HomeLarge AppliancesSewing MachinesMichley LSS-505 Lil' Sew & Sew Multi-Purpose Sewing Machine with Built-In Stitches |
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
280 of 282 found the following review helpful:
 Convinced! Feb 14, 2011
By reameth
At first I was a little wary with all the reviews. Some said it did not work. Some said bobbins were a problem. I waited a month or so and used it extensively before I decided to review it so it would be accurate.
Firstly, the machine is very easy to thread. There is an instructional video on their website:
[...] (Look for LSS 505 under 'Sewing Machines')
This was extremely helpful for me as it was the first time I've ever owned/used a sewing machine in my life and did not for the life of me understand the intricacies of threading and tension. Make sure you follow the threading instructions to the key, or the machine will jam. Threading it the right way will solve this problem.
Secondly, the machine has a bobbin winder with an instructional pamphlet on how to get it working (again, a necessity for a sewing dummy like me). I got it working just fine and substituted the bobbins with the thread I actually wanted.
Thirdly, all of the patterns on the machine work. I tested them all out on some scrap fabric as I noticed some low-end sewing machines tend to advertise more patterns than they actually have (such as the Singer Pixie Plus).
The machine is cute and small. If you're looking for a heavy weight substitute for your Singer/Brother, this is not the machine for you. If you're looking to do some simple hemming and stitching with light fabrics such as cotton, this is the machine for you.
If you substitute the bobbins, look for something similar in size and material. This machine uses metal bobbins. There are some generic metal bobbins which are exactly the same sold at JoAnn's. These have worked for me.
So far I have hemmed and sewn two 24 x 24 inch decorative pillow covers and it still works perfectly. I have substituted the bobbins, wound up and prepared new bobbins and threaded and re-threaded multiple times with no problems. If your stitches look like a loose line, check the tension dial on the needle.
To wrap things up, I'm honestly not sure what the fuss is about concerning this machine since it has worked like a dream for me. I highly recommend this for a first sewing machine!
165 of 165 found the following review helpful:
 Not bad May 30, 2010
By Hotside
I didn't want an expensive sewing machine. I just wanted to hem my boy's pants which are always too long, and it works for that. The instructions are pretty bad but with a little help from Youtube I figured it out. I was able to rethread the bobbins and use the thread I had without any problem. I think if I, who has never used a sewing machine in his life can figure it out, just about anybody can.
98 of 99 found the following review helpful:
Perfect! Dec 30, 2010
By Jacqueline Rios
"superhappymommy"
I don't know what all the bad reviews are for - this machine matches my mother's full sized Singer machine! I've just recently finished sewing a bag, a blanket for my 4 year old and a whole ensemble for for baby dolls! It hasn't let me down! I would recommend this machine to anyone who lives in a tight space like I do!
50 of 51 found the following review helpful:
Bought for 9 year old--Great learn-to-sew machine Nov 22, 2011
By ladybug
I bought this machine for a 9-year old.
This is a great machine for the price. I will say that I bought a toy Singer chain stitch machine for my daughter last Christimas. It did not work at all. Singer did not back the product and said I should return it to the store I bought it. My daughter was extremely disappointed with her xmas gift. The reviews on that machine speak for themselves--(I bought it from a craft store so didn't see bad reviews). I'll never buy anything Singer again. They know they are selling junk and don't care. Okay now I vented about my purchase that is laying in the landfill.
Now, on to THIS machine! LOVE IT! This machine is a great first sewing machine for a child. IT WORKS! I tried this one before xmas so I wouldn't have a disappointed child again. I was a little leary when it arrived in the mail because it was so lightweight. I was concerned it would vibrate all over the table or it would be too junky to use. I was wrong. It came threaded and ready to go. I tried a couple of the stitches and the reverse on standard quilters weight cotton. It worked great. You cannot adjust the stitch lengths. There are several stitch patterns to choose from. There are 2 straight stitch lengths. It is also great because you can control it with a foot pedal or by a switch right on the machine. It has a little light to light the work surface. I showed it to my husband and he noted the motor sounds pretty strong. I agree, it didn't seem to struggle sewing basic fabric. Some reviews said you cannot use heavy fabrics. I did not try. For a beginner sewer, cotton is the easiest and most economical. It'll work for that. It is very small and compact. It also comes in a cute box to make a kid's eyes light up. Also, when threading the spots are numbered so you know where to go next with your thread. I didn't mess with the tension knob. It was set fine.
The negatives...
The foot pedal is "Toyish" in quality and small. I used the hand control, it was easier for me. I did not try the bobbin threader and thought of it after I had it all packed in the styrofoam again. I did check it out. It is made of plastic and may break easily. Again, kind of toy quality. I think these are both reasonable compromises for the price. I have spent $40 on so many junky toys. This is extremely high-quality in comparison for the price.
My Background with sewing...
I sew on my grandma's 1950's machine. I make handbags, curtains and crafty items. I am familiar with sewing and using machines. I think this machine would be great to learn on. It would also be good if you just need to hem a skirt or do a small project here and there. I wouldn't buy this if you are planning on making a new wardrobe or slipcover for your couch. I am adding this tidbit because sometimes expectations from the users are different. I wouldn't think a $40 machine can "do it all". This one will satisfy basic needs for small projects. Thats why 5 stars.
As for my singer ripoff--I have 3 daughters that are all crafty and interested in sewing. We'll never buy a Singer. We are happy with this off-brand I have never heard of. I hope this review helps somebody else
32 of 32 found the following review helpful:
LOVE Mar 18, 2011
By Monica Y. Wu
I wanted an affordable mini sewing machine for small crafts and occasional use, not a big, expensive sewing machine. This adorable little thing is perfect for my needs.
The first thing to note is how small it is. It's really, really cute and doesn't take up much space at all. It's portable and can use batteries or an included adaptor, and also comes with a little foot pedal as well. It comes with 3 spools/bobbins in Orange, Yellow, and Light Blue thread plus a spare needle and a needle threader. All the spare supplies fit perfectly in the little built-in storage compartment. The machine also has 8 different stiches, a tiny sewing light, and a built-in bobbin threader.
I've barely touched a sewing machine since 7th grade Home Ec, but I thought the threading instructions were pretty self-explanatory. There are step-by-step Youtube video instructions, but I really appreciated the numbered infographic printed on the sewing machine itself. Everything was designed to be easy to follow, and I thought it was very intuitive and uncomplicated.
So far, I've hemmed a table cloth and made a change purse and a wallet. I've also experimented with each of the stitches on scrap cloth. It works great. Runs smoothly, and does what it's supposed to. It doesn't work on thick fabrics like fleece, but it's not supposed to. A lot of the other mini sewing machines on Amazon have gotten horrific reviews (horrible function, plastic gears), but I can attest that this one works like it was designed, and has metal parts inside.
I love my mini sewing machine, and I love working on it. It's everything I wanted, including the price. If you're looking for something small, basic, and affordable, the Michley Lil Sew & Sew is exactly want you need.
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