Compact machines
A screen, or a free arm and one fewer thing to break?
Both are light machines for alterations and light dressmaking. One is computerised, one is mechanical, and they differ on where they are sold.
| Compared on | FS40S | M1005 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Computerised | Mechanical |
| Stitches | 40 | Not published |
| Free arm | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 2.95 kg | Not published |
| Markets verified | All six | Five — not the US |
| Buttonhole | Not published | Semi-automatic (4-step) |
A tick marks the better answer on that line only. Counting ticks does not decide the page — the two verdicts below do, because these machines answer different questions.
Buy the Brother if you want stitch selection on a screen and the widest availability of any machine on this site. It is the lighter, more modern option.
Buy the Singer if you prefer mechanical simplicity and are in Europe. A four-step buttonhole asks more of you but there is less to fail.
It means a plastic frame, with the flex that implies. Fine for cotton and shirting, wrong for folded denim. Both machines are in that class.
A little — it removes guesswork about which stitch is selected. It is not the reason to choose computerised; a one-step buttonhole would be, and neither listing confirms one.
40 stitches · LCD · free arm · 2.95 kg
Brother's light computerised machine: 40 stitches, an LCD, a needle threader and a free arm, at just under three kilos. One reference on all six Amazon stores we checked.
Best for: Light dressmaking, alterations and a first machine that has to live in a cupboard
≈ 200 €
Free arm · semi-automatic · compact
A compact free-arm machine, available under one reference across all five European markets. The most widely available portable machine in our checks.
Best for: Alterations, repairs and a machine that lives in a cupboard
≈ 100 €
