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| White:3100 (Sewing Machine) | | Viewed 546 time(s) |
6 more reviews for this machine | Review rated Helpful by 1 people Very Helpful by 2 people | | Reviewed by: | singer4me | 
 | | About singer4me | | IN USA | | Member since: 3/7/08 | | Reviews written: 2 | | Sewing skills:Advanced Beginner | | sewing machines reviewed: 2 | | Bio: Sewing machine enthusiast who sews mostly so I can use one of my *many* machines. I do enjoy piecin...full profile |
| | Posted on: | 3/29/08 7:07 PM | | Approx price paid: | $149 | | Had this machine for: | One week | | Recommended? | Yes |  | Features
- Computerized
- Needle Threader
- Needle Up/Down Setting
- Embroidery Stitches
- One step buttonhole
- Drop-In bobbin
- Free Arm
- Adjustable Stitch Length and Width
- Adjustable Presser Foot Pressure
- Adjustable Needle Position
- Embroidery Machine
- Rolled Hem
- Auto Threading
| | What singer4me likes about this machine
Let me start by saying that I have very little experience with using computerized sewing machines. I'm kind of leery of them, because I know that I'll never be able to fix it if it breaks. I am intrigued by the idea that the machine will set the optimal stitch width and length with the touch of a button. The fact is that, based on the kind of sewing I do, I only need basic utility stitches that I can get with any $99 machine at Wal-Mart, but what I need and what I want are often at odds with one another.
I bought the 3100 because it was CHEAP and it seemed to have a lot of stuff that only more expensive machines have. Because of the price, I assume quality will be considerably less. Honestly, I don't expect this machine to last very long, so I'll be surprised to see it still sewing in 5 years. See, I really don't have any confidence in computerized machines.
Other than goofing around with the different feet and stitches, I've only sewn a pretty basic vest on my 3100, but I really had fun doing that. I got a total thrill from sewing the buttonholes. Well, actually the machine did 99% of the work. All I had to do was put the presser foot down in the right place and press the start button. If you've only ever used the old Singer buttonholer attachment or sewn a 4-step manual button hole, an automatic 1-step button hole is going to make you feel like Cinderella when her animal friends sewed her ball gown for her.
I confess that I totally love needle up/down, the needle threader, and the start/stop button. Now that I have these features, I feel sorry for people who don't. Those all seemed like pretty silly features when I was looking at computerized machines, and I couldn't help but imagine how lazy you'd have to be to feel you needed them; however, they are very convenient once you use them. If a machine can do something that saves you a little work, why not let it?
The alphabets aren't really very attractive, but for a machine in this price range to have them at all seems pretty cool. They aren't ugly, so I do plan to use them to autograph my work. I've already programmed my name into one of the two available memory banks.
I don't know that this machine will ever replace my Viking Madison or Singer 15-88 treadle as my go-to machine, but I know I'll be using it for buttonholes and monogramming until something better comes along. What singer4me does not like about this machine
I wish there was a volume control for the beeping. When people in the next room complain that the beeps are annoying, it would be nice to tone it down just a bit. On the other hand, I do like the audible confirmation that I have pressed a button.
The light could be a little brighter. That seems to be a common refrain on a lot of reviews, so maybe manufacturers could get the hint that we do prefer to see what we're sewing.
The "quilting foot" that came with it is a total joke, clearly designed by someone who has never in their entire life tried to sew a scant 1/4" seam. The right side of the presser foot is exactly 1/4" wide, so the distance from the side of the foot to the center of the needle is more than 1/4", not even close to the scant 1/4" you need for quilting. Quilters will understand my frustration. My quest for the perfect 1/4" seam to make perfect points in my quilting makes Frodo's quest in the Lord of the Rings look like a cake walk. If I'd paid extra for that foot, I'd really be steamed.
You can't adjust the pressure on the presser foot. Since so many machines lack this feature, maybe others don't find it that important. I tend to like a pretty light pressure, so I do. I find that machines just sew better with just enough pressure on the feed dogs to move the fabric. Too much pressure makes the seam look all wonky.
I wish the presser foot lifter was metal instead of plastic. That piece gets so much use, I have a feeling this will be this machine's Achilles heel. Modern plastics are much stronger than those 30 years ago, but metal still feels like quality to me. | *LOGIN to add a comment to this review
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| Reader Comments | | johnr55 | 3/30/08 | Sounds like another cheap throwaway machine with lots of bells and whistles--easy to do nowadays via electronics. The hard part now is to go the other way: to find a very durable but very basic machine. Maybe it's why industrial machine sales keep going up! Thanks for the review--sounds like another nail in the coffin of the good name of White. | | * * * | | Eveline | 3/30/08 | nice review, thanks, sometimes a good used machine can give you what you need at a good price. Having an inexpensive machine will show you what you need over time so when it does give out you'll know what's essential & what's neat to have. I use my walking foot for quilting, it helps with the piecing or stitching in the ditch. Also the inside of my foot is just about a /4 inch & if the allowance is consitent it will work. computerized is nice. good review thanks | | * * * | | JillyBean333 | 3/30/08 | I personally like the bells and whistles, but do agree regarding quality. Mostly things are no good. I don't think any of the companies are the originals. All the sewing machine names have been bought and sold so many times. I think Viking might be the same as always, but any of the others, it's anyones guess. White and Singer for sure both went bankrupt a while back maybe numerous times and so the name was just purchased by someone interested in getting that name recognition and not quality. | | * * * | | Golfwidow | 4/2/08 | I seriously considered this machine when I was shopping last year. I couldn't find a place to test drive it so eliminated it as a possibility. Glad to hear it suits your needs and that you like it. | | * * * | | catsmeow | 4/3/08 | I, too, thought some of the bells and whistles of the computerized machines were sort of "silly", that is until I bought a computerized machine and started using those "silly" buttons -- okay, now I'm a spoiled princess. It is very nice to read a review from a man's perspective. I also enjoy johnr55's thoughts, as well. Thank you for a great review of this machine! | | * * * | | johnr55 | 4/6/08 | Catsmeow, I've got both types of machines, even both types in Bernina. My 1031 mechanical stops the needle up all the time (unless I hit the foot pedal heel) but otherwise everything is dials and levers. My Activa is virtually all buttons and I just recently added a start/stop button and speed controller. I don't garment sew, so maybe it's different for me. I still find that, sewing for an hour or more on any of my machines, and I just get used to whatever I need to do. | | * * * |
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