Singer S0105 review: fast, feature-rich overlocking at £285

Is the Singer overlock model S0105 worth buying? Yes — if you want a capable 2/3/4-thread overlocker with strong user ratings and a current price that sits at an all-time low of £285.00. Its 4.8/5 rating from 530 reviews is a standout signal, and the feature set is practical rather than flashy: differential feed, a free arm, LED lighting in the needle area, and a claimed 1,300 stitches per minute.

First impressions

The S0105 is positioned as a machine for clean finishing, fast seams, and more professional-looking edges. Singer’s description makes that clear: it can cut, sew, and finish in one pass, with 2, 3 or 4 threads and 1 or 2 needles. That flexibility matters because it lets you move between simple seam finishing, rolled hems, and more substantial overlock construction without changing machines.

What do the key features actually give you?

The headline spec is the 1,300 stitches per minute speed, which should help on long seams and bulk finishing. The differential feed is especially useful for knit fabrics and lightweight materials, helping reduce stretching and waviness at the edge. The free arm is another genuinely practical addition, making cuffs, sleeves, and narrow circular areas easier to handle than on a flatbed-only setup.

Singer also highlights a new LED light in the needle area, which is a welcome detail for thread path visibility and precision when threading or checking stitch formation. The machine is described as offering 6 different stitches, including cleaning/overlock and rolled hem options, so it covers the core finishing jobs most home sewists need.

How does it perform for home sewing?

On paper, the S0105 looks well suited to everyday garment finishing, especially if you sew knits, activewear, or woven projects that need neat internal seams. The combination of differential feed and multiple thread options is exactly what you want for consistent edge control. The 530-review average of 4.8/5 suggests buyers are broadly happy with how it handles real projects, not just how it looks on the spec sheet.

The main performance strength is versatility: 2, 3 or 4 threads, 1 or 2 needles gives you enough range to tackle different fabric weights and finishing styles. If your current frustration is frayed seams or slow edge finishing, this machine is designed to solve that efficiently.

Build quality and usability

Singer is a familiar brand in home sewing, and the S0105 appears to be built around convenience rather than complexity. The LED light, free arm, and differential feed are all features that improve day-to-day use, especially for makers who want a smoother workflow. That said, overlockers are inherently more technical than standard sewing machines, so threading and tension setup still require patience and a willingness to learn.

Is it good value for money?

At £285.00, the S0105 is not the cheapest overlocker in the comparison set, but it is sitting at the all-time lowest price recorded. The current price is also exactly equal to the average and highest recorded price in the available data, which means you are not paying a premium right now. Against alternatives, the Brother M343D at £199.00 is cheaper, and the Brother 2104D at £265.00 undercuts it too; however, the Singer counters with a very strong 4.8/5 rating from 530 reviews, compared with 4.7/5 for both Brother models.

That makes the value argument less about being the cheapest and more about buying a machine that many users rate extremely highly at its current floor price. If you want the lowest upfront spend, the Brother models are more affordable. If you want the strongest review score in this group and are happy to pay £20-£86 more, the S0105 looks well judged.

What should buyers watch out for?

The biggest warning is that overlockers can be intimidating if you have never used one before. The S0105 may be feature-rich, but it is still a specialist machine, and anyone expecting a simple plug-and-sew experience may be disappointed. Also, the sales rank of #1558035 in category suggests it is not a mass-market volume leader, so buyers should rely more on the review score and feature set than on popularity alone.

How does the Singer S0105 compare to alternatives?

Compared with the Brother M343D (£199.00, 4.7★), the Singer costs more but has the edge on rating and adds the same core overlocking functions plus the LED light and free arm. Against the Brother 2104D (£265.00, 4.7★), the price gap narrows, and the Singer again wins on review score while matching the practical finishing focus. The Janome 2212 Sewing Machine (£221.68, 4.5★) is a different type of machine altogether, so it is only a useful comparison if you are deciding between a standard sewing machine and a dedicated overlocker.

Final verdict

The Singer S0105 is worth buying if you want a well-rated overlocker with useful everyday features and you are comfortable paying £285.00 for a machine that is currently at its all-time low. It is especially appealing for sewists who finish garments regularly and want differential feed, a free arm, and fast 1,300-stitch-per-minute performance.

If your priority is the lowest price, the Brother alternatives are cheaper. If your priority is the strongest user approval in this comparison set, the S0105 is the more compelling pick.