Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I bought this machine a little over a year ago with a gift card I had for WalMart. It cost around 80 dollars. I took college courses for sewing and textiles, and the machines our college used were big, expensive and heavy-duty. Over the years, I began to assume that cheaper machines were no good, simply because I have never really seen anyone use a cheap machine. When I lifted this sewing machine off the shelf, I was immediately dismayed that it was so light. It was not what I was used to at all. In fact, I was able to carry the machine to the register fairly easily. I decided to gamble on this as I needed something straightforward and portable enough to get some projects done quickly, so that my home would look like a home again and not like a bad episode of HOARDERS. I had curtains all over the floor from being too long, and piles of expensive clothing that needed repaired. Ya feel me? Tens of unfinished projects laying about is not good for the psyche. So, with some hesitancy, I purchased the machine. I had it threaded and bobbined in absolutely no time whatsoever. What a delight compared to the machine I used before, where threading was an absolute nightmare. I tried all of the stitches on various textile scraps, thick and thin. i was shocked and impressed. And the machine is so light, I can sew any old place. This is not hyperbole. I have used the machine in the bathroom not wanting to take the curtains down, and also, JUST BECAUSE I COULD!! I have used this just about everywhere in this house where a project needed finished. My house was back to normal in less that a week. That was a good week. The old heavy duty Singer sewing machine from college, that I compare to the diva in the Phantom of the Opera, was immediately purged from the home. Seriously, I think about her when I think of that paperweight of a machine. The machine was indeed heavy and expensive, but taking it out was a total nightmare. It was loaded with features too complicated to use, and while it looked fancy, it worked terribly, and cost me over four hundred dollars. To maintain its uselessness, it needed repair twice at 90$ a pop. It was a non-stop drama machine. If you accidentally do something wrong, there was no forgiveness with it. AND IT WAS LOUD! This Brother whispers compared to that evil Singer. Even my Serger is more quiet than that Singer. This machine, in STARK CONTRAST TO ANY MACHINE I HAVE USED, IS WONDERFULLY EFFORTLESS TO USE. I feel like any idiot could operate this, that it is foolproof. Seriously. Never sewn before? Try it out. I would totally let a teenage child figure this out on his or her own. The DVD is plenty helpful. Never fear. Use some scrap cuts to start out on and set the tension to three. Then go from there. You can do it. I was so impressed by this machine that I bought a simple serger, also rather light for a serger, also by Brother for less than two hundred. I still cannot believe that I have a serger (this was for the rich kids.) I love these machines. You would not believe these work horses. They are my true loves. I sew everyone's pants. I reupholstered a chair and a couch. I fixed some thirty outfits (I love clothes.) This machine made sewing so easy, I could try more complicated things like gathering and such, which I knew how to do enough to pass the course years ago but I definitely dreaded it at the time. I fixed a boyfriend's patio chairs. I make my young daughter robes and all kinds of costumes. Even in March. People are so impressed, and it is so easy! This is what sewing is about. Cheap, fast and productive. This machine will not let you down. And it is small enough to tuck into a closet when you have company. And it even has a super convenient handle for carrying! They thought of everything! There are many videos available which are helpful and I believe they are on YouTube. You have a variety to choose from so do not watch the annoying ones. The only thing that could make this better is a nice cocktail. My only recommendation is to keep a can of compressed air around to refresh the bobbin enclosure when you change the bobbin. Don't over do it, but do tweeze out any visible threads. This will extend the life of the machine. Also, be sure to use the proper feet for whatever project you are doing (however- I do admit I used a zipper foot for over a month out of sheer laziness) and tune it up regularly, at least 1-2 times a year if you sew a lot, less if you do not sew much. There are cheat sheets on how to tune your machine and foot guides online to keep as aids for all of your sewing endeavors. I wish that I had these resources when I was a student! :) Oh! And all the low-shank feet accessories will work with this machine, and they are super cheap here on Amazon. Love it. Best of luck! Fantastic deal.