SINGER 9960: Sewing & Quilting Machine: Full Review

The SINGER 9960 Quantum Stylist sewing machine is an advanced computerized sewing and quilting machine designed for home sewers looking for professional features and performance. This machine comes loaded with 1,172 stitch applications, an automatic needle threader, drop & sew bobbin system, programmable needle up/down, and heavy duty metal interior frame. The SINGER 9960 offers user-friendly operation with an LCD screen, 6-second threading, electronic speed control, and adjustable stitch length & width. With its wide table workspace, extension table option, and a variety of included accessories, this machine provides versatility for sewing projects both large and small. Overall, the SINGER 9960 Quantum Stylist aims to deliver professional-level sewing capabilities in a user-friendly package ideal for avid home sewers.

Stitches and Applications

The Singer 9960 Quantum Stylist comes with an impressive 1,172 built-in stitches and stitch applications. This includes basic, stretch, and decorative stitches that will allow you to embroider, quilt, make buttonholes, sew on appliques, monogram, and much more.

With 6 alphanumeric fonts and 13 one-step buttonholes, you'll be able to customize projects easily. There are also 5 fonts for monogramming. The machine includes 55 embroidery designs with the ability to combine designs, rotate individual designs, change color palettes, and edit each design.

Some of the 1,172 stitches and stitch applications include:

• Basic stitches - straight, zigzag, and stretch
• Decorative stitches - florals, scrollwork, vines, and more
• Buttonholes - 13 one-step styles
• Applique stitches - for sewing appliques and trims
• Quilting and heirloom stitches - great for quilting, sewing home decor items, and heirloom sewing projects
• Monogramming fonts - 5 built-in monogramming fonts

The extensive selection allows sewers and quilters to tackle a wide variety of projects without needing to swap out stitch disks or plates. Everything is built into the machine. With so many options, you're bound to find the perfect stitch for any project.

If you are looking for another exceptional sewing machine, consider the SINGER 5560: Computerized Sewing Machine. This model also comes with a variety of features, including different stitch options and automatic functions that simplify your sewing projects. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced sewist, the SINGER 5560 offers reliability and versatility to meet your sewing needs.

Automatic Features

One of the standout features of the Singer 9960 is its automatic capabilities that make sewing tasks easier. It has automatic thread tension that constantly monitors as you sew and adjusts the tension to keep stitches even. You don't have to stop and manually adjust tension if the fabric thickness changes.

The 9960 also automatically adjusts the stitch length and width. There are optimal preset stitch lengths and widths for each of the 600 built-in stitches. As you select a stitch, the machine will set the length and width accordingly. The length and width can be manually overridden and adjusted to your preference as well.

These automatic adjustments make sewing a breeze for beginners and experts alike. You don't have to stop frequently to make manual adjustments as you work on a project. The 9960 handles it for you to help produce professional-looking seams and stitches.

If you're looking for a more robust option, consider the SINGER 4452: Heavy Duty Sewing Machine. Built for heavy-duty tasks, this machine can handle thicker fabrics such as denim and canvas with ease. It boasts a powerful motor, which provides the necessary strength for heavier workloads. The 4452 also comes with additional accessories such as specialty feet and a variety of presser feet to enhance your sewing experience, making it a reliable choice for both home projects and professional sewing tasks.

Advanced LCD Screen

The Singer 9960 sewing machine features an advanced LCD screen that displays the selected stitch pattern. This full graphic display shows you a realistic preview of the stitch you have chosen before you start sewing.

With just a few button pushes on the LCD screen, you can select from the 9960's extensive library of stitches - up to 600 built-in stitches, including 9 basic, 4 stretch, 5 buttonhole styles, and 18 fully automatic 1-step buttonhole stitches. The LCD screen makes it easy to find and preview your desired stitch.

Once selected, an image of the stitch is displayed on the LCD screen. This takes the guesswork out of stitch selection and helps ensure you choose the right stitch for your project. The visual representation of the stitch pattern allows you to confirm that is the stitch you want before beginning to sew.

The large LCD screen on the Singer 9960 has clear viewing angles and displays in multiple languages. The advanced display capabilities of this user-friendly sewing machine make stitch selection a breeze. Just use the LCD screen to find, preview, and select stitches for professional-looking results.

Extension Table

The Singer 9960 comes with an extension table that attaches easily to the sewing machine. This provides a larger flat work surface, allowing you to manage bigger sewing, embroidery, and quilting projects with ease.

The extension table is particularly useful when dealing with large amounts of fabric and bulky projects like quilts. It gives you the extra space you need to neatly spread out the material while guiding it through the machine. Without the extension table, large projects can bunch up and become unwieldy.

Quilters will appreciate the support of the sturdy extension table. It provides a flat surface around all sides of the machine's sewing area to smoothly transition big swaths of fabric and batting through. This prevents the material from drooping down and interfering with the sewing action.

The added working area enabled by the extension table also gives you space to arrange any tools, patterns, or accessories nearby for more efficient workflow. This accessory really expands the machine's versatility and functionality for sewing enthusiasts working on larger-scale projects.

Accessory Kit

The SINGER 9960 comes with an extensive accessory kit that includes all the essential presser feet and accessories you need to get started sewing and quilting.

It includes:

• All-purpose foot - For general sewing with a zig-zag stitch. Great for sewing seams, hemming, and decorative stitching.

• Zipper foot - Allows you to sew close to the teeth of the zipper. Essential for inserting zippers.

• Buttonhole foot - Ensures perfectly sized and aligned buttonholes.

• Button sewing foot - Used to attach buttons by feeding them under the foot.

• Blind hem foot - Creates invisible hems on skirts, pants, and other projects.

• Satin stitch foot - Designed for sewing decorative stitches and achieving smooth stitching on satin and other fabrics.

• Open toe foot - Gives you better visibility for decorative stitching and applique work.

• Darning and embroidery foot - Provides excellent maneuverability for free-motion embroidery, monograms, and mending.

• Even feed / walking foot - Helps feed fabric evenly, preventing puckering on lightweight fabrics. Great for quilting.

• 1/4 inch foot - Keeps a perfect 1/4 inch seam allowance for quilting and piecing.

• Quilting guide - Attaches to the machine for accurate quilting stitches.

• Seam ripper / lint brush - For unpicking stitches and cleaning out lint and threads.

• Edge / quilting guides - Helps guide fabric for perfectly straight stitches.

• Screwdrivers - For changing needles and adjusting presser feet.

• Spool caps - Holds threads in place on the spool pin.

• Bobbins - Alternative thread holders for the bobbin case.

• Dust cover - Protects the machine when not in use.

The accessory kit ensures you have everything required for basic sewing, as well as more advanced techniques like quilting, embroidery, and tailoring. With this wide assortment of presser feet and notions, the 9960 can handle virtually any sewing or quilting project.

Ease of Use

The Singer 9960 is user-friendly for both beginners and experts. It has an easy-to-navigate LCD screen that allows you to select stitches, adjust settings, and view options. The screen displays the selected stitch in actual size, so you can visualize how it will look.

For beginners, there are built-in stitches for basic sewing techniques like straight stitch, zigzag, and buttonholes. You don't need to manually set the stitch length or width - just select the stitch you want and the optimal settings are chosen automatically. The machine comes with printed guides that illustrate what each stitch is used for.

More advanced users will appreciate the ability to fully customize stitch settings. You can adjust the stitch width up to 7mm and length up to 5mm. This allows creativity and precision for specialty techniques like applique. There are also 1,172 stitch applications to choose from for embellishing projects.

The automatic thread cutter is convenient for all users. Simply press the button and both top and bobbin threads are cleanly cut. There is also a programmable needle up/down feature, so you can set whether the needle stops in the fabric or in the up position when you stop sewing. This makes pivoting and accuracy easier.

Overall, the Singer 9960 has features to accommodate sewers at any skill level. The variety of stitches, intuitive controls, and built-in guides allow you to easily achieve professional results.

Sewing Speed

The SINGER 9960 sewing machine has a maximum sewing speed of 850 stitches per minute. This is quite fast for a home sewing machine, making it a good choice for experienced sewers working on large projects or doing a lot of sewing. The speed can be adjusted with the speed control slider to sew slower when needed. With the press of a button, you can sew at a consistent speed, which is helpful when sewing precise seams. The fast speed allows this machine to sew through multiple layers of fabric without slowing down. Even at high speeds, the 9960 maintains smooth and precise stitching without skipping stitches. The powerful motor provides enough speed and strength to handle thick fabrics like denim without hesitation. Overall, the high maximum sewing speed makes the 9960 a versatile and efficient machine.

Warranty

The Singer 9960 comes with Singer's limited 25 year warranty, which covers the sewing machine head, motors, light assembly, wiring, switches, speed control, and electronic components. To be eligible, you need to register your product with Singer within 60 days of purchase.

This is a fairly generous and reassuring warranty compared to some other brands, especially considering how computerized the Singer 9960 is. Having peace of mind that parts and labor will be covered for defects for 25 years is a big perk of buying this Singer model. The warranty provides protection in case anything goes wrong with the sewing machine down the road.

Just be aware that the warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, improper maintenance or repair, improper voltage supply, commercial use, or damage caused by negligence, accidents, abuse, or improper transportation. As long as you take care of your Singer 9960 and use it for normal home sewing, you should be able to rely on the 25 year limited warranty if issues arise. Overall, the warranty coverage provides great value.

Pros and Cons

The Singer 9960 sewing and quilting machine comes with many benefits as well as a few potential drawbacks to consider.

Pros:

• Large variety of built-in stitches - With 600 built-in stitches and 5 alphanumeric fonts, this machine offers tremendous creative possibilities for sewing and embroidery projects. The stitches are high-quality and easy to select.

• User-friendly features - The Singer 9960 includes automatic features like needle threader, top drop-in bobbin, and programmable needle up/down to make sewing simpler. The large LCD screen and stitch selection buttons provide convenience.

• Extension table included - The machine comes with a wide extension table that provides extra space for managing large projects or quilts. This makes sewing easier.

• Good accessories - A range of useful accessories like different presser feet, bobbins, spool caps, seam ripper, etc. come included to enhance projects.

• Reliable performance - Many users mention this machine sews smoothly at up to 850 stitches per minute on all types of fabrics without issues. The internal metal frame provides durability.

Cons:

• Manual not very detailed - The included instruction manual lacks step-by-step directions for using some of the machine's features. Online videos or classes may be needed to learn it fully.

• Heavy - Weighing over 20 pounds, this is a heavy-duty machine. People with physical limitations may have difficulty moving or carrying it.

• Expensive - With a list price around $400, this sewing machine sits at the higher end of home models. The many included features offset the cost for serious sewists.

• Limited warranty - Singer offers a limited 25-year warranty on the sewing machine head, which is decent but not as strong as some companies offer.

Overall, the Singer 9960 offers serious sewing enthusiasts, quilters, and crafters excellent quality and capabilities. For those seeking lots of built-in stitches, automated functions, and accessories to unlock creative potential, it's a feature-packed machine with outstanding performance. The high price and heavy weight are the main potential drawbacks to consider.