Embroidery is an art that sparks your creativity and lets you show your unique style through your designs.
If you’re looking for an affordable and easy-to-use embroidery sewing machine, the Singer Futura XL420 is a pretty solid option to consider.
We’ll have a look at what this machine is capable of so you can decide whether it’s the right choice for you or not.
What Is the Singer Futura XL420?
The Singer Futura XL420 is a computerized two-in-one embroidery sewing machine. It’s suitable for experienced and inexperienced people alike.
It allows you to create your very own embroidery designs on your computer and also craft them for you. It’s got many features that make it user-friendly and complication-free. Here’s a video for you to see it in action!
Review of the Singer Futura XL420
While it might be missing some stuff like an LCD screen and an automatic thread cutter, the Singer Futura XL420 still has a lot to offer.
What’s in the box?
Alongside the embroidery sewing machine, the package includes many accessories:
- General purpose foot
- Zipper foot
- Blind hem foot
- Satin stitch foot
- Button sewing foot
- Buttonhole foot with underplate
- Embroidery foot
- Bobbins (class 15J)
- Needles
- Auxilliary spool pin
- Spool pin felt
- Spool pin caps
- Seam ripper/lint brush
- Screwdrivers
- Thread spool nets
- Scissors
- Knee lifter
- 3 Embroidery hoops (Large Hoop 10″x 6″, Small Hoop 4″x 4″, and Endless Hoop 6¾”x 4″) and an embroidery software CD
Singer Futura XL420 Specs
The Singer Futura XL420 features a spec sheet that makes it stand out from the crowd.
Specs
- Type: sewing and embroidery combo
- Dimensions: 22 x 9.5 x 13 inches
- Shipping weight: 50.5 lbs
- Built-in stitches: 30 Sewing
- Sewing Start/Stop Button
- Speed control slider
- Built-in embroidery designs: 200
- Automatic needle threader
- Buttonhole styles: two one-step
- Top drop-in bobbin
- USB connectivity
- Stitch selection: push button
- Programmable needle up/down
- Built-in monogramming fonts: five fonts available
- Drop feed
- Work light: six LEDs
- Extra high presser foot lifter
- Tension: automatic tension
- Knee lifter
Key Features of the Singer Futura XL420
The Singer Futura XL420 is packed with many features that emphasize ease of use while also producing high-quality stitches.
SwiftSmart Threading System
The Singer SwiftSmart threading system and the automatic needle threader lets you easily guide the thread directly from the spool to the needle area through a groove. To thread the needle, all you have to do is to press the lever. This way, you can save yourself 5 minutes poking the thread at the eye of a needle.
Programmable Needle Up/Down
The programmable needle up/down is quite convenient while quilting and pivoting the fabric as it can be programmed to stop in the down position.
It can also be programmed to stop in the highest up position when your foot is lifted from the controller which makes removing the fabric from the machine much easier.
Knee Lifter
The knee lifter allows you to raise or lower the presser foot using your knee. This can be very handy when you’re quilting or embroidering.
Six Staybright LED Lights
There are lights placed on each side of the needle area in addition to one light over the large surface to the right of the needle so you can clearly see your work even in a dark or poorly-lit room.
Software Formats
The software can read FHE, JEF, XXX, CHE, HUS, DST, PES, SHV, PEC, EXP, VIP, PCS, PSW & SEW files.
Embroidery Designs
The sewing and embroidery machine offers you 200 patterns to choose from. There are also five fonts and outline lettering for monogramming.
An awesome feature of this machine is that it’s equipped with three embroidery hoops. You can take advantage of the Futura XL420’s multi-hooping capability and get creative with your embroidery projects.
The Singer Futura XL420 comes with the software that you need to design your own embroidery patterns. You can edit them during your free time then send them to the machine. No coding knowledge is required.
Stitches
The Singer Futura XL420 comes preinstalled with 30 different stitches for you to try, including two one-step buttonholes.
That’s actually a lot to choose from already and all of them can be easily accessed through Singer’s manual. You can also find them on the machine’s neck.
However, that doesn’t mean you’re limited to these 30 stitches. If you’d like to try something new, the Futura XL420 enables you to easily do that.
Drop & Sew Bobbin System
The Drop & Sew Bobbin system makes switching out the bobbins quite easy. You don’t have to pick up the bobbin thread by yourself as the system will take care of that.
Extra High Presser Foot Lifter
There are two heights to the presser foot lifter. The second height offers a ¼” extra clearance, which is very useful when placing multiple layers or bulky fabrics under the presser foot.
Automatic Tension
The automatic tension ensures top quality stitching for all types of fabrics by measuring the fabric thickness or setting tension by the type of stitch.
Speed Control Lever
The lever on the front of the machine is used to adjust the sewing speed. When the foot pedal is used, the lever functions as a top speed cap.
Heavy Duty Metal Frame
The frame’s rigidity is excellent. It holds all the mechanisms and aligns them perfectly for skip-free sewing and extra durability.
Important Details & Quick Tips: Getting the best out of the Singer Futura XL420
Ease of Use
The Futura XL420 has a steep learning curve in the beginning but that doesn’t mean it’s not user-friendly. In fact, once you familiarize yourself with the software, you’ll find out that it requires minimal effort to do anything you want.
Using the SwiftSmart Threading System
When you use SwiftSmart for threading your machine, you have the following options:
- If your presser foot is up, you thread per the manual, holding onto the thread at the beginning of the process and giving it a sharp pull before you thread the needle. This will guarantee that you’ve caught the spring inside the cover and flossed the thread through the tension disc.
- If your presser foot is down when threading, it’ll need a little pull but you’ll hear a click when the thread catches the tension disc.
What we like
- Large working space; you can create embroidery designs up to 20″ x 12”
- Wide Sewing Area
- Decent stitch quality
- Many built-in embroidery designs
- Decent price
What we don’t like
- No Mac compatibility
- No automatic thread cutter
- There’s a learning curve with the software
- No LCD screen
Should you buy the Singer Futura XL420?
For your first computerized sewing machine, the Singer Futura XL420 is an excellent choice. It might not be the most advanced sewing machine out there but it will definitely help you create some amazing embroidery designs. The price alone is a good reason to grab it.
Other models might suit you if
- You’ve got a pretty capable sewing machine and you only need a dedicated embroidery machine.
- You only need a sewing machine so the embroidery/sewing combo isn’t really useful to you
- You need a machine that can produce a higher output if you plan to earn money using the machine.
The Singer Futura XL420 isn’t for you? Here are some alternatives
If you’re willing to spend some extra cash, the newer Singer Futura XL550 could be a great option for you. It’s got an automatic thread cutter and you also get 215 sewing stitches instead of 30 on the XL420.
Another good option is the Brother SE600. It’s got an LCD screen. This model also allows you to easily import hundreds of designs from ibroidery.com.
Wrapping up Singer Futura XL420 Review
There’s no denying that the Singer Futura XL420 will provide you with a great sewing and embroidery experience. If you’re looking for a user-friendly machine that’s also affordable and feature-rich, this is a great choice for you.
