SINGER 3337FR: Simple Sewing Machine: Full Review

The Singer 3337 is an entry-level sewing machine aimed at beginners and occasional sewers. This mechanical machine offers basic stitch options and easy operation at an affordable price point.

Singer is one of the leading brands in sewing machines with over 160 years of experience. The Singer 3337 model provides reliable performance for simple sewing and mending projects. While it lacks some of the features and capabilities of higher end computerized machines, the 3337 offers good value given its low price tag.

This lightweight machine weighs just over 10 pounds, making it quite portable to transport. The Singer 3337 is a good choice for those wanting a no-frills mechanical machine for basic sewing needs. It provides an approachable option for trying out sewing as a hobby before investing in a more advanced machine down the road.

Design & Build Quality

The Singer 3337 sewing machine has a sturdy yet lightweight design. It measures approximately 15.5 x 6.2 x 12 inches and weighs about 14.3 pounds, making it easy to transport and store.

The outer body is made of thick plastic that seems durable enough for regular use. The interior metal framework provides stability so the machine doesn't shake or rattle during operation.

Some users may find the plastic exterior feels a bit cheap compared to higher-end metal machines. However, given the affordable price point, the build quality is decent for a starter or basic sewing machine.

The interior metal components like the needle plate, bobbin case, and inner workings are metal rather than plastic. So the functional parts that need strength and stability are metal, while the outer shell is plastic to keep costs down.

Overall, while it may not have a premium high-end feel, the Singer 3337 appears to have solid construction for regular home sewing and light crafting projects as a beginner machine. The weight and materials make it portable without feeling flimsy.

For those seeking a more heavy-duty option, the SINGER 4423EXTBUND: Heavy Duty 4423 Sewing Machine offers robust performance with a powerful motor, handling thicker fabrics and multiple layers with ease. Its metal construction ensures durability, making it suitable for regular use and more demanding projects.

Stitch Options

The Singer Simple 3337 sewing machine offers 32 built-in stitches, including 6 basic stitches, 7 stretch stitches, 18 decorative stitches, and 1 four-step buttonhole.

The basic stitches include straight stitch, zigzag, blind hem, and variations of stretch stitches. These cover all the essentials for garment construction. The stretch stitches allow you to sew knit fabrics without puckering seams.

For embellishing projects, you get several useful decorative stitches like the scallop, wave, cross, and triple straight stitch. The machine also includes an automatic 4-step buttonhole function to easily sew buttonholes sized to your button.

With 32 stitches, you get enough options for sewing most types of fabrics and projects as a beginner or intermediate sewer. However, more advanced sewers may desire more stitch options. Overall, the stitch selection covers a good range for basic garment sewing, hemming, topstitching, and adding decorative details.

Another excellent choice is the SINGER Heavy Duty 6800C: Sewing Machine. This machine is designed for durability, featuring a powerful motor that sews thick fabrics with ease. It includes 97 built-in stitches, a strong metal frame, and a range of presser feet, making it ideal for heavy-duty sewing projects. Whether you're working with denim, canvas, or multiple layers, the Heavy Duty 6800C provides reliability and performance for any sewing challenge.

Bobbin System

The SINGER Simple 3337 uses a drop-in bobbin system, which is easy to load and insert. This machine uses class 15 plastic bobbins that are inserted into a removable bobbin case.

To load the bobbin, you'll need to:

1. Remove the bobbin case by pushing the release lever to the right. This will pop out the bobbin case.

2. Holding the bobbin case in your hand, place the bobbin inside with the thread coming off clockwise. There's a diagram inside the bobbin case showing the proper threading direction.

3. Pull the thread through the slit and under the tension spring until it clicks into place.

4. Hold onto the end of the thread and insert the bobbin case back into the machine. The thread tail should come out to the left side.

5. Guide the thread tail through the slot and to the right, under the presser foot.

Loading a bobbin on the SINGER Simple is very quick and intuitive. The drop-in bobbin system makes changing bobbins a breeze during sewing projects. The clear bobbin cover also lets you easily monitor your bobbin thread supply.

Thread Tension

The Singer Simple 3337 comes with adjustable thread tension, allowing you to easily get the right amount of tension for your selected fabric and thread. This is an important feature, as improper thread tension can cause issues like puckering, loose stitches, or thread breakage.

The thread tension dial on the Simple 3337 is conveniently located on the top of the machine within easy reach. Turning the dial clockwise increases tension, while turning counter-clockwise decreases tension. Most threads and fabrics will work well around the 4 setting, but you can fine tune from 1 (lowest tension) to 9 (highest tension).

The clearly marked numbers and smooth rotating dial make it very intuitive to adjust the thread tension as needed for different projects. For example, you may need less tension for lightweight fabrics like chiffon, and more tension for heavy canvas or denim fabrics. The machine allows quick tension changes on the fly.

Overall, the adjustable thread tension feature on the Singer Simple 3337 performs well and is easy to use. It provides sufficient tension range to handle most common sewing threads and fabrics. The convenient location and clearly marked dial contribute to a great user experience for setting the ideal thread tension.

Buttonholes

The SINGER Simple 3337 sewing machine includes a built-in buttonhole function that makes it easy to sew buttonholes. Here is an overview of the buttonhole sewing process:

To sew a buttonhole, first select the buttonhole stitch on the stitch selection dial. There are several buttonhole styles to choose from. Next, attach the buttonhole foot that comes with the machine. The buttonhole foot has a gap in the front that allows you to easily sew around the buttonhole.

Place your fabric under the presser foot and lower the foot. Line up the markings on the buttonhole foot with the placement for your buttonhole on the fabric. Engage the needle by pressing the foot pedal. The machine will sew the first side of the buttonhole forward.

When it reaches the end, stop sewing. Leave the fabric in place, but lift the presser foot. Turn the fabric around to sew in reverse. Lower the foot and continue sewing to stitch the back side of the buttonhole.

The SINGER Simple 3337 will sew both sides of the buttonhole the same length to ensure evenness. Once complete, use the seam ripper included to carefully open up the buttonhole by cutting the center stitches.

The buttonhole foot on the SINGER does all the hard work for you to make professional-looking buttonholes in just a few easy steps. This handy built-in feature saves time and effort when sewing buttons onto garments or other projects.

LCD Screen

The SINGER Simple 3337 sewing machine comes equipped with a large, bright LCD screen that makes it easy to view and select stitches. The screen measures approximately 2 inches x 1 inch, providing ample viewing area without taking up too much space on the machine.

The high-contrast display and large font make the on-screen text and icons clearly visible, even in low lighting conditions. This is useful when sewing in natural light or at night. The screen's brightness can also be adjusted to suit the user's preference.

The LCD screen shows the selected stitch number, stitch width/length settings, and helpful diagrams. It allows the user to easily navigate through the machine's 32 built-in stitches and view the optimal settings before sewing.

A key feature of the LCD screen is the stitch selection menu. By using the menu buttons, sewers can scroll through the stitch options and select the perfect stitch for their project. The screen displays an actual image of each stitch style, eliminating guesswork.

Overall, the LCD screen on the SINGER Simple 3337 offers excellent visibility, intuitive navigation, and helpful information to enhance the sewing experience. Its capabilities allow sewers to get the most out of the machine's features.

Accessories

The SINGER 3337 comes with a good selection of accessories to get you started on your sewing projects. It includes 4 different presser feet - a zipper foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, and an all-purpose foot. The all-purpose foot is excellent for basic sewing and hemming. The zipper foot makes inserting zippers very easy by allowing you to get the foot right next to the zipper teeth. The buttonhole and button sewing feet are convenient for making buttonholes and attaching buttons.

In addition to the presser feet, the machine comes with a pack of needles, bobbins, seam ripper, lint brush, screwdrivers, spool caps, and spool pin. The needle pack contains a variety of universal needles for sewing different fabrics. Having multiple bobbins allows you to pre-wind them with different colored threads for quick switching between colors. The seam ripper helps remove stitches when mistakes happen or alterations are needed. The lint brush keeps lint and threads from building up inside the machine. The screwdrivers assist with maintenance, adjustments, and changing presser feet. Overall, the included accessories provide everything needed to start sewing right out of the box.

Noise Level

The SINGER Simple 3337 is a relatively quiet machine while sewing. It produces a low hum rather than loud whirring or rattling noises. Even at high speeds, the noise level remains unobtrusive and won't distract or disturb you.

Some key factors that contribute to the quiet performance:

• The internal motor runs smoothly without excessive vibration.

• The sturdy metal interior minimizes rattling or shaking noises.

• There is sufficient insulation inside the housing to muffle noise.

• Well-oiled moving parts operate quietly.

• Ball bearings allow the motor to spin silently.

You can comfortably sew for hours without the machine noise becoming irritating or headache-inducing. Having a quiet environment makes sewing more enjoyable and relaxing. You can even watch TV or listen to music while sewing without the machine noise drowning it out.

Warranty

The Singer Simple 3337 comes with a limited 25 year warranty. This is an impressive warranty length for a sewing machine in this price range.

The warranty covers manufacturer defects and workmanship issues. So if anything breaks or malfunctions due to an issue in manufacturing or assembly, it would be covered for repair or replacement. This provides great peace of mind.

The warranty does not cover any damage caused by the user, such as dropping or improper maintenance. It also does not cover normal wear and tear over time or the need for routine adjustments. The warranty only applies to the original owner and is not transferable.

Overall, the 25 year limited warranty provides excellent coverage should anything go wrong with the machine that is attributable to a defect. Singer stands behind their products with this generous warranty period, which is significantly longer than many competitor warranties.