Singer 7442

Singer is synonymous with sewing machines, but the caliber of the company's less expensive machines has suffered since production moved overseas. While the name no longer assures quality, Singer models are on par with other modern machines, most of which are built in Asia and made of plastic. The Singer 7442 sewing machine rates better than average for its price range, according to reviews. It has an aluminum body and electronically controlled stitches, which are generally more consistent. Buttonholes are also easier. Beginning sewers love this machine because it's simple to operate. More experienced sewers, however, are often frustrated by the lack of control and limited offering of 28 stitch types. The Singer 7442 has a one-step buttonholer, five snap-on presser feet, drop-in bobbin loading and an automatic needle threader. Reviewers report scattered instances of the bobbin casing breaking. In this price range, we found better reviews for the Brother CS6000i (*est. $180), which costs less and includes more built-in stitches.

Only user reviews evaluating the Singer 7442 sewing machine are available; there are no expert reviews of this machine based on professional testing. The sheer number of reviews provides plenty of information by which to judge the machine's strengths and weaknesses.