SINGER M1000.662: Sewing Machine: Full Review

Singer has been a leader in the sewing machine industry for over 160 years. Founded by Isaac Singer in 1851, the company manufactured the first practical, mass-produced sewing machine for home use. Singer's innovative designs and effective marketing helped spread sewing machine technology around the world during the 19th century.

The company has gone through various mergers and ownership changes over the decades, but the Singer brand remains one of the most recognized names for sewing and embroidery machines. Singer's long history of innovation continues today with advanced computerized sewing machines for home crafters, quilters and fashion designers.

With a wide range of machines for beginners to experts, Singer strives to make sewing accessible, easy and fun. The Singer M1000 machine reviewed here offers a compact, portable design combined with helpful features for new sewers.

Overview of the M1000

The SINGER M1000 is a compact, portable sewing machine designed for beginners and travelers. This lightweight machine weighs only 6.5 pounds yet packs in 32 built-in stitches, including essential stitches for construction, decorative stitches, and 4 fully automatic one-step buttonhole styles.

With a sturdy metal interior frame and plastic exterior, the M1000 can handle a wide variety of fabrics from sheer chiffons to multiple layers of denim. It sews fabrics up to 6mm thick. The machine is able to sew straight stitches up to 4mm long, ideal for basting, hemming, and topstitching. For flexibility, the stitch length is adjustable to suit your project.

Some key features of the SINGER M1000 include:

• 32 built-in stitches including straight, zigzag, stretch, decorative, and 4 one-step buttonholes
• Maximum stitch width of 5mm
• Stitch length adjustable up to 4mm
• Drop feed for free-motion sewing and quilting
• Heavy-duty metal interior frame
• LED-lit work area
• Free arm for sewing sleeves and pant hems
• Built-in thread cutter
• Automatic needle threader
• Top loading bobbin
• 6.5 pounds lightweight

With its compact size, carrying handle, and light weight, the M1000 is designed for portability and travel. Let's look at some of its other features and capabilities.

For those looking for a more advanced option, the SINGER 5560: Computerized Sewing Machine offers computerized functionality, including a variety of stitch options, programmable patterns, and an automatic needle threading system. It's perfect for those who want to take their sewing skills to the next level.

Appearance and Build Quality

The SINGER M1000 sewing machine has a sleek and modern aesthetic that looks great in any sewing space. The machine body is made of durable plastic that feels solid and sturdy. The smooth contours and matte black finish give it an elegant, minimalist look.

Despite the plastic construction, the M1000 does not feel cheap or flimsy. All the knobs and levers have a sturdy, metal construction that should hold up well under regular use. The foot pedal is also metal and has a non-slip coating on the bottom to prevent sliding.

The M1000 is relatively lightweight at just under 15 pounds. While not as hefty as an old-fashioned cast iron machine, the M1000's plastic body helps make it portable and easy to move around or take to classes. The integrated carry handle on the top reinforces its portability.

Overall, the M1000 has a modern, sleek appearance with solid build quality. While plastic, the construction does not feel fragile or prone to breaking with regular use. The metal accents and smooth finish give it an elegant look perfect for any sewing enthusiast.

If you're looking for advanced sewing features, the SINGER C7250: Computerized Sewing Machine might be of interest. This computerized sewing machine offers a wide array of stitch patterns, an automatic needle threader, and an intuitive LCD screen for easy navigation. The C7250 is designed for those who want precision and convenience in their sewing projects, making it a great addition to any sewing setup.

Ease of Use

The Singer M1000 is designed for beginner sewers and ease of use. It comes with clear instructions that walk you through how to thread the machine, wind the bobbin, select stitches, and start sewing. The top loading bobbin system is easy to insert and remove. There is a reference guide printed right on the machine that labels the main parts and shows which presser feet to use with different stitches.

The controls are intuitive with easy to understand icons. There are simple dial selections for basic utility stitches as well as decorative stitches. The stitch length and width can be adjusted with turn dials as well. The foot pedal allows you to control the speed. Everything is well-labeled and designed for simplicity.

With its limited number of stitch options, beginners won't get overwhelmed. The machine focuses on providing the main stitches a novice needs to get started. More advanced users may want more stitch functionality, but the M1000 aims squarely at first-time sewers. It has just enough to perform basic tasks while remaining uncomplicated. The M1000 keeps sewing straightforward for anyone new to the craft.

Stitch Quality and Options

The Singer M1000 sewing machine comes with 32 built-in stitches, providing you with plenty of options for basic sewing and mending tasks. The stitches are selected using a simple dial on the front of the machine, making it easy to quickly choose the stitch you need.

The machine includes utility stitches like straight stitch, zigzag, and buttonhole stitches. It also has some decorative stitches like scallop, wave, cross-stitch, and satin stitches. While the decorative stitches allow you to add some creative flair, this machine is best suited for general garment construction, hemming, mending, and craft projects.

When selecting a stitch, you can adjust the stitch width and stitch length to customize the look. The width can be adjusted up to 5mm and the length up to 4mm. Having this level of control allows you to fine-tune the stitch to your particular fabric and project. The stitch quality itself is good for a beginner machine in this price range. The stitches are uniform in appearance and have consistent tension. The machine sews smoothly without skipping stitches, so you can sew with confidence once you set the proper settings.

Overall, the stitch options and quality allow you to complete a wide variety of sewing projects. With 32 stitches to choose from and adjustable settings, you'll have plenty of creative freedom for everything from garment sewing to home decor projects. Just don't expect the stitch quality to rival more expensive computerized machines. But for basic sewing and mending tasks, the M1000 delivers solid performance.

Included Accessories

The M1000 comes with several handy accessories right out of the box. It includes 4 snap-on presser feet for basic sewing tasks - a all-purpose foot, zipper foot, buttonhole foot, and button sewing foot. Having multiple presser feet allows you to tackle different projects without needing to purchase additional accessories.

For threading the machine, a pack of 4 needles is included. The needles are size 12/80 universal needles, suitable for most lightweight to medium-weight fabrics. Also for threading, 2 plastic bobbins are provided. The bobbins are class 15 style, fitting the vertical oscillating hook.

Some convenient extras are also part of the standard accessories. An edge/quilting guide helps keep your sewing straight. A seam ripper provides an easy way to remove stitches. And a soft-sided dust cover protects the machine when not in use.

Overall, the included accessories provide everything you need to start sewing right away as a beginner. The variety of presser feet covers basic needs, and the needles work for common fabric types. Experienced sewers may want specialty presser feet or needles, but the M1000 comes with all accessories beginners require.

Noise Level

The Singer M1000 is designed to be a compact, portable sewing machine. As such, it is relatively quiet during operation compared to full-sized sewing machines.

This makes the M1000 a good option for using in small living spaces like apartments or dorm rooms where you don't want a noisy machine disturbing others. It produces a low hum rather than loud whirring sounds when running.

You'll mainly hear the motor noise when operating at higher speeds. Going slow helps keep noise to a minimum. The noise level is similar to a small household appliance like a blender or food processor running.

Some user reviews mention the M1000 being slightly louder than expected for a mini machine. But overall, most agree the noise is reasonable and not disruptive for everyday home use. Just don't expect the near silent operation of a high-end computerized sewing machine.

The M1000 won't deafen you or the neighbors. If noise is a major concern for your living situation, it's one of the quieter portable machine options worth considering.

Portability

The Singer M1000 sewing machine is designed with portability in mind, making it a great option for taking your sewing on the go. At just under 7 pounds, it's lightweight enough to easily transport to classes, sewing meetups, or even take on trips.

Despite its small size, the M1000 doesn't feel flimsy. The plastic housing seems durable, and the folding handle makes it easy to carry the machine from place to place. When folded up, the machine measures about 13 inches wide, 7 inches tall, and 5 inches deep. So it can fit nicely into a medium sized bag or even some larger purses.

The built-in carry handle is one of the best features for portability. Just lift the handle up and you can comfortably carry the M1000 like a briefcase. The handle feels sturdy enough to hold the weight of the machine without worry.

With its compact size and light weight body, the M1000 sewing machine lives up to its reputation as being highly portable. The folding carry handle is an especially nice touch that makes transporting this machine convenient and easy. Whether taking it to classes or on trips, the M1000's excellent portability helps make sewing possible wherever you go.

Price and Value

The SINGER M1000 offers excellent value for the price. It is affordably priced for a mechanical sewing machine with 32 built-in stitches and a variety of included accessories.

At around $100, the M1000 costs significantly less than computerized sewing machines but still offers useful functionality for basic sewing tasks. The all-metal internal frame and stainless steel bedplate make it durable and able to handle thick fabrics.

For beginners, the M1000 provides an accessible introduction to using a real sewing machine beyond just hand sewing. It allows practicing straight stitching as well as decorative stitches for creative projects, all without the expense of a premium computerized machine.

Compared to basic mechanical machines without preset stitch options, the M1000 adds decorative stitch versatility at a very reasonable price point. The stitch selection dial makes it easy to switch between stitch settings.

While the M1000 may lack some convenience features of pricier models, such as automatic thread cutting, it provides excellent capabilities given the low cost. For those seeking an affordable, portable machine for learning or mending, the M1000 offers great value.

The quality and usefulness surpass expectations for the price point. The M1000 hits a sweet spot of providing real sewing functionality and versatility without breaking the bank.

Summary

Overall, the Singer M1000 sewing machine is a great option for beginners looking for an affordable and portable machine. Some of the key pros of this model are its simplicity of use, lightweight and compact size, and variety of built-in stitches. It's easy to thread and operates smoothly. The stitch quality is decent and it can handle most basic sewing projects. Some cons are that it may struggle with thicker fabrics, it's noisy when running, and accessories are limited. Also, while it's portable, the plastic build feels a bit flimsy.

For the price though, it packs a lot of useful features into a small package. The many stitch options allow you to get creative. It's the perfect choice for basic mending jobs or learning to sew. I'd recommend it if you're seeking an entry-level machine mainly for light garment sewing. However, more advanced sewers may want a sturdier model. Overall, the Singer M1000 is a budget-friendly pick for beginners seeking a portable machine with versatile stitch options.