I still remember the rainy Saturday afternoon when I finally clicked “Buy Now” on the Singer Fashion Mate 3342. I had read more “Singer 3342 reviews” than I care to admit—some glowing, some grumpy—but my curiosity (and a half–finished pile of curtains) won out. Two days later a slim white box showed up on my doorstep, plastered with the red SINGER logo. No extra bubble wrap, just the machine, a dust cover, and a booklet printed in five languages. The English pages were fine, the German ones looked like a puzzle, but I was too excited to care.
First impressions
Lifting the Fashion Mate 3342 out of its Styrofoam cradle surprised me. It felt light in my arms yet, when I set it on the table, it didn’t wobble at all. One of the “Singer Fashion Mate 3342 sewing machine reviews” I’d read claimed the metal frame stays rock steady even at full speed—turns out that wasn’t an exaggeration.
I plugged it in, threaded the top path, dropped in the clear bobbin, and tried the built-in needle threader. On my first attempt the tiny hook missed the eye, just like several reviewers warned, but by the third try it slipped through and I let out a victory laugh loud enough to scare the cat.
The honeymoon stitches
To warm up, I chose stitch 01—plain straight—and slid a scrap of cotton under the presser foot. The motor purred. No shaking, no rattling, just a neat row of even stitches. “Nice,” I whispered, echoing half a dozen short reviews that said exactly that. Then I dialed up the honeycomb decorative stitch. The machine slowed a little (its 750 spm top speed isn’t race-car fast), but the pattern came out crisp and tidy.
By nightfall I’d tried almost every one of the 32 stitches, flipped the presser-foot lever a hundred times, and used the one-step buttonholer on an old shirt. Everything worked, and I went to bed feeling like a sewing superhero.
Reality checks
Of course, every romance has its hiccups, and mine arrived a week later. While hemming denim, the needle snapped. I replaced it with a generic size 16 from my craft box, and suddenly the machine started skipping stitches—exactly what another owner grumbled about online. I popped in an official Singer needle and the problem vanished. Lesson learned: this model can be picky about brand and size.
A month in, the stitch-selection dial felt stiff. I remembered a reviewer who said, “Don’t force it; it’s plastic.” So I powered down, dabbed a drop of sewing-machine oil at the joint, and the knob loosened right up.
The long haul
Now, after ten months, I’ve pieced patchwork blankets, repaired my neighbor’s winter coat, and even stitched leather straps for my camera bag. The Fashion Mate 3342 hums along, still stable, still friendly. My only real gripe is the foot pedal: it looks generic and sometimes feels mushy under delicate speed control, just like one three-star reviewer warned. Someday I might swap it for a higher-grade pedal.
As for support, the local Singer technician did take three days to arrive when I called with a tension mystery, but he fixed it in ten minutes and showed me how to tweak the bobbin case myself. Not perfect, but not the horror story I feared.
Would I buy it again?
Absolutely—and I’d recommend it to any beginner who wants room to grow. It isn’t flawless: the auto-threader can be stubborn, thick upholstery tests its power, and the manual may not be in your favorite language. But the strengths—a sturdy frame, smooth motor, helpful online videos, and a buffet of stitches—outweigh the quirks.
So when friends ask me for “Singer Fashion Mate 3342 sewing machine reviews” or hunt for honest “Singer 3342 sewing machine reviews,” I tell them my simple truth:
“It’s a trustworthy little workhorse with a gentle learning curve. Treat it with good needles, a drop of oil, and a bit of patience, and it will reward you with straight seams, fancy flourishes, and the unbeatable joy of saying, ‘Yeah, I made that.’”
And that, straight from my sewing table, is the story of me and the Singer Fashion Mate 3342.
Pros and Cons of the Singer Fashion Mate 3342 based on Customers Reviews
| Pros (What reviewers like) | Cons (What reviewers criticize) |
|---|---|
| Beginner-friendly & easy to learn – many owners say they could start sewing straight away after a YouTube video or the on-site demo. |
Documentation gaps – manuals often arrive only in English/Italian/Polish/Russian; some users download PDFs or send the machine back. |
| Lightweight yet stable metal frame – runs fast with little vibration; stays steady on the table. |
Accessory & QC issues – missing easy-sew foot, non-branded foot pedal, or broken parts reported out of the box. |
| Wide stitch selection (32 patterns) – decorative honeycomb, buttonholes, etc., praised for everyday crafts and mending. |
Threading & tension quirks – auto-threader can be finicky; straight stitch may skip unless you use Singer needles and adjust tension carefully. |
| Smooth, quiet motor – several “noiseless” mentions in Singer 3342 sewing machine reviews. |
Struggles with very thick layers – several reviews say it jams or skips on heavy upholstery or multiple bulky seams. |
| Good on most medium fabrics – cotton, light denim, basic quilting layers handled without fuss. |
Plastic knobs feel stiff – stitch-selection dial can stick and needs gentle handling or a drop of oil. |
| Value for money – buyers feel they get a “lot of machine” for the price; shipping is usually quick and well-packed. |
Service delays – sparse technician coverage in some regions; warranty claims involve long wait times. |
| Helpful extras – clear top-loading bobbin, auto-threader (when it works), online video support, occasional free home demo. |
Occasional early failures – a minority experienced reverse-only running, bobbin popping out, or motor stopping within months. |
Singer 3342 Specifications Review:
- The Singer 3342 provides 110 stitch options, so you can handle variety of projects, including delicate hems or bold decorative stitching.
- Singer 3342 sewing machine comes with 5 different presser feet. These handy attachments allow you to master techniques like zipper insertion and buttonhole creation with no hard.
- The Fast Drop & Sew bobbin system make your sewing experience much easier. Simply drop in your pre-wound bobbin and follow the clear threading path.
- Simple dial for choosing the perfect pattern for your project makes stitch selection very user-friendly.
- The sewing area offers a comfortable 6.1 inches of space between the needle and the sewing machine’s arm, giving you ample room to maneuver your fabrics.
- The Singer 3342 stands at a convenient 4.2 inches tall, allowing for easy control and visibility while stitching.
- Singer Class 15 transparent bobbins let you easily monitor your thread supply and avoid thread breaks.
- The included manual provides needle recommendations specific to the year of manufacture, ensuring you have the right tool for the job.
- The machine itself measures in at a compact 16.4 x 7.4 x 13 inches, making it useful for those with limited workspace. It weighs 14 pounds, so we can call it quite portable sewing machine. The box it comes in is slightly larger at 18.5 x 10.24 x 13.78 inches, so be sure to factor that in when planning your storage space.
- The machine operates on a standard 110-volt household current, with a power consumption of 60 watts and 0.5 amps. This means it won’t overburden your electrical system and keeps energy usage reasonable.
- Singer warranty provides you 90 days of coverage on labor and adjustments, 2 years on the electrical parts, and 25 years on the frame and motor.
STITCH APPLICATIONS (110)
The Singer Fashion Mate 3342 provides 110 stitch applications, offering you a ton of possibilities for your projects.
ONLINE OWNER’S CLASS
Free online Owner’s Class can replace a sewing teacher, what’s more it is available anytime. You are free to learn everything from threading to tricky buttonholes.
SINGER SEWING ASSISTANT APP
Download the free Singer Sewing Assistant App and this handy virtual guide walks you through everything from threading basics to stitch selection for different techniques.
BOBBIN CLASS (15 TRANSPARENT)
Singer Fashion Mate 3342 uses readily available Class 15 bobbins, and for optimal performance, Singer recommends their own brand or INSPIRA bobbins. Furthermore, the bobbin is transparent, so you can see your thread supply and avoid mid-project runs out.
ONE-STEP BUTTONHOLE
One-step buttonhole feature lets you simply pop your button in the special foot, and the machine whirs out a perfectly sized buttonhole every single time.
BUILT-IN NEEDLE THREADER
Built-in needle threader really help you when threading, saving you time and making sewing experience much better.
TOP DROP IN BOBBIN
Top drop-in bobbin allows you simply drop the bobbin in from the top, and the handy transparent cover lets you see your thread supply.
DARNING PLATE
The included darning plate transforms your machine for free-motion sewing and opens possibilities to think of lettering, beautiful quilting patterns, or even attaching buttons with more precise control over your fabric.
EASY STITCH SELECTION DIAL
All the built-in stitches are clearly displayed on easy-to-use stitch selection dial, so you can switch between them with a simple twist.
ADJUSTABLE STITCH LENGTH
You can easily fine-tune the look of your stitches with adjustable stitch length available.
ADJUSTABLE STITCH WIDTH
Equivalently, Singer 3342 lets you adjust the stitch width too for a bold, decorative border or fine line for intricate details, you are free to customize the look of your stitches for truly unique projects.
REVERSE (LEVER)
Singer Fashion Mate 3342: Don’t let your seams come undone! This machine has a handy reverse lever. Sew backwards a bit at the start and end of your stitches for a clean, secure finish that won’t unravel over time. It’s like adding a tiny backstitch button for perfect results every time.
LED LIGHTING
The Singer Fashion Mate 3342 boasts built-in LED lighting, that keeps your work area bright without getting hot, so you can sew comfortably for hours on end.
FREE ARM
Removable free arm lets you slip sleeves, cuffs, and pant legs right onto the machine for easy sewing.
SNAP-ON PRESSER FEET
Snap-on presser feet swap out in a flash, letting you tackle different sewing techniques with ease, like zippers, buttons, or even hemming.
SEWING SPACE (NEEDLE TO TOWER) (6.1″)
Generous 6.1-inch workspace between the needle and the machine’s body gives you plenty of room to maneuver even large projects like quilts.
BUILT-IN STITCHES (32)
32 built-in stitches let you tackle everything from everyday repairs to adding some creative touches to your projects.
Singer 3342 Review Video:
Singer Fashion Mate 3342 Sewing Machine – Frequently Asked Questions
What fabrics and needles work best with the Singer Fashion Mate 3342?
According to the user manual, the 3342 handles everything from delicate voile (size 9/70 needle) to heavy canvas or light leather (size 18/110). Match the needle size to the fabric and use quality thread—this is a common tip in Singer 3342 reviews.
How do I wind and insert the bobbin correctly on the Singer 3342?
Place the spool on the horizontal pin, snap the thread into the guide, wind clockwise around the tension disks, push the bobbin spindle right, press the foot control until full, then insert the bobbin counter-clockwise into the clear case and thread through the slit before closing the cover.
Why won’t the automatic needle threader catch the thread?
Raise the needle to its highest position, lower the threader lever fully, pass the thread under the small hook from bottom to top, then release. If the needle is not at the top or is bent, the hook can’t line up—one of the most common issues mentioned in Singer Fashion Mate 3342 sewing machine reviews.
How do I set the right thread tension?
The default upper tension is 4. Turn the dial higher for tighter stitches or lower for looser ones. Balanced straight stitching usually falls between 3 and 5, but decorative stitches like satin look better when the upper thread shows slightly on the underside.
What accessories are included out of the box?
Standard kit: all-purpose foot, zipper foot, one-step buttonhole foot, button-sewing foot, seam ripper/brush, quilting guide, three bobbins, pack of needles, L-screwdriver, darning plate, extra spool pin, spool felt and a soft cover—just as noted in the manual and confirmed by many Singer 3342 sewing machine reviews.
Can the 3342 handle thick seams like hemming jeans?
Yes, use the two-step presser-foot lifter, a size 16 or 18 needle and sturdy thread. Go slowly and keep layers smooth; some Singer Fashion Mate 3342 reviewers mention occasional skipped stitches on very heavy stacks, so test on a scrap first.
How do I sew a one-step buttonhole?
Snap on the buttonhole foot, place your button in the rear gauge, pull down the buttonhole lever, set the dial to the buttonhole icon, stitch length to the buttonhole mark, hold thread tails and sew—the machine automatically stitches the four sides in order.
How should I clean and maintain the machine?
Unplug, remove the needle plate and bobbin, brush lint from the hook and feed dogs, and wipe with a soft dry cloth. Oil is not required unless a technician advises. Do this every few projects; it keeps the machine quiet and prevents jams noted in some Singer Fashion Mate 3342 sewing machine reviews.
Why is the machine only sewing backwards?
Check that the reverse lever isn’t jammed in the down position and that lint isn’t obstructing it. If it still runs in reverse after cleaning, contact Singer service—persistent reverse sewing is rare but appears in a handful of Singer 3342 reviews.
Where can I read more Singer Fashion Mate 3342 sewing machine reviews or get help?
Visit Singer.com for official resources, watch the brand’s YouTube tutorials, or browse verified customer feedback labeled as 'Singer 3342 reviews' on retailer sites for real-world tips. For repairs, use an authorized Singer technician so the warranty stays valid.
Check also review that migh interest you:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Singer Fashion Mate 3342 |
| Machine Type | Household mechanical sewing machine |
| Stitch Patterns | 32 built-in stitches (straight, zig-zag, stretch, decorative, one-step buttonhole) |
| Stitch Width | 0–6 mm (adjustable) |
| Stitch Length | 0–4 mm (+ “S1”/“S2” for special stretch functions) |
| Buttonholes | One-step automatic buttonhole |
| Needle System | Singer 2020/2045/2032 compatible, sizes 9(70)–18(110) |
| Bobbin | Top-loading clear bobbin, easy-access cover |
| Presser Foot | Two-step lifter; includes all-purpose, zipper, buttonhole, button-sewing feet |
| Accessories | 3 bobbins, needles, seam ripper/brush, quilting guide, auxiliary spool pin, spool felt, L-screwdriver, darning plate, dust cover |
| Thread Tension | Upper tension dial (1–9), factory default 4; bobbin tension pre-set |
| Lighting | Built-in LED sewing light (<75 dB(A) noise level) |
| Power & Control | AC 110–120 V or 220–240 V (region-specific), foot-pedal speed control |
| Standards & Safety | IEC/EN 60335-2-28, UL 1594 double-insulated |
| Weight & Dimensions | (See retailer listing; not specified in manual) |
