SINGER C7290Q Computerized Sewing & Quilting Machine with Extension Table, 12 Presser Feet & Accessories|417 Stitch Applications, 1-step Buttonhole Styles, Alphabet, LCD & Built-in Needle Threader

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.

This is a powerful sewing tool! The manual explains things pretty well. I would prefer that English be in one part, Spanish and French in their own sections, but it was still clear just the same. I printed it out online and read through it before the machine arrived. My printout was larger and more readable (just a heads up if you have "old eyes"). The machine is very intuitive and easy to move through the stitch patterns and to personalize them if you wish. The amount of presser feet included in this machine is just amazing, and most are optional accessories with other machines. I don't foresee needing to find any other feet. It sews like a dream - the stitch quality really is perfect. I like that when you bring up the stitch pattern on the screen you can change the tension, length and width all from the same area. The only thing that I thought was odd was where the adjusting screw is to balance some of the pattern stitches if they need to be opened up or closed more (it's on the BOTTOM of the machine). Why that got put there makes no sense, but it is what it is. At least you have the ability to correct a pattern if it needs to be changed on certain fabrics. Once you know how the function buttons work and what they control the rest is easy. The stitch patterns included have a wide range of uses. Not sure why there is a Russian alphabet?, but I knew ahead of time that I'll never use all of the stitches on this machine, but there are so many that I will! I'm going to purchase a carry case for this machine. The cover is nice, but it won't protect the machine if you intend to have this be portable for classes and such. The cover is fine if you have a place at home to leave your machine set up and have it stay there. Use a surge protector with this machine and that should help to protect the computer board. This machine feels "solid." A real plus for me is the amount of room that is given for your hands to work in front and to the left of the needle. I don't feel like I'm working off the edge of a cliff. I haven't even used the extension table yet, but I know it will be wonderful for quilting. I really like that the stitches I'll use most have their own buttons. The needle threader is basic, but it works well. If you are sewing with a finer needle you'll need to thread the machine by hand or you'll damage the threader.I love to sew and there have been some amazing things happening in the world of sewing these past few years! I'm not ready to spend thousands of dollars on a sewing machine (just not into machine embroidery), but this Singer has features that are usually found in the more expensive machines. The thread cutter is wonderful!As noted before: use a good quality thread, a class 15J bobbin and Singer needles. Why specific needles? The scarf on a machine's needle is meant to work with the hook on the machine's shuttle, so it's best to use the needle that has a scarf engineered to work with your machine's shuttle hook. If you do use other needles then listen very carefully for the sound of a metal "click" - if you hear that sound then change your needle immediately because those needles will damage your machine.I put the extra presser feet and foot holder that were included with the machine in a separate small plastic case since those pieces are designed to work together. It just saves having to second guess myself later trying to remember which foot goes on what holder.Thanks, Amazon! Again your delivery service is outstanding. My machine arrived in less than 24 hours. Amazing!One of the reviewers of this machine was upset about having some of the presser feet be clear plastic. I wouldn't worry about them. I've got an old Singer from the late 60s/early 70s that has some clear plastic feet and they have lasted all of these years and remain in like new condition. There are times when having a clear foot is an advantage to your field of vision. There a few clear plastic presser feet, but they are marked with red measuring lines and would probably be more difficult to see if they were marked on metal. They're just fine.I'm really happy with this machine. It's more than I had anticipated it would be. Machines like this will help to make Singer more competitive in the sewing market again. I have a new grandson to sew for and I love the little patterns for the plane, car and the boat. To be able to combine those little patterns with words is going to be even more fun!I read all of the reviews on this machine - good and bad before I decided to buy one for myself. I know from experience (I was trained at Pfaff back in the 80s) that 99% of all sewing problems are directly related to the needle (damaged, wrong size or style), thread (old thread, get rid of the cheap thread!!, rethread the machine from the beginning with the presser foot UP and try again), the machine needs to be cleaned, or operator error. Don't get mad at the machine if all of a sudden you've got loopy stitches, check your threading and your needle. Learn to figure out what's wrong before you automatically assume that the machine is "broken" or "doesn't work." Your machine can't talk and doesn't have any other way of telling you that something is wrong.This is a really nice machine and I'm happy with what I've seen so far. I do believe this machine is better suited to someone who has more sewing experience than someone who is just beginning. I think this machine could be overwhelming to someone just learning to sew.4/18 - I suggest that you purchase the Dritz or Brother 1/4" patchwork foot which has a wider footprint for these wider feed dogs. The foot that is included with this one is too narrow to be as effective as it should be. I swapped it out last night to see if the foot I use with another machine was compatible and it worked so much better. I also just moved the straight stitch pattern to 5.5 on the width setting using the basic presser foot and that worked perfectly fine, too. The feed dogs on this machine are wider to accomodate the 7mm width stitches, and the straight stitch foot that was included should have had a wider "footprint." It's a minor thing considering you can just keep the regular presser foot on and move the needle over a bit. Hold the thread tails or sew on a waste square first and you won't have a bit of trouble. (I keep a little box of 3" square note papers for phone messages right by my sewing machine for this purpose so I don't waste fabric!)