Singer Sew Mate 5400 Review – A Budget-Friendly Sewing Companion

Sewing At Home Has Never Been Easier Or More Affordable

Do you like sewing, but you are too frightened to start pursuing your passion and exploring your creativity?

Maybe you are determined to start sewing, but you can not afford to spend a fortune on a sewing machine?

In both cases, I have a solution for you – Singer Sew Mate 5400 sewing machine.

It has all the qualities you might be searching for- it is good at what it does, user-friendly, and finally it is reasonably priced. What more could you wish for?

There is more good news though; even the sewing experts will be pleasantly surprised with an array of features this low-cost and portable machine has to offer. Plus, Singer is a company that rarely lets anyone down.

For all the reasons stated above, you should stay with me to the very end of today’s Singer Sew Mate 5400 review and find out everything there is to know about this perfect beginners’ sewing machine.

Singer 5400 In Short

The following scoring table is sure to give you a hint to how I feel after reviewing this particular sewing machine:

I was not biased in any way, and thus these grades are truly deserved. If you want to find out how and why read my full and honest review.

Are you ready for it?

1…2… Here Comes My Honest Review

After spending a few days with the Singer Sew Mate 5400, I believe I am now competent to pass my judgment, so here it goes…

First Things First: Technical Data and My Iinitial Impressions

First of all, this machine is ultra-portable due to its compact size and low weight. Namely, it weighs a little under 14 pounds and measures only 16.5 x 7.8 x 13 inches.

All this makes the Singer 5400 a perfect machine for all of you who live in tight spaces or tend to change your sewing stations alot.

If you want a machine that you can use on the go while you travel the world, this machine is right up your alley too. It is highly portable and can be moved or packed up with no fuss at all.

Furthermore, considering the low price, you will not feel reluctant to take it out and about like you would with some high-end, pricey models.

There is one slight problem though – it does not come with a hardcover or a carrying case that would guarantee for its safety while you move it around as you please. Luckily, this problem is easy to fix – simply buy a Singer’s universal hard carrying case, and you are good to go. It is a minor investment that is sure to secure your peace of mind.

As a bonus, the Singer 5400 features enough built-in storage for you to bring along all the accessories you need to finish your projects. It is modern-looking as well, so you won’t be shy to show it off wherever you might go.

If you are worried that the machine is too light and will thus be unstable – don’t, that is not the case. Quite the contrary, this Singer machine proved to be very stable during all my sewing adventures, and all the stitches were as straight as an arrow no matter which fabric I was working on at the time.

The heavy-duty interior frame makes the machine durable, so you’ll be able to enjoy it and its merits for quite a long time even if you use it on a daily basis.

The Singer 5400 is deemed a beginner level machine not because it lacks features, but because it is ready for use out of the box and does not require much of your sewing experience to successfully master all it brings to the table.

What’s in the box? Watch this video to find out:

Many of you fret computerized machines and believe that they require quite a learning curve, but Singer 5400 proves that it is not necessarily so. The Quick Start Guide and the Intro DVD that you will receive in the package are well thought of so you will be able to rely on them not only to set up and begin using the machine but when you encounter a problem as well.

Here is a detailed and super-helpful tutorial to start off with this machine:

If you cannot resolve an issue on your own, you can pin your hopes on the customer support and excellent warranty conditions. Namely, like with all the Singer machines, this sewing machine comes with a 25-year warranty that includes a 5-year warranty on the electric components and one-year warranty on all the necessary adjustments that need to be made to your machine during this period.

The Stand-Out Features

I am not easily impressed, but considering the price of this unit, the number of features it offers really wows me. That means that you can pay little and get a lot, and that’s a definition of a good deal.

Don’t worry, I won’t leave you wondering (have I ever?), I’ll list all the beneficial features and review them in detail, so let’s start:

First, the Singer Sew Mate 5400 is equipped with an auto-threading feature! YAY! I really hate to fiddle about with the thread, and thus I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to say goodbye to threading a needle, I bet you feel the same way too!

You can see the automatic needle threader in action in this video:

With this Singer machine, all you need to do is push down the lever and activate automated needle threader. No eyes straining, finger poking, no nothing! In less than five seconds, your thread will transfer from the spool to the eye of the needle, and you can start working your magic!

The plethora of built-in stitches this Singer machine boasts is the next best thing about it. The sixty built-in stitches are more than enough for you to reach your creative heights. There are eight stretch stitches and eight essential ones plus forty decorative stitches. Five button stitches are also there to make sure your buttons are always in place.

If you are not too keen on adjusting the stitches manually, you’ll be pleased to know that Singer 5400 allows you to adjust the length and width of your stitch by a press of a single button.

Moreover, the automatic reversal option enables you to go back and reinforce your stitch whenever that is needed without having to adjust anything – once again, you only need to press a button, it is as simple as that!

The following video should help you understand how the automatic length and width adjustment works:

There are thirteen different needle positions that will enable you to easily change the stitching angle and adjust it to your sewing project. In this way, you will not have problems when you are topstitching, cording, or dealing with zippers.

Sewers are sure to appreciate the free arm convertible that allows them to work on hard-to-reach areas such as cuffs, collars and pant hams, with no fuss at all. Furthermore, there is also an automatic bobbin winding system for your utmost convenience. Consequently, the needle bar will be immediately disengaged when the bobbin is wound up, saving you time and effort.

The list of beneficial features does not end yet, believe it or not. This machine even boasts an automatic tension system which ensures that your stitches come out professional-looking, no matter which type of fabric you are working on. .

Check out the automatic tension control feature here:

Finally, the automatic foot pressure control makes sure that the pressure is always right, and thus you can switch between fabrics without having to make any adjustments.
Accessorized or not?

It might be unbelievable, but besides all the great features I have already listed, the Singer Sew Mate 5400 comes with an array of sewing accessories as well. Starting from all the little things you cannot go without such as needles & bobbins, to useful gizmos including the following ones:

• The seam ripper
• The thread spool cap
• The auxiliary spool pin
• The spool pin felt
• The needle plate screwdriver
• The lint brush
• The soft-sided dust cover

You can learn more about accessories in the following video:

When you buy this machine, you will have three different feet presser options as well, and those are:

1. All-purpose foot
2. Zipper foot
3. Buttonhole foot

All the features and accessories have a single, universal purpose – to make your life easier, and they live up to their role.

Are There Some Stumbling Stones?

Of course, as I often say, nothing is perfect, and thus Singer Sew Mate 54000 machine has its negative sides as well. If I don’t address them, my review will fall short and feel dishonest, and I do not want that.

Therefore, as much as I love this machine and the experience I had with it, I must be a stickler and list the negatives.

First of all, there is a thing that can hardly go unnoticed as soon as you start using the machine – it is loud. Not crazy loud, don’t worry, but still noisier than some other units I have tested so far.

Another minor downside is a bit dim built-in light bulb. It can be a major issue for the night-owls who prefer to work during late hours. However, I believe that this is easy to fix by simply turning on an additional lamp you undoubtedly already have at your home.

Singer Sew Mate 5400 – To buy or not to buy?

I say yeah, but you should make your own decision after you review all the pros and cons once again:

Conclusion

At this price, Singer Sew Mate 5400 is hard to beat, especially if you consider all the beneficial features and accessories that come with it.

It can really help the newbies enter the incredible world of sewing without spending a fortune or earning a headache trying to master the basics. Singer 5400 is easy to use so that even kids (older ones, of course) can give it a try and grow to love sewing.

Being portable, it is also appealing to younger generations that have a hard time staying in one place, but also all of you who change their working station often for whatever reason.

In comparison to most budget machines I have reviewed so far, Singer 5400 offers the most. It is a rare example that less money does not have to equal fewer features as well.