Questions about my new singer xl420

Hello,
Hubby surprised me with the Singer xl420 sewing/embroidery machine while out shopping on Black Friday.

I am wondering if anyone on here has it or any of the similar models. The dealer told me that I am supposed to only use singer needles and cannot use any prewound 15J bobbins. This advice seems to differ from what I've read. I would love any advice offered

My other baby is a Piaf 7570. She sees beautifully but the embroidery unit is like a dude (sorry fellow dudes on the board) - it's finicky in its old age. But my experience with this machine is the prewounds worked the best for embroidery (as long as they weren't cheapo crap).

My dealer mostly sells Viking but also singers. I am just seriously questioning their advice on needles and bobbins,

Thanks,
Lisa

No clue. I don't really trust any new Singer, but you should be able to find this info in your manual.

Sorry no help here. I am a Pfaff girl and love my Pfaffs. Would not own a singer (newer models but would love a treadle or featherweight) or viking, do not trust them at all and have had no luck with viking dealers. Not my kind of people or machines.

I have a viking embroidery machine and it really doesn't like prewound bobbins. What it does like is husqvarna bobbins wound with bobbin thread :-)

Thank you songbird

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Originally Posted by Embquilt

Hello,
Hubby surprised me with the Singer xl420 sewing/embroidery machine while out shopping on Black Friday.

I am wondering if anyone on here has it or any of the similar models. The dealer told me that I am supposed to only use singer needles and cannot use any prewound 15J bobbins. This advice seems to differ from what I've read. I would love any advice offered

My other baby is a Piaf 7570. She sees beautifully but the embroidery unit is like a dude (sorry fellow dudes on the board) - it's finicky in its old age. But my experience with this machine is the prewounds worked the best for embroidery (as long as they weren't cheapo crap).

My dealer mostly sells Viking but also singers. I am just seriously questioning their advice on needles and bobbins,

Thanks,
Lisa

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I've always heard that Singers has to have Singer Needles and Bobbins. From what I've read their Needles and Bobbins are made just a little different then other brands...not sure how...but I do stick to their brand for the Heavy Duty Singer I own.

Hi Lisa,

Congrats on your new addition in the family. What a sweet gift.

Recently, I learned that Singer needles are slightly shorter than other needles. I am not sure about that, maybe one day I will take the time to actually measure my needles. I have a less expensive Singer machine (9960) and use all brands of needles in it. But I do have a Singer Embroidery machine and it also says to only use Singer needles. So, my advice to you is to be safe and use the Singer needles. The Titanium needles are great and really do stay sharp longer than other brands.

As for the prewounds, I think it may be because of the quality of the bobbin used with prewounds. If you are using an embroidery machine, you don't want wonky bobbins. So, buy good bobbins and wind them yourself.

Janome now owns Singer. If you like Janome, just remember the newer Singers are made by them.

This is a Singer machine: Amazon.com: Singer S18 Studio Computerized High Performance Quilting and Sewing Machine

Same machine-Janome: Amazon.com: Janome Memory Craft 6500P / MC6500P Computerized Sewing Machine w/ FREE BONUS Package!

Just to clarify SVP (Singer Viking Pfaff) is the holding company that owns Singer. The three companies are independant subsidiaries and operated separately. Janome is a Japanese company and recently purchased Elna. Singer and Janome are not the same machine although they may look similar.
We researched quite a lot before I bought my new machine.

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Originally Posted by Ahamblin

Just to clarify SVP (Singer Viking Pfaff) is the holding company that owns Singer. The three companies are independant subsidiaries and operated separately. Janome is a Japanese company and recently purchased Elna. Singer and Janome are not the same machine although they may look similar.
We researched quite a lot before I bought my new machine.

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Sorry- well, gee, I read it on the internet, so it must be true. Or apparently not. LOL

Those two machines are very close to being exactly the same. I have looked at both and am hard pressed to say what the difference is. But I am not an expert by any means.

Speaking of experts, I did a highly scientific study on the needles. How highly scientific you may ask? Well, I opened the packages and held the needles up to the light. After much detailed study (30 seconds) and intense measuring (I held them up to a old wooden school ruler), I came to the conclusion that Singer needles are about the same length as other brands. Or at least Schmetz brand.

Attachment 94111

Shown are Singer and Schmetz needles. Singer heavy duty on the left, Singer Titanium in the middle and Schmetz heavy duty on the right.

Genny thanks.
Rofl @ Rivermomm you are too funny - love your sense of humor. Thanks for the info.
This quilting, embroidering, and crafting world gets confusing some times

I thought I had purchased a great deal on prewounds for my Pfaff years ago, turns out they were like plastic. Then I paid a hit more for Neb bobbins and loved them. I use them in practically all my quilting and when my pffaff embroidery machine works.

Congratulations on your new machine!

I don't have a Singer so I can't help you with any experience of mine. But I would try non Singer needles and bobbins and see what result you get. Better yet, see a dealer and ask them. I know my new Pfaff has a special bobbin, but I've used other non-Pfaff bobbins with no problem.

Congratulations on your new machine.

My confusion comes with bobbins.my Viking will only take the 'green'bobbins and the letter V has to be facing forwaard. With my babylock when you use a prewound you have to put in a special washer that has a nailpolish red mark on it. i had to call the store twice to ask what color to use. lol

Such a nice gift. Hubby said get a new serger when we refied. Love new toys!

This thread has been an eye opener about needles! I had no idea there was a difference between brands of needles. As far as Singer machines go, I have bought 4 of the newest kids on the Singer block, starting with the retro Singer 160. I bought it on a whim when Amazon offered it at a fabulous price, thinking it was cute and I could give it light duty. Well, it sews great! But it has limited features, and no needle up/down, but it has a great stitch and FMQs great. It is INFINITELY simple to thread, my granddaughter, who was 7 at the time, sat down to the machine and sewed a bunch of things using it with very little intervention on my part. And it sews denim like a hot knife through butter! So I bought two of the Singer One machines for my daughters, who can never get a regular machine to work! And one always is walking on her pants because she won't hem them up! Then when they came out with the Singer One plus with Needle up/down, I got that one too. I have a lot of sewing machines, my main one is the Janome 8900, but I do like these Singers.

I think Singer went through one of those periods where quality control was lacking, and I also believe that May have turned around in the past few years.. I've heard from various sources that every brand that we all love and use have gone through times with issues, there are brands I wouldn't touch because of hearing those things. But I am happy for you to have a new embroidery machine, and wish you much luck and a lot of great years sewing on it! And thanks to RiverMom for her extensive research on a Singer machine needles! Now we know!

I just remembered something. When I first bought my Juki back in 2007, the repairman told me to always buy Singer needles for it. I totally forgot that!

And one always is walking on her pants because she won't hem them up!

You had one of those too?! One of my dd's was like that and i cringed eveytime she walked out the door to school. One of her friends was worse. Her pant's were so long the hem was under her flip flops, I mean her whole foot! lol

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Originally Posted by Hulamoon

And one always is walking on her pants because she won't hem them up!

You had one of those too?! One of my dd's was like that and i cringed eveytime she walked out the door to school. One of her friends was worse. Her pant's were so long the hem was under her flip flops, I mean her whole foot! lol

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Well this kid is in her late 30's, wears scrubs, and won't touch a sewing machine. Her daughter is the one who sat down to the Singer and could run it at age 7. I should teach the kid how to hem pants for her mother!

Congrats!!! What a super gift! I've used both singer and schmetz needles in Betsy and they've worked. I had heard that singer ones were shorter, but the schmetz universal may compensate for that.
Enjoy your new toy, can't wait to see what you two make together!!

I use whatever needle I grab in my Singer. So far no problems.
Have never tried any pre-wound bobbins but I have bought empty bobbins
that aren't Singer and they work fine.

WOW can I borrow your hubby for a few hours cause I really want an embroidery machine :) Ok just joking BUT you do have a wonderful hubby. Congratulations on both the machine and the hubby!!!! Oops almost forgot can't help with the question :)

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Originally Posted by Jean Sewing Machine

I bought two of the Singer One machines for my daughters, who can never get a regular machine to work! And one always is walking on her pants because she won't hem them up! Then when they came out with the Singer One plus with Needle up/down, I got that one too. I have a lot of sewing machines, my main one is the Janome 8900, but I do like these Singers.

I think Singer went through one of those periods where quality control was lacking, and I also believe that May have turned around in the past few years.. I've heard from various sources that every brand that we all love and use have gone through times with issues, there are brands I wouldn't touch because of hearing those things. But I am happy for you to have a new embroidery machine, and wish you much luck and a lot of great years sewing on it! And thanks to RiverMom for her extensive research on a Singer machine needles! Now we know!

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Do you still like the Singer One? Have you had any problems with it? I've read that some people have trouble with the foot pedal not working properly. I will be back in the States in a couple weeks and I am looking to buy one to bring back with me. I don't do any hardcore sewing, just basic sewing and quilting. I have researched so much on machines and keep coming back to this one. I have always used Singers and still have one which I've had for about 12 years and it is still running great.

It is hard to select a good machine because EVERY machine out there has good and bad reviews. Thanks for any of your input.