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 hadn't done any sewing in decades and really wanted to rediscover it, so I spent a month researching different machines to purchase. The only Singer I had ever sewed on was my mother's and it was a model from the 60's (and it still works just fine). My biggest concern was all the new computerized models...it was very intimidating but I really wanted to be able to use all the features that these new machines had. I consider myself a beginner sewer...I did fine in home ec sewing, made a few quilt like blankets for gifts, sewed on some patches, did a few hems but that was about it.I went on to Craftsy where I have an unlimited membership (free one week trial for anyone interested) and they had a ton of classes on different sewing projects and many for beginners like me. It gave me a chance to see instructors using various models of machines. All had the high end models like baby lock, bernina and janome. I checked out all those models and what functions they had...all were very pricey.Since the only machine I had ever sewed on was a Singer and it was still kicking 40 years later, I decided to check out what Singer had to offer.This Quantum is no longer made by Singer but you can still buy it (if you hurry), they now make a Quantum 9985 which had a few more features but not worth the increased price IMHO.This is the only machine for the price that has all the high end features of machines like janome and bernina. My favorite is the automatic threader...my eyes are not as sharp as they use to be and even in my 20s, threading that needle was a pain in the butt. This machine makes threading the eye of that needle effortless. Changing the feet in most of the newer more upscale models is just a push of a button (or lever on some) and the Singer is no different. It took me a few minutes to get that hang of lining up the bar on the foot to get it to grab but it works really nicely and makes changing out feet a piece of cake. I loved the idea of the automatic thread cutter but have not been impressed with it at all. Once I push that button to cut the thread, I no longer can see the bobbin thread...it's down under the throat plate somewhere. My next group of stitches looks fine on the top but when I turn the project over, the first few stitches had a bit of a nest going on. Once I stopped using the button and cut the thread manually, everything was fine. I called Singer to ask if this was supposed to happen or if it is a defect but the rep I got admitted she didn't know much about that particular machine and would have to get back to me. It's not a big enough issue for me to return the machine but it is why I gave it four stars instead of five...I will update the stars and the review if it turns out to be a defect.Two LED lights instead of one! This make a huge difference and even the high end models don't have this. One light by the needle in the standard place like most but another under the throat area of the machine that really lights up your whole workspace and really improves your visualization of the area...two big thumbs up!The display panel can be adjusted brighter or less depending on your needs. All of your most common stitches are in a row to the left of the panel which I loved as the panel was my biggest fear and searching for a straight stitch on that bad boy a bit terrifying. I was pleasantly surprised...okay, no...I was shocked at how easy that panel was to use. First of all it automatically adjusts the tension for you which I like but you can change it if you want. All of the default settings are highlighted for each stitch so if you play around with it and forget what the default was, no problem just keep scrolling until it highlights in black. For the decorative stitches, you can make them larger or smaller...mirror them...make them continuous or pick a specific number of repeats before it stops. You can change your stitch length and even change the position of the needle to the right or left if your sewing a really small hem like a french seam (just learned this one so I'm bragging..). You can also change the tension here if your using speciality threads or techniques but since it's done automatically, no need otherwise. I also love that the display panel shows you what foot you should be using for that stitch and the letter associated with it. I played around with multiple stitches and they all worked effortlessly. I will say that I was not impressed with the lettering stitches. They were okay but if you want really nice lettering...this is not the best function on this machine.Another nice feature for us beginners was the foot pedal speed setting. You set to how fast you want the machine to sew, even if you push the foot pedal all the way down. I found the slowest setting to be too slow even for me, but the middle setting just perfect...no more run away stitching. The bobbin cover is see through...a nice feature to see if you are running out of bobbin thread, although I would have liked to see seam guides on this as well and there are none...just on the throat plate. There is a button to set if you want the machine to stop with the needle down which is very nice to have and saves you time from manually using the hand wheel. There is also a button for reversing the stitch to secure your seams...again saves time. If your presser foot is up, the light is red warning you not to sew (in fact I think you cant sew with the red light on).Other than all of these advanced features, the real bargain of this machine is the accessory package included. This come with 24 accessories, many of them pressor feet that would cost you about 300 bucks to purchase seperately, an extension table and my unit came with a "bonus" pack of even more pressor feet which thrilled me. I don't plan on traveling with my machine but wanted a cover so that I could leave it out on the sewing table, so I was surprised to see it come with a hard dust cover that has a side storage area for my manual and warranty information.Customer service is another reason to buy this machine, especially if your are new to sewing. Singer has a support system where you can call 8am to 8pm most days except Saturday till 2 pm and no Sunday support. They have a large selection of videos and one very complete video for this machine that walks you through everything it does. I highly recommend having your phone or laptop next to your machine and watching it and going along with the video, it helped me tremendously.I paid $340 for this machine and the accessories alone would have cost me more than that. This is a machine I will be using for a long time, so no need to upgrade when my sewing abilities improve, yet this is not so overwhelming to a beginner like I thought it would be. A good warranty although I will need to mail it so be sure to keep the box if there is no service centers nearby.I would grab this machine while it is still available as the newer model is nearly $200 more, last I looked. I think this machine is the bargain of the century!UPDATE: Turns out the thread cutter was defective, Singer wants me to send it back for service...shipping on my dime. I called Amazon and not only are they sending me a new machine, they are not waiting for me to return my other one, so I can continue working on my project without any delay. Amazon is awesome! And of course the shipping back to them is free. Updating to five stars!ANOTHER UPDATE: I have had the machine for months now, turns out the automatic thread cutter is just crap so I just don't use it. No big deal for me. The machine has performed well and has gone through multiple layers (uh...like 5...don't judge me), occassionally needing a bit of a push to get through. I have a Brother embroidery/sewing machine that I got used as a back up and the thread cutter works great, so this is a Singer screw up...I ended up returning THREE of these machines thinking the thread cutter was defective...no, just a crappy thread cutter...not a big enough deal to take a star away. I probably sew about 4 days a week so this machine has had a workout from me. I still believe it is an unbelievable bargain for all the advanced features you get and will grow with a beginner for years.

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!)

I am a vintage Singer lover. I bought this machine after owing a Brother 6000si. I tried to sew several layers of fabric on it and it just could not do it. I then bought several vintage machines that will sew through almost anything. I really love them. I have come back to this machine for fancy stitches which vintage machines just don’t do well. So far, I love it. It sat in my house for a couple of years without being used at all. This machine willl spoil you in a hurry. It does deco stitches amazingly. If I need to sew a straight line, I use my old machines but anyting fancy I use this one. So far I love it