The Singer 4423 Heavy Duty Sewing Machine sounds quite impressive on paper. It has a heavy-duty metal frame, a powerful motor, an automatic needle threader, and it can clock 1,100 stitches per minute set to its fastest speed. Of course, it’s impossible to know a product’s pitfalls without testing it in person, so we picked up a Singer 4423 to see just how well it performed. We punched through thick materials like upholstery, denim, and leather, sewed basic buttonholes, and even tried out the decorative built-in stitches while we were at it. Keep reading for our assessment of the sewing machine’s setup process, design, performance, features, price, and competition.
Setup Process: As easy as it gets
As far as assembly goes, the Singer couldn’t be any easier. The sewing machine comes ready to go, complete with a needle already in place. The manual walks users through threading their first bobbin and there are also easy-to-follow instructions printed right on the machine. Thankfully, this machine comes with an automatic needle threader. You still have to weave the thread through the machine, but then you wrap it around a little contraption that will put it through the eye of the needle. This makes the setup process much easier! Other than that, all you have to do is plug the sewing machine in and flip the power switch on the right side of the machine. This will turn on an LED light which illuminates the sewing area and indicates you’re ready to start sewing.
Design: Perfect for beginners
The Singer 4423 comes with many thoughtful perks, including a smart design. One feature we really like is the horizontal spool pin; it comes with a holder that you can slide on to keep your spool secure during bobbin winding or sewing. The automatic needle threader might be a little confusing at first, but with the help of the manual and a video tutorial (you’ll find plenty with a quick Google search), you’ll have it down in no time. We did notice that it harms the thread a little, but you’ll be pulling this thread through the needle far enough that it shouldn’t get sewn into your project anyway. The sewing area is well-lit, but if you’re in a dark room, you’ll probably need another light source. If you want to do free range sewing, you can easily lower or raise the feed dogs with a slider on the back of the machine. As for changing the presser feet, there’s a simple lever mechanism you can use to easily switch them out. The only issue we found with the sewing area was that the bobbin sometimes rattled in its holder while we worked. Luckily, Singer anticipates this and includes a small piece of felt that you can affix to the top of the bobbin to prevent it from moving. There are three labeled control dials on the top of the machine. The left one adjusts the thread tension, the middle one adjusts the needle position, and the right one adjusts the stitch width. On the front of the machine, there are two more dials. The top one is for stitch length (there’s also a buttonhole stitch option here, and an option called S1) while the bottom is for stitch selection. You’ll find that for every stitch printed on that dial in black, there’s another one printed in blue. The black ones are basic stitches, and the blue ones are stretch stitches. To access the stretch stitches, you’ll need to switch the stitch length dial to S1. The reverse stitch tab, along with the presser foot lever and the buttonhole lever, are all easily accessible and clearly labeled. The Singer 4423 also comes with an extension table/storage compartment for stowing your extra presser feet, bobbins, and needles. While it’s convenient for storage, you can slide it off to make sewing things like cuffs or hems easier. If you often sew on the go, you’ll love how lightweight this machine is—and the handle it comes with. Despite the fact that the 4423 weighs just under 15 pounds, we didn’t have any issues with stability while we worked. The one issue we did find, though, was that the sewing machine only comes with a fabric cover. Keeping it safe during transport might prove difficult unless you buy a separate hard cover.
Performance: Seamless
From winding the bobbin to sewing a buttonhole, the Singer 4423 Sewing Machine keeps things easy. With a metal frame and heavy-duty motor, it doesn’t disappoint on power, either. We were able to sew eight layers of denim without any issues—even on the zigzag stitch. If you’re a beginner sewer but you catch on fast, you’ll love this machine’s speed. With an impressive 1,100 stitches per minute, you’ll be able to hammer out all your sewing projects in no time. Don’t let the speed intimidate you, though. With a lighter touch on the foot pedal, the machine will sew slower until you’re ready to ramp things up. We made a few simple projects with this sewing machine, including napkin holder panels. We had to fiddle with the thread tension a bit, but after that, we didn’t have any issues, and the end result was great. As far as the noise level, we found that the Singer 4423 is fairly quiet. Since this is a mechanical machine, some things—like sewing a buttonhole—take a little bit of effort. The Singer 4423 will sew whole buttonholes by itself, but once it’s completed, the machine will keep going. To avoid the thread knotting up at the bottom of the buttonhole, you’ll have to keep an eye on the stitching so you can stop it yourself.
Features: Plenty to go around
A lot of beginner-friendly sewing machines come with only the most basic features. Sometimes, you can’t even adjust things like stitch length or width. Thankfully, the Singer 4423 comes with those capabilities and more. We’ve already mentioned the automatic needle threader and the buttonhole sewing function, so let’s move on to a few more. If you’re into quilting, you can do that with this machine. There’s a simple slider in the back for dropping the feed dogs for free-motion sewing (you’ll also need to drop them for sewing buttons with the zigzag stitch). The Singer 4423 also comes with four presser feet: an all-purpose foot, buttonhole foot, button sewing foot, and zipper foot. All of them are easy to use, though we did notice the buttonhole foot feels cheaply made. The drop-in bobbin cover is clear plastic so you can keep an eye on your bobbin’s thread level. This may seem simple, but it keeps things easy. For better accuracy, you can also adjust the sewing machine’s needle in three different positions: to the right, middle, or left. This is a great feature for sewing things like zippers.
Price: Cheap for a heavy-duty model
With a retail cost of $250, the Singer 4423 comes in at half the price of other heavy-duty sewing machines. Considering the amount of features it offers and the fact that you can almost always find it for $200 or less, it offers incredible value. Whether you’re a beginner sewer or someone looking for a machine with a little more oomph, this is worth investing in.
Singer Heavy Duty 4423 Sewing Machine vs. Brother CS6000i Sewing Machine
The Brother CS6000i retails for $180 and offers a ton of built-in features. Sure, it’s a bit cheaper than the Singer, but how does it stack up? Both the Brother and Singer machines have automatic needle threaders and easy buttonhole stitches. However, since the Brother is a computerized machine, it truly has a one-step buttonhole sewing function. Plus, the Brother has eight different buttonhole styles to choose from. As far as variety of stitches goes, the Singer has 23 while the Brother has 60. Both machines have the same capabilities of changing stitch length or width, but since the Brother has so many stitches, it comes with nine different presser feet. To keep it simple, the machine displays the recommended presser foot for each stitch on its LCD screen. This feature alone makes the Brother a standout machine. While the Brother CS6000i has lots of extra features and accessories, it can’t hold a candle to the Singer’s performance with thick, heavy-duty materials like leather and denim. Depending on your sewing needs, this could be a moot point or a dealbreaker. Strong fabrics require a strong machine, and the Singer Heavy Duty 4423 Sewing Machine doesn’t disappoint. So if you’re sewing upholstery, denim, or leather, this machine will get you through your projects. Otherwise, consider the Brother CS6000i, as it has more stitches and features.
