The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

In 30 years of sewing and 20 years of teaching, I have had the pleasure (and displeasure) of working with many different makes and models of sewing machines. I have kept a journal of the hits and misses I have come across with these sewing machines.

In the space below I share my experience, point out some flaws and offer some workarounds. In cases where I have been unable to find a workaround that will overcome the issues with a particular machine, I have marked them with 'n/a'.

This is a work in progress and will be updated as I discover more issues. If you have any suggestions for additions, correction, comments, or additional work-arounds, please e-mail me at dawncamerondick@aol.com

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
Bernina    
  model 180 hard to adjust tension to be happy with Wonder Thread
    no lower tension "finger" on bobbin
     
  1600 & 1630 seem to prefer the Wonder Thread with the base up
    do not thread thru last hook on needle shaft
     
  1008 does everything perfectly but does not include a sew table
    n/a
     
Brother    
  Galaxy 2000 Does not adjust
    n/a
     
  Galaxy 2100 use decorative stitch
    width .05/length 1.6
     
  XL4050 Does not adjust
    use zigzag
     
  Super Galaxy 3000 won't reduce below 3 on Blind hem. Mirror image #204
    width 1/length 1.8
     
  Ace +E Blind hem won't adjust use button hole stitch
    width 1.5/ length 1.6
     
  PS31 has the correct stitch and full adjustability
    Front loading bobbin. sews very well
     
  Celebrity 15 no width adjustment at all
    n/a
     
  Super Galaxy 2 Does not adjust
    use zigzag
     
  XL5031 Does not adjust
    use zigzag
     
  Super Ace 2 press the box with 4 A's choose the stem with leaves
    #55 width 1/length 1.4 or 1.2 (tension is very touchy)
     
  Bulbs cost 3-4 use Janome which cost only 1.50
     
Elna    
  model 6003 stitch #12
    width 1.5/length 1
     
  model 6004 stitch #17 activate reverse stitch button
    width 1.5/length .7
     
  3007 Stitch 9 or 10 but both "bite" to the right
    Has L & W dials which is nice
     
  2007 Stitch 8 but "bites" to the right
    has good W & L control
     
  6003 Has three good choices 12, 13 or 14
    completely adjustable
     
  6005 Heirloom Edition n/a
    stitch 16 adjusts as does buttonhole number 25
     
Fister & Rossman    
  new cub SP has no width adjustment
    n/a
     
Husqvarna See Viking  
     
Janome    
  model 3500 stitch #26 can't reduce width on left bite blind hem
    width 1.5/length .6
     
  M>C 5700 stitch #22 can't reduce width on left bite blind hem
    width 1.5/length .8
     
  Memory 4000 will not reduce width activate TOM button Stitch #17
    use reversed
     
  Memory 4800 Stitch #16 won't reduce but reverse blind hem #25 will
    use TOM button 1.5 width/ .7 length
     
  Memory 9000 #27 will adjust but not below 1 which is still too big
    #30 will adjust fully width 2/length .9
     
  Memory 8000 won't adjust below .1 which is still too wide
    use zigzag
     
  Memory 7500 won't adjust below 2.5 must use zigzag #35
    width 1.5/length 2.5
     
  6125 Adjustable but stitch 6 is backwards or use 22
    Has nice slide controls for width
     
  My style 22 Has blind hem but stitches it backwards
    is fully adjustable
     
  XC 33 Fully adjustable use stitch 15
    Width 2 / length 1
     
  My Excel 23X Stitch 10 is backwards
    Width 1.5 / length bottom of red tension at 1!
     
  6019 Has stretch blind hem & does regular blind hem backwards
    Is fully adjustable
     
  6260 15 won't adjust width & 26 won't change length
    zig zag? sad for such a potentially good machine
     
  3000 #11 stitch won't adjust the width
    #13 is a backwards blind hem but adjusts fully
     
  One Step 659 No width adjustment at all
    use zig zag
     
  EZEE Quilt not so easy! no width adjustment & only 3 zig zags
    n/a
     
  100000 version 2 won't adjust blind hem
    use stitch 84 blanket stitch   1.5 w/1 length
     
  M>C> 3000 Stitch 13 can be adjusted but "bites" the wrong way
    1 width/0.8 length
     
  415 Does a backwards blind hem
    n/a
     
Pfaff    
  1469 Stitch #17
    1 width/ .5 length
     
  Creative 1475 CD Stitch #16
    activate Twin Needle button to reduce width
     
  Creative 1473 CD Stitch #16
    Activate Twin Needle
     
  Tipmatic 6122 Use H
    width is acceptable
     
  Tipmatic 6120 Has no width adjustment use zigzag D
    Width 4
     
  Tiptronic 2020 Won't adjust below 2
    n/a
     
  Quilt Style 2040 Stitch #15
    Width 1/ length 3.5
     
  Quilt Style 2042 Stitch #15
    Width 1/ length 3.5
     
  Quilt Style 2010 Stitch #5
    Width 2/ length 1
     
  model 7510 n/a
    Activate Twin Needle width 3.5/length 1
     
  1522 Has no Blind Hen stitch only stretch hem
    Has dial width and length control
     
  1540 does adjust both width and length!
    width 1 / length top of 1
     
  6091 no width adjustment
    use zig zag
     
  Creative 7550 does blind hem - activate twin needle
    width 3.5/ length 1
     
  Creative 7570 same as 7550
    n/a
     
  6150 Tipmatic Use K&G together just under the line
    n/a
     
  Stretch & Jeans 6091 No width adjustment
    use zig zag
     
  Tiptronic 6270 Stitch #14  reduce tension to just before 2
    width 2/ length 1
     
  Tipmatic 1151 no width control
    n/a
     
  Tipmatic 6100 has no width adjustment
    n/a
     
Toyota    
  Quilt & Couturier no width or length adjustment only 3 preset zigzag & straight
    Does not even drop feed dogs! Useless!
     
  SA63 under 150 has blind hem & is completely adjustable
    n/a
     
Viking    
  550 Lily Beautiful stitch still has drop in bobbin
    n/a
     
  Easy Sew 350 Not so easy-no blind hem must use zigzag
    n/a