Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Review: A Feature-Rich Computerized Sewing Machine for Personalization and Creative Expression
If you’re in the search for the perfect sewing machine, then this is the place for you. Finding the perfect sewing machine is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
With so many sewing machines in the market today, it will take some time to find the best one for your needs. You would have to look for a reputable brand, a bevy of features, and in the budget you’re looking for.
But don’t worry, that’s why I’m here. For anyone who’s looking for a machine that can help you get your creative juices going, the best one in the market today is the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960.
It is a great machine from one of the world’s most reputable sewing machine brands, and whether you’re planning to make clothes or home decor, this machine will definitely fit the bill for what you’re looking for.
So without further adieu, let’s begin my Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Review.
What is the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960?
The Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 is a computerized sewing machine made by one of the world’s best and most recognizable brands in sewing machines.
It features 600 built-in stitches, can be operated with a foot pedal or using a start and stop button, and can sew almost any kind of fabric.
It is marketed as a home sewing machine, considered to be portable and at its highest speed, can stitch at 850 stitches per minute.
The machine is marketed towards intermediate and advanced sewers who have an idea about what they’re doing, especially those who are looking for more personalization or customized details on their sewing projects.
Though it’s easy to operate, I wouldn’t recommend this for beginner sewers, especially those who’ve never sewn before because it has a lot of features that can intimidate anyone who’s never touched a sewing machine.
But, if you’re bent on having a machine that can do a lot of things, then maybe this is for you. If you’ve been using a mechanical machine like myself, and looking for a computerized machine that allows you to have a lot of decorative details on clothes or home decor, then this is for you, too.
Are you interested to know more? If yes, then let’s talk about its features, performance, what’s so great about it and what’s not so great about it.
Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Review
Features —
As I mentioned earlier, this machine is feature-rich. Let me break down its features:
- 600 built-in stitches with 13 one-step buttonhole styles
- 5 stitch fonts
- Convenient stitch selector with LCD screen
- Stitch sequencing memory
- Speed control
- Top drop-in bobbin
- Expandable work surface
600 Built-In Stitches
As you can see, the machine has hundreds of stitches to choose from. From a regular straight stitch to different kinds of zigzag stitches, decorative, and more. The opportunities for design and embellishments are endless. This is especially useful for anyone who loves personalized gifts or making your very own clothes and fabric items at home.
If you have kids, you’ll have fun decorating their clothes with all the beautiful stitch styles in this machine.
You can choose the stitch by looking at the manual, or the chart printed on the upper lid of the machine’s body. The LCD screen that allows you to choose the stitches is bright, and with each stitch you choose, the display also shows the recommended presser foot, making it so much easier for beginner sewers to know which presser foot fits with what stitch.Stitch
Sequencing Memory
What made me really interested in this machine is that as you select or change the stitch style, the machine automatically adjusts the tension depending on the style, which is nothing short of amazing. Manually changing a machine’s tension is one of the most difficult things you have to learn when sewing. With this machine, it does all that for you.
I also love the fact that it has a stitch sequencing memory. For example, you choose a certain stitch and you start sewing, but then you suddenly have to stop because you have to go to the bathroom or you have to take a call. After a few minutes or an hour, you get back to sewing.
With a manual machine or other machines that don’t have this feature, you will have to manually adjust your fabric and stitch to the area where you stopped. Sometimes, it will look like your stitch is skipping, and other times, the stitches do not line up. That’s what makes this stitch sequencing so amazing. If you stop at a certain area on the fabric, the machine will automatically continue based on its stitch sequencing memory.
Speed Control
There is a speed control slider that allows you to choose between the fastest speed or the lower speed, or anything in between.
The fastest speed is at 850 spm, which is quite fast and a speed level that a lot of intermediate and advanced sewers would like. It’s not as fast as a heavy duty machine, so if you’re sewing everyday and you need to meet deadlines, I don’t think this machine is for you. You would need a faster machine with an spm that has at least 1000 spm.
But, if you’re a beginner sewer and you want to go very slow, you can easily adjust the speed to its lowest speed level.
Other features of this machine include a top drop-in bobbin, helping you see the amount of thread you still have. It also has a needle threader, an automatic thread cutter, snap-in presser foot, and an expandable table, perfect for quilts, blankets, and bigger sewing projects.
Accessories and Inclusions
This machine features 18 presser feet and other sewing accessories that make this machine ready to go. You won’t have to buy extra accessories to use all the amazing stitches.
Singer states all the included accessories total to $350, which is a lot. If you were to buy the included accessories separately, it would cost more than $350.
So, let’s have a look at all the presser feet and accessories you’ll get with the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960:
There is a total of 18 presser feet, which are :
- All-purpose foot
- Zipper foot
- Adjustable bias binder foot
- Buttonhole foot
- Button foot
- Blind hem foot
- Braiding foot
- Cording foot
- Darning and embroidery foot
- Even feed and walking foot
- Fancy trim foot
- Open-toe foot
- Overcast foot
- Presser foot shank
- Rolled hem presser foot
- Satin stitch foot
- Single welt-cording foot
- Stitch-in-the-ditch foot
- Quilting foot
As you can see, there are a lot of presser feet included in his machine. They may seem a lot, but if you’re planning on using the machine for all its stitches, then you’re going to need all of these presser feet. You can place them inside the accessories compartment found on the workspace of the machine’s body.
Other Included Accessories :
The Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 also comes with the following accessories:
- Needles
- 15 bobbins
- Seam ripper
- Cleaning brush
- Auxiliary spool cap
- Spoon pin felt
- Screwdrivers
- Thread spool caps
You will need these accessories to get started on sewing, as well as a few tools needed to clean and maintain your machine. Almost every modern sewing machine comes with these accessories.
The Good —
I will now talk about my personal Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Review, starting with what I like about the machine.
I love how feature-rich this machine is. With 600 built-in stitches, there are so many things that you can do with it. You can basically make 13 different styles of buttonholes, there are 5 fonts for monogramming, and you can even sew quotes and words into your clothes or blankets. If you’re creative, you will definitely have so much fun with this machine.
It’s also very easy to use. There’s a manual that comes with it, as well as many Youtube videos that teach you how to use the machine, and Singer even has a free class that teaches you everything you need to know about using it.
I really love the automatic tension adjustment and the presser foot recommendation, which makes it easy for beginners to use the different stitches properly without having to break needles or do trial and error.
It’s not a heavy duty machine but it does have a metal frame and at 26 pounds, it’s quite heavy, making it possible to stitch thicker fabrics such as denim, canvas, and layers of fabric without wobbling.
The Bad —
Though the machine is marketed as a portable sewing machine, I highly doubt you’d want to carry it around with you because it’s really heavy. It does come with a hard case but at 26 pounds in weight, it’s too heavy to bring to a sewing class or when you’re traveling.
Though you will enjoy using this machine, it will take you time to really understand how to use it. There are a lot of buttons on the right side of the machine, with numbers and other images, and it takes time to know how to use them exactly.
If you sew for a living and your orders are piled up, you won’t be able to appreciate it right away. This is because this machine takes time to learn. You will have to set aside at least 2 to 3 days of practice to really appreciate what it does.
Final Thoughts —
This Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Review is based on what I’ve read from other reviews, videos, and from information on the Singer website about the machine’s features. Nevertheless, I base my opinion on my own experiences with a computerized sewing machine, the features of the Quantum Stylist, and from actual user experiences.
I believe this machine is great for sewers who have been sewing for a while and want to replace their current machine with a machine that lets them get creative with their sewing projects. As you learn more techniques in sewing, you’d naturally want to add more details, more embellishments, and get more creative with what you sew.
This machine perfectly fits what you would need from a sewing machine that can embellish and customize a piece of clothing, curtain, blanket, pillow, and other fabric projects. It’s very easy to use once you get the hang of it, as it only takes a few practices to really get to know how the machine works.
However, if you don’t have the time to learn and get to know this machine, you won’t be happy with it. You’ll only end up using the straight and zigzag stitches if you’re impatient at learning how this machine works. And it’s quite expensive, too, so if you don’t have the time to learn the features, don’t waste your money on this machine.
If you’re a beginner sewer, you’ll probably be overwhelmed with all the buttons of this machine. Even the start and stop button can get confusing at times, as well as all the accessories. But, like I said, if you’re willing to put in the time to learn and practice even for just 2 to 3 days with this machine, you will definitely take advantage of all the beautiful features the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 has.
Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 vs Brother Project Runway PC420 PRW
How do they compare?
Features :
- Backlit LCD display with easy-to-use stitch selector
- Virtually Unlimited Stitches with the My Custom Stitch Feature
- Six-point feed dogs for feeding all types of material
- Built-in knee lifter to easily raise and lower the presser foot, so your hands are free to reposition or remove your fabric.
- Built-in thread cutters
- Twin needle function for topstitching, hemming, pintucking, quilting, and other embellishment techniques
- Super bright LED work area
- Electronic variable speed control
- Advanced needle threading system
- Super easy bobbin winding system
- Jam resistant Quick-Set drop-in top bobbin
- 294 built-in sewing stitches, including 10 styles of 1-step auto-size buttonholes and 3 sewing lettering styles each with 55 alphanumeric characters
OVERVIEW —
I wanted to compare the Quantum Stylist to another machine because I want you to see how it compares to another machine in similar caliber.
I tried to look for a Brother sewing machine that had 600 stitches as well, but most of their portable machines that have more stitches are embroidery machines. The Quantum Stylist is not an embroidery machine so I figured the PC420 is the closest thing when it comes to being a computerized portable sewing machine with more than a hundred built-in stitches.
Let’s discuss the features of the Brother Project Runway PC420 PRW machine.
Features : Brother Project Runway PC420 PRW
- 294 built-in stitches
- LCD display for stitch selection
- Top drop-in bobbin
- Built-in knee lifer
- Speed control
294 Built-in Stitches —
This machine has 294 built-in stitches that consist of 64 utility stitches, 31 decorative, 5 cross stitches, 16 satin, and 10 decorative stitches. It also has 3 different alphanumeric fonts, plus 10 one-step buttonhole styles.
You can even merge the different styles to create one of your own. For example, you can create a straight stitch with a decorative style, stretch or shrink it, and save it into the machine’s internal memory for your very own custom stitch. I think this feature makes the Brother PC420 a major stand-out.
In terms of the stitch selection, an LCD display shows the stitch style you choose, but compared to the Singer Quantum Stylist, the LCD screen on this machine is quite small. It has a LED light background, though, so it’s still very easy to see.
Top Drop-In Bobbin —
Most, if not all, of Brother’s machines are top drop-in bobbins with glass covers, allowing you to see how much thread you have left. Built-in Knee Lifter —
This feature is something that I’ve never seen on a home portable machine before. I see it in heavy duty and industrial machines but not for a portable one. I’m not really sure if it’s useful though, since the machine is not that big and you can easily press the button for raising and dropping the needle.
Though I imagine this would be useful if you’re sewing circles or squares, and you need to do a quick turn of your fabric and your hands are not free. It’s a unique feature not all machines have.
Speed Control —
It has a speed control slider where you can adjust the speed of your stitching. You can go full speed at 850 stitches per minute or go slow, especially for beginners. The slow sleep is ideal for beginner sewers and even teens who want to learn to sew with a computerized sewing machine.
Accessories and Inclusions —
There are a total of 11 presser feet with the Brother PC420 :
- Adjustable zipper or piping foot
- Blind stitch foot
- Buttonhole foot
- Monogramming or embroidery foot
- Non-stick foot
- Overcasting foot
- Open-toe foot
- Quilting foot
- Stitch guide foot
- Walking foot
- Zipper foot
Compared to the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960, the Brother PC420 only has 11 presser feet, but these are the majority of what you’ll need when it comes to sewing clothes and other fabric projects.
Accessories / Brother Project Runway PC420 :
- Hard carrying case
- Foot pedal
- 3 bobbins
- Seam ripper
- Twin needle
- Cleaning brush
- Eyelet punch
- 2 screwdrivers
- 3 spool caps
- Extra spool pin
- Spool net
- Grid sheet setting
The Good
The Brother Project Runway PC420 is an easy to use sewing machine that has a lot of stitches that helps you get creative with your sewing projects. It makes customization possible with the letter stitches, as well as allowing you to mix patterns, create a mirror image, and even shrink or stretch the designs.
WIth this customization capacity, you can have your very own custom stitch style, which you can save on the machine. I think this is what makes the Brother PC420 really stand out more than the Singer Quantum Stylist.
I also love the fact that it’s smaller in size, and easier to understand than the Singer Quantum Stylist. There are fewer buttons and of course, with fewer features, it’s more beginner-friendly. Beginner and more advanced sewers will appreciate this machine.
The Bad
The LCD display for stitch selection is my only caveat with this machine. It’s really small, and can only display limited information. It’s LED-light background does help you see the display better.
The Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Versus the Brother Project Runway PC420 PRW
I wanted to give a short comparison between these two machines so you can have a better idea which machine will work better for you.
If you want a lot of stitch styles, you have to go for the Singer Quantum Stylist. At 600 stitches, it’s far more superior than the 294 stitches in the Brother PC420. However, as mentioned, you can create custom stitches with the Brother machine, as you can mix patterns, resize them, and save them on the machine’s memory. For more embellishment and decorative styles, the Quantum Stylist definitely does better, but for custom styles, the Brother PC420 is the better option.
In terms of speed, both operate at 850 spm at full speed, making them both similar in terms of speed and capacity to sew on different fabrics. You can sew light fabrics such as chiffon, charmeuse, and satin, as well as thicker fabrics such as layers of denim, or canvass. However, they’re not so reliable to use on leather and upholstery fabrics since a heavy duty or an industrial machine is needed for these kind of fabrics.
In terms of workspace, the Singer Quantum Stylist definitely offers bigger space with the included extended table. The Brother, on the other hand, is made for clothes making, since it belongs to the Project Runway line of machines from Brother. With the Singer Quantum Stylist, you can create more versatile sewing projects, such as clothes, quilts, blankets, curtains, and more.
The Final Verdict / Is the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 right for you?
The Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 is a fantastic computerized sewing machine with plenty of features you’ll enjoy using. You will be amazed with all the styles of stitches it has and you’ll be planning all the beautiful things you’ll be making with this machine even before you begin sewing.
However, because it’s feature-rich, you will need to spare a couple of days to truly get to know this machine and take advantage of all the features. The stitch selection does take time to learn, as well as getting acquainted with all the accessories. But once you do get a good idea on how to use this machine, the possibilities for personalization and creativity are endless.
You can stitch names and quotes on clothes and fabric projects such as fabric bags, pillow cases, and fabric gift items. At 850 spm, it’s fast enough for intermediate sewers, but can also be adjusted to slower speeds for those who are just starting out.
If you’ve never touched a sewing machine before and you’re still taking classes, this may not be the machine for you. It’s quite heavy, too, at 26 pounds, it’s not easy to carry around.
If you want a more user-friendly sewing machine that allows you to create unique customized stitches, the Brother Project Runway PC420 definitely fits the bill. It’s easier to use than the Singer Quantum Stylist, and it has less features and stitches, making it easier and faster to learn. It’s also designed for making clothes, but you can sew thick fabrics with it as well.
Overall, I hope this Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 Review and a comparison to the Brother Project Runway PC420 gives you a clearer idea about which one works for your needs.
In summary, choose the Singer Quantum Stylist 9960 for more personalization and creative options, or the Brother Project Runway PC420 for the ability to make your very own stitch style in a beginner-friendly machine.
Visit the Singer site to learn more about the 9960 sewing machine.
