SINGER Quantum Stylist 9960 Computerized Sewing & Quilting Machine with Extension Table, Hard Case & Accessories | 600 Stitches, Lettering, LED Light, 1-Step Buttonhole & High-End Touch Controls

I can't say enough good things about the automatic thread cutter that this machine has. That was one of the primary reasons I chose this model -- and I do not regret it!You push one button and it cuts both the top thread and the bobbin thread and leaves about a one inch length left on your fabric. The amount of time this saves is incredible! You don't even realize it until you are at the machine working. Finish your seam, push the button, move on to the next seam. No hunting around for scissors, pulling thread out, wasting thread, etc. If you are doing patchwork or quilting this is a godsend. That feature alone is worth the purchase price of the machine.The second reason I chose this machine is because it does a great job sewing over thick fabrics. I sew a lot of denim and I often use faux leather. I have not had a problem sewing through many thick layers. It plows through them like a dream.For the bags pictured above, I used a Schmetz #90 needle with no problems. On my old Brother machine, I would break about one needle per every 2-3 bags I made and that was getting annoying. I have not broken a single needle on this machine, and I've made dozens of bags. If you screw up and accidentally sew over the metal part of a zipper or a pin, for example, the machine just stops. It does not break the needle.Another feature I really like is that the machine stops with the needle in the down position. If you have done much sewing, you know that in older machines, it's a crap shoot whether or not the needle is in the up position, down position, or somewhere in between when you top. And when it is up you risk your fabric being pulled askew and your seams being crooked. But when it is down, everything stays in place. This feature has improved the quality of my sewing immensely. I would add, that once you push the thread cutter button, it raises the needle. There is also a button to push to raise or lower it when you want to.The decorative stitches work well and are lots of fun. I like that you just push a button to select a zigzag or a straight stitch. You don't have to turn any knobs or anything. Super easy.The power cord and the foot pedal are separate, so you can put one behind the table and one in front without having a big tangled mess.I am very pleased with this purchase. It has made sewing much easier and more fun for me. If you are an experienced sewist, you will have no problem learning to use it. I watched a couple of brief YouTube videos and learned about everything I couldn't figure out on my own. This is the first Singer sewing machine I have every owned and I like it. My previous ones were Kenmore and Brother.Highly recommended.

I learned to sew on a Singer Touch and Sew machine that my mother purchased from a door to door salesman. Times have really changed. You buy on the internet, and watch a YouTube video for demonstrations of all the features before you buy, which is great because the videos are always there, unlike the traveling salesman. The one thing that hasn't changed is that Singer has always been synonymous with quality, and this machine did not disappoint. Using this it has been almost like playing and watching a magic show all at once. It has so many features it is ridiculous. I started looking for a drop in bobbin machine to mend clothes, but ended up with this machine because is a great value. There is not a single project this machine Singer failed prepare for in this machine. I am extremely pleased with the top loading bobbin because I learned to sew on the Singer Touch and Sew machine, which had that feature, but for some reason, manufacturers stopped including. While this is a great feature, I wish they would go back to how the Singer Touch and Sew machine loaded the bobbin without ever removing it from it's drop in location. You just pressed a button before pressing the foot pedal and it loaded hands free. I know it sounds lazy, but it was so easy and so cool. I had to relearn to thread a bobbin by removing it. I know it would take some re-engineering, but it would make Singer the only machine with that feature. I made two wedding dresses for my sister and me on the old Touch and Sew Machine, so my mother's $1000 investment in that machine really paid off., which proves that even an expensive sewing machine can pay for itself if you use it and don't just let it just sit and collect dust. Now, I've got must find some projects for this machine, which won't be hard because it comes with so many features, presser feet, and a great instruction manual. I've got a bad back, and only intended to use the machine to mend rips, but i can't let that be all this wonderful machine does. Using it will be like playing. I've been playing with it by learning the features and the stitches. The only feature that took a little getting used to was the needle treading. I was having trouble making it work, so I watched a Youtube video and noticed that I wasn't pressing the lever far enough down to get it to work. It pressed fairly easily to a point, but did not go far enough to thread the needle. I tried watching the video, and I was doing as it said, but it didn't say that you might have to press up and down a few times to get it loosed up. I pressed a little harder the first few times, and now, it works great. I don't mean that you should press it so hard you break. Just work with it, and it will loosen up. I figured it may have gotten a little stiff sitting around a warehouse. Anyway, now I'm a pro at using the automatic needle threader, and it is as easy as described.