Reviews of Neopiko-2 Basic 24 Colors Set

Customer Ratings:

I bought these markers forever ago for a fraction of the price. If I made more, I'd buy them again at this price. My set is still going strong, though I need to replace a few of more more often used colors. The markers have beautiful lay down. They blend beautifully. They're easy to use. The colors are vibrant, but have a nice translucence. The flesh tones included are fabulous. I recommend picking up a complimentary set in grey, though. The two included are nice, but not enough. You'll also need to get a colorless blender, though I usually use a pale grey for that.

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Folk Art 4066 Enamel 2-Ounce Acrylic Paint, Turquoise Review

Customer Ratings:

Beautiful color, and was perfect for all of the little craft projects in my daughters new room. I had an old bottle of this, purchased from Michaels, but am now living over seas. When I ran out, midway through a project, I was delighted to so easily find the same exact color and brand on Amazon!

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I love this colour, and i love Folk Art. It is being eased out because Martha Stewart decided she had to invade the market now too. Glad i could still get it

Best Brother LB-6800THRD Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine Deals

Customer Ratings:

I am a seamstress with 40 years experience. I love this machine, it makes sewing so simple. You have the option of sewing with or without a foot pedal. Unlike many older machines, it actually does the built in stitches with ease and they look beautiful. It manages very thick utility sewing without trouble. This is a very feature loaded and complex machine, but if you read the manual, follow the tutorials on the cd or at Brother.com you will find it does any task really well. The thread supplied Brother's Pacesetter embroidery thread is especially shiny (also available100 Spools Polyester Embroidery Machine Thread). I have had this machine for 2 years, have had no problems, found it intimidating at first, and continue to find more things it can do. Brother also offers many designs that are easy to download, then connect your computer and embroider away. You can also get PE-DesignBrother PED-Basic Software for Downloading Embroidery Designs, which is really great embroidery software. A previous reviewer mentioned that she couldn't get sheer fabric to feed through, if the feed dog switch on the back isn't in the down position (for embroidery), then try an old trick, place a sheet of paper or stabilizer under the fabric, sew, then tear it away. I suspect the needle breakage was from trying to pull the fabric through when it wouldn't feed, the manual also mentions incorrect spool cap as a possible cause. This is a "smart" machine and is programmed to do many things that in the past were only skills experts had.

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Not sure what the complaints are of course it's got a lot of plastic it's a portable. As to strength,well, I make teddy bears out of recycled fur coats. They're a way for people (like me) who would never wear or buy fur to save grandma's treasures. This machine worked well and seams are 4 layers: 2 of pelt/leather and 2 of muslin. And I tend to sew in 6-8 hour shifts (which caused problems for my old machine). I used the same machine to make a silk dress with tulle skirt for a teddy. Again, no problems whatsoever. Haven't used embroidery features yet, but even without, I'm very happy with this machine.

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I DONT KNOW WHAT THIS LADY IS TALKING ABOUT GIVING A 2 STAR IS A 6 STAR MACHINE.....THE BEST SO FAR..

Honest reviews on Brother LB-6800THRD Computerized Sewing and Embroidery Machine

Many of you say you love this machine I did too until it seized up and I was told that it would cost me over $200 to repair. I was told the gears seized and this repair would not even be covered if it was still under warranty. I purchased the machine one year and two months ago. When I contacted Brother and requested a detail of what is covered and what is not I got the run around and no one could tell me exactly. They just repeated the verbiage in writing. When I ask for a diagram this was something unheard of. I just wanted to see what exactly was covered for 25 years. This request was not granted.

Ladies and gentlemen do yourself a favor send a little more and get a good quality. As they say "if it seems to good to be true it probably is"

Unhappy Brother sewing machine owner.

"For Sale: large paper weight or small anchor"

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I bought this sewing machine after an extensive research and reading what other ppl commented on it. Quite a lot of people love this machine and had fairly good review of it. However, I returned this machine because the foot does not press down the fabric with enough pressure. For example, a jersey is thin and stretchy but this machine would not sew it correctly.

Since I'm a novice, I thought this difficulty coule be me and not the machine. So, I had a professional alteration personelle to use this and examine it for me. After she tried to sew couple different fabrics she said this machine is not worth any money. Most of the parts are made of plastic and it just won't do what it's meant to do. This doesn't have the power to pull in the fabric as you sew if there's a little seam where the foot has to sew through. And I'm not talking about any heavy fabric. A needle broke on the first time I had her try this.

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide if you want to give this a try as there are many others who like this. Or, you can just go get a different brand like me. I've moved onto either purchasing Janome or Viking.

Buy Sakura XNCW-12H 12-Piece Koi Assorted Water Colors Field Sketch Set

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $26.49
Sale Price: $19.22
Today's Bonus: 27% Off

I own this Koi watercolor kit. I truly love it! Why? the box is made of sturdy white plastic, it closes nicely. It comes with a great waterbrush; I love this brush!. Virtually, you don't even need to carry a bottle water, just have the waterbrush filled up with water before you leave home (assuming you only plan to paint for a very short amount of time or a small watercolor sketch)the sponge that comes with it absorbs water nicely.

My only concern when I bought this set was the quality of the watercolors (artist's vs. students) but the watercolors are really good! I was really surprise how bright the colors were!. By the way, I love and use this set so much that I decided to refill the pans.

A friend of mine saw me using it and I lend it to her, she loved it so much that she decided to buy one for herself! My baby brother loved my set so much that I bought one for his birthday! :) It is truly a great buy, easy to clean, very practical and useful. It is also a great gift idea for the artist in your family, compliment this gift with a small watercolor sketchbook and presto!

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In simple terms? The watercolors are in a simple and small carrying case excellent for travel. You can mix the colors on the lid side of carrier and it fits perfectly in my backpack. I would recommended for beginners of all ages.

Best Deals for Sakura XNCW-12H 12-Piece Koi Assorted Water Colors Field Sketch Set

This tiny powerhouse of color is hands-down the most indispensable item in my artist's toolkit. Compact and convenient, it's a perfect take-along for a day of plein-air painting, watercolor sketching at the museum, or art journaling at the coffee shop. The included water brush is handy and stores more than enough water for an afternoon of painting.

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I bought this small set planning to use it on a trip for a sketch book. Honestly did not find time so I wish I'd gotten the bigger set as it's got really lovely colors and a larger brush-still, this is very small, light and cute. Nice colors except would a have eliminated black and white.

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This kit is very handy to take along in my purse or pocket. The colors are vibrant, and the brush is good as well. I'd definitely recommend this kit for on the go sketching.

Best 48 Soft Drawing Pastels in Brilliant Assorted Colors Deals

Customer Ratings:

This chalk was inexpensive and worked perfect for what I used it for which is hair chalking. Washed out easily when needed and stayed in the whole day.

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My mother purchased this 48-set of drawing pastels for christmas this year. As a studying art undergraduate the $15 cost of these is very nice and worthwhile.

The pigment goes onto pastel paper pretty smoothly, and allows for great blending to take place. The wide variety of colors is also great.

Some small problems I had is that these things are SOFT. Meaning that when I opened them from the mail several of them were broken in half already. Now I don't really have major issues with that, but it's just a small caveat to future buyers. Also, from an artistic standpoint there wasn't a whole lot of dark toned pieces besides the black. I didn't find any deep rich browns or purples. So if you're trying to create some realistic or high-contrasting pieces you might have to buy a supplemental set for those colors. I myself already had some other sets to take care of this issue.

Overall, I give this item 4/5 stars and I would definetely recommend this set for students and amateur artists alike!

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These pastels were shipped with no broken peices (except for one)! $10 for 48 pastels is a bargain, way cheaper than the generic brand at Michaels. They aren't fragile and don't crumble into a mess so overall good product!

Honest reviews on 48 Soft Drawing Pastels in Brilliant Assorted Colors

item meets all my needs that I'm using them for. Purchased to use for chalking hair and there are tons of colors to choose to match everything.

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This is a nice set of pastels for the price. Great colors. I bought this as a gift, and the recipient was very happy.

Discount Dimensions Pencil by Number, Friendly Animals Variety Pack

Customer Ratings:

I am absolutely thrilled about this purchase. I had never colored any "advanced" color by number pictures, so I really didn't know what to expect. The quality of the canvas board the picture you color is printed on is really great. Nice, thick and durable. I have had the product for over a week now, and am still not half way through the first picture! Well worth the money. And I do plan on buying the other varieties once I am finished with this one!

The only complaints I have are really minor. The color by number charts for each picture are normal sized paper, which makes some parts really hard to see and follow. The pencil leads are a bit soft it seems, I have to sharpen them often for precision. And the number chart for which color is what number is on the back of the box, meaning I have to keep it around. But that is not so much a bad thing since I also need the box to determine if I am supposed to color a light shade of the color, or a darker shade of the color, which is another small hassle.

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My 12 year old loves these. She puts a lot of time an effort to create/ color each canvas. We have each finished artwork displayed around our home. Fun, educational and keeps her busy in a good way

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It seemed a little difficult for a beginner, but my 7 year old did remarkably well with it. The color numbers are not printed on the picture like I have seen in the past, so you have to look at the picture to decide which color to use.

Honest reviews on Dimensions Pencil by Number, Friendly Animals Variety Pack

I purchased it as a gift for my grandchildren and they loved it. In an age of video games, that is definitely a positive.

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My sons were invited to a birthday party for a female classmate with an artistic personality. We chose this gift because it is a great value and provides hours and hours of entertainment. The package arrived on time for the birthday party and in great condition.

Designed for children ages 8 and up, the kit comes with easy instructions, four printed art boards and numbered charts, 24 colored pencils, and a pencil sharpener. The finished size is 9" x 12" (23 x 30 cm).

My sons reported that their gift was well received.

Dimensions Needlecrafts is owned by EKSuccess Brands, which specializes in scrapbooking, needlecrafts, jewelry making and other kids' crafts. Their other brands include EK Tools, Inkadinkado, Jolee's, K&Company and Martha Stewart Crafts.

If you like this product, I recommend you check out their other kids' craft kits: Animal Friends and Pencil Works Variety Pack II, the latter of which is eligible for Amazon's 4-for-3 promotion. Buy any 4 eligible items and get the lowest-priced item free.

Rating: Five stars

Cheap Derwent Inktense Pencils, 4mm Core, Metal Tin, 12 Count (0700928)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $14.87
Today's Bonus: 50% Off

My mom informed me that she was sending me some watercolor like pencils but different as a gift. I thought "okay, well I'll be using those as colored pencils then" as I'd had watercolor pencils before and was never impressed by any of them. She assured me these pencils are impressive. Bright. Could be used on fabrics. Blah blah blah. It all went in one ear and out the other really. They arrived. I drew with them. Didn't really bother trying the water aspect until I got bored one day.

WOAH. I should have listened to mom. We've all learned by now our moms are usually right, right? Yeah these colors are really intense ok INKtense after you add water. In fact they're nice and all when you draw with them but really they're much better with water, which is a first for me with pencils meant to be used with water. The colors lighten and brighten so much after adding water that I almost couldn't believe they came from these pencils. Once dry you can layer new color on top of them, ink over them, etc. The original wash will stay pretty well set if truly dry.

I've not experimented on fabrics yet beyond a quick test that I haven't yet washed, but they did work well and my mom assures me if handled properly they work well (a quick search will find you tips for setting them into the fabric though all you need is a fabric medium and an iron).

I'd probably go with a larger set but starting small never hurt anyone. Personally I plan on buying more colors.

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I like these new pencils as the product claims they are permanent. They're like watercolor pencils only once make a wash with them the color doesn't smear. I found I had to wait a day before varnishing painting so they wouldn't smear, but look forward to testing these pencils again soon!

Best Deals for Derwent Inktense Pencils, 4mm Core, Metal Tin, 12 Count (0700928)

These inks are wonderful on fabric. I use them to enhance my digital prints of original photographs. They are not nearly as messy as using tubes or tablets. .

Honest reviews on Derwent Inktense Pencils, 4mm Core, Metal Tin, 12 Count (0700928)

I've bought tons of art supplies over the years, including other water-soluble pencils. As I'm sure you noticed from the description, Inktense are different in that, once wet, then dried, the color is permanent. You can use them as dry pencils and the pigment/binder is soft enough to get a nice deep shade of your color. When you add water, however, the color really pops. The perfect companion for these is a waterbrush. With the Inktense pencils, a waterbrush & a small drawing pad, you've got a portable mini "studio".

I started with the 12-pencil set, in case I wasn't happy with them. I plan on buying a bigger set when these are gone (or maybe even before!) so I can have more colors. The 12-color set set I received includes the following colors:

-Poppy Red

-Deep Indigo

-Bark

-Apple Green

-Deep Earth

-Teal Green

-Sun Yellow

-Sea Blue

-Leaf Green

-Fuschia

-Tangerine

-Ink Black

I've seen, on other sites, sets of 12 with different colors, but this is what I received from this seller.

I use them with a fine point Sharpie since the Sharpie ink is unaffected by water. I love using these and I think you will, too!

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The 'Art Rebel' that I am, I wanted to try something more exciting than regular colored pencils . I draw a lot of faces and combine different mediums. Like watercolor and a layer of pastels and add fine details with pencil. I was very happy to see that these Derwent pencils, which are really a form of ink, blended in so well with the watercolor I was doing and after it was dry stayed in place even when the paper was wet. I also found that I can take a wet brush, rub it against the pencil tip and get instant 'wash' to apply to my painting. I just love this product. Derwent is of superior quality and well worth the money. If you buy it here on Amazon its a lot cheaper than in the art store. While the Inktense have a deeper more intense color it can be lightned by adding the color with a brush OR just buy a set of Derwent Graphite pencils . They are much lighter and good for a lighter wash.

Best Master Airbrush® Brand Model G22 Airbrushing System with MAS Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $46.96
Today's Bonus: 53% Off

The good:

-The compressor works alright, it turns out a burst of about 20-ish psi and then drops to around 18, which is enough for the airbrush to work.

-The airbrush is great for being so cheap.

The bad:

-The compressor drops psi after the initial burst. Make sure to spray without paint when you first push the lever down, or you'll get a really heavy burst that you don't want.

-No quick disconnect for the air hose, only comes with the screw-on fitting. Not the worst thing in the world.

I use this airbrush for miniature (Warmachine) painting, and while it's not phenomenal, it does the job I need it to just fine. Good starter kit to see if you want to airbrush at all.

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I bought this to use with make up and it works great. Not high quality but does the job better than the air compressor from Luminess.

Best Deals for Master Airbrush® Brand Model G22 Airbrushing System with MAS

This is a great buy. when i first opened it i was a little worried about the air compressor but im surprised. Im new to air brushing and this is a great starter kit. i buy acrylic paints from walmart 57 cents to test and im very surprised how well it works. only problem is i cant do super thin lines the paint just spreads off from the air but im not really worried. i recommend this to everyone who wants to try out airbrushing. i didnt receive a learning book that suppose to be included but oh well its good experience.

Honest reviews on Master Airbrush® Brand Model G22 Airbrushing System with MAS

I am reviewing this system as a novice--I don't figure there are too many pros out there interested in buying it.

I have been painting for years, but wanted to try something new. I wasn't willing to expensive equipment and be stuck with it.

This is a great bargain from what I could have bought at a craft store.

I haven't had any problems with the air compressor.

If you are thinking about it but nervous about wasting money on something you won't be able to do the rest of this review is for you.

1--it is messy

2--you can figure it out

I have used airbrush paint and craft paint.

Both have to be thinned to use with this brush--the airbrush paint bottle i have says that it will go through .5 mm brush, and this is only .3mm.

I haven't quite mastered mixing paint to the right consistency--somewhere I read to make it the consistency of 2% milk. I think that's right. Some brands (and even colors) spray better than others. I wish I hadn't bought the set of airbrush paint--since I have to thin it anyway.

I can't give it five stars because I don't "love" it. I am not sure I'd love any of them.

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I did my research. Yes, this awesome airbrush system CAN be used for makeup as well. A MUCH better airbrush product & only 45.00!!! Has ALL the features one must have to apply airbrush makeup AND it is better quality. HIGHLY suggests getting this product if you would like to airbrush makeup & do not want to spend 200.00, want a pink compressor & like great quality.

Jewelry Making: 12 Sets Tibetan Silver Pendants, Lead Free Review

Customer Ratings:

Easy to use, but noticed after a short time the silver started to rub off. This happened only on the ones that are being used not the ones in the bag still.

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SINGER Quantum Stylist Computerized Sewing Machine Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $699.99
Sale Price: $329.99
Today's Bonus: 53% Off

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Okay, here's the thing. I've spent the last several years happily sewing along with my Huskystar E20 by Husqvarna. It's a basic machine, but it got the job done. Really, I was happy, but I had no idea what I was missing out on. When I was recently upgraded to this Singer Quantum Stylist machine, I was at first skeptical of the computerized side of it and slightly concerned it would be too much machine for me: a beginner seamstress.

When the machine arrived I couldn't wait to try it out, I opened it immediately and carefully read through the manual (which is surprisingly simple for a machine with so many features). I wound the bobbin and threaded the machine while reading the instructions on how to do so very carefully it's just a tad different than your basic machine where the spool sits on top. Once I got all set up with some brown thread and a white dish towel to practice on, I slowly pushed down on the pedal and WOW.

"It sews like magic!!!" I exclaimed, and my husband laughed. And then I went crazy trying out all the features that were new to me, since I formerly only owned a very basic machine. I was shocked at how smoothly and quietly this Singer machine runs. The computerization of it is simple and easy to get the hang of.

Since receiving the machine a few weeks ago now I've completed more sewing projects than I've ever done in my life. This machine is wonderful and makes me feel more like a professional than a beginner (which I am!) I've always used sewing machines, I grew up doing projects on my mom's now-vintage Singer, but I've never really gotten into it. Now with this machine, I'm always excited for that next new project. I love sewing!!! WITH my SINGER, that is.

I understand that there are many machines on the market with the same or at least similar features, this isn't the only machine that can wow a beginner who's just moving up from the most basic machine. BUT, if you are someone looking to invest in a nicer machine with more features, I can definitely recommend THIS one! And if you're someone like I *used* to be, who doesn't think you NEED a fancy machine and that your basic one is just fine think again. I'm sold!

My favorite part is that even through all the projects I've completed already, I haven't had this machine jam at all. Not. Even. Once. This is new to me. I used to have such trouble with learning how to set the tension and my old Huskystar would jam seemingly constantly. This Singer machine is a smart machine. I haven't had a single jam and I'm LOVING it. I can just get through my project without stopping every few minutes and grabbing my seam ripper to unhook a clump of thread.

Other features I've been so impressed with are:

* The self-cutting feature is SO cool. When you're done with a seam, you press a button and it finishes off for you amazing! The bobbin thread ends up below the feed dog again but there is no need to draw it back up just start your next seam and keep going. It also makes for less thread waste.

* The massive number of different decorative stitches it can do is amazing! I sewed a line of bicycles down my kitchen towel BICYLCES! With little girls at home, I'm having great fun with the hearts, flowers, and letters, too.

* Despite having to learn a slightly new system of threading & bobbin-winding/loading, after the first few times it became second nature and easy. The self-threading needle tool is (I'll say it again) AMAZING! So easy, this machine.

* Loving the speed control. Sometimes I just want to go fast, and other times I want to go s l o w and carefully, so this is a great feature.

* Programmable patterns are really neat to play with and add special touches to your projects.

* Comes with plenty of accessories to get your started and then some, an impressive number of special feet!

As I already said, if you have a basic (blah) machine, and you're even just thinking about someday upgrading THIS is the machine I would pick for you! It's a complete joy to use and to have around. It upstaged my Husqvarna big time. Singer makes a fantastic machine. I would definitely also consider any of their machines in the future. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a sewing project to go work on...

UPDATE 2/1/12 I've now owned and used this machine for over five months, and I'm happy to report that I love it just as much as day one, if not more. Now that I'm so familiar with this sewing machine, getting set up and going is even faster. I love the speed at which I can start and finish a project. This past week I had my first hiccups with jams on this machine. I was very disappointed when it started jamming every few stitches. Honestly, I sort of panicked and asked my left-brained husband to help me figure out what was wrong. I did a little bit of troubleshooting to no avail, then finally my husband tinkered with it for a while and had it fixed. Turns out, all that needed to be done was to re-thread the machine! Duh! It's also important to note, I was sewing with a thin, low quality fabric (which I will never choose again) and I ended up needing to re-thread a couple times when sewing with that fabric. After that, when I switched over to better fabric that was more thick and typical of what I use, this machine no longer had any issues. Also, I have to say, that my first jam occurring after whole 5 months of use is pretty awesome.

UPDATE 1/17/13 Just popping in to say I still adore this machine. Almost a year and a half later and tons of sewing projects under my belt--I still have had no real jamming or tension issues and love to use my Quantum Stylist by Singer. Also, I notice that the price has come down a bit since it was first released. Worth every penny, I'd say.

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First of all, I wanted to point out that this machine comes with the value added accessory package as well as the hard case and extension table. You will see that advertised on other websites, but the Amazon description does not state it. So it was a very pleasant surprise to open the box and see those accessories included.

As for the machine, you really could not get a better deal for your money. I'll admit, I've been pretty leery of Singer in the past few years and have several sewing machines. I'm actually replacing a computerized Kenmore with this one and know that I made an excellent choice. The features on this machine are outstanding. The fact it has an automatic thread cutter was enough to get me to buy this. The stitch quality is excellent and the monograms come out perfect. Selecting your stitches is as easy and adjusts the stitch length and width along with tension, automatically. But you do have the choice to set those yourself as well and that is not hard to do. Another feature that is not mentioned is the fact the machine has dual lighting on the bed. So not only is the area where the presser foot lit, but also the bed of the machine. It lights up the whole area very well. You normally find this only on high end machines.

For $329, you just can't go wrong. I've sewed with machines that cost 3-4 times as much and this does just as well as they did. Not to mention the amount of stitches this machine has is unreal! Singer has definitely hit the mark with this machine and I'm surprised this isn't selling faster!

Lastly, I want to mention that you should be receiving the updated model. Initially, when this machine came out a couple of years ago, there were some issues with the bobbin jamming. So I think that is why some people were hesitant on purchasing this model since a number of early reviews mention this problem. But Singer corrected this issue at the end of 2010 or beginning of 2011 and added a blue swirl graphic to the front of the machine. So if you have the machine with the graphic, you're getting the newer version and won't have this issue.

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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program PROS -Automatic thread tension, thread cutting, stitch lock-down. Has lots of stitch patterns including decorative and alphabets, many accessories and presser feet included, foot-pedal not required (good for disabled), no lubrication needed.

CONS -No automatic bobbin winding or threading. Numerous letters and decorative stitches may be bloatware, depending on your sewing needs; confusing stitch terminology in the manual. There is no memory to save sequences of character/decorative stitches which you define. Requires 15J bobbins (not common). No stippling stitch (for quilting).

[ETA: comments from a Singer repair tech about WHAT NOT TO DO added, see the very end of this review. -10/3/2011 ]

This is a versatile machine, with cleverly designed utility stitches, and numerous decorative stitches (a little over 100 are designs, the rest are alphabets). It has many more capabilities and automated tasks compared to my 40 year old zigzag machine. In use, this machine is much smoother and quieter than my old one. It took me 18 minutes to hook up everything and wind a bobbin and thread the machine for the first time, slowly following the instructions in the manual, much faster subsequently. I was expecting it to be annoying to select stitches on the LCD screen, but t was actually very easy (though I keep forgetting to check which presser foot the LCD says to use for the selected stitch). The decorative stitches don't always turn out quite the same as their icon, so test them first, but they are fun. I had no tension problems -it was sure nice to skip the pre-sew step of tensioning test seams. The reverse button is much easier than manually turning a mechanical lever on my old machine, and having a tack button is nice also. [NOTE: now that the 9970 is available, you may want to consider that instead, because it seems to be the same basic machine but with even more accessories. -ETA 29 Dec 2013]

Overall I am finding this an easy and inviting machine to use, and it makes me realize that I should have gotten a new one long ago. Three features make the biggest difference to me with regular use:

automatic thread tension

automatic lock-down of stitches at the beginning and end of a line of straight stitching (stitches #3 or #4)

automatic thread cutting (press a button, and the top thread is pulled to the bottom, and then both threads are cut)

Together, these three features really speed up sewing tasks. Unless I need a feature only available on some other machine, this is the one I use. But there are so many significant features to describe for this machine, that for those interested, I go into more detail below.

[ETA 6/21/12] The one thing that Singer left out of this product is a manual that tells you how to do interesting things with the presser feet and advanced capabilities which it provides. So if you get this (or a similar advanced sewing machine), you may want to consider these books:

The Sewing Machine Accessory Bible: Get the Most Out of Your Machine---From Using Basic Feet to Mastering Specialty Feet which explains each of the presser feet (plus a few more not included) and shows you ways of using them -this is the "missing manual" that should have been included with the machine.

Encyclopedia of Sewing Machine Techniques which shows you how to do some fabulously artistic decorative sewing techniques using the special presser feet and stitches of this machine.

I first got each of these books from the library, but then decided I needed to purchase them. If you are a new sewer, you may also want to read a good sewing manual that covers all the basic and advanced utility sewing techniques.

p.s. It fits just fine into the Singer Universal Sewing Machine Case, including the extra-large table (mine did not include a case).

p.p.s. There are some more useful instructions on the SingerCo website:

There is a page with links to more detailed instruction pdfs and videos for the various presser feet.

The instruction manual page has a "workbook" for the similar 9940, which is useful for going beyond the instruction manual and learning more about how to use the various tools and settings that come with this sewing machine. If you want model-specific instructions for techniques in the two books I mention above, look here.

DETAILS (for those who want to know the specific attributes of the machine, otherwise stop reading here).

Jump to the bottom of the review to read what the Singer repair Tech said. [The pdf manual is available at the singerco website, so I will reference page numbers below; also questions and answers are available at .]

There are two kinds of stitch families on this machine: A) traditional continuous stitch patterns, and B) single-use character/design stitches which you use to compose "phrases". When you select a stitch, the LCD will tell you which foot works with that stitch, and gives you relevant options such as stitch width -some stitches can be elongated, reversed, or mirror flipped. Each group of stitches is used differently:

A) Continuous Stitch Patterns (p. 20): For this type of stitch, you pick one and then sew with it, and that stitch is sewn over and over. There are 20 workhorse utility stitches which you use for most standard sewing tasks, including things such as blind hemming, overcasting, elastic application, quilting, button sewing, etc., most of which are subtle variations of the basic straight or zigzag stitch for specialized purposes. Then there are another 96 decorative stitch patterns (some of which may be useful for things like applique, etc.). And then there are 16 buttonhole stitches which map out a specific route for the stitching path (including an eyelet). Some of these stitches are quite clever, such as #7 which is better than zigzag for stretchy fabric, or #8 which produces a running stitch that looks like a run of disconnected dashes (to mimic hand-sewn). There are some stitches to help with sewing productivity, such as stitch options to automatically go into reverse tack-down at the beginning and end of a seam, or a darning grid stitch (p. 38). Most of these stitches can be used with twin needles (p.43). Although it is not an embroidery machine for producing large images, you can do free-hand embroidery (p. 42).

B) Character Stitch Patterns (p. 49): These are single-use stitches, which you string together on the LCD display into whatever sequences you want, to make words or phrases or designs up to 60 characters in length, like you would type on a keyboard. This sequence ends up being a pattern which you have designed. These include 34 designs and little pictures, four Roman alphabets (upper and lower case including accented characters, in san-serif, slanted sans-serif, script, and outline with serifs), and one Russian alphabet (sans serif). The letters don't always turn out as nicely as you might like, so test them (e.g. no descenders in lower case letters). Once you specify a sequence of these characters, the sequence can be sewn multiple times. However this machine has no memory, so that you lose the sequence when you turn it off.

Some of the nice features include:

-Use of the included foot pedal is not required, because there are push-button options for many operations: start/stop, reverse, speed control slider, needle up/down, thread cutter (p. 10-11). Someone with a foot disability can still use this machine to sew.

-Also 8 of the most useful utility stitches have their own push-buttons, so you can skip more tedious stitch specification with the LCD and cursors.

-There are stitches with things like built-in bar tacks, reverse tack-down at the beginning and end of a seam, darning grid, operations which I would have to do manually by means of stitch width manipulations and/or forward/reverse with my old machine.

-Presser feet are easy to change, they drop off when a lever is touched, and attach by pressing the shaft down (no screws involved)

-You can pull out part of the table to make it a free-arm machine, or replace it with a larger table for a larger work surface.

-There is a little manual threader jig which hooks and pulls the thread through the needle.

-The bobbin cover is clear, so you can see what is happening down there.

-Supposedly you can sew leather with appropriate needles.

-No lubrication is required !!!! (p. 50).

What impresses me with this machine are the number of design improvements and automated tasks, compared to my 40 year old machine, which I had recently decided to upgrade. However, I don't know how this model compares to other modern machines.

Many accessories come with this machine (p. 6), including many different presser feet. So you will not need to go out right away and buy extra specialized accessories in order to perform specialized sewing tasks (listed on p. 3).

Drawbacks to this machine and/or its documentation, which may or may not be important to you:

-There is no automatic bobbin winding, and I don't consider the manual threader jig to be "automatic threading".

-There is no memory to save sequences of decorative character stitch patterns. I can imagine putting together some sequences that I'd like to use over and over (say, a name tag, or a label for a product I'm making). But alas, if you turn off the machine, the sequence you specified is gone.

-I would like to use some of the more decorative continuous stitches along with the character stitch patterns to compose designs, but I cannot see how to uses stitches from both group together in one sequence.

-The manual doesn't have consistently distinct terminology for the two different sets of stitches (which I call continuous and character stitch patterns), so it took me a while to understand how the basic functions and use of these two sets differ. It uses pattern, stitch, decorative for both families of stitches. However, the buttons make it clear, one button is the utility stitch button (continuous stitches), the other is the ABC button (character stitches which can forms strings up to 60 in length).

-Not surprisingly, the non-script letters are connected by a thread line along the bottom of the word.

-Lower case letters with descenders (such as p and g) are bumped up so that the descenders don't go actually below the line, which is not as nice looking.

-If you don't need all those decorative stitches and just want to do some basic utility sewing, a simpler machine may be a better choice. However, I find that these extra stitches are giving me ideas of things to make that I wouldn't have thought of earlier.

-If you use the wrong bobbins, it can jam. It requires 15J bobbins, a model which are hard to track down. Some listings on Amazon say they are selling the 15J bobbins, but the photo is clearly the wrong bobbin, so I was reluctant to order online. I ended up ordering directly from Singer just to make sure I was getting the right kind.

-Some other sewing machines have a stippling stitch pattern (for quilting), but this does not.

It is nice that the manual pdf is available at singerco, but it would be nicer if it were hyperlinked. Also it would be nice if there were a summary chart of which foot to use with which stitch to accomplish which task (right now that information is embedded in the manual text, and I keep forgetting to check the LCD.) The reason I think this is important is that there were warnings of problems if the wrong combinations were used, e.g. with overcasting (p. 29).

ETA 10/3/2011: What the Singer Repair Tech Said:

I live near a Singer authorized warranty center, and was there for some supplies. I ended up talking with their repair tech about this model. He said in their experience, this model has had problems with:

The timing of the hook mechanism gets out of adjustment (this pulls the upper thread around the bobbin).

Sometimes the mechanism that pulls up the thread above the needle gets out of whack, and because it is inside the case with no access, the user cannot reach in and fix it. ==>> Therefore, he recommended always using the needle up/down button to raise and lower the needle just right (rather than manually using the hand wheel on the right hand side of the machine).

Sometimes the machine gets stuck in bobbin winding mode even though you move the bobbin shaft back to regular position.

I haven't run into any of these problems (yet....).

While there, he showed me a $150 model that he said was the same basic machine on the inside without all the bells and whistles. However, I think that with just the included accessories including 13 presser feet and larger table, this machine can be a good value, depending on what price you find it selling for. [Now it seems to include even more presser feet and a case, which makes it an even better value.]

Honest reviews on SINGER Quantum Stylist Computerized Sewing Machine

I LOVED this machine when it first arrived around August 4, 2012. Then after almost 3 months (Oct 30, 2012) thae machine stopped working. I trouble shot their web-site and was told to take to an Authorized Singer Repair Shop (40 miles away). After the repair shop checked out the machine I was told that the Mother Board had gone and they contacted Singer for a replacement part and was told that it would take 8 to 12 weeks to get it.

I do Crafts for a living. My 1st Fair of this Season was in 4 days and I have no machine and I was supposed to wait 8 to 12 weeks to get the part? So I e-mailed Singers Customer Service and it has been 2 weeks and NO response. I also tried calling them but waited for over an hour and nobody picked up. I feel singer is not what it used to be and I am very dissappointed. I will NEVER purchase a Singer again!!! Buyer beware.

But the silver lining is I contacted Amazon where this was purchased and due to the fact that Singer could not get the part to me in a timely manner Amazon shipped me a NEW machine free of charge!!!! KUDOS to AMAZON!!!! I will do business with this Company any day.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for SINGER Quantum Stylist Computerized Sewing Machine

I've been sewing on the Quantum Stylist for about 10 days now. I purchased the machine mainly for quilt piecing and free motion quilting. I have a Viking Designer SE that I use for regular sewing and embroidery. I knew the Singer wasn't going to come close to the Viking in many areas BUT for the price of $330 this machine has pleasantly surprised me. It sews very smoothly and straight. It has a nice sound when sewing, not whiny or clunky at all. It stops on a dime, exactly where you want it to. I've stitched out all the stitches and all the buttonholes, all are great. I don't care for the alphabets, they aren't that pretty but would be good for making quilt back labels and the like. I love the slide on table that came with the machine, nice to have if I take the machine to classes. I will use the machine in a table with an insert when at home.

I test sewed a variety of fabrics such as fleece, lightweight wool, cotton knit, stretch velvet and even silk, the Stylist sewed them all well. I did change to the proper size needle and threads for the different fabrics before testing though. I think this is where a lot of people get into trouble with their machines not using the proper needles/thread to match the fabric being sewn on. You generally will not get good results by using a cotton thread on thick poly fleece with a size 10 needle and 2.0 stitch length! Many will blame the machine for the poor stitches when it is just the thread/needle/stitch combo that is all that is wrong.

I like that you can move the needle left or right in tiny increments to get the seam just where it needs to be. Threading and bobbin winding are easy, the threader is just OK as it isn't as precise as some I've used, it does work but you have to work at it to make it work! The thread cutter was a very important feature for me, I have gotten so used to the one on my Viking that I cannot do without now. I thought a machine at this price to have a cutter was incredible! As a couple of other reviewers have mentioned, the cutter can be a bit off and not cut well every time it's used. I've noticed this happens most often if the needle is to the right of center such as when I have it 1/4 inch from the side of the foot for piecing quilt blocks. It will cut the top thread but not the bottom. When the needle is moved back to center or more to the left positions the cutter cuts both threads. I think maybe all it needs is a slight adjustment. However, when you purchase a sewing machine online versus at an in person dealer, there is no one to service these kinds of issues, unless of course you have a Singer authorized service center nearby, the closest to me is a 2 1/2 hr drive.

Someone previous mentioned the 'value added' feet package and the hard shell case that came with the machine but were not mentioned what a nice surprise! Last, this is a big machine with a nice substantial feel, not dinky and lightweight like some similar priced machines I've tried. The only thing lacking with the Stylist is a knee lever presser foot lifter, I would have gladly paid more money for that one feature! Overall I am very happy with this machine and would recommend it to anyone.

Discount Spellbinders Grand Calibur Nestabilities Dies, Scalloped Ovals

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LOVE these large dies. Very sophisticated and makes a card or scrap book page look very elegant. The 6 dies allow for many variations in layering.

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These graduate right down to the small size ovals.. Sometimes you want a bit larger oval... Depends on what you are working on..

Bali Rope Daisy Spacer Beads Silver Plate 5mm Approx 50 Review

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I LOVE them. Have never seen anything similar. I used them in a bracelet I made my niece. They really complimented the Lapis beads I used. It's a beautiful bracelet. Looking forward to using them in future projects.

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Reviews of Set of 3 - Rusted Metal Fence for Fairy Gardens and Gnome Villages

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Shipping was really fast. I am so pleased with this product since you never know about the item until you receive it. It is perfect in so many ways--looks, quality, and size. I love the fact that it has ground extensions that will help keep it in place without loosing the height of the fence since there is no need to dig a trench to secure it. You can also easily move the fence which is great for creative children who like to rearrange things. I also like the length of the fencing instead of the short sections that most companies have and that you can adjust the length of the sections. I definitely recommend this product.

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Fashion Angels Fashion Design Sketch Portfolio Artist Set Review

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The girls opened it up immediately and started sketching their own designer clothes. They absolutely love this set and fortunately, the templates are different than the other set we ordered. We ordered two other sets before and thought the templates were different for each set, only to find out that they are the same. They absolutely love it!

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I'm not a girly-girl but the little gal I bought for is....easy for a little one to succeed w/ her art project. Hoping for a confidence boost to freestyle drawing and creativity.

Best Deals for Fashion Angels Fashion Design Sketch Portfolio Artist Set

This sketch portfolio is the glam version of the originalthink: prom and Hollywood. Don't let that fact scare youif your kid hates ruffles and pink, she can do away with those factors, and just keep things simple and still sweet.

You get:

-A sharpener.

-7 "tree-free" pencils. They look like crayons, but are indeed pencils somehow. Can be sharpened. See pics for colors.

-4 "grippies" for above pencils.

-2 mini glitter pens in purple and dark pink.

-Small sheet of stickers for added glam (shoes, bows, earrings, etc.). Too smallneed more.

-6 stencil sheets that can be held within book. Plain garments, jazzy garments, crowns, shoes, and tons of accessories.

-40 drawing sheets, sometimes with two chicks on each, sometimes not. With this one, you add the skin tone and eye, lip, and hair color, so get out your own pencils, markers, crayons, etc. and get busy.

-Instructions with ideas.

You do:

-Pick a gal.

-Pick your clothes and accessories, and stencil in.

-Color in.

-Add bling stickers.

That's it!

My daughter, 9.7, loves it. She already did three gals last night in about twenty minutes, and I had to stop her because it was almost 10:00 pm. Very easy to use. Marker does go through to the next page, so just be aware of that. We did not sharpen the pencils yet; I will update this review if we do. As I said, though, you can use your own stuff. 6+. Style on, girls, style on.

Honest reviews on Fashion Angels Fashion Design Sketch Portfolio Artist Set

My oldest great-granddaughter enjoys drawing but especially designing outfits. This helps considerably with having the figures for her to design on.

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Nothing to get excited about but good stocking stuffer. Filled the need for a Santa gift.

Grandkids liked it and I guess that's what counts