Once you get past the instructions, the machine is a good value.

This is an excellent machine because it is so easy to use. The most important thing I did upon purchasing this machine was to read the manual and go through all the procedures (loading the bobbin, threading the needle, etc.). Because it was so easy to use I became quite an accomplished sewer and have saved several hundred dollars making personal and household items. With the savings I’ve made on these items the machine has more than paid for itself. I would recommend this machine for anyone who wants a trouble free product, though not at the price offered. Walmart has a new beginner Brother Machine with even more stitches and accessories for an even cheaper price than the one listed here though this model can do quite a lot even with only ten built in stitches.

However I got over these problems and as I said the machine did the basics I asked of it. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a no nonsense machine.

1) I could not get the machine to start slowly. It went at full speed or no speed. 2)No matter how I adjusted the tension knob, the fabric puckered (according to the trouble-shooting guide, I was doing everything right–right fabric with the right thread, etc).

I have used two other machines in the past and I never had any trouble sewing a decent line. I returned this machine.

I gave it two stars, because it could do a straight stitch, and as long as you were only sewing together two pieces of thinner fabric, it worked okay. If you wanted to sew layers of three or more pieces of fabric, or something thicker like denim, forget it.

This machine comes with basic accessories like a buttonhole, zipper, button sewing feet, a needle set, 3 bobbins, darning plate, screwdriver and one extra spool pin. The manual is very easy to read and use, instructions are given in english, spanish and french and in order to get the best use of this machine, must be read carefully! If you are sewing heavyweighted or lightweighted fabrics, you’ll need to change the needle size and check that you are using the correct foot. Also, this machine does a great job with basic monogramming and embroidering!

I like the 10 stitches which includes 4 different zig zag stitches, the buttonhole, straight, stretch blind, shell tuck and elstic stitches. There is a tension control roller and the ability to do twin needle sewing.

Overall, a very good machine for basic sewing and crafting!

I have sewn for about 25 years now and let me tell you something, this machine is GREAT! It’s perfect for begining sewers because there aren’t too many options or functions to learn. The vertical-housed bobbin keeps the tension like you wouldn’t believe. I hardly ever have to adjust tension or bobbin. It’s ready to go just as I left it.

There are the options and functions necessary for routine sewing. Quilters would need a different machine, but for just about anything else, this is a jewel!

Best deal for the money out there!

This model has very minimal bells and whistles which is perfect for a beginner. I plan on upgrading soon, but I will still keep this machine for quilting.

If you have some sewing experience under your belt and you can get past the threading of the machine, you will love this machine. If you are buying this for a novice, make sure you get a tutorial book with exercises that the receiver can perform on paper first. I got my son several kits of projects that he can sew for himself (a pillow, mittens & a scarf), but he cannot start on those projects until he has mastered all of the examples in the beginner book. He thought that sewing was easy and that he could make all sorts of stuffed animals, etc. right away. He now has been made aware that mastering sewing starts with a good machine, and practice, practice, practice before you can really make anything.

It is a good thing to start on paper, not only because it is good practice but also the machine has been oiled and some of the residual oil will come off on the bobbin thread as you start sewing at first. Please do not use anything you value on the machine until the oil residue goes away (about 1 foot of stitches seemed to do the trick).

Also, make sure you understand how to use a sewing machine safely. My son now understands that this is a powerful machine and the needle can go through your finger easily. If you are buying this for a child, please do not let them figure out how to use this on their own. It is like a power tool, so treat it as such.

This machine is less expensive than a professional model, but still is an investment. I am looking forward to my children using this for many years to come.

1. Threading a machine is difficult from a book, if you can, find someone to illustrate how to do it. My mother in law taught me how initially thread a machine, so I could easily figure this one out. But if I didn’t have that prior knowledge threading from an instruction manual is HARD.

2. PLEASE do a sample sewing using a discarded piece of fabric prior to using your real fabric. There is oil in the machine that needs to be run through and if you start using your real fabric first you will get black colored thread running through your fabric. Not good. But this point is mentioned in the owners manual, so be forewarned.

Overall, I love this little machine, so far I have hemmed all my curtains, made a skirt and hemmed my bath towels. I recommend it highly for anyone just curious to try it out or beginning their first craft project.

My mother bought me my sewing machine for Christmas when I was 16 and I’m now 23. I have used my machine so much, from everything from getting married (made my own veil and some fabric decorations for the ceremony), to sewing for my husband (two matching seat covers), to clothing my little dog, Daisy (two sweaters), to the birth of my daughter (her ‘coming home’ blanket and onesie), to having a new baby around (dozens of bibs), to having a toddler (two Halloween costumes, two Christmas dresses, two Easter dresses, a “shopping cart cover”), to sewing for my niece and nephews (a dress, a skirt, a romper), to sewing for my big dog, Duke (a large dog bed), to helping friends who needed work clothes cheap (30+ nurses scrubs), to finally where I am now: Starting home decor, I have already made a tablecloth, chair cushions, and fabric bowls (HGTV) now I am trying my hand at curtains. ALL these things with one basic sewing machine!

All I have to do is oil it once a week (since I use it so much) and it has lasted for SEVEN years. Nothing (excepting needles!) has ever broke, not ever, not even the light bulb has burned out.

Wonderful basic sewing machine!

I whipped out a few pillow cases, even tried to sew a quilt and a dress. My main issue was the needle kept unthreading, and it seemed I couldn’t sew a straight line. I figured it was just lack of experience on my part, boy was I wrong!

I’m really glad I decided to take a quilting class where I took this machine. I mentioned the problems and the experienced women there tried to help. They noticed the machine was pulling to the left, and did just about everything to try and fix it, but ultimately told me I had a bad sewing machine.

Had I not gotten advice from someone who knew much more than I did, I would have been learning on a faulty machine, and who knows where that would have led me!

Based on that, I can’t recommend this machine to a beginner.

it is not the best machine for beginners.

those of us just starting out with sewing need a better users manual.

I bought a low end brother machine 20 yrs ago that came broken. The manufacturer replaced it and the 2nd one had the same problems. I lost interest in sewing because it was such a hassle to wrestle with the thread and never be able to finish a project or make anything that looked nice finished.

I’ve been sewing simple seams with a machine that was basically a toy. It was time for a real machine but I hesitated to buy another because of my past experience.

Wal-Mart had this machine on sale for $69 so I finally bought one.

It seems to be quite an improvement from my first machine but from the wide ranging reviews on this page and my own personal past experience, I think you either get a working machine or you don’t.

If you didn’t get a working one, its under warranty so keep giving it back till they get you one that works. But make sure you’re using the plastic bobbin first.

I wonder if my machine from 20 yrs ago would have worked with a plastic bobbin?

Two reasons I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

1.The manual layout could be better. Directions & pictures should be on the same page. Especially since the directions refer to the pictures & both helped a newbie like me. Flipping back & forth between written directions & the pictures while trying to load a bobbin for the first time was frustrating.

2.Why plastic bobbins?

Some people mentioned that the machine doesn’t work well for thick fabrics, but we got two quilts on this machine without any trouble. That’s a cotton top, a thick cotton middle, and a cotton bottom, and while I was a little nervous that it wouldn’t fit under the “foot” it did fine. We sewed flannel and felt, and they weren’t a problem. Obviously, it does best on cotton. Haven’t tried it on silks and satins yet.

I had trouble with the bobbin a lot, with the thread breaking, getting tangled, that kind of thing. But once I started pulling out 6 inches of thread before starting, the problem went away, so maybe it was just that I wasn’t pulling enough thread and tension. I am still not sure why I was having so much difficulties.

I do really like the bobbin winder, though. I’ve been using the machine pretty much continually for three months now, and haven’t seen any problems with the needle breaking.

Big mistake. The pressure foot is not adjustable and didn’t allow the fabric to move AT ALL. And those of you who know anything about sewing know that you are not supposed to stretch stretch fabric while sewing it. The hem turned out awful… and I came very close to ruining this shirt that I worked really hard on because of this machine.

When I was trying to fix a torn sheet, the fabric actually got pulled down into the machine (I have no idea how.) I had to cut the sheet even more just to get it free.

DON’T buy this product, it is a miserable excuse for a sewing machine. Spend the extra money now before, like me, your sewing machine becomes a shelf accessory.

Thank you!

Lynn