Singer 4432 Review Exploration and Self-Employed Tips!

If you’re looking for a dependable workhorse of a sewing machine that will give you years of use without putting a dent in your budget, then you owe it to yourself to take a close look at the Singer 4432.

Singer sewing machines first began production in 1851 as the first practical sewing machine for home use and the company continues that tradition to this day.

Still the leading brand of sewing machines in the United States, Singer captures more than 43 percent of all sewing machine sales.

The brand is known for dependability and a large number of their models cater to the budget-conscious while still providing solid workmanship and flexibility.

The Singer 4432 fits all of the brand’s characteristics — it’s rugged, dependable, flexible, and inexpensive.

The Singer 4432 is low on bells-and-whistles because it’s not a computerized machine.

Don’t let that dissuade you from buying one, however. Lack of electronic features means it’s super easy to learn, and that can get you sewing faster and with fewer frustrations down the line.

In addition, the simple construction means fewer parts to break, bringing you both quality and value.

But let’s zoom in for a closer look at the 4432’s construction.

Body of Singer 4432

This Singer is made for heavy-duty usage. It’s got a durable composite plastic shell over a top-quality metal internal frame for stability.

Yes, it does have a plastic shell. But don’t let that fool you. Underneath lies a heavy-duty skeleton that’s the heart of durability.

The heavy metal framework allows the machine’s moving mechanisms to operate with consistent motion for smooth, effortless stitching.

The weight of the frame contributes to a stable work platform, which helps minimize stitch skipping and delivers consistent output. This is particularly important if you’re sewing heavy materials at fast speeds.

All the interior moving parts are metal as well, for additional durability and longevity.

A solid stainless-steel bedplate ensures your fabric slides easily across the sewing surface, preventing snags and catches in the fabric and keeping your stitches neat and professional.

Heavy-Duty Machine

The 4432 is classified as a heavy-duty machine, capable of sewing through multiple thicknesses of fabric, or through tough fabrics like leather, vinyl, and oilcloth.

To do this, it needs a strong motor — and the 4432 delivers.

According to Singer, the 4432 motor is 60 percent stronger than similar models — and it sews at speeds up to 1100 stitches per minute.

That fast stitching speed means more consistent — and professional — results for the home seamstress.

In addition, a powerful motor means the 4432 can hold up to years of sewing, even if you do it on a daily basis.

Soft Dust Cover

While this machine might look simplistic with just a few dials and knobs, there’s a lot of flexibility planned into the details of this workhorse.

Singer created this machine to appeal to the widest variety of consumers who sew.

They knew it had to be simple for beginners, but they also wanted it to be useful for veteran sewers who needed a tough machine they could rely on for everyday jobs.

To make the 4432 a logical choice, Singer streamlined the features to be simple, yet useful.

This machine is well-equipped to appeal to quilters, who need free-motion stitching, creative stitches, and a free arm.

But it also works just as well for the homemaker, who needs to sew buttonholes easily and baste hems.

Additionally, it works for the creative crafter, who might work with leather one day and sheer organdy the next.

Let’s take a look at how Singer has managed to create a simple, yet budget-friendly machine with so many useful features.

Built-in Stitches

The 4432 has a simple interface that can deliver 32 different stitches at the turn of a dial.

There are enough stitches to take you from basic to decorative sewing in a flash. This is especially good for the home seamstress who might go from sewing a dress to top-stitching a quilt in the same week.

Top Drop-in Bobbin

Anyone who’s run out of thread mid-seam will appreciate this feature.

The transparent cover and matching bobbin let you keep a close eye on your available thread so you’re never caught short.

Singer gives you 15 bobbins with this machine, so it’s easy to keep them at the ready to keep your project moving.

Built-in Needle Threader

Threading a needle can be a real bear in low light or if you’ve forgotten your glasses. The Singer 4432 has a built-in threader so you don’t have to worry about visibility issues.

Even if you have fumble fingers, this threader will deftly thread the machine’s needle in the blink of an eye and without snagging or tearing the thread.

Drop Feed

Beginning — or expert — quilters will love this feature.

Sliding the drop feed lever will lower the machine’s feed teeth to allow for free-motion sewing, perfect for quilting. It’s also useful for sewing buttons.

Need the teeth raised again? Slide the lever back into place and give the handwheel a full turn to return the feed teeth to their original position.

Adjustable Presser Foot Pressure

Whether you’re sewing light, sheer fabrics like tulle or heavyweight ones like felt or leather, this feature is sure to come in handy.

Decreasing or increasing the presser foot pressure is critical to keep the fabric feeding through the machine in a smooth and consistent manner.

Snap-on Presser Feet

This machine accommodates presser feet for various sewing techniques like rolled hem, zig-zag stitch, and more.

Changing techniques is a breeze when all you have to do is snap the appropriate presser foot on and off as it is needed.

Extra High Presser Foot Lifter 

Perfect for sewing extra-thick fabrics or layers of thin fabrics, the Singer 4432 features an extra-high position for the presser foot to keep stacked or heavy material feeding through smoothly.

This is especially useful when sewing two or more materials together. The foot lifter keeps the fabric aligned and moving through the feeder at the same rate so you get a perfectly matched seam every time.

Three Variable Needle Positions 

Different sewing techniques require different needle positions. The Singer 4432 is adjustable to allow for needle positions for things like:

Just a quick flick adjusts the needle position to suit the technique you’re using.

Adjustable Stitch Length and Width

Didn’t we tell you this simple machine was super flexible?

The adjustable stitch length gives you the opportunity to customize your stitches by varying the distance between them.

This feature is perfect for basting hems, doing applique, and various other stitching techniques.

The stitch width is also variable, so you can make fine stitching details for delicate projects or large, wide stitches for quick fixes and temporary hems.

One-Step Buttonhole 

Buttonholes can be a beginner’s nightmare. Even seasoned seamstresses sometimes dread sewing them. But with the Singer 4432, you don’t have to worry.

Snap in your buttonhole presser foot and turn the dial and this machine will sew a perfect buttonhole every time.

And you select the buttonhole dimensions, so you’ll always have the right size buttonhole for your project.

Free Arm

Quilters will appreciate the free arm feature that lets you remove the storage compartment to allow the fabric to flow around the arm.

Not only does this make working with large quantities of fabric easy, it’s also critical for sewing sleeves, hemming trousers, or creating any other project of a tubular nature.

Included Accessories

It might be a simple machine, but the 4432 includes a plethora of accessories to help make your sewing experience more productive.

They include:

As you can see, Singer’s thought of everything, down to a cover to keep your machine dust-free and cozy when you’re not using it.

It’s particularly helpful to have a sewing-machine friendly screwdriver included in the accessories.

It might seem silly to point out such a mundane item, but a regular-size screwdriver is often much too large to finesse around the inner workings of a sewing machine.

When you need to loosen or tighten an inner screw, you don’t want to have to run out to the store to find a specialty screwdriver in the middle of your sewing project.

Learning Assistance

Whether you’re a beginning seamstress or just forgot how to wind your bobbin, the Singer 4432 has got you covered.

When you purchase this machine, you’re invited to Singer’s Online Owner’s Class, a sweet tutorial that will teach you the basics of the machine.

Best of all, it’s there whenever you need it, so there’s no rush to learn everything all at once.

In addition, Singer also offers their exclusive Sewing Assistance App, so you can take your tutorial with you wherever your smartphone roams.

Singer makes sure you’ll never get caught without the information you need to get your project finished.

If you need even more help, there’s an in-depth online support page. You can start by looking through their frequently asked questions to find your answer.

If you’re still stumped, there’s an email support channel, an online chat feature, or you can simply call support at the number listed on the page.

Singer makes every effort to educate, assist, and motivate every step of the way.

Pricing

This machine is one of Singer’s most budget-friendly.

Hovering around $150, this price can’t be beat for a versatile, well-crafted machine that can perform almost any sewing task required.

Drawbacks

With a machine this versatile, it’s hard to come up with drawbacks.

Certainly, if you prefer a computerized machine, the Singer 4432 is not the machine for you. At this price-point, however, it would be hard to find an electronic machine that would provide similar quality.

How Singer 4432 Compares

It’s hard to choose a competitor for this machine, since it is capable of most sewing tasks, from heavy-duty sewing to fine, free-motion quilting.

Some sites have compared it favorably to a Janome Heavy Duty — a machine that costs three times more — for sewing through leather and it is the Editor’s pick on a number of sewing machine sites.

On Amazon, it’s considered an “Amazon Choice” for its category.

Not only that, reviews of the Singer 4432 are overwhelmingly positive, with most people noting that it does very well sewing through heavy materials like leather, vinyl, and thick terrycloth.

The few negative reviews had to do mostly with unexpected breakdowns, which might indicate a quality-control issue.

How to Productively Work for Yourself as a Crafter

If you are a sewing professional, designer, crafter, custom creator, etc, you may have run into the common issue tons of small business and work from home workers experience: it can be so hard to be productive! We have some helpful tips that will show you how to set, follow, and accomplish a productive days work, every day.

Decide How Much You Want to Work

The old phrase is true: "If you don’t control your schedule, your schedule will soon control you." Going into working for yourself, you probably thought it would be super easy to work whenever you want and still get it all done, while also having the flexibility to enjoy life whenever you want.

Though this is true, it can be hard to get to the point of equal parts enjoyment and following a schedule. At the beginning, you will find yourself either becoming a workaholic, working at all hours of the day, and very late into the night. Or you will find that you are not productive at all and are not getting projects completed in time. This cannot happen, you must create disciplines if you plan on enjoying working for yourself.

This begins by taking steps to build a system to manage the time you work. The decision as to how many hours you need to work and what times of day you will work is one you need to make on your own. How often do you need to work? Having the ability to have a flexible routine is both a blessing and a curse for self-employed workers. But it can be all blessing if you get it under control.

It may suit you to take fewer jobs than you’d like instead of finding yourself overwhelmed by too many projects. Instead of finding yourself on one extreme or the other, listen to your body and gauge your ability as you go, then tweak your amount higher or lower as needed.

Ask yourself the important questions upfront: Will you work five days a week like a normal 9-5, or will you work all seven days (at least one rest day is advised to avoid burnout)? Will you work forty hours down to the minute with no flexibility?

The number of hours per day and per week that you work will truly depend on how many projects and customers you have, as well as and how much money you are planning on making.

Decide your boundaries ahead of time. I have found that when I set them, my work usually follows suit. Somehow, my pace matches my timeline. Of course, this is not always true. Some projects are simply too large to get done in the period of time you set, so be aware of this.

Eat Your Lunch

I wanted to put something super deep in this spot, but then I sat and thought about my daily work schedule. This point is important-vital even, so I sandwiched it between points (ha!). It may sound a bit silly, but most of us who have been doing this for any length of time know the struggle. Without a boss or supervisor telling you to take a lunch break, you may forget to eat altogether!

You need to treat this as you would working on a job. It can be hard, though. I have concluded that when you are working at something you're passionate about, it can consume you in the best way (usually, until you start missing meals), as opposed to working in an office or working retail. When I worked for other people, I would count down the seconds to my lunch hour because it was my escape. Now that I do what I love, it can be hard to pull away.

Don't neglect yourself in the process of doing what you love. You need to eat during the workday. Food is fuel, and you need the energy to work. Don't let yourself develop lousy work habits, like not eating, because you want to power through and finish a project.

Eating is the opposite of a waste of time: it gives you a refresher, a burst of energy, and renewed passion. Taking a 30 minute to one-hour lunch break can make all the difference. I try to make mine a real break, not work while I eat a sandwich. I watch a show, read a chapter, or call a friend while eating a real meal. It has become a routine I love and look forward to. It also gives me a way to care for my body well amid hard work.

Stick To The Schedule

Once you make the schedule, try to stick to it as much as you can. For me, having the flexibility means that I work 9-5, Monday-Friday as much as I can. This works out most weeks. But sometimes clients bring you things last minute, you may want to pick up some extra work, or a project needs to be worked on over the weekend. It's okay! Be flexible; this is a gift to work at your own pace. But remember that as much as you can, stay on schedule and drop the excuses. You will feel accomplished, and it feels good knowing your whole life is not consumed by work.

As a person who works for themselves, you may need to adjust and determine your schedule based on your family or other responsibilities. For me, my husband travels so sometimes I lose a midweek day flying with him, and make it up on the weekend. For friends of mine, their work schedules revolve around their kids, and that is precisely as it should be! Adapt your schedule to what works for you.

The whole point I'm making is to create your schedule according to your life and work responsibilities. Maybe your work is less consistent, or you have a specific amount of time set in your return policy. Adjust how you need, not rigidly, and stick with it every day that you work. Though you set your schedule, it is smartest to have a "going to the office" mindset to keep you dedicated to your schedule and determined to be a consistent person in your work life.

Our Analysis of Singer 4432

The Singer 4432 is an excellent choice for an all-around machine for home use.

With less electronic parts to break or malfunction, an easy-to-learn interface, quality construction, and all the right details for sewing everything from sheer fabrics to tough leather — it’s the perfect buy for the budget-conscious seamstress.

Plus, Singer backs it with a 25-year warranty that exemplifies the brand’s commitment to excellence.

Overall, this little workhorse can do just about any job you task it with.

It has simple, easy-to-use features that offer the flexibility of stitch selection, variable sewing speed, and an adjustable presser foot. It can take you from quilting to basting to dressmaking with just a few touches.

However, it’s truly excellent at working with heavier fabrics, so if you plan on using leather, vinyl, oilcloth, or terrycloth in your projects, this is the machine for you.