SINGER Fashion Mate 3342: Sewing Machine: Full Review

The SINGER Fashion Mate 3342 is a feature-rich mechanical sewing machine designed for beginners and intermediate sewers. It offers basic and decorative stitch options, allowing users to tackle a variety of sewing projects from garment construction to home decor.

This versatile machine features 32 built-in stitches including basic, stretch, decorative, and buttonhole stitches. It has a top drop-in bobbin system, heavy duty metal interior frame, and stainless steel bedplate to ensure skip-free sewing. The Fashion Mate 3342 sewing machine comes with 6 quick-change snap-on feet, providing convenience for switching between stitch applications.

With adjustable stitch length and width controls, users can customize stitches for optimal results. The automatic 4-step buttonhole function creates buttonholes efficiently. Key features like free arm capability, drop feed option, and reverse stitch lever further enhance the machine's functionality and ease of use.

Overall, the SINGER Fashion Mate 3342 combines user-friendly operation with robust construction, making it a solid choice for beginners learning to sew as well as more advanced sewers looking for reliable performance. Its versatility across many sewing applications provides good value given its affordable price point.

Design and Build Quality

The Singer Fashion Mate 3342 is a compact and lightweight sewing machine, making it easy to transport and store. It measures approximately 15.5 x 6.2 x 12 inches and weighs around 13 pounds, so it doesn't take up too much space. The machine has a metal interior frame and plastic exterior housing. While the plastic exterior feels a bit lightweight, the interior metal frame provides sturdiness and durability. The machine appears well-constructed and made to last through frequent use. All the dials and buttons have a solid feel without any loose parts. The textured plastic housing also resists scratches well. Overall, the physical design is streamlined and practical for a mid-range sewing machine aimed at home sewers. The compact footprint doesn't compromise on offering a variety of built-in stitches and functions.

For those in need of a more robust option, the SINGER 4432: Heavy Duty Sewing Machine is an excellent choice. This heavy-duty model is designed for thicker fabrics and intensive use, featuring a powerful motor and stainless steel bedplate. It offers 32 built-in stitches and a sturdy metal frame, ensuring stability during sewing operations. The machine's high sewing speed and stronger feed system also make it ideal for both heavy-duty projects and simple repairs.

Stitches and Functions

The Singer Fashion Mate 3342 sewing machine offers 32 built-in stitches including 6 basic stitches, 7 stretch stitches, 18 decorative stitches, and 1 four-step buttonhole.

It has a stitch width adjustment of up to 5mm which allows you to customize the width of zigzag stitches, decorative stitches, and buttonholes. The stitch length is adjustable up to 4mm. Adjusting the stitch width and length allows you to achieve the right density and appearance for different fabrics and applications.

The machine includes 6 different buttonhole styles and an automatic 1-step buttonhole function that handles the entire process - measure, sew the sides, bartacks, and return to the start - with just a single press of a button. This makes sewing buttonholes easy and consistent.

The variety of built-in stitches gives you flexibility to sew and decorate all sorts of fabrics and projects. Having adjustable stitch width and length provides further customization for optimal results. The buttonholer is a handy feature to achieve professional buttonholes with minimal effort.

For those seeking a reliable and versatile machine, the SINGER Tradition 2277: Sewing Machine is an excellent choice. With its 23 built-in stitches, including basic, decorative, and an automatic 1-step buttonhole, this machine is designed for a variety of sewing tasks. It’s simple to thread, thanks to its automatic needle threader, and offers adjustable stitch length and width for greater customization of projects. This user-friendly machine is perfect for both beginners and experienced sewers.

Ease of Use

The Singer Fashion Mate 3342 sewing machine is designed to be user-friendly for beginners while still offering features more advanced sewers will appreciate.

The control panel is straightforward with easy to understand markings and buttons. There are buttons to adjust stitch length and width, reverse stitch, and select stitches. The LCD screen clearly displays the selected stitch.

Threading the machine is simple with easy to follow guides and diagrams. The automatic needle threader is a handy feature that effortlessly threads the needle with the push of a lever.

Inserting the bobbin is intuitive with clear markings to follow. The bobbin winder stops automatically when fully wound so you don't have to worry about overfilling. There is even a slide plate to easily access and change the bobbin.

Overall, the Singer Fashion Mate 3342 scores high marks for ease of use. The well-labeled controls, automatic features, and trouble-free threading and bobbin winding make this a great beginner sewing machine that's still convenient for more advanced users.

Accessories

The Fashion Mate 3342 comes with a variety of useful accessories right out of the box. It includes 4 presser feet for basic sewing - a zipper foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, and an all-purpose foot. Having multiple presser feet allows you to tackle different projects without needing to purchase additional accessories.

It also comes with a pack of 10 needles, 4 bobbins, seam ripper, lint brush, screwdriver, spool caps, spool pin, auxiliary spool pin, soft-sided dust cover, foot pedal, power cord, and instruction manual. The variety of needles and multiple bobbins ensure you have spares when needed. The seam ripper, lint brush, and screwdriver provide the basic tools for sewing and maintenance.

Overall, Singer includes all the key accessories required to start sewing right away on a variety of projects. The multiple presser feet, needles, and bobbins add convenience by providing commonly needed extras and replacements.

Performance

The Singer Fashion Mate 3342 sewing machine delivers excellent performance for the price. It has a maximum sewing speed of 800 stitches per minute, which is fast enough for most general sewing projects. The feed dogs provide consistent fabric feeding even at high speeds. There are 5 levels of presser foot pressure that can be adjusted based on fabric thickness - lighter fabrics like chiffon can use lower pressure while thicker fabrics like denim need more pressure. Lowering the presser foot pressure is especially useful for preventing lightweight fabrics from puckering. The machine sews smoothly without skipped stitches at its maximum speed on various fabric types and multiple layers. The motor seems powerful enough to handle long sewing sessions without overheating or losing torque. Overall, the performance capabilities of this budget sewing machine exceed expectations and provide a satisfying sewing experience.

Noise Level

The Singer Fashion Mate 3342 sewing machine runs quietly for the most part. The motor emits a low hum that is comparable to other entry-level sewing machines. There is some noise from the internal mechanisms as the machine sews, but it is not overly loud or distracting.

The noise level increases slightly at higher sewing speeds. But even at the machine's top speed, the noise is not excessive. It should not be an issue for use in home settings. The machine can be used for sewing late at night without fear of waking household members.

Some buyers have commented that the Singer 3342 runs more quietly than previous sewing machines they owned. So noise is not a major downside to this model. While not silent, the noise level is reasonable for an affordably priced sewing machine aimed at home sewers. Those who require a whisper quiet machine may need to look at more high-end models. But the Singer Fashion Mate offers satisfactory noise performance for most.

Warranty

The Singer Fashion Mate 3342 comes with a 25-year limited warranty. This covers the sewing machine head, which includes the motor and all internal parts. The warranty protects against manufacturer defects and workmanship issues. If any part is found to be defective within 25 years of the original purchase date, Singer will provide free repair or replacement at one of their authorized service centers.

Some parts like light bulbs, attachments, and accessories are covered for one year. Normal wear items like belts, bobbin cases, and needles are not included. The warranty is limited to the original purchaser and is not transferable. You'll need to provide proof of purchase and serial number when submitting a claim. Overall, the extensive 25-year warranty provides great protection and peace of mind for buyers.

Pros

• Versatile stitch selection - The Fashion Mate 3342 offers 32 built-in stitches including basic, stretch, decorative, and buttonhole stitches. This allows you to tackle a wide variety of sewing projects from garments to crafts.

• Easy threading system - It has an automatic needle threader that threads the eye of the needle with just the push of a lever, making setup very simple.

• Adjustable stitch length and width - You can easily customize your stitches by adjusting the stitch length from 0-4mm and stitch width from 0-5mm using the turn dial. This gives you more creative freedom.

• Free arm - The free arm allows you to easily sew tubular areas like pant hems and sleeves. You can remove the accessory box to expose the free arm.

Cons

• The Singer Fashion Mate 3342 is a basic, entry-level sewing machine so it lacks some of the features found on more advanced models.

• There are limited stitch options - only 6 basic stitches. This can be limiting for sewists who want to do more decorative stitches.

• The machine has a maximum stitch width of 5mm which doesn't allow for very wide stitches.

• There are complaints that the presser foot pressure is not adjustable. This may make it more difficult to sew very lightweight or heavy fabrics.

• The machine is made of plastic so it may not be as durable or stable when sewing at high speeds as metal machines.

• There are mixed reviews on the performance and longevity. Some customers report issues with jamming, breaking needles, and malfunction after a year or two of use.