Choosing a beginner’s sewing machine can be a little difficult in a market flooded with models. Singer has a reputation as a trustworthy brand, but then it’s a matter of narrowing down the options to find what you need. The Tradition Series is a great place to start. Let’s take a look at two of these basic sewing machines to see which one will be the best for you.
SINGER 2259 Tradition Easy-to-Use Free-Arm 19-Stitch Sewing Machine
The Singer 2259 comes with 19 built-in stitches along with a 4-step buttonhole maker. It’s a mechanical sewing machine so there’s no computerized controls, just two simple dials for selecting a stitch and altering its length. You can adjust non-stretch and zigzag stitches up to 4mm in size. For the zigzag pattern, move the dial to the narrower or wider part of the image on the dial.
The one four-step buttonhole stitch is the classic Bartack style, which means it’s straight on all four sides. To create a buttonhole, simply place the button you want to use inside the buttonhole foot. Then the machine will sew around it as you move the pattern selector.
Although there are only 19 stitches, you can make basic quilts, tablecloths, pillowcases, and clothes with them. The free arm design of the Singer 2259 lets you remove the accessory drawer to create a smaller “arm” or workspace for sewing cuffs on sleeves and collars on shirts.
Although the machine can sew denim, it’s not powerful enough to handle very thick materials or thick layers of heavy fabrics even though it has an extra high presser foot lifter. The four-piece feed dog is good enough for lightweight and medium fabrics but not for things like canvas, leather, fur, or upholstery.
To begin using the machine, there’s no automatic threader but there are diagrams to show you where to run the thread. You’ll also be making manual adjustments to thread tension for both the needle and the bobbin. But you can wind bobbins automatically by tapping on the foot pedal. The machine will stop once the bobbin is full. There’s no transparent cover so you can’t peek later while you’re sewing to see when you’re getting low on thread.
Although Singer says you can drop the feed dogs (like when you’re sewing velvet and don’t want to crush it), all you can really do it place a darning plate over them.
The 2259 is marked as a single needle machine and its position isn’t adjustable, although some of the straight stitches will move it a little bit to the right side. There is an incandescent work light located above the needle. It’s user-replaceable.
When you’ve finished sewing, there is a button you can push to reverse sew and tie off your work. There is a thread cutter located on the left side of the machine that you can use manually to free your project.
More features of the Singer 2259 Tradition sewing machine:
- Comes with all purpose zigzag foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, and zipper foot, as well as other accessories
- Covered by Singer’s 25-year limited warranty
SINGER 2277 Tradition Sewing Machine with Automatic Needle Threader
The Singer 2277 has several worthwhile advantages over the 2259. While it’s similar in that it’s a mechanical sewing machine with a free arm design, it has easier-to-use features.
The 2277 has an automatic needle threader which saves a lot of time and hassle. The one-step buttonhole maker also saves time and effort. There aren’t many more stitches programmed into the 2277, but it offers automatic thread tensioning. That’s also a big help when you’re sewing stretchy synthetics or thin materials.
With the 2277, you can sew with twin needles unlike the 2259. That’s good news if you like making decorative projects. You can adjust the needle position to help you topstitching and sew in zippers. There is automatic control over presser foot pressure, and you can lift the presser foot extra high for quilting layers. You can even adjust stitches up to 5mm in size.
More features of the Singer 2277 Tradition sewing machine:
- Comes with all purpose zigzag foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, as well as other accessories
- Covered by Singer’s 25-year limited warranty
Recommendation
A true beginning sewer may appreciate the easier learning curve of the Singer 2277 unless they want to experience the challenge of manually threading a machine and manually adjusting thread tension (which can be tricky for stretchy and thin fabrics) on the 2259.
The amount of money you might save by going with the 2259 over the 2277 is small compared to the advantages the 2277 has over the 2259. Plus, the 2277 can sew with twin needles and offers stitches up to 5mm in size.
Click here to purchase SINGER 2259 on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase SINGER 2277 on Amazon.com!