Dillitop Portable Sewing Machine, Electric Mini Handheld Lightweight Sewing Machine Kits with Extension Table, Foot Pedal & LED Light, Perfect for Beginners, Kids, Household Art Craft (Green)

I needed a sewing machine for one specific project: hemming a quantity of net screening to keep the midges out of my house. I’ve learned from past experience that a physical barrier is the only way to hold the little savages at bay, and this year I’ve decided to do things properly.It’s not a complicated job, but there’s some yardage involved and I didn’t fancy tackling it by hand. At the same time I’m not envisaging a new tailoring career with Gieves and Hawkes, so I was reluctant to fork out on the sewing-world equivalent of a Ferrari. I was looking for something inexpensive, yet fit for purpose.Largely positive customer reviews finally led me to the Dillitop, and I’m happy to pass on my own recommendations. It works just fine. There are limitations: straight stitch only, no reverse or fancy zig-zags, so you’d struggle to re-create the Bayeux tapestry with it. For everyday sewing, however, it does the business, and does it well. Maybe I got lucky and acquired one that was built on a Wednesday morning after a decent cup of coffee rather than on a Friday afternoon after vodka shots, but we can only speak as we find: this is a good little machine for the money. It does need to be set up properly, and I did have to loosen the pre-set tension quite considerably in order to get things right.My only complaint is that the cable for the foot switch is much too short. In fact, with the machine placed in the middle of a work-table the foot switch actually dangles above the ground! It’s rendered quite useless, all for the sake of an extra couple of feet of cabling. The main on/off button is neatly to hand, so I’ve simply used that, but others might find it a nuisance.The package comes with a generous supply of accessories: pre-wound bobbins, spare needles and threader, assorted reels of cotton, etc. Everything you’d need and more.I also appreciate the fact that the machine is decked out in blue-green and black rather than in My Little Pony livery, as so many other beginner models seem to be. Colours that not even I am cool or confident enough to carry off. I could wish that it had a different name – maybe something like the Sidewinder, or the Carpet Shagger, rather than the Dillitop - but for forty-odd quid you can’t expect that kind of marketing expertise.

Poor quality

I owned a "trusty" sewing machine for years and while I'm no seamstress, it did come in handy for diy, crafts and emergency clothing repairs (hems and buttons in the main)My niece wanted to set up a little clothing business due to her prem babies were just too small for age related clothes so I gave her my machine to help her out.After needing to adjust some curtains after moving rooms around, I kind of regretted this decision and didn't like to ask for my machine back when I saw this one.To be honest, I thought it was very toy like and at first glance I was ready to send it back, but thought I would give it a go.Well, first impressions aren't always the best! This little machine has helped me with my curtains and some long awaited clothing repairs! I found that using the bobbin on the front is better to use to keep the tension in the thread than using the post on top, but it was very easy to create a new bobbin to use from a reel of cotton.To help others, I found that the bobbin on the front does actually come off - it might need a little prising the first couple of times to remove it, but does get easier. Be warned though, that there is a a spring behind the button that secures the bobbin and this happened to bounce off a couple of times when I was replacing the thread colour!To wind a new bobbin, the thread post on the top of the machine pops up and then if you press the button on the side whilst turning the wheel towards you, the bobbin winder pops out to secure the bobbin. You do need to create the tension with your finger as described with images in the instructions to ensure the cotton winds correctly and then just press it back in and turn the wheel in the opposite direction to lock it back.The machine is nothing fancy - it only creates a straight stitch and I found to secure the sewing I just stopped the machine, turned the material round and then back again; there is no reverse option.It has an auto on/off button but also comes with a small foot pedal - however, this just reached the floor from my dining table, that and the power lead aren't very long.As a starter machine, or for older children who want to try their hand, this is ideal and the best thing is, it all fits back in the box and can be stored easily without taking up too much space :)To top it all, it also comes with threads in different colours and some prewound bobbins as well as a couple of empty ones for your own colours, a stitch unpicker and some spare needles. In fact, this is a straight out of the box machine, the only thing missing was a set of pins!

Perfect for new starters sewing machine. Easy and simple to operate.Extension table makes it much easy to operate and makes easy to manoeuvre.Ideal size as well when needed stored, it’s around10x20x20.It has extra led lights which supports and gives extra visibility.Have a look to my pictures to see real size hope it will be helpful to decide if it’s suitable for personal needs or not.

This product was recommended by my friend and it is working great. Comes with complimentary accessories. I am a beginner in sewing and this is my second sewing machine. Various accessories like threads, bobbins etc. If you are color specific, order the preferred color and mention in your order once again. I received a different colour but still love the product.

There is lot of stuff useful in there in the package and machine seems very good.

A really compact piece of kit perfect as a portable item. Has slow and fast speed as well as double stitching function.Comes with an extensive set of threads of all different colours to get you started.

I had a pile of clothes building up which had ripped at seams, needed taking in, needed taking up at the hem. Did not want to spend a lot on a big machine so saw this and I must say it’s perfect for those small odd jobs. Now minor alterations can be done at home, and I will be saving money by not needing to drop clothes off with a professional.