SINGER Start 1304 Portable Sewing Machine | Lightweight, Beginner-Friendly with 57 Stitch Applications, Automatic Bobbin Winding & 4-Step Buttonhole | Includes Accessory Kit

My initial reason for purchasing this machine was to simply re-attach buttons to my dress shirts. The quality of even expensive dress shirts seems to have declined in the last few years and after just a few washings, buttons are coming off. I have tried hand sewing but could never seem to get it right. So I was looking on YouTube for tutorials and came across one that showed how to use a sewing machine to reattach buttons and the machine she was demoing was the Singer Start 1304. It looked so easy I decided to check the price on amazon and was surpised by the low cost. I mean this thing is about the cost of 2 or 3 of the shirts I buy for work.The machine is very simple but offers some really nice features like double needle support, reverse and 6 different stitch types and of course, a foot-pedal. It is very light weight making it very easy to setup and store. Now honestly I haven't touched a sewing machine in over 40 years and that was in an 8th grade home econmics class, but with in 10 minutes I had the bobbin wound, the machine threaded and was ready to go. After repairing 2 shirts, I was pretty pleased with my purchase and put the machine away, confident I could repair any of my shirts in the future.Then a day later, I was looking at my tablecloth on my dining room table. It has never fit right and hung way to far over the edges. So, I watched a quick tutorial on hems and then I trimmed the tablecloth down to the overhang I wanted (plus 1/2" seam allowance), got the machine back out of the closet and within 15 minutes it was done! It now fits perfect with an exact 8" over hang on all sides AND it looks incredible!I'm convinced that this machine is the gateway drug into the sewing hobby, because now I'm thinking custom throw pillows for the living room. Maybe a laptop sleeve, (yes this machine includes a "zipper foot"). As the headline states, be careful, this is a very addicting activity!

I am 74 years old and I have had many sewing machines, all with bells and whistles! I wanted a simple sewing machine for clothes repair, curtains, etc. I just threaded it and it took about 30 seconds! I am very impressed and upon making a sample stitch line it was perfect! Easy peasy which is just what I wanted. Veteran sewers or beginner, this is a great, lightweight sewing machine. I could not be happier! By the way, my first machine was a singer so now I have come full circle!

I took a sewing class in high school over 50 years ago. I haven't sewn much in many years, but needed a good basic machine for household mending. The first one I bought was advertised to be easy, but definitely was not! The Brother cs6001 was extremely complicated, and even with a so-called "self-threading needle," I found it almost impossible to thread that needle. The light was a harsh blue LED, which made it hard to see. The number of steps needed to sort through 60 stitches to find a basic stitch was confusing. I began to wonder what happened to the simple, mechanical sewing machines from high school days, and voila, I found the Singer 1304! I was a little hesitant because it was advertised for beginners, and also had references saying it was suitable for children, but I finally took the plunge and ordered it. I am so glad I did! Even though I've only hemmed 2 pet towels and mended a stretchy undergarment so far, I am in love with this little machine! It is lightweight, has a built-in carrying handle, sewing light which is easy on the eyes, and just the basic stitches - several straight and zigzag stitches, a blind-hem stitch, a scallop stitch, and a buttonhole stitch. Even with a bobbin case, I find it much easier to insert the bobbin than the drop-in bobbin of the previous machine. And as for threading the needle, my senior eyes and fingers have been able to do so the first time, every time. I am writing this review mainly because I don't feel adults should shy away from this machine. 60 or 100 stitches may be necessary for a professional seamstress or tailor, but the average person will find enough here to do mending or make clothes, curtains, etc. with this machine. The machine is very intuitive, and Singer even provides online videos to help you get started, so the learning curve is short. And at under $100, the price is right.

I was taking my pants to an alteration shop to have them shortened but they have raised their prices so significantly that I can no longer justify not doing it myself. I wanted a simple sewing machine without a lot of bells and whistles and this machine fits the bill. The machine arrived this afternoon and within an hour I set it up and shortened and hemmed a pair of corduroy pants. I also like that it is lightweight enough that I can easily carry it. It was fairly easy to wind the bobbin and thread the machine. The only two things I don't like about the sewing machine are: 1) The task, light isn't nearly bright enough to do any good. I had to set up a lamp. 2) There are zero written instructions, only pictures (and not very good ones). I was able to set it up because I am an experienced seamstress and have used different machines over the years. A beginner would have a difficult time, if they could set it up at all. As a professional technical writer, I can tell you that some people are OK with just pictures, but others need step by step written instructions. Some people need both. Not including a manual with written and pictorial instructions is a major flaw.

Singer sewing machine did not come with a warranty or an instruction manual. In the little one page illustration and the small page it says to download the manual at:Manual.Singer.com DO NOT DO THISYou will be routed to a company that charges $14.99 +shipping Go directly to Singer, you can download and print 24 pages. It might take a few minutes but worth it. This is a dandy sewing machine and well worth the money.