SINGER | Confidence 7469Q Computerized & Quilting Sewing Machine with Built-In Needle Threader, 98 Built-In Stitches - Sewing Made Easy, White

I was somewhat wary when buying this, my first modern sewing machine, after reading such highly polarized online reviews. I checked several sites, and everywhere the same: some people really love it and some people really hate it. It would seem that quality control is perhaps not what it should be, because some reviewers seem to just end up with lemons. But I couldn't resist giving it a try at the incredible savings being offered (I bought at $188 on a Black Friday Lightening Deal, but even the regular Amazon price of $245 is a great deal for this little powerhouse of a machine; I've seen it retail for $400+!).For this reason, I was sure to use mine more than just a couple of times during the first 60 days. I love it! It is powerful, thoughtfully designed, and so far for me 100% reliable. Great features, easy to wind and thread, easy to select different stitches, and lots of pre-programmed decorative stitches too. I also found that the electronically controlled foot pedal is very responsive. As a paraplegic, I have to use the foot pedal with my hand, while still trying to hold and guide the fabric. This is inherently awkward, needless to say, yet I nonetheless found it very easy to control the machine's speed.The auto needle-threader is wonderful! Even more so for my mother, the more accomplished sewer who helped me set my new machine up and put it through its paces. At 70, her eyesight is almost inadequate to hand-thread the needles on her 35-year-old machine.The only qualifications I will add to my review are 1) that this is a quilting machine, and I haven't tried to quilt with it yet. So, I can't speak to its usefulness in that regard. But I can say that I have used it mainly to do patching and repair work, and it has so far shown no signs of balking even at multiple thicknesses of some heavy-duty fabrics. 2) The many reviewers who complain that the built-in light is not bright enough are correct. But that is an easy problem to fix at home by using a table lamp set up at the right angle. And 3) I have not yet attempted to set up the multi-needle function, so I can't speak to how well that works, either.Oh, and I bought the "SINGER 611.BR Universal Hard Carrying Case for Most Free-Arm Sewing Machines" along with mine, also from here on Amazon. Fits my machine like a glove! I would definitely recommend getting one for your machine.

I learned how to in high school but really didn't get back into it until just this last year. I had purchased a hand-me-down machine from a friend which turned out to be a nightmare. After the last six months of sheer and utter frustration, I decided that the old machine absolutely had to go. My mother-in-law recommended this machine, which she's owned for several years now, and I decided the price was too good to pass up. I'd been wanting to quilt but knew my old machine would never be able to handle it.Initial thoughts:The amount of pressure feet that came with this machine was absolutely fabulous. I have everything I need to start quilting right out of the box.The instruction book, although informative about basic stuff and the stitches that are pre-programmed into the machine, does a poor job of discussing or even illustrate some of the pressure feet included. I had to go onto Singer's website to find out how to put the walking foot on. Perhaps I'm still too new to sewing, I don't know, but I figured that since this was a quilting machine the manual'd at least have directions on how to put the quilting feet on. A minor annoyance, at best, though.The thread tension setting is sometimes a bit tricky but, again, I'm still somewhat of a novice so I don't think it's really all that big of a deal. I've had to rip a few seams but not many.The drop in bobbin is really great and I like that I can see how much thread remains on it while I'm sewing. This has saved me a couple of times already.The needle threader is great and I have no problems with it at all. I'm not sure what other reviewers are complaining about.The extension table is nice because I don't have a drop in table yet (although I have one on order so I may not need to use this feature much longer).I've already made one quilt - a small lap quilt for my seven year old - and I am really amazed at how well this machine works. Granted, after owning a nightmare of a sewing machine before, this Singer makes me feel like I could sew anything. I'm already working on my second quilt and have purchased material for two more. Needless to say, I really enjoy working with this model and I hope to get many years of service out of it.

I waited to write this until I finished my first quilt. I’m very happy with my new sewing machine. The inclusion of the walking and darning feet makes this a good value. They are $50 when bought separately. After reading the reviews, I bought the purchase protection plan, and at one point I thought I had broken the machine, but I was able to go online and find videos of how to troubleshoot it. The problem turned out to be very simple and all my fault. ( wrong size bobbin!) It sews like a dream. I had no trouble getting started with it by using the QuickStart guide. Easy to thread. I thought the needle threader was easy to use and it really is wonderful not to have to kill my eyes threading the needle. It came with a dvd, but I no longer own a DVD player and it wouldn’t play on my computer. I didn’t need the videos until I started the actual quilting part, and then I just went to youtube and the singer website and watched the videos there to learn how to use the walking foot. I did a lot of research before buying this, but all the reviews are overwhelming, so I finally just asked my mom, who is an amazing seamstress. She recently bought a high end Husqvarna, but she told me that if she had it to do over again, she would buy a midrange singer. She taught me to sew on her 1961 Singer, so I am not a beginner, but I haven’t sewn in years. I have a Brother that I hate because I could never figure out that side load bobbin thing so I decided to get a new machine now that I have decided to start quilting again. I look forward to many great years of sewing on this machine.