Best Singer Sewing Machines for Beginners

Singer is possibly the most famous brand of sewing machines and the most well known. It was established in 1851 so we are coming up on 200 years of sewing machine history. The Singer name is synonymous with sewing.

With over 60 types of sewing machines currently on the market, they make a machine for every level of sewing, including beginning sewers who need an easy-to-use, affordable machine. Singer has a great lineup of beginner sewing machines. In this article I’ll go over three great choices to compare.

What to Look for In a Beginner Sewing Machine

Your overall sewing experience will determine the features and price you look for when shopping for a new machine. An experienced seamstress or an advanced quilter have different needs and wants in a sewing machine than someone who is just starting out.

Here are four things to consider when you shop for the best Singer sewing machine as a beginner.

1. Simplicity and Ease of Use

Of all the features that a sewing machine that can offer you I think the most important thing to look out for is ease of use and simplicity. There are machines on the market that have every bell and whistle you could possibly think of and dozens and dozens of built-in-stitches, embroidery, monogramming, etc. Do you need all of this if you are starting out? No. These features might only frustrate and confuse you. Focus on the features that you will actually use.

One thing to remember is many sewing machines have a lot of built-in stitches and beginners can get caught up in this number thinking it is important – you may think that a sewing machine with 100 built-in stitches is superior to a machine with 8 built-in stitches. Well, that’s not always the case because there are many other factors to consider and most sewers use just a few stitches – 90% of the time you are going to use a simple straight stitch.

As a beginner you should keep an eye out for sewing machines with a clean and easy to understand interface. If you can take the machine out of the box and start sewing right away, then that is true simplicity and a great beginner machine.

At a basic level, there are 2 types of sewing machines – mechanical or electronic / computerized. A computerized machine has an LCD screen and you choose your stitch and other features with the touch of a button. With a mechanical machine there will be a turn dial, with the stitches labeled on the dial and you stop at the one you want to use.

Neither one of these is better or worse – it kind of depends on your preference. Some people prefer a mechanical machine because over time they can tend to have less problems because they don’t have a computer and all of the electronic components.

Read more about mechanical vs. computerized machines here if you are interested.

2. Automatic and Convenience Features

Automatic features are not 100% necessary to sew but in my opinion they make sewing easier and fun, especially for beginners. When I bought my first sewing machine I didn’t know what to look for and fortunately the machine I chose (a Brother) had many automatic features that I really appreciated.

Here are some automatic and convenience features that you may find helpful:

• Automatic needle threader
• Variable speed control / speed slider (This one was huge for me when I started sewing and it is still a must have feature for me. This allows you to slow your sewing speed down and you can go very slow if needed.)
• Snap-on presser feet – This makes changing your presser foot quick and easy
• Easy bobbin winder and drop-in bobbin
• Built-in thread cutter

3. Affordably Priced

Just like sewing machines come with many different features and specifications, they also have varying price ranges. You can buy a mini sewing machine that costs under $30 (yup!) and you can spend over $15,000 on a sewing machine (check out this Bernina 880-SE – amazing!).

If you are a beginner I think that a budget under $200 is plenty to get the features you need to get started with enough room to grow into. Sewing is a skill that will grow over time – you don’t start out as an advanced quilter but maybe over time you will move into that and you will need a machine with advanced quilting options.

4. Size and Portability

Size and weight are an important feature to consider because many beginning sewers don’t have a dedicated sewing area / table. A lightweight machine is good if you need to store your machine in a cabinet and pull it out when you want to use it.

There are machines out there that weigh over 25 lbs. easily and then you have lots of machines in the 10 – 15 lb range and that’s quite a difference if you have to frequently move your machine around or pull it out and put it away.

Also, if you are going to sewing classes you want a machine that is light and portable.

A carrying case is also important because it protects your Singer sewing machine and makes it simple to carry with a handle. Singer makes a universal hard carrying case that fits most free arm models and some machines come with this when you purchase it.

Comparison of 3 Singer Sewing Machines Perfect for A Beginner

Here is an overview of three Singer machines that a beginning sewer will appreciate. These machines are intuitive and easy to use, affordably priced, and lightweight and portable.

Below is a more in-depth review of the features and specs of each machine

Singer 4411 Heavy Duty Extra High Speed Sewing Machine

The Singer 4411 is a mechanical sewing machine with 11 stitches to choose from using an easy to read turn dial and one 4-step buttonhole.  This machine has a powerful motor nad has a sewing speed of 1,100 stitches per minute, which is incredibly fast.

The 4411 is considered a heavy duty sewing machine because it can handle thicker fabrics like denim, vinyl, and even leather (just be sure to use the right sewing needle). The internal skeleton of the sewing machine consists of a heavy duty metal frame, which allows for skip-free sewing and durability.

It has a built-in handle and weighs around 14.5 lbs. so it is still very much portable and not a burden to take to sewing classes, traveling, or to pull in and out when working on projects.

Features of this Machine:

• Automatic needle threader
• Free arm
• Stainless steel bed plate
• Adjustable presser foot control
• Extra high presser foot lift
• Snap-on presser feet
• 4 included presser feet (All-purpose foot, Buttonhole foot, Zipper foot, Button Sewing Foot)

Reviewers of this machine all commented on how simple yet powerful it is. The simplicity of the Singer 4411 makes it perfect for a beginner, and its power and heavy duty metal frame mean it will last for years to come.

Singer 3232 Simple Sewing Machine

The Singer 3232 is called the Simple Sewing Machine and that is exactly what it is – an affordably priced mechanical sewing machine with 32 built-in stitches and an automatic 1 step buttonhole.

Overall Features:

• Automatic needle threader
• Adjustable stitch length & width
• Free arm
• Automatic reverse
• Extra high presser foot lift

• Heavy duty metal frame
• 4 presser feet (All-Purpose Foot, Buttonhole Foot, Button Sewing Foot, Zipper Foot)

Overall the Singer 3232 is an easy-to-use machine that you can start sewing on right out of the box, It is affordably priced, lightweight (it weighs just 12.2 lbs.), and it has a heavy duty metal frame for skip free sewing.

Singer 7258 100-Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine

The Singer 7258 is one of Singer’s best selling sewing machines. It is a two time Consumer Digest award winner based on their combination of eight criteria: performance, ease of use, features, quality of construction, warranty, efficiency, styling, and maintenance and service requirements.

This is a computerized sewing so it has an LCD screen with easy navigation keys to choose your stitch. You get 100 built-in stitches, which is plenty for any type of project a beginner can think of.

Since this is computerized it has more automatic and touch button features like a start / stop button and speed control.

Overall Features:

• 100 built-in stitches and 7 automatic buttonholes
• Automatic stitch length and width
• Start/Stop button
• Speed control slider
• Automatic reverse
• Locking stitch button
• Programmable needle up/ down
• Automatic needle threading system
• Quick set top drop-in bobbin
• Free arm
• 4 presser feet – (zigzag/all purpose, buttonhole, zipper, rolled hem, blind hem, darning and embroidery, overcast, straight stitch, gathering, satin stitch/straight stitch)

If you are a beginner and you really want a computerized Singer sewing machine then this is the perfect option. My first sewing machine was a computerized machine and I absolutely loved and appreciated all of the automatic features that an electronic machine can offer.

Just know that computerized machines are a little more technical and need to be cared for. Overall the Singer 7258 is very affordable and you get so many features. With good care it will last you a long time even as your experience grows.

The Bottom Line on Singer Beginner Sewing Machines

Singer is a trusted brand in the sewing industry and these 3 machines are all perfect options for a beginner. So which one of these machines do I think is the best? Think about the features that you really want – Computerized vs. mechanical? Variable speed control? And consider your budget too. Then you can narrow down which machine is the better option for you.

Also, these machines are all under $200. If you have room for a bigger budget then you may want to consider additional machines, but keep in mind that higher price means more features and a more complicated machine. As a beginner you may not need it. If you want to do more research you can check out some great beginner Brother sewing machines or beginner Janome sewing machines.

If you have any questions then leave a question in the comments below and I’ll do my best to help.