Since 1851, the name Singer has been synonymous with sewing. The spirit of practical design and creative innovation that characterized the company at its beginning continues today as we develop products for every level of sewing. We have celebrated many firsts, including the world's first zig-zag machine, the first electronic machines and we now proudly produce the world's most advanced home sewing and embroidery machine. From home décor and clothing construction to embroidery and quilting, SINGER® is dedicated to help people express themselves through sewing.
Pros:Good Value, Great Features, Easy To Use, Excellent Machine For The Price!
Cons:The User's Manual, No Warning About Turning The Knob Only Ccw
40 out of 42 people found this helpful.
The machine sews very well. Upper and lower thread tensioning is excellent, stitches are even with no puckering or gathering. Surprisingly solid feel, and very low vibration for such a value-priced machine. Bobbin loading is easy and problem free, and the bobbins hold a LOT of thread. Pressure foot release is beneath the arm, not behind it, I'm still getting used to that. The reverse is a button rather than a lever, but it works. Cons: the manual is a nightmare, each page contains multiple languages rather than having the different languages in their own section. I found it difficult and irritating to read. There are no photos, only rather poor drawings; and no help finding the "bobbin access door". My biggest, and really my only significant complaint, is the knob used to raise and lower the needle. Turning it clockwise can damage the machine, yet there is no anti-reverse pawl to prevent you from doing that. There isn't even a big red arrow or anything on the knob to warn you about it. I'm a guy...I read directions only as a last resort, and this piece of critical information is buried in fine print. I just made a couple fishing rod cases to try it out. It runs smoothly and the fabric tracks straight and smooth. Next I'll use the overcast foot and blind hem foot on my wife's new pants. I'm happy with the machine, and I would buy it again, but please, somebody, paint an arrow on the knob. Revise the manual by replacing the drawings with photos; show the location of the bobbin door; and please have separate sections for the different languages.
Pros:Good Value, Great Features, Easy To Use, Good Quality
Cons:Instruction Book Should Keep Languages Separate
16 out of 16 people found this helpful.
I have just begun to sew. My husband and I saw this machine at Cosco and bought it because it was a Singer at a reasonable price. Also, Martha Stewart "approved" it so I thought it would at least work! It actually works great and is easy to use!! I have sewed two projects so far, one of which required sewing through multiple layers of cotton fabric and batting. I encountered no problems as long as I paid close attention to the threading and made sure that the top thread and bobbin thread were always in the right locations and threaded as per the instructions. The instructions would be better if they had separate sections for the different languages instead of each sentence being in multiple languages on top of each other. But, the instructions are accurate and need to be read carefully in order to operate the machine properly. They really aren't very long--they just look long because of the multiple languages. I can't help thinking that some of the negative views stem from improper threading of the machine. Since the bad reviews were from experienced sewers though maybe this machine threads differently than most? I don't know because I have never owned another machine. All the different stitches are a really great feature, and they all look fabulous. This is a very good machine for the price, and I anticipate using for many years. I would have given it five stars, but I think that since I haven't tried any other machines, I didn't think it was fair to do so.
This machine was such a frustrating experience! I tried every tip and trick and nothing worked. I fallowed the manual to a T and still, issues abound. The C4 error continued to happen, regaurdless of thread tension, the stitch I was using etc. The machine knocks horribly, no matter how much you oil it and clean the shuttle/feed dogs etc. The decorative stitches also came out messy, even with repeated experiments with thread tension. The extension table is wobbly and the machine in general does not feel stable. I returned this machine to Target after only 3 weeks of trying everything to get it to function properly. I am very surprised that Singer would sell such a poor quality machine. Heed these reviews and save your money!
Pros:Good Value, Great Features, Easy To Use, High Quality
14 out of 16 people found this helpful.
I just purchased this machine to make a dog blanket and this inexpensive machine powered through some thick denim fabric and thick liners with no problems, I am impressed!
I have always wanted a sewing machine to make my own clothing and home decorations. After researching all of the different Singer models, I chose this one. It is simple, light weight and 80 stitch styles which I liked. The bobbin is kind of tricky, I had to reference the manual numerous times to get it right. The manual I find needs more features, to me it was just too plain, it needed more information and helpful hints. Some features I had to research online. The DVD did not have the descriptions for the Brilliance 6180 but rather showed other older models. This DVD needs some updating. Overall, I am happy with my machine. I am excited with the things I have made so far! Would recommend if you are a starter like me.
I bought this machine for a very good price (it was an 'open box' price). I think if it had been full price I would have hesitated a little more. Overall, the machine works great. All the options are a little overwhelming for a beginner so in the mean time I just keep in on the basic setting but am slowly learning about more advanced techniques. The only problem I've had with the machine is the Automatic Needle threader. A piece is just slightly off so it doesn't work exactly how it is supposed to but I would imagine this is particular to my personal machine. I find it easier to thread the needle manually anyway. I would definitely recommend this machine especially to someone who is a bit more advanced with sewing than I am!
My last Singer sewing machine I bought 28 years ago and it worked for me through all my various sewing projects including clothes, home decorating items, mending, quilting, etc. before finally dying on me this year, While this 6180 machine looks fabulous, and the various stiches were fun to play with,I only sewed a total of four feet or less before the bobbin caught and now I get a C4 error, and we have cleaned it inside and out and the error won't clear. I guess I'm not impressed with these "digital" machines... :-/ and I still have my new curtains to sew!!!
I bought this machine because it has a low price and lots of features. Unfortunately the performance is poor. The stitches are faulty and the machine is slow. Doing stretch stitches is painfully slow because if you go too fast, the stitches come out wrong and the zig-zag stitch is always faulty. There are constant tangles of thread knotting up under the sewing plate which then has to be cut out. Not good. I will most likely be returning this machine, however I will try all the stitches first to see if they work. The motor should be more powerful. It's only 0.62 Amps at 120hz ....too weak. I guess you really do get what you pay for. For all those people out there who do a lot of sewing...invest in an industrial machine ($1200-$1500) and you should see a significant difference in reliability and speed. Also, let a salesman demonstrate it first. Singer is a highly rated company and so, I am surprised and dissapointed with them. However I'm sure their industrial machines are good quality. I also own a serger sewing machine. It is also made by Singer and it is good. Singer, I hope you're paying attention.
I purchased this machine because of some of the features it promoted and the value it presented but when I started sewing with it, I encountered numerous problems. First of all, the thread kept bunching up on the underside of the fabric. It was awkward to have to continue getting into the bobbin case to clear up the threads everytime things bunched up. I changed to the metal bobbins that came with the machine and had fewer of those instances. Many times my material would bunch up under the pressure foot. Also when I would use a basting stitch it would gather up on me when I didn't want it to gather.The final straw was the C4 error message that appeared and this machine locked up not to be unlocked. Since this machine is only 7 months old, this is very frustrating and I am returning the machine to the place of purchase. I do not want to have to spend money to get this thing serviced. I will get my 50 year old Singer 401A serviced and not have these type of problems with it.
This was a gift to me from my friend. The first week the thread holder popped out and I cannot get it back in. The stich chart is easy to use and the threading is very easy to follow. the bobbin threader is great. But my only problem is now the needle threader is starting to act up and not feed the thread into the needle. I also have some problems with the foot feeder, the foot does not want to pull the material and the thread builds up causing a ripping out of the thread and to resew the item. Also what can you do with the noise while sewing very loud.
I bought this machine in a hurry from Target to replace my trusty old Singer that had worn out. It took about an hour to figure out how to even get to the bobbin which required taking off the extension table, opening a hidden door, and removing a bobbin holder to finally get to the bobbin itself. Imagine having to remove and reinsert the bobbin like this every time you needed to check to see if you had enough thread left to finish a seam! The bobbin holder had a tiny screw that had to be adjusted just right to prevent bunching of the thread during sewing. I finally mastered the technique but didn't want to have to do it this way for as many years as my previous machine had lasted. I returned this machine to the store, went to Hancock, and bought a Singer 7258 model with a one-step, top-loaded bobbin and even a clear bobbin cover plate that lets me see anytime how much thread is left. I'm much happier now.
Pros:Good Value, Great Features, Easy To Use, High Quality
4 out of 4 people found this helpful.
I had been without a machine for 4 years and bought this one to make crafts for family and friends. My first project was easy becauseof the good features on the machine. The bobbin was a little tricky, but I figured it out. The automatic threader was harder to understand. Had trouble with the tension for awhile until I realized I had to use the horizontal spool.
Cons:Complicated, Not As Good Quality As The Old Mechanical Singers
4 out of 4 people found this helpful.
I have a wonderful old Singer from the 50s, iron on wood with a knee lever for operation. It still works well, but it is very heavy to lift, and needs foot and plate changes whenever zigzag or buttonholes are needed. So when I saw this one at costco and read the reviews I was seduced. It is light, it is versatile, it is amazingly good value, but the old one actually does better buttonholes, better straight stiching, and better reverse stiching. The lightness of this one will make it handier to use for repairs etc, but I"ll still be hauling out the old one for serious sewing. (And I so wish there were more instructional videos on this site; as other reviewers have noted, the manual is pretty poor).
Cons:Poor Quality, Presser Foot Doesn't "self Adjust", Lack Of Service Centers, Very Little Time Used And It Has To Be Repaired
4 out of 5 people found this helpful.
I bought the 6180 to do a lot of different projects and with the multitude of stitch options I thought it was a great choice. After using the machine only a few times, I'm ready to be finished with this machine! Thread continually knots on the underside of the fabric I'm sewing on. The "self-adjusting" presser foot is no good. When I made a hem the machine bogged down going over the side seams, not "adjusted" for the increased amount of fabric. I picked the stitches out and tried again with the same results. I have to pull the fabric hard through the machine and pray my fabric won’t get stuck and that I’ll get enough stitches in to do the job and it won’t look like garbage. Also, my machine was making an occasional clunking noise. When it did that, I knew it had skipped another stitch. This happened no matter what thread I used, what needle I used, what settings I put the machine on, everything I tried failed. I called to get some help, they were very kind and helpful, I got told it's probably a timing issue and I could ship it (at my own expense) to the service center. There is not a service center less than two hours from my home so I’m stuck with shipping it. I’m so mad! I haven’t begun to use it the way I had hoped I would be able to and it already needs to be serviced?! Returning it. Hands down.
Cons:Complicated, Vertical Bobbin Does Not Lock In Place
4 out of 6 people found this helpful.
I received the Singer Brilliance 6180 as a Christmas present 12/2011. I followed the start up directions. It wadded up thread under my fabric IMMEDIATELY. I ripped out the thread. But had the same result 4 times. I put it back in the box for 11 Months. Today I took it back out to try to make some simple gifts for Christmas. But I am having the same problem, as I expected. The number one problem is that the bobbin, which sits vertically, does not lock in place (though the directions say, "Release the latch to lock bobbin case in place.") The latch is a floppy little metal thing with no spring to cause it lock in any way. I cannot fathom how it is suppose to lock. And I assume it is responsible for the instant jamming I always have.
I grow up watching my Mom sew on a Singer so when I decided to get one for my self there was only one machine for me so I bought it at a great price it stated it had all these features got it home opened the box checked out all the accessories and then I went to put them in the accessorie storage box andI found there was no cover so as Singer asked, I called them in stead of taking it back BAD MISTAKE! I bought it on 12/10/2010 it's now 3/4/2011 and still no part TAKE IT BACK if you are missing anything, they told me the part was on back order and they would send it when it came in still no call or letter no way to treat a customer other then that the machine is great made tons with it since I got it.
I purchased this machine one week ago today. When I first saw it I was thrilled with all the things it would do. Not so thrilled anymore. After one week the needle threader no longer works. If I can get it to come down to use it won't go back up. When I step on the peddle to make the machine go some times I have to step on it several times before it starts the same with the reverse button. I have been a loyal singer owner for 40 years and this has really dissappointed me. I will be returning this machine and possibly looking into a different brand. If I hadn't had all the problems I would say this was a fantastic machine for the value.
My 12 yo daughter started with a child singer model and moved to this one with ease. Very user friendly for novice and advanced sewer, like the less-of-a-sewer mother. Not a machine for expert sewers, may prefer models with more features. Manual is difficult and frustrating to use due to being in multiple languages on the same page. Otherwise, Machine is great basic machine and quality for the price.
Pros:Good Value, Great Features, Easy To Use, High Quality
Cons:Some Designs Don't Print As Well
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
I am a First time sewer and was able to start practicing right away thanks to the clear and understandable instructions. After a few uses I was able to sew the proper way and are really enjoying this machine.
My favorite feature is the time saver automatic threader.
Cons:Excessive Jitter & Bounce @ High Speeds, Have To Be Careful To Avoid Bobbin Jams On Thin Fabrics
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
So Far so good. ACtually, my machine is a model 6199, not a 6180, but there is no listing for it. Anyway, The machine is tight, not very noisy- only had a couple bobbin thread jams on thin/stretch fabric. Purchased some additional feet, although not listed for this machine and they work well. Paid $149.00 @ Wally World, looks like it will be as good as most. I like that it has a front load bobbin with Class 15 steel bobbins- gives more stability. It flies through fabric- use a ruffler and cording foot with great results. We all know this price range is considered disposable, but I've gone through 3 machines in the last 5 years (except my old heavy duty White which I use for sequins & heavy fabrics...great although like driving a freight train)..The Brilliance has performed well so far- better than my comparable Brother Runway Edition, which is on it's 2nd (plastic) bobbin chase. The Singer Brilliance seems to be better built and I have high hopes, that with care and not pushing it (these are not heavy duty commercials, but neither are the high $$$ Embroidery/Quilters...you just pay so much for them you have to hae them repaired when they croak...and they always do). I am happy, and looks like it will get me through the 3-4 year with heavy sewing cycle, I'm pleased. I am a costume designer and do some Haute-Couture specialty gowns & dresses (mostly hand sewing anyway-just some seam stitching). I am pleased. The machine is actually fun to sew on- a little jitter on the long seams and zigs. Great on the decorative stitches which has far more than I'll ever use... I am happy- Good warranty on this machine too....
I have been very disappointed with this machine and Singer as a whole. It worked at first, then started jamming occasionally and now it jams every two or three stitches. Also, I have not been impressed with their customer service. I had a Singer growing up and it worked great...hopefully I just got a dud machine that will work well once it is fixed.
I received this as a gift for Christmas and I was delighted. It was self-explanatory and easy to set up. I started sewing with it today and the first thing I noticed was that it was extremely slow. I'd never had a computerized machine and I heard they were considerably faster, but this one sews so much slower than my old machine. Secondly, the feature to raise the presser foot up for thicker fabrics is difficult to use; I have to keep one hand on the lever, so I only have one hand to put my fabric cuff under the foot. Finally, if this machine has such a feature, why is the machine not designed for thicker fabrics? The (correct Singer size 18) needle broke on the very first piece.
All in all, I was really excited about this gift. Now I'm disappointed to say that I won't be keeping it. When I got it, I was surprised when I found out how inexpensive it was; truly a value for the money. Turns out you get what you pay for, and this is not the high quality machine it is made out to be. It might be fine for a quilter, but I'd never recommend this for home decor (because it can't handle the fabric) or production (because it doesn't have the speed).
Pros:Good Value, Great Features, Easy To Use, High Quality
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
What a great machine! I love the variety of fancy stitches, the ease of switching from one to another and the consistency of the stitches. Makes for really neat and tidy decorating.
The Singer Brillaince is a great machine to carry off to your Quilt Guild Meetings. It’s attractive, has loads of fun stitches, and is light to carry around. If you have always wanted to quilt larger blankets but not wanted to pay a fortune for a long arm while maintaining portability then this is your machine.
I was able to quilt a queen sized blanket due to the wider arm space in a snap. The extendable table is a wonder on a portable machine. I have been able to piece work with greater efficiency and apply better pressure on feeding quilts through. The wide array of stitch selections allow more than just straight stitch-in-the-ditch quilting, so go wild. The needle threader is a delight to use, the yarn tension consistent and bobbin threading easy.
While this machine has improved where my old machine lacks, I have run into some difficulties. The automatic buttonholes do not complete with confidence and may get stuck. The Decorative Stitches, if run too long become baffled and will not stitch unless you reboot i.e. turning off the machine then back on then fining the stitch again. The Brillaince lacks its predecessors” horse power”. I attempted a Ruffler attachment from my older, stronger machine and found that the Brillaince could not pull the fabric through due to a smaller motor. Also, I have found that a walking foot attachment is a must to pull fabric through consistently (this may be a feed dog issue).
Overall there are many pros owning the Brillaince as a secondary/complimentary machine: the great price, the extendable table, the wide array of stitches and the light weight portabiltiy. I see the Brillaince as a great addition to my existing home model and can’t wait to bring it to my next guild meeting!
after getting used to the odd sideways thread system and the "tugging" it seems to create and the spool pin cap.....(all very foreign from my other singer models). well I find this machine to sew pretty stitches . I make t-shirt quilts and misc. home items.
cart
