Singer Genie 354 - It's a Powerful little Portable!

Here is a machine with a funky 1970s vibe that makes you smile just to look at it.  The Singer Genie (this is the 354 with the added stretch stitch.)

So besides the cool retro orange and yellow flower design, what does this machine have going for it?  

Well, for one thing, it has one of the most cleverly designed carrying cases I've ever seen.  

It has an antennae-like spool pin that retracts when you put it in the case.

And look how cleverly the controller and power cord are stored underneath

Skipping to the relevant part, though, here is how it sews.  It is quieter and smoother and even a little faster than I would have expected since it actually has a timing belt - or drive belt, I guess - rather than gears.  

Here it is sewing buttonholes with a Singer Professional Buttonholer 

It makes acceptable stitches with only four built in stitch patterns including zigzag, blind stitch, multiple zigzag, and stretch stitch.  That's all she does!

 Acceptable straight stitch 

The machine does a surprisingly good satin stitch!  (I used a satin stitch foot - not included with the machine - for best results.)  Since it has three needle positions, you can make pretty nice four-step buttonholes if you don't have the buttonholer

It has four built-in stitch patterns, but no cam system for additional stitches

It works passably well with the flower stitch foot.  So what can be more fun than making flowers with this Flower Power sewing machine!



Specs:

• Low shank 
• Comes with ankle adaptor presser foot which takes snap-on feet
• Four stitch patterns
• Three needle positions
• Enclosed bobbin winding mechanism (you have to remove the housing - which involves quite a number of screws - to get inside to change the bobbin winder tire or to oil the machine.)
• Class 66 plastic drop-in bobbins
• Raising plate system to bypass feed dogs 
• push and release button for reverse stitching 

This is actual an awesome little travel machine.  For a solid, full-sized sewing machine, it is compact and surprisingly light.  I have taken this machine on an airplane twice - one as a carry on and once I just chucked it in my checked suitcase.  The hard shell self-carrying case protected it perfectly and the built-in handle made it easy to transport.