Singer 7258 Sewing Machine Review from a Home Sewist

In this post, I will share with you my thoughts and experiences with the Singer Stylist 7258 sewing machine, what I like and dislike, sewing projects made with it, and who this machine is good for.

As an avid sewing hobbyst, I love sewing garments for myself in my spare time. I started sewing about 9 years ago when I just got my first full-time job and wanted to treat myself with a sewing machine to create something fun and creative in my spare time! 

After comparing a range of sewing machines that are at $100-$200 range, I bought this Singer 7258 sewing machine as my first sewing  machine, and I have been using it ever since. 

Overview of Singer Stylist 7258 sewing machine

The Singer 7258 sewing machine is a computerized sewing machine that has 100 stitch options, 10 presser feet, and an array of features compared to a basic sewing machine.

The machine has a sleek and modern design, with a white body and teal accents. It is a pretty standard sized sewing machine, smaller than some sewing machines specifically designed for quilting purposes. I just have this machine sitting on my sewing table all the time.

Cost and Value

Investing in a sewing machine is no small decision. Back in 2014, I picked up the Singer 7258 sewing machine from Amazon for $170. Since then, it has increased a little bit on pricing due to inflation. Nowadays you can get it for around $250.

With the current price point, I still think it is a value buy! The features packed into this machine make it well worth the investment, which I’ll break down in detail next.

Features I love from Singer 7258 sewing machine

Metal frame inside

During my research of finding good quality sewing machine, I saw somewhere that buyers should prioritize buying sewing machine with a metal frame inside instead of plastic, as it will make the machine more durable and less likely to skip stitch.

This sewing machine is one of the rare machines I can find that has metal frame with a reasonable price point. In my experience sewing a lot of project with Singer 7258, it is pretty durable and it rarely jams or skips stitches. 

So far after using it for more than 9 years, it doesn’t have any major problems. However, there are a few small hiccups that were developed overtime that I’ll mention in the con section.

Variety of machine stitches

The machine has 100 stitch options. To me, It doesn’t matter how many stitches a sewing machine offers, what I care about is whether there are stitches that I need. And I found all the stitches I needed for the majority of my sewing needs. Lately I’ve learnt a few sewing stitches I’d like to try that is in more expensive models that this sewing machine doesn’t offer, but those stitches are more optional.

Here are the stitches I enjoy using with this sewing machine:

• Single stitch: don’t we all need that?
• Zigzag stitch: top stitching and joining seams for stretch fabric, also to finish the raw seams.
• 3 step zigzag stitch: great top stitch for knit fabrics to finish the hems
• Buttonhole stitch: super useful 1 step buttonhole stitch, plus this machine offers a few styles of buttonhole stitches you can choose from.
• I occasionally use some of the decorative stitches, such as the scallop stitch for making a cute edge on a peter pan collar, or the triple stretch stitch for sewing knit seams (before I got a serger). 

The LCD screen of this machine is clear and easy to read, and it shows the selected stitch, the stitch width and length easily modifiable by users.

Needle threader

Having a built-in needle threader is a feature not every sewing machine offers but is surely handy. In fact, I use it about 90% of the time! 

For people with eyesight challenges, this is a must-have in my opinion.

Start and stop button

Not a must but I do use it from time to time. It comes in handy when I wind the bobbins. By simply clicking on the Start button, I don’t have to keep pressing the foot pedal which can be tiring on my legs. 

Top drop-in bobbin

The Top drop-in bobbin system makes bobbin installation pretty easy. When I took a sewing class before committing to buy a sewing machine, I used a machine with a front load bobbin. Now comparing these two, I personally prefer the top drop-in bobbin system as I find it easier to change bobbins. 

Unless you are sewing a similar color palette with all your projects, changing the bobbin is a pretty common thing for sewists, so an easier bobbin system will make your sewing life more efficient.

Manual thread cutter

I like a manual thread cutter a lot as I found myself using it all the time. After each machine sewing task, I’ll bring the tread to the cutter to cut it off. This also eliminates the need to have a scissor on hand.

Although it is not automatic as automatic thread cutters often exist in sewing machine models that are over $1000, it does add a touch of convenience to my workflow.

Challenges I faced using Singer 7258 sewing machine

Although my Singer 7258 sewing machine is still in great working condition, it has developed a couple small problems over the years.

But first I want to mention that I have never serviced the machine, as it can be costly to do it on a yearly basis. I do clean and oil my machine from time to time.

So the first problem is with the foot pedal sensitivity. The foot pedal generally is sensitive and comfortable, but occasionally it becomes less responsive and I have to press it a few times to get started. 

Another problem is that the internal program gets buggy, although happens very rarely: when I press the back button, the machine will sew backward as expected. But when I release the button, sometimes the machine would keep going. When this happens, I will either try to press the stop button a few times, or turn the machine off to stop the stitching.

Generally speaking, these are minor problems that do not happen very often nor does it affect my sewing project much. But these are the drawbacks I have experienced with the machine after using it for many years that I thought I’d share. 

Would I change my sewing machine because of those minor issues that happen occasionally? Probably not. I’ve learned to navigate them with ease, ensuring minimal interruptions to my projects so I’m using it just fine.

However, as I’m learning more about fancier sewing machines, there are a few features I’m very interested in and that could be a reason to upgrade my sewing machine one day.

Features Singer 7258 machine is missing

To clarity, I’m not listing these features below to say Singer 7258 sewing machines should have them. Honestly, these features only exist in higher end machines, usually $800- $3000. 

•  A dual feed system that feeds the fabric from both the top and the bottom, eliminating the need for a walking foot. This would make sewing thick, slippery, or stretchy fabrics easier and more even. With singer 7258, you can achieve this by installing a walking foot, which is something I use a lot when sewing stretchy fabrics or bulky layers and it only costs a little over $20.

•  An automatic thread cutter that cuts the thread at the end of the stitch by pressing a button. This feature would also make the thread ends neater and save me from doing fine trimming after completing certain major steps.

Projects made with Singer Stylist 7258 sewing machine

I have made many projects with my Singer 7258 machine. This machine is marketed for both sewing and quilting, but I primarily used it for garment sewing. 

I am pretty happy with how it handled different fabrics and techniques. Here are some examples of what I have made with the machine:

•  A white cotton dress with a square neckline in woven fabric. I mostly used the single stitch for construction and zigzag stitch to do some simple lace work.

•  A bra project to show you how it handles lace and elastics. I used the straight stitch, zigzag stitch and the 3 step zigzag stitch to sew the bra, and this sewing machine did a great job of sewing through the delicate and stretchy materials with minimal skipping stitches.

You can also read my bralette sewing project made with the same sewing machine

•  A swimwear project to show how it handled specialty fabric. I used my serger and this sewing machine for swimwear construction. Then I used this machine exclusively for finishing, and it turned out great! I had a fun time wearing it in Hawaii last summer.

•  I also used my Singer 7258 machine for a leather passport case project made during my journey of learning leather work. The material is veggie tan leather . I used the single stitch and a leather needle to sew the case, while I manually ran the stitches by turning the wheel for more precise control.

Read

•  Last but not least, here’s one of my favorite dress project – square neck dress in linen fabric, which leveraged several stitches from the Singer 7258 sewing machine. I used 1-step buttonhole stitch, sewed buttons with the machine as I was feeling lazy to sew by hand, and adjusted stitch length and tension to create gatherings.

Singer 7258 sewing machine review summary

In conclusion, I think the Singer 7258 sewing machine is a wonderful machine that has served me well for over nine years. And I’m happy with my buying decision.

It is versatile and affordable, plus it can handle a variety of fabrics and techniques. It has some minor flaws, but they are not significant enough to affect my sewing enjoyment. 

I would recommend this machine to anyone who is looking for a reliable and feature-rich sewing machine that won’t break the bank.

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