-law and she loves it. When the light went out on my 1530, I went into the sewing machine store to order a replacement and got distracted by the Bernina 590. At the time I was in a decent financial place and you’d have to be to buy one. I ended up buying the 590. I opted to not get the embroidery package with it. That would have added another 2K and I see the embroidery as a whole new craft. I bought the 590 for quilting. It has a free-motion stitch regulator. That was the main reason I bought it. I do lots of quilting. I’m learning how to quilt my own quilts. It was a very big investment and not for everyone, but I am sure enjoying it and I still don’t miss the embroidery. I already spend enough money on quilting fabric and supplies and can’t get everything done that I want to. If I added embroidery, then that’s a huge investment into thread and supplies and then also a distraction from what I bought my machine to do- which is quilting. Sorry, this is so long! I love❤️ your videos!
Really great insight Valerie!! I looked at machines in the Sewing/Vacuum store here and they started at $800 with absolutely no features. I just couldn't justify it. They don't really do much support here. They have one guy left doing the service and he's really up there. He wants to retire but there's no one to do the repairs. My area is not a huge area for crafts like sewing and knitting, so our selection of items and service is fairly limited. I get a lot of younger viewers and people who have never sewn before who watch the videos, so I try to offer them advice as well on getting started. They are comfortable shopping in Joann so I do a lot of content here that features Joann. Something like this Patchwork is for a hobby quilter or casual sewist and is a perfect match of features and price. I definitely agree it takes a bigger, better machine to really get into FMQ and doing the physical quilting on large projects. I tried a little FMQ practice on this machine and let's just say I have a ways to go!! LOL
@@PattymacMakes it’s definitely not as easy to FMQ as the videos show. I’m sorry that you don’t have a sewing machine store that offers support. I wouldn’t consider the Denver area a big sewing and crafting area. Our neighboring state of Utah is probably the sewing/crafting capital of the world. Sometimes I make a trip there to really get a good crafting fix. I’m so glad that the seeing store near me really offers so much support and excellent staff. They also do videos of all kinds of machines to fit every need. The owner has four locations in Colorado. I’m so glad that he sees how to promote his business. We have a really great Sew Fun class each month that promotes all kinds of projects. That class has helped me meet others that like sewing. I bet if someone started a similar business model in other cities, it would do well. When the shut down first hit in March of 2020, it was right at the time of the annual Quilting and Sewing Festival that they are the main sponsor of. They were geared up with lots of inventory to sell. The owner went on the FB page and was “making deals”. As it turned out, sewing was an outlet that people were turning to in droves. He immediately sold any machine $600 or less. Experienced sewers were wanting to upgrade and business was so good that he had to hire more people. Of course, so much was and is on back order. He has stayed relevant by using social media and doing lots of online videos. Like I said, I don’t really see Colorado as a big sewing and crafting area. Our big, wonderful fabric store, Colorado Fabrics, had just gone out of business in November 2019. Will the sewing resurgence continue and remain? I really don’t know, but there are people with great vision of how to market this satisfying creative outlet and I am so happy to find people like you on UA-cam. I get that I have a ridiculously expensive sewing machine, but I also know that I could be very happy with a machine that just runs well. I love that you showed your machine. It helps to see a sewing machine as less intimidating.
@@valeriespackman4102 Thank you for such a well considered reply! Yes, I believe one of services I offer viewers is to demystify some things. To break down concepts that look or feel complicated into more digestible form. And I absolutely believe in removing intimidation! I want people to see that it doesn't require a $3000 machine to still make great projects and enjoy the process. Certainly the quality and features on an expensive machine are undeniable.....but not having that doesn't mean you still can't participate in the sewing community and make things for your life and family. I love gorgeous designer fabrics like Ruby Star, but I also like people to know that shopping on sale at Joann is another avenue to enjoying the craft. I guess achieving balance is mostly what I want to help people find. Yeah, the lack of community and in person support for sewing and crafts is difficult and honestly, it has a lot to do with why I started sharing some things here and there on youtube. My neighbor is a younger woman and she is so in love with sewing and bought this machine a couple of weeks ago when hers went kaflooey. So there are people but mostly we are so isolated now and with work schedules and children and responsibilities it makes it hard. I might be missing something, but here it seems that groups are largely formed around boutique shops and participation requires heavy investment in the boutique shop. I learned that about knitting here in town and dropped out because I didn't want to knit garments or spend hundreds of dollars on yarn every month. Anyway. I love my online community and maybe someday I will have my beautiful airstream to travel around and visit places with active communities and meet other people who love these things like I do.
@@PattymacMakes keep it up! You have the perfect personality for doing these videos! I bet I’m not the only one that would live to come sew or just spend and afternoon with you!
I sew on the Singer Patchwork 7285Q also, I really love my machine. I brought it last year when I decided to sew a quilt for myself. Then I got the idea to make a quilt for my granddaughter for her high school graduation, she loved it!
What a wonderful reason to start quilting!! I love this little machine and have really enjoyed using it.
You have reassured me about the resilience of a computerized sewing machine! Singer gets criticized in general as do digital machines. Your experience as an instructor is most convincing. Though it does seem the Heavy Duty would be wiser for anything thicker than a quilt. I use a Brother LX3850 entry-level sewing and quilting machine. Purchased as a beginner sewist, bc it is mechanical with an extension table and a walking foot. I don't quilt but those are features make sewing so comfortable. Quilters just have the best machines: large working spaces and that throat space! Also, congrats on the quality of your video and you sure have a podcast-friendly voice. Thanks and cheers from Canada! 👍
Oh thank you so much!! While a little Singer machine has definite limitations, I have not paid more than $225 for my machines. So for a two hundred dollar machine, I think they are great!! As I do larger projects, I definitely wish for larger throat space. That is the main drawback to these, but for $200 one can only expect but so much. I haven't sewn anything in 3 months and when I sat down last week, I turned on the machine, ran a small scrap through and started sewing projects. No problems whatsoever. That's the main reason why I recommend the Patchwork to home sewists. It will do pretty much everything needed and it works really well. I do have my eye on a machine that's a pretty big upgrade in terms of size and throat space and I'm saving for it now. But I only want it to make quilting large projects more manageable. Thanks for a great comment!
My daughter bought me a Pfaff hobby 1132. I hadn't sewn in years, and my 82 year old Bernina 117 was too heavy and awkward to use. I loved it and had sewn all my clothes and the kids clothes as they grew up. I found a manual on line, but still quickly broke a needle, just as you described. So scared that I damaged something inside, but it seems to be chugging along. It's like driving a different car. Takes some time to get used to it, and takes some time to get used to sewing again. Thanks for talking about your experiences with your machines. Really interesting. I never knew about the needle down button till I saw a few people use it on UA-cam. I'm jealous.. lol. That would be the one thing I might like to have. This machine makes some decor stitches, but I haven't learned how to use them yet. Still trying to do the basics. Fun to have s new toy.
That sounds like a really fun machine! Yes this one is not too heavy for me to move around easily. It's a little over 15 pounds and I can manage that. It also is not too heavy for the table which is good. Definitely enjoy your new machine! I bet that old Bernina is like a tank.
I am so excited after watching this video. I inherited my Mom’s Phaff 360. My father purchased it for her when I was 3 years old and I am now 60. It is an all metal machine, work horse for sure. My Mom taught me to sew when I was 12 and I made many outfits during my high school years. I later in my 20’s bought a white because that is what was in my budget. I used it to make clothes for my children. I am very fortunate because when my Mom passed away I immediately took it to select sewing here in Indiana. They sell and repair every level of sewing machine. Babylock, Phaffls, brother and singer. I have noticed that the quilt stores here in Indy only sell Janome, Bernina and handi quilter. I was planning on saving for a new updated Phaff since I love my Moms machine so much and I still may do that but this sewing machine sounds like it would be perfect for machine appliqué not to mention the decorative stitches. I will follow up on your other videos about this machine. The quilters here on UA-cam seem to either use a Juki or a Bernina. The Juki only sees a straight stitch. Bernina machines seem expensive and you have to use a walking foot to sew through layers. My phaff as old as it is has a built in walking foot. Jenny Doan, Misty and Natalie with Missouri Star all sew on Babylocks. This can make the decision on what machine to purchase somewhat challenging. I will follow up on your other videos about how to choose a machine as well. Thank You for the info and your honest review. 💕😀
Thanks for your thoughtful comment Jenny! Well, as far as selecting a machine, I think you have done the mental gymnastics required on making that decision. 1. Does the machine do what I want? And 2. what's my budget? I love my little Patchwork and it's perfect for light sewing like quilt piecing and small housewares or bags. I do use a walking foot for the actual quilting part of my sewing, because otherwise I get puckers. I tend to keep that installed on my Heavy Duty machine so I'm not constantly fiddling with it. There are definitely limitations, especially when it comes to the actual quilting on larger projects with these machines, because the throat space is small and the machines are lightweight. The Berninas and Baby locks have much larger throat space and are heavier duty so are better equipped to do the actual quilting component of large quilt projects. I have a dream of owning a Babylock Sashiko machine because the stitch it creates is so beautiful. It only does that one stitch and it's designed for a specific look. I'm hoping to do well enough with my channel next year that I can save up and find a good deal on a used one to add to my sewing room. It's been a year so I should do my how to select a sewing machine video soon, especially as Christmas is approaching and people might be inclined to invest in something while everything is sale.
People are always asking me what is a good machine for them to buy. They usually have a little experience so this would be a good machine for them. It’s economical for them and can be purchased easily at a neighborhood Jo-Ann. Thanks for sharing. I have a Juki J-150 but it only does straight stitch but very fast. This Singer is a good basic machine for people to learn skills and figure out what types of projects they prefer to sew.
YES!! Exactly! It's perfect for a beginner, but it's also great for someone more intermediate. For an advanced person, they definitely would want the higher end machines. But for an everyday sewist or quilter it's a fun machine and you don't out grow it right away if ever. Being able to get easily at the store is such a bonus in my mind. Thanks for your input.
I learned to sew on a Singer a million years ago. I bought a Brother Innovis40 in 2008 because it was totally idiot proof and very user friendly, "plug & play" lol. I upgraded to a Brother NQ1300PRW which had a lot more throat space and some cool features, but waaaay more decorative stitches than I really needed. Branched into making quilts, bags, and home dec and had some difficulty with managing the bulk. The bag makers I took online classes from used a JUKI straight stitch; I purchased a JUKI TL2200QVP mini and love it! Easily sails over multiple layers of foam, fabric, and interfacing. I do quilt piecing and quilting on it too - my Free Motion Quilting never looked better and those "eyelashes" seem to be a thing of the past. Between the Brother 1300 and the JUKI, I pretty much used the JUKI on all my projects - I only set up the Brother to do the occasional zigzag when working on Knit items. I was truly suprised how much I could sew on that straight stitch machine alone. Although it is nice to have a "tiny but mighty" sewing machine that you can easily set up anywhere or take to classes - the Singer sounds like just the thing! And I agree about the Needle Up/Down feature - once you have it, it's really hard to do without!
Thanks for the great information Denise! I hear so many good things on those Juki machines! And never a bad word about them, which is pretty amazing. Thanks for such a thorough review of your setup. I''m sure this will be incredibly helpful to future viewers!
@@PattymacMakes Thanks! Complete disclosure - the automatice needle threader can be a little finicky and the walking foot can be challenging - but there are a lot of hacks and videos to get you through. The last thing is it's a bit pricey - but a good investment and worth it I think; it's all metal and should last a good long time! There's earlier models that are less expensive - mine came with a lot of extra feet, extension table, and a special SewStead table as part of the deluxe package I purchased from my local dealer. The latest model is the Haruka.
I bought one from JoAnnes in 2022. I love it . Mine came with a plastic bobbin. I am surprised.😮
I love this machine . I love that it can sew so fast. I don’t usethefoot pedal and love that feature . I have a JukiTl 2000 for my other bag making and free motion quilting. I can use this to take with me to sew with friends
I love this little machine! It's a great machine for portability and has so many things it can do! If I was using a metal bobbin it's because I put the wrong one in there. LOL
The Singer 7285Q is my go to machine, only wish it had auto scissor cutter! Take it with me when I am sewing at church. LOVE IT!!
Yes!! That is a downside!
@@PattymacMakes I do have a machine with that feature and I have to laugh at myself when I switch to the singer as my hand automatically goes to the area that the scissor button is on the other machine! Thank goodness there is not a button there for anything on the singer!!! LOL..
I have a Brother Simplicity. I LOVE this machine. I had had a Kenmore that I truly morned at it’s passing. But this one has so many improved features. The needle up and down is fabulous. I used the multiple stitch speeds more than I thought I would. And I am able to control where I stop stitching very easily.
Originally I said I didn’t want decorative stitches on my new machine, but I’m glad it has some, as I have used them more than I thought I would.
Also, within a week, I am taking delivery of a Singer featherweight!!! I am beyond excited. It was manufactured 28 days AFTER I was born. I joined a quilt group earlier this year, and am thrilled to be able to take it to that. I learned on my Moms featherweight. And have been using a friends at quilt group. Happy dance.
I only see quilt tops at this stage of the game. But it gives me so much joy!!
Thx Pattymac!
Meant to say that I bought my machine from a sewing/vacuum store that was going out of business, so got a good price. Originally was a $800+ machine, but I got it for $500 something. Their machines have a lot more metal inside, so should serve me well for a long time.
That's a great deal and congratulations on your new Featherweight!! That's amazing! I have heard great things about Brother machines so you should get tons of use out of it. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us!
I have a Singer 301A from the 1950's. A very cool sewing machine! Thanks for posting!
What a joy to have a vintage treasure like that!
My husband bought this same machine for me for Christmas. I love it! I’m new to quilting, finding it a little challenging, but loving it. I also would recommend this machine.
It does take a little practice to get the hang of it, for sure! Using charm packs to make 4 patches is a good place to start. And then look into half square triangle blocks. I do have lots of tutorials and information for people just starting on quilting. It should be helpful for you!
Hi Patty thanks for the video nice sewing machine I have been to JoAnn to look at Singer Patchwork it is a nice machine I do like now to make up my mind which machine I want or get my machine fixed..Thank you again for showing the machine.
It's such a nice sewing machine. I always enjoy sewing with it. I added a heavy duty machine last week, and while I do like it a lot, it is missing some of the bells and whistles on the Patchwork, so I'm grateful to have both.
my machine was a gift. my old machine died. this video has help me get aquainted with my new machine. thanks Ive been sewing since an old singer tredal machine .
I hope you enjoy your new Singer! I'm really enjoyed mine. I'm thinking about doing an updated video on my favorite features.
Your video was a blessing. I was having difficulty trying to get question answered on the down load . I refer back to to video often thanks again
@@pathersick9474 Oh I'm so happy to hear that Pat! I'm so happy it helped you. I would like to do a little more comprehensive look at the machine so I'll plan on doing that sooner than later.
I've this machine and here in the UK, the machine I had came with printed manual. Bought 2 years ago.....love it !!
Thank you so much for sharing Gill! You won the lottery getting a printed manual.
Hi Patty
I have a Singer 08/28 Which I have had since 1982. It a basic machine that I used to make simple clothes like A line shifts, and skirts as well as doing light mending. I stopped sewing when life got in the way. Since retiring, I have used my machine to make pillows out of my cross stitch pieces and mending. Never tried quilting but have been thinking about learning to quilt. Thanks for the info on this Singer Patchwork machine.
You should try the beginner blocks I am sharing! You will only know you like quilting if you try it. I completely love it which I never expected. I like making pillows out of my stitched pieces, too! You can make smaller projects. It doesn't have to only be enormous bed quilts. Placemats and napkins are so fun. And you can turn blocks into pillows and wall hangings.
Great tutorial I love this machine I sew crafts and especially Bowl Cozy’s and Quilts an blankets tee shirt’s blanket quilts , very nice thanks ! Dee
Thanks Dee! I love my machine so much!
Thank you ! Mine was chosen for me for my bday. So I appreciate you selling me on the machine I was given, ha! Super excited to have a needle threader too!
Happy Birthday!! I hope you enjoy it!! I absolutely LOVE mine.
Thanks! Will you service it yearly if sewing daily or semi-annually?
@@lisafuller2027 I don't have anyone here to service it, and I don't think it actually needs it. I do clean it thoroughly every couple of months but mostly I just sew. I don't use it every day, and sometimes I don't sew for weeks and weeks. So I'm not a heavy user. It's such an inexpensive machine, I would be happy to use it and get 5 years out of it to be honest. I hope that helps.
Funny I found this video today. I have a new Singer Patchwork. I was dismayed to find out that you don’t get a manual with your machine ☹️. I struggled with the quick start to wind the bobbin and thread the machine but I was finally successful. I chose this machine based on recommendation of JoAnn staff. Want it for clothing and home decor, quilting. And I wanted a machine with a self threading feature. As we age those needles get smaller and frustration gets greater!! The cost was right in the same ballpark.
I learned to sew on my mother’s machine. A kenmore from the early 50’s. It sews denim like a breeze and has made many heavy duty projects.
She even made seat covers for one of my dad’s cars and worked with heavy weight fabric redoing stuffed furniture! Still love using that machine. So simple to use.
And she still owns it. She’s 102!
Unfortunately, most manufacturers do not print books anymore. You can find your manual by looking up the machine on the Singer website and download it as a pdf. If you want a printed version, you can send the pdf to a fed EX store and they can print and bind if for you. But it's kind of expensive.
I do think it's a great little machine, and especially for the price! It does have some limitations, but for the price I think they are minor. I would not try sewing layers of denim on this little machine, because it's a light weight machine and not designed for a super heavy sewing. For small projects like blouses and pillows and quilt piecing it's great. If heavy duty sewing is important to you, I would suggest getting the vintage machine tuned up and use it. The actual quilting part of things can be done on the machine, but the throat space is small and it's really difficult to finish a large project. Smaller things like quilted bags or wall quilts or baby sized, even throw sized quilts aren't too bad. But once you get into anything bigger, it's a struggle to do them.
I love my patchwork and use for most sewing, but I am in the market for something bigger to do the actual quilting part of things.
First, I love dogs, too, and though I didn't know this machine used to have a dog stitch, I'm mad it's not there anymore! (That is my corgi Brecon in my profile photo). Second, this is the 4th machine of my life. Started on a 1930s Willcox & Gibbs chain-stitch only, no-bobbin machine which had been my grandmother's, moved onto a workhorse Kenmore in the late 1980s, somehow lost that one in a move I made at some point, bought a Singer Brilliance and wasn't in love with it (hate the bobbin placement underneath) and when I researched, this machine looked like the one for me. I'm newly retired and want to get more into quilting. I'm loving your videos!
Thank you!! I know!! That doggy stitch was the cutest. I can't believe they removed it. I have my mom's Kenmore, though it's a much newer model. More like 2008 or something and I bought a Brilliance in Lidl several years back. I don't use it at all anymore and I should probably try to sell it on Marketplace at this point. I definitely love my Singer machines but as I have gotten more interested in quilting, I find I need something with throat space. I quilted my last queen sized, flannel backed quilt on my heavy duty and just about tore the machine up. The machine itself can easily handle the stitching, but getting the bulk through that tiny throat caused the needle housing to get jostled. I like my Heavy Duty so I don't want to mess it up. I'm saving for a new Baby Lock and I think I can get it ordered in October and pay it off by November.
I have a Singer Simple 3337. It was a Christmas gift. Since the first time I used it, tension has been a problem. I have adjusted it every way I possibly can. The tension is never right. I’m interested in the Patchwork. Your video was very informative. Thank You.
Oh what a nightmare!! You might want to watch my video on what thread goes on which thread spool and see it that helps you at all. But yes, I love this little machine! It's on sale this week at Joann too!
I purchased the Heavy Duty to sew face masks when covid started. It was a nightmare getting it to sew a straight stitch, I think Amazon sold me a used machine as new. I saw your video on the Patchwork and got it. I love it, I mostly sew pj's for grandkids, masks & doll clothes. Thank you for recommending the Patchwork.
You know, I bought a Heavy Duty two summers ago and it didn't work either! I sent it back and got the patchwork instead. I did buy a heavy duty on sale at joann for black friday this past Christmas, and so far so good. I will use it for heavier projects and to do all my quilting work. And use patchwork for piecing and lighter projects. The combination is a good one. I'm really happy you like yours! I think it's a great machine.
Hi Patti, I got the Patchwork for my birthday a week ago, at Joann's, for about $250. It is a clone of the old Quantto Futura CE 200 Embroidery machine (mine is now defunct). They took out all of the embroidery hardware and software and re-engineered her into a quilting machine. So far she has sewed quilt square pieces very well. I love the easy access to the decorative stitches, and the wider variety of button hole stitches. I will hopefully be trying to do some actually quilting this weekend.
I sure do hope you enjoy it!! I've been using mine this week and I absolutely LOVE that machine!
I am an experienced sewer and started with a singer, it lasted many years but later i wanted a macine that did embrodering also and so I bought a Bernina and have been happy ever since. I have upgraded many times but I must say I was so happy with my first singer
Thanks for sharing that Rhory! I think it's an excellent beginner machine! And upgrading to something later when you get really specific about what you want is smart planning. I've always used Singers and Kenmore machines, and I've always enjoyed both. I hear great things about Bernina!
I own a Babylock Lyric....I have CP on my left side(so left side of my body doesn't work great) & this machine has all the bells & whistles....automatic threading, cuts thread, knee lift, quick set bobbin, automatic tension, large working surface...I also went with this one because of all the feet it comes & the large quilting extension table it came with. I love it. ANOTHER great video!
Thank you so much Chrissy! Babylock is my dream machine!! Someday I hope to get one. They look amazing. I'll have to go read up on the Lyric and follow it along.
I enjoyed your review of this machine. I started sewing in the 70’s as a teen and continued into the early 80’s. I started out with a Singer in a case. I finally had to let it go because my oldest kept playing with it and I couldn’t find anyone to repair it. A friend gave me her Kenmore which has problems with the bobbin tension. I bought another Singer in 11-12 off of a home shopping channel but was so busy on my job I never used it. I tried to teach myself to quilt but haven’t figured it out. It is hard to keep a 1/4 in seam. I started a project 5 years ago and gave up. I need a machine that has everything so I can concentrate on the quilt. I will consider this machine because the others I have looked at are very expensive. I’m also considering the IKEA table and will send my son to see if it will work for me (we are both 6’3”).
Oh my gosh, well you might really like this. A lot of people do not like that foot, but I honestly love it and with the markings it helps keep a consistent seam. It's so important to get the points and the look of the project right. I would also suggest working with smaller projects so you get the experience of making things all the way through. And you get experience making lots of block designs, not just one over and over and over for months. Unless the big project is a thing to make one or two blocks a month or a week over a year or so to complete the project. But have the satisfaction of finishing other items in the meantime. I bet if you put the table on casters to raise it up a few inches it would work for you. Please let me know how everything works out!
I just love your videos, Patty. Thanks for the time you put into them. 🙂
Thank you Rebeccah! I really appreciate that! I"m on a little break from the long videos, but I'm trying to share at least one short everyday. I'll be back though!
I've had this machine for many years. My husband got it for me from Joann's when I wanted to do some baby blankets/bibs. Now I've transitioned to quilting. I still love it, except that I would like to start doing some free motion quilting and I'm having a really hard time with the machine.
Yes, I love it for piecing and sewing, but I agree it's difficult to quilt on. Maybe smaller projects, but nothing bigger than a baby blanket. I'm looking into getting a Baby Lock Jazz 2 for the quilting part. You might want to look into them. The best price and throat space of anything out there. I'm hoping I can get one for my birthday this year. That's the plan anyway.
I have used a Janome Memory craft for about 7 years. It is an awesome machine. I needed my janome cleaned but I sew everyday and had no idea how long it would be out of service. So I looked around for a second “backup” machine. Every group I am in I hear get a Juki get a juki. So I jumped into the Juki cult and bought the 2010q. Best purchase ever. I have had it for 1 month. I will sew on it now for the majority and use my Janome for speciality stitches. For piecing and free motion it is the best I have used. I tested 10 layers of denim and it went thru like butter, perfect stitches. I can stitch in the ditch on a quilt sandwich without a walking foot and it is super FAST. I have done bags with cork, vinyl and heavy foam with no issues.
That's fantastic info on the Juki!! I've heard so many good things about them, and I think if the budget allows, it's a fabulous choice. I think Vanessa on Crafty Gemeni uses Juki and she sews a TON of stuff. Very fast as you say! I'm not that fast of a sewer so I'm ok taking my time. LOL I watch the Sew Sweetness channel and I'd love to try some of her bag projects, but I do think they would be way, way too much for my little Patchwork. It's not designed for that kind of materials. So I would like a Heavy Duty machine as a next purchase, and I hope I can do it before the year is up.
@@PattymacMakes if you want to make bags you ready need the heavy duty machine, and I think that is the point you were making. You need to decide what you want to make. I was saving and saving for a really expensive Viking but realized I would never use it to its true capacity. I am really happy with the Juki.
@@stacylarsen1795 Well, I make a variety of things, so I think a couple of machines are my best option. My channel shares easy, light duty projects. I enjoy making that type of thing and I'm building my channel on that type of content, so having an accessible machine to demo that type of project is important. But I also am interested in doing a little bag making as a personal venture. And the actual quilting part of quilt making would flow a bit better on a heavier duty machine. I'm more likely to stay in the Singer ecosystem, because it's more of what another hobby sewist would use. But I do hear wonderful things about Juki machines! Thanks for sharing Stacy!
Thank you for the thorough review. I am going to purchase this machine.
You're welcome Tawanda! I hope you enjoy using yours. I really do love mine.
I have a 90’s Singer which I used for many years and is a reliable machine. But I purchased a Juki 2010Q during the pandemic while I was waiting for my Singer to get tuned up… Love the Juki and it’s now my primary machine for piecework and free motion quilting, but it only does straight stitches. I still use my Singer for the decorative stitches and for my daughter to learn to quilt.
Yours looks like a great option if mine ever bites the dust.
Thanks for sharing about your machines Ellizabeth! So many people have great things to say about Juki. They must be great machines! I really like my little machine, and I hope to get many years of use out of it.
I have the Singer Patchwork. I think it does a great job. It’s my everyday machine and what I use for quilting patch work. For heavy sewing I pull out my old Sears Kenmore. It’s tougher than nails. I also have 3 other vintage Singers that make beautiful stitches.
That sounds like an incredible collection!! I'd like to get my Kenmore running again. It was a great machine before I developed that feed dog issue.
Loved this video! I got a patchwork about a month and a half ago and LOVE IT! I’ve been sewing on and off for a few years and decided to get more into it and decided to upgrade my machine. I was using a machine I had in high school, so it was about 10-12 years old. It was a standard mechanical singer with a front load bobbin that would constantly jam. It was driving me insane. No matter what I did to clean or fix it, it would always jam. The top load bobbin has been AMAZING! I can deal with the front loader but the top loader is the way to go! I also want to learn how to do very basic quilting so this would be perfect 😍
I love mine too!!! And yes, ditching the front loading bobbin and bobbin case feels great! I've been so happy with this machine. I will add that using the right presser foot for the project is super important. When I had the issue with the zipper bag I made, it was due to using the wrong presser foot and not the machine. Now I use the all purpose foot on those and it works beautifully. My only lament is I don't get to use it as often as I would like. It's just an awesome machine for quilting. I love the set up with the 1/4" foot and the markings on the throat to help guide the fabric. I'm not a perfect sewist, but the machine helps me to do the best job possible in that moment.
@@PattymacMakes I really want to try to 1/4 foot! Other than the I’ll purpose I’ve just used the darning an embroidery foot (which was really cool!) my first time embroidering! I put names on Christmas stockings freehand because I don’t have an embroidery machine. Challenging but I felt so accomplished! 😊 excited to work with it more
@@jdefioreart3530 That's amazing!!! I've played some with the darning foot, but not too much. You'll love the 1/4" foot!! I need to do a deep dive video on using the machine. It's been on my list for a while, but I haven't gotten around to making the video.
@@PattymacMakes I’d love to see you do some videos playing around with the darning foot 😊 I’m so happy I found your channel. Such a wealth of information!
I have 2 EverSewns one for Quilting and one for general sewing. They are good machines for the price. I also have a Brother I purchase at Walmart for $79.00 but I love that machine it can sew 5 layers of jeans fabric. I also have an EverSewns embroidery/sewing which I trying to learn how to use it. I purchase these EverSewn because of Missouri Star show a video on how to use them.
Oh interesting! I've never heard of that brand. I will search Jenny's channel to see the machine. What a great deal you got on that Brother!! WWOW!!!!
I have the Singer Patchwork, and love it! I bought it in 2021 because I was just getting into quilting. I was a total beginner, and wanted a machine that was easy to use, and affordable if I ended up not enjoying quilting. I love quilting, and I really love this machine too!
I'm really happy to hear this Christine! I absolutely love my little Patchwork!! It's been easy to use and I've made tons of projects using it. It's great for general sewing as well, so don't feel like you're limited to only quilt projects. I would not push it with denim or canvas, but other than that, I think it's great.
I have this machine and I think it is great also. I use it for quilting and fashion sewing. It is awesome.
Yes, I love this machine. I'm using it now on a new quilt top.
Well, I have been thinking about buying a new machine , after watching your video, you helped me pulled the trigger! Got the best deal though Singer web site. I am so excited! Can’t wait to get it. Love your channel and your opinion! Just retired and just getting started in patchwork and quilting.
Oh my gosh Nana!! I'm so excited for you!! Please do stay in touch and let us know how it's going for you.
Thank you for this! I've never sewn before, and this was really helpful.
You're welcome Colleen! This is a great over all basic sewing machine. You can try out all sorts of projects and it will have what you need to try them all. It's well priced and well made, so if you take care of it, you will have a machine to last you for years.
I love my singer 201-2. It is a workhorse. I do have to put a drop or two of sewing oil in the bobbin case every once in a while which is not too bad. The other parts of the machine that need to be oiled I just do it every six months or so. I like to take my Featherweight to sewing retreats because of the weight and size of it..
These newer electronic machines just take a drop of oil in the bobbin case a couple of times a year, so the maintenance is super easy. I would like to open the upper housing and dust it at the least, but no info exists on doing that. I"m going to see if I can figure out how to open it and just brush the lint out because I'm sure there is plenty in there!
I purchased this same machine directly from Singer and my total cost was $237.50, free shipping.
I have had it for about 5 to 6 weeks and I love it.
Thanks for sharing that Marian! Great deal!
I have the Patchwork and love it. I bought it mainly for the variety of feet it came with. I’ve sewn knits for my granddaughter and made quilts. Great machine and easy to clean!
Thanks Christine! I love this little machine!
I bought mine @Black Fr sale @Joann. In 2018 ! I worked there, it was on sale and used discount. Best deal ever! Came in handy last year for scrub caps and masks. My cousin has one ,also , just for quilting. Neither one of us regret it!
@@annettegraff8323 It's such a great machine! When I worked in the education lab and saw our store had a fleet of these machines it really caught my attention. And then using it in the store was such a great experience I knew it was the one for me!
I have a Brother Project Runway machine. I really enjoy sewing with it. The majority of my sewing are garments. Sometimes I make things for the home. I have made tablecloths, curtains and scarfs for furniture. I enjoy your videos.
Thank you so much Vanessa! I appreciate you watching very much! I make mostly home projects so I do hope you see some things you will enjoy making.
Great video, Patty.
I almost fell off my chair when I saw you had a metal bobbin in your machine. I have the same machine and the 4 bobbins included with the machine we're clear plastic. I've been buying the 15j bobbins for 2 years and they are always plastic. Granted, I purchased my machine a year prior to your purchase, but I am flabbergasted that you are able to use metal bobbins. I have always preferred metal to plastic, but thought they would not work in my machine. This is in no way a judgement against you. I am just amazed that it works. Keep your videos coming. You have made me an Ikea convert. Be well.
Now that you've said something it will probably start giving me trouble! LOL. My Brilliance uses the metal bobbin and I just dropped it in this machine, because I didn't feel like winding another bobbin, and I was short on the plastic ones. So far it's been fine. I know you aren't supposed to use 15 and 15J interchangeably, but so far so good. You might want to try it if you have some around.
I tried to help a friend with her Patchwork machine yesterday. We couldn't figure out how to back stitch/reverse stitch at the beginning and end of a seam. I have a Bernina 440QE and the Patchwork is so much different. The fact that the Patchwork doesn't come with a full-page paper users manual probably contributed to our inability to find this information easily.
I understand the frustration! But as I understand it, nobody is printing manuals anymore. It's just way to expensive. But don't despair! They are easily available online. Singer has manuals associated with all of its machines on the page with the product, so look for the patchwork on the singer website you'll find the manual. You can always send that pdf to a fed ex store and have it printed and bound. As far as back stitching, the button on the "neck" of the machine with a little lock next to it is the back stitch button. I hope that helps!! I love my little Patchwork and have used it for years without issues.
@@PattymacMakes thank you. My friend called me this morning saying she had found the button right where you just said it would be. I saw it yesterday and based on its location I assumed it might have something to do with the threading of the machine. I believe that button on my Bernina is located closer to the needle, thus my confusion. I do think my friend and her daughter plan to copy the online manual for personal use. Trying to find and read information on these tiny cell phones is just not ideal in a pinch.
A dog and cat stitch sounds great😊. I was sewing on a kenmore years and years ago (stretch and sew days🤣)… well, I pulled the material a little too much, the needle broke off, and had I not been wearing my glasses it would have gone straight into the center of my eye😳. It struck so hard it chipped my glasses and SCARED ME TO DEATH!!! Hard way to learn a lesson🙁. Love your videos! Oh by the way, I have a babylock brilliant which I like (mostly) and also a heavy duty singer that I repair my granddaughters horse blankets on👍
What a scary story! Thank goodness for glasses! Breaking a needle is no joke, so it's worth being extra cautious. I've looked at that Babylock and think it's a beautiful machine. Maybe someday!
Sharon me to! I loved my Kenmore, I have no idea what happened to it though? I still have the sewing table. And I still have Stretch and Sew Patterns! Scary experience for you! Good thing you had on glasses.
Thank you for your overview of your machine.
You're welcome and thanks for watching!
Yes Patty, I enjoyed your presentation! Thanks
Thanks Agnes! I love this little machine.
I have a Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist, which is maybe one step above the Patchwork, but I think they are very similar machines with most of the same features. I bought it about 6 or 7 years ago and it's a fantastic machine, and has all the features a beginner would want, and more. Unfortunately, my machine developed a bit of a hiccup, where if you pushed the thread cutter button, the machine went in reverse instead of cutting the thread, or maybe if you pressed the needle up/down button, the thread cutter operated, etc. I believe there's a problem with the computer board, but rather than getting it fixed, I decided to live with it, and I upgrated to a Juki for most of my piecing and quilting. However, I still have the Singer, and I won't get rid of it because it's an amazing machine for the cost. It still sews decorative stitches beautifully and the wonky buttons sometimes work okay, and maybe one day I'll get it fixed. Singers are great machines for the price.
I've looked at that Quantum machine! It looks like a great one. Unfortunately when there's a bug like that, it's pretty hard to fix, and now with the chip shortages I think it would be highly unlikely you would be able to get that repaired. For the cost of repair, you could pretty much buy a new one. Which is how I wound up with my Patchwork. That is the downside to electronic machines. Glad to hear you can still get some use out of it though!
Pattymac, I so enjoy your videos and this one explaining the virtues of this machine is great, however you have a metal bobbin in it and 15j bobbins are plastic to not cause groves in the plastic drop in bobbin case.
Thanks Brett!! Yeah, I pulled that bobbin from my Brilliance to use up the thread. I'm not technically a perfect sewist, and you caught me in the act! LOL I wound a new bobbin and have the proper one in there now.
Thank you for this video. I appreciate the tips.
Thank you for watching!
Hi Patty. What a wonderful video! I learned on a Singer and owned one for many, many years without any issues. Then about 25 years ago I was told the Bernina was the very best machine so I saved and saved and bought one; the worst machine ever in my opinion. It never sewed properly and it was in the repair shop from the get go. I struggled with its terrible stitching for 20 years or so and then the feed dogs broke. After some research, I purchased a Baby Lock about 6 years ago and it is wonderful. However, in retrospect, I would go back to a Singer for both longevity as well as price. Blessings, Linda
Thanks for sharing your story Linda! Oh I could never deal with something temperamental like that. And especially not for 20 years. You are far more patient than I am. I hear such good things about Babylock and it's my pie in the sky dream machine, but for now I love this little Patchwork. It does what I need when I need it and that's the main thing for me.
@@PattymacMakes my Baby Lock is on the lower level, I think one up from the lowest one. But In retrospect, I would absolutely go for the Singer Patchwork, both for value and function. Mine works great, but I’m concerned about longevity; only time will tell on that. Have a great Sunday and I hope you and your mom are doing well. Yes, I agree, the Bernina was such a frustrating experience and it still sits in the closet because of the pressure foot issue and being too old for them to repair. Nothing good on that end. Blessings, Linda
I have a Singer Simple. I bought it last March. During the pandemic I wanted to learn to make masks. I have never touched a sewing machine in my life so at first trying to sew a mask was really frustrating. But I stuck with it. Now after doing a few projects I’m finding that it really bogs down if I’m doing something with batting or anything other than a couple layers. I’ve never tried a zipper. Although I’ve purchased lots (it’s the supply collection that I’m REALLY good at). 🙈. Anyway I’m kind of in the market for something else. I’d love a machine that has an auto thread cut feature. That’s my story. Thank you for the awesome videos! ♥️🐶
Oh yeah, they are not heavy duty. I have no problem on this one sewing through two or three layers of fabric and some batting. But I also had trouble with masks. They are so thick and they were so hard on my other machine, the Brilliance, so I stopped making them after that first little batch I did. I never tried making them on the Patchwork. I quit wearing them almost a year ago now (except for going to the doctor's office because it's still required and I have to get my mother through doctor visits. I just wear and rewear the paper surgical ones for that). I think the machine next in line to the Patchwork has thread cutting but I would have to double check. That one I've never seen in Joann here so I think it has to be ordered.
Hi Patty! I enjoy your videos and I enjoy my Patchwork Singer also, very much!!! I have had no problems with it either. On your next videos can you show us where do we drop the feeddogs and more on how to use the different embroidery stitches? It’s one thing to read about them but it’s much better to see them demonstrated. 😊
I could do that! The feed dogs don't drop. You put that little plastic cover over them and install the darning or embroidery foot is you are interested in free motion quilting. But I could do some demos on that!
I just found your channel. I started with a Brilliance and I just bought the Patchwork! I thought it was a decent upgrade. Let's hope!
I did the same thing, and I think the Patchwork is a huge upgrade! The Brilliance is a nice machine, but the Patchwork is solid.
@@PattymacMakes Ill be watching all your videos!
I sew on a Bernina Aurora 440 QE with a LARGE extension table. I love it BUT it is not practical to transport to classes or quilting groups with the extension table so I was in the market for a lighter weight smaller machine..... I bought this machine in hopes it will be 'the one' to take and use for these situations. I had also looked at the Brother CP100X which looked comparable but it wasn't available!!! Hence....I got this one!! Glad to hear you love yours!!!
Oh gosh!! I think it's perfect for travel!! I only quilt smaller projects on it, but it's done all the piecing for me from small pillows to huge bed sized quilt tops. I love the machine. It can sit for months unused and sew perfectly the first seam through.
Good to hear! Thank you.
@@chamerlin10 I would love to hear back from you once you've had a chance to use it on a retreat!
@@PattymacMakes I'll be using it for our church group of quilter's mostly!! (and possibly some classes)
@@chamerlin10 I think you'll be very happy with it!!
Thanks Patty! You're a Hoot! I bought the Patchwork on your great recommendation today. I'll let you know how the quilting goes. I've had a Brilliance for forever and had trouble with thread breaking all the time - just started quilting and wanted to try a heavier machine with specificity for quilting.
The Patchwork is a great step up from Brilliance but since it's almost the same machine, the switch is not a big change to absorb. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine!! Having this machine immediately improved my quilting. I'm far from perfect, but I noticed my projects looking 100% better, and they are a lot easier to make with the guideposts for 1/4" seams. Enjoy!!
You are a great teacher, thanks for sharing
Thank you Glenda! I appreciate you watching!
Hi Patty I also use a singer patchwork and I absolutely love it!! I got mine last year from Joannes I guess I was lucky they had one in the store…… The only issue I have with my patchwork is it doesn’t seem to wind the bobbin’s as nicely as I would like sometimes the thread is very loopy on the Bobbin…… if you have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it…… thank you so much for your wonderful videos
Thanks for sharing Cindy!! Gosh, I haven't had the same issue. I can do a quick bobbin winding video and see if it helps. Our Joann was completely out of machines until the end of the year, and I had already ordered direct from Singer by then. I love the machine and I am so happy I invested in it. My next door neighbor went and got one a couple of weeks ago, and loves hers too!
I have the same problem with the bobbin winder on my patchwork.
Patty a Bobbin wind for the patchwork I think would be really helpful I’m pretty sure I’m doing it right but still having problems
I also have a patchwork for piecing quilts. I also just got a featherweight to take to classes. I love my patchwork have made many rag quilts on it also.
Thanks for sharing that with us Sheila!
I looked at machines in Joann summer 2019. At the time they only had very basic cheap Singer. Which is a good machine. My daughter actually bought 6 months later. I went to a sewing machine store and decided on a Brother PS300T. It has decorative stitches including letters. The price under $300. I have loved it so far! I also wish for a cat stitch.
Thanks for sharing that tip Regina! It's really hard to find a good, inexpensive machine and that's such a great piece of advice. I do hear wonderful things about Brother machines.
Thank you for suggesting the Singer Heavy Duty for sewing thick layers like denim 👍vs the Patchwork that is great for quilting projects.
You're welcome! I have since gotten myself a heavy duty and it's fantastic for thicker projects. It lacks the needle down feature which is a disappointment, but I love the sewing machine and use it for the heavier stuff.
I had a viking husqvarna that I hadn't used in years. Decided to get back into sewing again and literally had to clean the dust off of it! Later after searching, I decided to go back to Singer and got my quantum stylist. I love it for all the attachments it came with. I sew for my grandkids and quilt and I don't have any problems. I don't think I will ever use all of the special stitches, but they are there. I do make my own labels tho!😊
I have my eye on the Quantum! When I'm ready to update from the Patchwork, I think that would be the way I would go. But I hope I can get a Sashiko machine from Baby Lock in the meantime for the beautiful quilting stitches it does. I have my eye on it for sure! I'm very happy with my Singer machines and my only problem is I don't have enough time for actual sewing.
Hi, Patty. Very helpful review. I appreciate that you give your why's, likes and dislikes of the machine. My main machine is a 48 yr.old Kenmore. I swear there is not a plastic piece in that machine! Certainly doesn't have the bells and whistles that newer machines have. But, not, it is a functional WORKHORSE and is fine if you just make basic items. Recently Inherited a 10-year-old basic Singer. I'd call it a crafter's machine because the parts are mostly all plastic. I think if something breaks on it, it's probably not reparable. For now, it meets my needs for crafting (masks, items the the grandkids, journal making and the like). I have contemplated splurging for a nicer model, but I'm an infrequent sewist so I'm really thinking of doing a cleaning/maintenance on the Kenmore. It's been a wonderful machine and would hold up if I did a bag in something heavier in denim or duck. TFS. From Cheryl in AZ
Oh yeah, those Kenmore machines are great! I would like to find someone to fix mine. I think it's a belt issue with the feed dogs. I'm tempted to get it back out and look at it again. As you say, not fancy but solid. I think the frame on the Patchwork is metal but it's certainly a plastic body and extension table. But I'm ok about that. I mostly sew and share crafts so it's perfect for me and most casual crafters and sewists. I like to work on the same thing that most of my viewers are using or that people are more familiar with. If I get 5 years out of it, then that's $200 well spent. Thanks for weighing in! I am seriously contemplating that Heavy Duty machine before the end of the year so we'll see where I am December 28th.
@@PattymacMakes Thanks for taking us with you on this journey, Patty. I'm all for learning from others' experience. I can, see, though why you like your new Singer. Too bad it's not a bit more sophisticated for you to download images, such as a dog or cat. Maybe one of these days... Take care. Have a good week. (Cataract surgery is on my agenda. 🤓)
@@rochestermanagementservice6082 Oh yes!! If I had a fancier machine I guess I could download stuff.. but they are so expensive I'm not sure I could justify that kind of spending on a sewing machine. Good luck with the surgery. I took mom for hers and she did well. So far my eyes look pretty clear so I hope to avoid it for a LONG time.
Hi, Miss Patty! I have discovered your channel a few weeks ago. I so enjoy your videos, the simplicity, projects and tips. I had an Elnita 1200, that machine and I were one. I now have a Bernina 330 which is just as great as the Elnita. I use it on blue jeans to clothes and quilts (mostly quilts). Thank you so much for your honesty.
Thank you Sara! I appreciate your kind comment and your suggestions on the sewing machine. People read comments and it's so helpful when other people can read about other options for their own sewing machine purchase.
I just bought the patchwork!! Just setting up.
I absolutely LOVE mine!!
I bought a Brother ST371HD the first part of the year. I wanted a heavy duty machine. I also have a Janome, but it is a lighter duty machine, and wasn't able to sew quilted straps onto a quilted bag. I also have my mom's old Singer (1960s vintage), but it needs some major repair work, as it got dropped about 2 feet off our coffee table.
As for what types of projects I prefer to sew, I go back and forth between sewing clothes and quilt tops. I'm currently working on a lap quilt for my oldest daughter. She moved out of state for a job, and I found remnants of fabric from my mother-in-law making all of my father-in-law's shirts. The remnants are all in beige background and blue background, with airplanes or transportation on them. I am making a block pattern using strips from the remnants. It's her Christmas present.
What a wonderful thoughtful gift! I bet it's absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing about your machines and I hope you can find someone to fix the Singer!
I chose the Singer Heavy Duty 4423 for my very first machine
because it was an uncomplicated mechanical machine that was suppoesed to be able to handle bulky thicknesses. I figured that if it cost a couple hundred dollars without a bunch of fancy features, then I must be paying for the quailty of the machine itself. I have had it for a year and a half and I have never regretted my decision. It does zippers like a breeze and has withstood a complete sewing machine newb with all my crazy trials and errors!
I've only heard good reports from people using those. You know I think I had on the wrong presser foot, so I'm going to try it again soon. But I'd still like that Heavy Duty to do some of the other things that are a little too heavy for Patchwork.
I have the same machine but it is my 2nd sewing machine. My previous machine no longer functions.
@@sewcraftymarigold5556 Yeah I have been concerned about my $99 Brilliance not holding together, but so far so good! Still I didn't think that having a sewing and quilting channel was good to rely on a $99 machine from a grocery store! LOL
Hi Patty love the video. I have a Singer 1120 and always a stitch/tension problem. My machine is very old. So I bought a Janome 8100. 😞 not happy with it. My wish is for a JUKI. Oh well. Thanks for the demo.
Thanks Paula! Other people are talking about Juki and how much they love them. So disappointing to not enjoy your machine!
My machine is a Singer quantum 9960 that I bought around last year just after Thanksgiving on a sale through Amazon.
I am in LOVE!! I follow Roxanne Stitches on utube and she has an AMAZING video series on this machine which helped me tremendously.
I also have a Sears Kenmore model 1931 zig zag machine. My Kenmore is one i will keep always.. but the 9960 is such a great machine!
Patty, you had mentioned sewing on heavy fabrics.. i have been given 2 very large pieces of fabric that i want to make Christmas tree skirts and stockings with.. its almost like upholstery fabric.. super heavy, sooo you would not do that on your patchwork? I may pull out my Kenmore for that project... not sure.
P.S. i so look forward to your videos 💕😊👏👏
I've looked at that machine! I'm really torn on what I would select for an upgrade if I'm able to invest in something at the end of the year. So I'm really putting in some thought on the matter now. No way would I attempt upholstery fabric on my my machine. A friend wanted me to hem something on a piece that needed small repair, and my presser foot would not even lift high enough to manage the folded ends much less have the ooomph to sew through all of that. I know my limits! LOL!!! I would try canvas, but only in terms of a simple seam and not layers of canvas as in a hem. But that's me. I would rather be cautious with the machine than force something and do damage. Thanks for watching!! I do so appreciate it!
I currently sew on a Kenmore sewing machine that I bought in 1982, it has been a great machine over the years but it is time to upgrade. It can be overwhelming trying to choose the best machine without breaking the bank. I sew craft projects, the odd garment repair and am just getting interested in quilting. I am looking forward to your thoughts on the different machines on the market today.
Oh wow Teresa! Yes you should definitely investigate the new machines and see what you like! I only talk about items I own and use, so I can't speak about other brands and models. For me personally, I'm in between the computerized Heavy Duty machine and the Quantum Stylist as an upgraded machine. But the Quantum is designed for more quilting applications and I prefer the color of the body. It comes with a ton of feet and it looks like a great machine. I would recommend you browse the comments here, because people have shared really good information on what they use. I would make a list of what they are recommending and then spend some time looking at those machines online to see what has the features you desire and fits your budget. I"m sorry I can't provide you any more assistance on the matter, but I'm not a machine review channel but a creative lifestyle channel with emphasis on easy quilting and sewing. I personally love my Patchwork machine and I recommend that to everyone. But if you have the budget you might want to look into the Quantum! I'm sorry I can be more of a help on your question. Good Luck!
Thanks Patty! I appreciate your opinion on the machine you recommend.
I don't recall entering a contest?
I want to get a Patchwork and hope to find one on sale sometime soon. I saw some on eBay but l’m leery of buying a machine that l don’t if it was abused in it’s former home. The only “fancy” stitch on either of my present machines is the zigzag on the Elna, which works fine, but the satin stitch doesn’t, which means l can’t do buttonholes either. I’m thinking it would probably do them ok if l had the nerve to touch the tension adjustment (which I don’t!). I really enjoy your UA-cam shows.
Thanks Marie! I appreciate you watching. Gosh, I would not buy my machine second hand on ebay either. Really, buying directly from Singer or in your own Joann store is the best way to go. It's worth taking an extra couple of months to save the money and buy it new on sale.
The Singer website had a pretty good price on it right now
I have this machine too, along with 2 Babylock machines. My first 3 quilts were pieced and quilted on this machine.
Thanks for sharing that, Chris! I dream of having a Babylock someday! Patchwork is a great little machine and I love using it.
I had a Singer Quantum, I worked at Joanns, during a employee sale, I bought the Patchwork because of the price, @150. Loved it until she decided she was going on strike. Have not taken in for repair yet. Got a Janome MC6600P for $500, love it but I miss my Patchwork. H opefully to repair shop soon.
What a great price!! Honestly Deb, for the cost of repair, you might want to just buy a new one. That's why I got the Patchwork. They wanted $100 just to look at my Kenmore and do a tuneup, not fix anything. And any repair was only guaranteed for 30 days. So I could have spent the same thing on an older machine with no guarantee or buy the new one for the same price. So I got the Patchwork. And with the chip shortage, I would suggest buying something sooner than later if you like an electronic machine. Just my personal advice from one neighbor to another.
Found this video and love how its not overly advanced but yet perfect for a beginner like me!!I have a singer simple 2263 and use it a lot it was a Christmas gift from my fiance 5 yrs ago and ready to upgrade to a bit better one..have had my eye on the singer infinity and the patchwork
As you know, I love this one!!
Thank you very much for this review. It's just what I was looking for 👍🤩 I did notice something unusual though: you put a metal bobbin in the machine. I was under the impression that only class 15j plastic bobbins were to be used in drop in bobbin machines 🤷♀️
I love this little machine and still use it as my primary sewing machine. You should actually use the 15J as that is the correct bobbin. I was just trying to get the video made and didn't realize I didn't have a bobbin ready and grabbed one from another machine to use in the demo. Amazingly, it still sewed great!
@@PattymacMakes thank you for clearing that up. It's going to be a present to myself for my 60th birthday 🎉🎊🎉
Hi Patty! Great video! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Looks like a very nice sewing machine and you got a great deal. I have a 1/4 inch presser foot & totally love it too. I made some bowl cozies and the food was awesome doing the 1/4 inch stitch all the way around. I have 2 brother machines that I am quite pleased with. One is a project runway that I use at home. It has needle up & down and option to use foot pedal or not. I take my manual one on vacation with me. I didn’t want a portable sewing machine as they just seem cheap to me. It is still light weight and sews very nicely. I was really tickled pink when I found my side cutter presser foot fit on it also and worked like a charm . So I keep it on my manual at home and use it as a serger then when I travel I put the side cutter food in my accessory box and I still have a way to finish off my seams. Currently I’m not in Chesapeake but down in Florida for an extended time. I have everything in my temporary sewing room but need to set it up. Happy Sewing & Quilting to all!
Oh well hello to you in Sunny FLORIDA Victoria!! I'm glad to hear you arrived and are getting set up! Today finally feels like fall, so I guess our beautiful late summer is coming to an end. As far as machines go, the right machine is the one YOU like best! The one that does what you want and need it to do. That's all that matters! Happy, sunny sewing. Have fun with those precious babies!
Hi Pattymac, I sew on a Janome straight stitch HD 9 which I love and I do have a Janome Skyline 5 that I’m not 100% happy with. I’ve had the HD 9 for about 3 years (the Skyline for 5), if I could go back and buy all over again (which I can’t bc they were so expensive) I would buy the Janome Memory Craft 6650 bc it’s a heavy duty machine and a quilting machine all in one WITH decorative stitches. No one at my dealership said anything about the memory craft series to me at the time. 😠
I to love decorative stitches. When I first started sewing, I sewed handbags only and the Skyline couldn’t handle it. I needed a heavy duty machine so a couple years later I bought the HD 9 but now that I pretty much only do patchwork and quilting (small bags from time to time) I only use the HD 9 and I miss not having an option to use a decorative stitch. My dream machine is (as many others dream machine) to have a Bernina. However, I’m so thankful for what I do have ❤️. These machines have been such a blessing to me 💕
Thanks for sharing your experiences!! Yeah, they like to push the expensive stuff, and certainly some people DO want and use those higher end features, but for the regular user it's generally over spending on a machine. Sewing as a profession is a different level of sewing. Even though I make videos about sewing and quilting, I'm not sewing 8 hours a day like a professional seamstress. It's very different. I don't think I would do the back packs and really complicated bag projects, but I love sewing light weight bags for sure! Even those with interfacing and batting or a heavier stabilizer are a challenge for my lighter weight machines. Berninas are the dream machines for sure!! Like the Pottery Barn styled Airstream trailer I dream about. LOL Right now I'm thinking the the Singer heavy weight line is my best bet.
Hi Pattymac! I'm coming to you from Canada. :) I'm quite a newbie when it comes to sewing and I have been borrowing my neighbour's Singer Stylist 7258 to learn. I've made a fleece blanket, hemmed a dress, altered a tee-shirt and made several heat/cool pads for my family. I came across a really good sale for the Singer 7285Q Patchwork machine and researched it by watching your awesome video. My question is if I really have no intention of making quilts, is this still a good sewing machine for me? Thank you so much!!! Laura Kelso
Oh yes!!! For sure!! I sew all sorts of things on mine. Even though it's great for quilt piecing, you'll come to love the sewing surface of the extension table. If you think you want to sew things more heavy weight like canvas and bags etc, you might want to consider a Heavy Duty machine. I have both, and honestly, it's a winning combination!!!
i justgot this machine and i love your table as much tyty
I'm so excited for you!! I hope you enjoy yours as much as I love mine!