Singer Promise 1512 Review: Portable Sewing Machine

The Singer Promise 1512 is a lightweight and portable sewing machine that’s easy to use, making it a good choice for beginners. With 13 built-in stitches including an automatic buttonhole, the 1512 handles basic sewing tasks while remaining inexpensive and straightforward to operate. In this Singer Promise 1512 review, we’ll take a close look at the key features, performance, accessories, pros and cons, and other important details to help you determine if it’s the right fit for your needs.

Singer Promise 1512 Features

The Singer 1512 keeps things simple without many bells and whistles, offering just the core functionality a novice needs to get started. Here are some of the main features that make sewing projects easy with this machine:

Easy Set Up and Use

Being beginner-friendly is one of the biggest selling points of the Singer Promise 1512. It’s designed to make getting started a breeze even if you’ve never used a sewing machine before.

• Threading the 1512 is straightforward with diagrams printed right on the machine. * There’s an easy-to-turn stitch selection dial for choosing your desired stitch.
• The instruction manual provides clear guidance for getting up and running.

These simple touches make the 1512 very unintimidating. Most owners agree it’s quite easy to set up and start using compared to more complex computerized machines.

Built-in Stitches

With 13 built-in stitches, the Singer 1512 offers just enough variety for basic sewing tasks. The stitches are:

• 11 essential stitches like straight, zigzag, and stretch options
• 1 decorative stitch
• 1 fully automatic 1-step buttonhole

While the number of stitches is limited compared to newer computerized sewing machines, these cover the main stitches a novice needs. You get options for seams, hemming, buttonholes and some decorative effects.

Automatic Buttonholer

One of the best features of the Singer Promise 1512 is the fully automatic 1-step buttonhole function. Simply set the dial to “buttonhole”, place the button in the foot as a guide, and sew the buttonhole. The 1512 automatically handles the full 4-step process resulting in uniform, evenly spaced buttonholes for your projects. This makes buttonholes a breeze, especially for beginners who may struggle with manual multi-step buttonhole creation.

Adjustable Stitch Length/Width

The 1512 allows you to customize the stitch length and width settings. Being able to adjust length is especially important for achieving the right amount of coverage for your fabric type and project. For example, longer lengths work better for basting while shorter dense stitches are ideal for seams and hems. The adjustable stitch width is handy for increasing or decreasing zigzag widths.

Automatic Presser Foot Pressure

Having consistent pressure on the fabric as it feeds through is key for smooth sewing. The automatic presser foot feature provides optimal pressure no matter if you’re working with a single lightweight fabric or multiple heavier layers. There’s no need to manually apply more pressure for thicker fabrics. This convenience makes the 1512 more versatile.

Additional Convenient Features

Some other useful features that improve the sewing experience include:

• Built-in free arm for accessing sleeves, pant hems and other hard-to-reach spots
• Reverse lever for back-tacking stitches to lock the seam
• Thread cutter on the machine for quick trimming
• Drop feed dog for free-motion techniques like darning and quilting
• Twin needle capability to sew parallel rows of decorative stitching
• Preset stitch length and width options for each stitch type

This range of features covers the fundamentals an entry-level sewer needs.

Singer Promise 1512 Specifications

Specification	Details
Stitches	13 (11 basic, 1 decorative, 1 buttonhole)
Built-in Buttonholer	Yes, automatic 4-step
Stitch Length	Adjustable up to 4mm
Stitch Width	Adjustable up to 5mm
Presser Foot Pressure	Automatic
Thread Tension	Adjustable
Sewing Speed	750 stitches per minute
Workspace	5.5″ x 3.2″
Free Arm	Yes
Reverse Sewing	Yes, reverse lever
Needle Positions	2 positions
Drop Feed Dogs	Yes
Onboard Storage	Yes
Lighting	Yes
Weight	10.8 lbs
Warranty	25 years limited

Performance and Sewing Experience

The simplicity that makes the Singer 1512 so easy to use does result in some limitations when it comes to sewing performance and capabilities. Here are the main pros and cons owners experience using this machine:

Lightweight and Portable

Weighing just 10.8 pounds, the Promise 1512 is incredibly lightweight for a sewing machine. The plastic housing helps keep the weight down versus an all-metal machine. It also has a built-in carry handle making it very portable. You can easily move the 1512 between rooms or take it to classes. This convenience adds to the beginner-friendly appeal.

Sewing Speed

With a top speed of 750 stitches per minutes, the 1512 is on the faster side for basic sewing machines. While not as fast as industrial machines, this is quick enough for sewing most projects efficiently. Less time is spent waiting on the stitching.

Suitable for Beginners

The simplicity in features and operation makes the Singer 1512 well-suited for beginners just starting out in sewing. Experienced sewers may find it limiting. But for novices, it removes intimidation factors while still offering plenty of utility right out of the box. It’s a great entry-level machine if you just need straight stitching, zigzag, and buttonholes without advanced options.

Not Ideal for Thick Fabrics

The Promise 1512 works best on lightweight to medium weight fabrics. Many owners have trouble when sewing multiple layers of thick fabrics like denim. Without being able to adjust the presser foot pressure manually, you may experience skipped stitches, jamming, or needle breakage. This machine lacks the power needed for heavy duty projects.

Thread Jamming Issues

A common complaint with the Singer 1512 is tangling and jamming of the thread while sewing. This causes frustrated stops to re-thread and reposition the thread. Some units seem more prone to this issue than others. There can be a few causes like poor thread quality, incorrect threading, and mechanical problems.

Bobbin Problems

Similarly, many reviewers have trouble with the bobbin jamming, catching, and generally being finicky. The 1512 uses a front loading horizontal bobbin. But the housing may be overly tight. There are tips like lightly sanding the case to make inserting and removing the bobbin easier. But out-of-the-box, the bobbin setup causes problems for some.

Here is a short YouTube video showing the Singer Promise 1512 in action sewing a seam:

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Consider adding more videos showing buttonholes, free motion sewing, etc

Overall, the Singer Promise 1512 offers a user-friendly introduction to basic sewing for the price. But more advanced needs may require an upgrade.

Accessories

The 1512 comes with a selection of accessories to help you get started with projects right away. These include:

• All purpose foot – For general sewing
• Zipper foot – For inserting centered zippers
• Buttonhole foot – For easy buttonhole creation
• Button sewing foot – For attaching buttons
• Edge/quilting guide – For quilting or parallel seams
• Pack of needles
• Bobbins – Class 15 style plastic bobbins
• Seam ripper/lint brush – For unpicking stitches and cleaning
• Darning plate – For free motion darning or embroidery
• Screwdriver – For light maintenance
• Soft cover – Protects machine when stored
• Instruction manual
• Power cord
• Foot control

This covers the basic accessories you’ll need. It allows sewing on a range of fabrics, inserting zippers, making buttonholes and buttons, quilting, and more.

The accessories pack is decent for a starter machine. Some owners do recommend getting an extended multipurpose foot for greater versatility. You may need specialty presser feet for techniques like piping, cording, ruffling etc. But overall, a beginner will be able to explore and learn on the Singer Promise 1512 with the included accessories.

Consider adding a table comparing accessories included with different entry-level machines

Singer Promise 1512 Pros and Cons

To summarize the key advantages and disadvantages of the Singer 1512 sewing machine:

Pros

• Easy to set up and use
• Portable and lightweight
• Good for beginners learning to sew
• Affordable price point
• Automatic buttonholer
• Basic utility stitches
• Adjustable stitch length and width
• Adequate accessories included

Cons

• Limited functionality and stitches
• Jamming issues with thread
• Bobbin can be tricky and jam
• Not suitable for heavy thick fabrics
• Presser foot pressure not adjustable
• Manual dial stitch selection

Conclusion – Is the Singer Promise 1512 Worth Buying?

The Singer Promise 1512 is a reasonably priced pick for total beginners wanting to learn sewing. With only the basic features required for simple projects, it removes distractions and intimidation factors. The automatic buttonholer, convenient free arm, and lightweight design add to the ease of use. Overall, it’s a good machine for learning on and making items with light to medium weight woven fabrics.

More advanced sewers will likely find it limiting. The issues with thread jamming and bobbins may be frustrating if you’ll use it frequently and need reliability. Going with a computerized machine opens up features and functionality. However, for less than $150, the Singer 1512 is a very affordable starter machine. Just be aware that you may eventually need to upgrade if you get into more advanced sewing with thicker fabrics.

So in summary, the Singer Promise 1512 is best for:

• Absolute beginners new to sewing
• Occasional light sewing and mending
• Portability
• Tight budgets

We hope this detailed Singer 1512 review helps shed light on what this budget-friendly machine has to offer. While not perfect, it removes barriers for entry-level sewists to start their creative journey.

Have you used the Singer Promise 1512 sewing machine? Let us know your experience in the comments!