Elna Mini 525

Elna Mini 525 — Don’t waste your money – This is a very small sewing machine touted as a starter model. I think anyone starting out trying to use this sewing machine would very quickly give up the entire notion of sewing. If you are an adult or in your senior years with normally sized digits and do not have excellent vision, definitely DO NOT BUY THIS MODEL. For a start all the parts including the power pedal are sized to suit a nine year old child. This machine should be sold as a toy because basically that’s what it is. Adult sized fingers will find it difficult if not impossible to even thread this machine, that’s if you can follow the instructions including the very poor diagrams. None of the mechanisms have defined adjustment points so that trying to adjust tension or stitch type leaves you turning a plastic knob which simply does not have designated notches so the adjustments can easily change if even slightly moved by your material and sewing movements. It has taken me an enormous amount of time to even thread the machine as there is no in built light on the needle plate which makes it near impossible to see what you are doing. I bought this machine for the odd piece of sewing which might need a machine stitch but as yet I have been unable to use it with any success. There’s really nothing on the market for those of us who don’t wish to undertake elaborate sewing projects, but would like to have a sturdy reliable machine on hand for small jobs which go beyond hand sewing. Unfortunately there are very few designated sewing machine stores and we have no option but to buy at Spotlight or Lincraft where getting staff assistance is near impossible. Like shopping at the supermarket you serve yourself, wait in line to pay and off you go with a sub standard item which you may never have bought had you known better.