Great value for money. The machine does everything I want and is so easy to use. I especially love the needle-up/down function. I use it in 'up' mode which is great for the kind of repairs that I bought the machine for. The choice of stitching modes is wonderful and the styles are really cool/fun. I'm sure the embroidery sewing people will love them and to be honest I want to use them but have no reason to !! Very fancy :-)
So here's the but .... when spooling a bobbin (black cotton) I noticed at the end of the spooling that the little plastic peg that is used to automatically stop the spooling was wearing off on the black cotton. Basically the cotton was scraping away the automatic 'stop spool' peg. This is shoddy and realistically there should be a metal cover to stop this. I guess that's why this machine is cheaper than others. All plastic = fast wearing. This is preventable by just stopping short manually and removing the bobbin. Or maybe I'll have to add a metal cover to the little peg !! It's not a show stopper and shouldn't stop you from considering this machine.
I would realistically give this machine 4.5 stars but Amazon doesn't have that rating !! Value for money is great.
[1-month later]
I have really got to appreciate the subtleties that are designed into this machine and they are wonderful. I've actually gone through quite a few repairs of clothes now and it performs excellently. I use the needle-down mode more than I thought I would and it is a great way to stop you dropping stitches. The results look very professional !!
I've also done work on some light leather and the machine is perfectly capable however I don't think the motor will hold out long for this kind of work continuously. It's not industrial spec so I don't expect to use it for this very often. More as a test in this example. I've used heavy needles (#18) with bonded nylon thread for leather work and it has no problems.
I've used this machine a lot on Denim and it seems to have no issues going through 3 layers. I've had to use the hand-wheel on 4 layer Flat Felled Seams but this is because I want to make sure the stitch is even, hence me going slow. I believe it would easily penetrate the 4 layers. Here I've been using a #16 needle and denim thread.
Value = 4.8 stars now IMO.
[21 Jan 2015] I re-rated to 5 stars since that's closer to 4.8. I've made a shirt from scratch since my Denim work above. The machine is a great little workhorse and sews through thick fabric (4 layers) well. I can hear the motor forcing the needle through on slow stitch mode and it does it well. Love the needle down function. I've not had any issues with jamming or having to set thread tension. I wish the hole in the middle were bigger for feeding material through but I guess that's why you go to an industrial spec machine!! I've used a lot of the presser feet and they have all worked well. I've also used a hem & cut foot for doing fake serging and that has worked very well too. Very impressed !! Stitches are balanced, equally spaced and look good. Very professional finish (which I don't deserve!!).
I would say you need to be gentle with the machine and let it feed the material. Don't force it or it will pucker (but I'm guessing that's just good sewing discipline anyway!!). Also make sure you use the correct needle for the thickness of material and thread type. I used a #16 needle for the thicker material was sewing.
This product is available as Renewed.
SINGER 5560FR / 230134112.FS / 230134112.FS Fashion Mate 5560 Sewing Machine (Renewed) $149.50 & FREE Shipping
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Works and looks like new and backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee
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Works and looks like new and backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee
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From the manufacturer
Sewing Since 1851.
The spirit of practical design and creative innovation that characterized the company at its beginning continues today as we develop products for every level of sewing.
Sewing Made Easy.
Computerized Sewing Machines: Built-In Ease
Computerized sewing machines offer automatic stitch settings, speed control, and other easy-to-use features. With essential accessories included, you can't beat Singer's quality and value!
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a more experienced sewist, the SINGER FASHION MATE 5560 sewing machine helps make sewing even easier than ever, thanks to the Sew Easy presser foot which helps you sew perfect seams every time.
The Perfect Tool for the Emerging Designer.
- 203 Stitch Applications for Full Creativity
- 4 Feet Included for Enhanced Capability
- Automatic 1-Step Buttonhole
Built-in Features Eliminate Guesswork
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203 Stitch ApplicationsBasic stitches, decorative stitches, stretch stitches, six 1-step buttonholes, and one endless buttonhole |
Included AccessoriesFour Presser Feet: All-Purpose Foot, Zipper Foot, Buttonhole Foot, SINGER Sew Easy Foot Sewing Machine Must-Haves: Pack of Needles, Bobbins (class 15 metal), Thread Spool Cap, Auxiliary Spool Pin, Spool Pin Felt, Darning Plate, Needle Plate Screwdriver, Seam Ripper/Lint Brush |
6 Fully Automatic 1-Step Buttonhole StylesCreates perfectly sized buttonholes every time! |
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Automatic Stitch Length and WidthStitch settings are optimal set with the touch of a button. Override the stitch length and width if you want to personalize your projects! |
Automatic Needle ThreaderEffortlessly thread the needle to start sewing faster. |
StayBright LED LightKeeps your workspace illuminated while sewing! |
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My Honest review of the singer 5560 sewing machine
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Customer Review: Advertising not right
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Customer Review: Horrible tension problems
Brandy Cooper
Reviews with images
High quality machine
I recently purchased this sewing machine because I got tired of having to go to my mom's to use hers. She has an old Singer machine (she wasn't sure of the model because she bought it from a school who was replacing all of theirs years ago) and I just loved it. It was straightforward to use and I could operate it without many hitches. I wanted to find a machine that was comparable to this old one. I'm not an expert sewer, so I didn't need anything extravagant; however, I do know enough of what I'm doing that I did want something that had some neat features.This one was not as good as the old one - it was MUCH better! It is so easy to use. Threading the machine is a breeze; all the directions are printed on the actual machine. Winding a bobbin is a cinch. I love that there is a built-in thread cutter. Changing stitch patterns is super easy, and you can see an example of what the stitch will look like easily because it is printed right below the keypad. There are a couple of features I really didn't think I would care too much about, but I have ended up loving--the speed control feature, and the needle position feature. The speed control allows you to go as fast or slow as you want. You can set the speed to slow when you have a lot of intricate work to go through and the machine won't "take off" on you because you've pushed the pedal down too far. The needle position feature was also great. With a simple push of a button, the needle will stop in the "down" position so you don't pull material out of line with where you want to be sewing. My husband walked by while I was working on something the other night and said, "Wow that thing is really quiet, aren't they usually a lot louder??" - the machine is SO quiet, and I love that.The only problem I have with the machine, and thus the 4-star rating (if I could have given it a 4 1/2 star I totally would have), is that it doesn't sew thick material very well. I was making a pair of sweat pants, and when I tried sewing down the waistband, it locked up and beeped. It was pretty dang thick though, and I really don't plan on sewing anything like that very often, so it's not a huge deal for me.All in all, this is a fantastic machine. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a high quality machine that's simple to use.UPDATE: I have used my machine so much over the past couple of months, and I still havent had a single problem with it! I still stand by my review that this is an AWESOME little machine!
Top reviews from other countries
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