( 26 reviews )
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Posted: Aug 9 2009
As a beginning sewer, I've only had the machine three weeks but I've taken 3 classes at Joann's Crafts and have 4 more lined up. Although one can learn a lot by simply using the machine, it's amazing the tips you can learn from experienced instructors and sewers. TAKE CLASSES ~ anywhere ~ if new! Most problems I've had have been due to the most common errors beginners make: misthreading either bobbin or machine. For instance: when done sewing, my teacher taught me to pull threads straight back to cut, b/c if pulled to side the bobbin thread slips out of second groove and messes up next seams. I kept wondering why it worked on a few seams and then goobered up the bottom and had to be ripped out and rethreaded! Now I rarely have that problem. I love the automatic threading feature of the 7442 for those over-40 eyes but miss the Drop & Sew bobbin feature my grandmother had ("Drop In" bobbin is NOT the same thing, very misleading). The new machine is much easier to thread than hers ~ which is good since you have to do it every time you wind a bobbin or change thread colors. (My inherited machine from grandmother was stuck on straight stitches only and used VERY infrequently for minor repairs too big to be done by hand) Although I originally had my heart set on an entry-level Brother embroidery machine, after talking with a number of experienced sewers and reading the three pages in that on-line manual referring to how to set and adjust tensions, I decided to get a beginner machine with automatic tension. I've not been disappointed there since the 7442 has gone from two to thru 10 (yes, ten) layers of denim without hesitating or growling. I am learning tote/purse making and quilting so am working with multiple layers of material, batting and fusible fleece. The foot lever only holds in the first position and does not go high enough for some of the topstitching I've wanted to do. When the foot lever has to be held up with right hand while trying to work thick materials under the needle with the left, it's very difficult for a right-hander. Thirty stitches should have been enough but I find I am doing a lot of decorative finishes and topstitching so in hindsight I should have looked into more stitches. So yes, it's a great entry level, beginner, basic or back-up machine but I may be one of those unfortunate enough to out-grow it quickly.
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Posted: Jul 30 2009
I am new to sewing, but not totally novice. I had helped and watched my mother and grandmother sew clothes for my sister, and took a few sewing lesson in home Eco. So, I would say that I have a very basic understanding of sewing. I have had my machine for at least 1 year. Things I really like about the sewing machine is the ease of which you can get the machine ready to go, and the automatic needle threader. (I hate threading needles). Now for the problems with the machine: The light by the needle is not nearly as bright as my old singer sewing machine. Almost to the point of saying the light is worthless. The cloth guides are only around the needle area. since the bobbin cover is clear plastic (instead of metal like the old days) I find guiding the cloth to be more of a task. Of course the task is not impossible, but for a beginner, it is slightly annoying. The sewing machine is extremely light weight. I do not except to get years of service out of this machine. And I wish there would have been some better instructions included with the unit.
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: May 6 2009
I purchased this machine just over a year and a half ago for my wife. She's used it for small sewing tasks intermittently since then, but probably hasn't used the machine more than 20 hours in that time. It worked well and met her sewing needs for a while, but one day a couple months ago it started frequently jamming and the bobbin thread pickup started to become unreliable. We talked to a local repair shop about it and they said it would probably cost around $100 to diagnose and repair the problem. Singer has a warranty, but it only covers many parts for 1 year and it doesn't cover labor cost of repairs. So, unwillingly to spend almost half the cost of the machine on repair I set out to repair it myself and found the timing of the machine was way off. We couldn't figure out how this could have happened since the machine once worked, but adjusting the timing so the shuttle hook would once again arrive at the needle at the right time fixed the issues. I'm giving the machine a 3 because with the timing adjusted it's been working well again, but I'm concerned that the machine may break down again and require frequently repair (which is either time consuming or expensive depending on whether you are willing and able to do the work yourself).
