Singer Quantum XL-5000 Sewing and Embroidery Machine FS Review

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(More customer reviews)I had high hopes for this machine. When I bought this machine (four years ago) I thought it would be fantastic to own one machine that would do both sewing and embroidery, and it's made by Singer! One of the reasons I THOUGHT this would be a great machine at the time is because it's updatable. Although it may be updatable, they have never created anything new for the machine and you would be just as well to buy the less expensive model that isn't updatable. Singer promised new and exiting changes and I'm sitting here with a machine that hasn't changed since I bought it and still only does what it did when they first designed the machine. They haven't even added stitch fills which my very basic Brother Embroidery machine had.
The two units (sewing machine and embroidery unit) are large and bulky and the sewing machine is very heavy. Also the machine is supposed to be able to do multiple hoopings for larger designs. I've never had a multi-hooped item turn out like I had envisioned. It could be operator error, but I have done everything they suggested.
There is a huge learning curve with both units, but Singer's Customer Support is great if/when you call needing assistance and can get through to a human.
There are some really neat built in stitches, but when I use the built in embroidery stitches (done without the embroidery unit) the designs wonder and are hard to keep on track. I draw guidelines with an air erase pen, but the foot travels everywhere while creating the design, so it's difficult to figure out where the design is going.
On the plus side, I do like the automatic thread changer for when you are doing embroidery, but the automatic bobbin rewind in the embroidery mode sucks. When you get near the end of the bobbin, the machine wants to wind a new bobbin, but in order for it to do that, it has to go out to the right hand side of your project and stitch off the remaining bobbin thread. NOT something you want to happen while stitching out on an expensive silk or any other project for that matter. Also even though the automatic thread changer is supposed to allow you to walk away while your design stitches out, you still need to hang close because it only changes to the next color.
Also, you need throttle the machine way down in order to get it to embroider properly and even then, you will sometimes have problems (birds nests on the bottom, tearing holes in your fabric).
They sold this unit as having an "automatic thread tensioner". I wouldn't call it that at all. You need to put in a sample piece of fabric and stitch out their tension "star". You have to manually adjust the thread tensions until you get the star to stitch out properly. (It's probably easier to do it the old fashioned way, stitch a straight stitch and check for loops.) Most of the time I have to stitch out their star about five or six "samples" before I get the tension right. And After I have the tension correct (according to their star) I sometimes still have problems with the thread tensions not being correct.
Something else I thought would be pretty neat, is they show their machine as being able to create a stitch that looks hand quilting. Nothing in their manuals or instruction books show how to create this effect. I was told you need to use clear bobbin thread, and mess with the tension, but it isn't an automatic stitch like they lead you to believe. I'm sure if you mess with the tension on any machine, you can eventually get it to the point it will make a "hand quilted" look stitch.
In conclusion, I've pieced together multiple quilts with my machine and created quite a few embroidered projects but I feel Singer really dropped the ball with these units. Knowing what I know now, I would not buy this machine.

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The Singer Quantum XL-5000 is the most technologically advanced sewing and embroidery machine on the market. If you're looking for a total fusion of innovation and imagination, look no further than this machine. The Quantum XL-5000 offers state-of-the-art features like Auto Thread Exchanger, Wind-In-Place Bobbin System, Automatic Threading System, and Endless Bobbin that truly set it apart and make your work easier and faster - from simple sewing to the most complex creations. To do this, the Quantum XL-5000 utilizes the latest user-friendly technology. Almost every sewing action has been automated and can be easily executed through on-screen programming. The exclusive pictogram and icon-based menus simplify this process and include user instruction and help screens that guide you every step of the way. The full-color 3-D LCD screen is easy to read and displays your design patterns. When you're ready to let your creativity run free, access one of the Quantum XL-5000's built-in embroidery fonts, floral designs or monogram motifs. Many of these designs can be combined and rotated to any angle for maximum customization.

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