craftgrrl | Sewing Genie Review! (Reply)

the moment we've been waiting for, ladies... my roommate's Sewing Genie arrived in the mail yesterday. I'm using it right now to repair some things. There've been many requests for information. I will give you a pro/con list.

PROS:
very tight presser foot. Even for someone like me, straight seams are EASY as all get-out. if you sew with knits, this is a great feature, it does not give you the "lettuce-edge" look.
it can use only bobbins, and comes with lots of colors. this makes life simple.
way easier to thread than normal machines.
the coolest feature I've found so far is the on button. you push it hard enough, it starts sewing and doesn't stop until you push it again. the automatic speed is not too fast, not too slow. it's great.
no confusing switches and dials. it's simple.

CONS:
all it can do is straight stitch. there is no reverse, no changing of stitch length, no zigzag. but the stitch size is small and tight, practical for almost anything.
it's small. I have trouble seeing things around the needle, and not much fabric fits between the needle and the arm.
it's noisy.
sometimes the top bobbin flies off while you're sewing. luckily, it is simple to replace.
it takes some getting used to if you are comfortable with a regular machine, the bobbin and even the threader wheel are very different.
the stitch quality isn't the greatest, occasionally there are knots, doubling of thread, and uneven stitches. the overall look on the right side of the fabric is fine, but the back side is questionable.

VERDICT: it's well worth the money (so far, at least) if you don't have another machine. If you have the capability to purchase a "real" machine, choose that instead.