Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I come to this machine from a bit of a unique standpoint: I've been sewing for over two decades now, and while I imagine the machines in the class where I learned to sew were fairly basic, I have primarily used my mom's higher-end sewing machines for the majority of the time I've been sewing, and especially in the past decade-plus. So coming to this machine (my very first machine that is truly MINE) was something of a step back for me, but I tried to not let my experience with high-end machines color my review of this product. If you have experience with sewing machines already, you could probably open the box, get the machine hooked up (there is one cord that connects the machine to power, and also connects the foot pedal to the machine, so it's a quick-and-easy setup), and start powering away. If this is your very first machine, I would recommend reading the enclosed manual first (of course, I'm generally of the opinion to always read the manual, anyway). The machine comes with a small bag of accessories neatly tucked away into the accessory tray compartment (that little box at the front of the machine that you remove to access the bobbin compartment). There's one bobbin already in the bobbin compartment, plus an additional 3 bobbins (4 total). Also included are 3 extra needles (in addition to the one already installed), 3 total feet (the "all-purpose" foot is already attached, plus there is a buttonhole foot and a zipper foot), a darning plate, 2 spool pin felts, a needle plate screwdriver, and a small lint brush with a mini seam ripper hidden inside the handle. All of the accessories fit neatly into the compartment with room to spare. The first thing I did was wind a bobbin. There are diagrams on the top of the machine that show you how to run the thread from the spool to the bobbin winder. The bobbin wound quickly, and the winder simply stopped winding once it was full, even if I kept my foot on the pedal. More diagrams on the top and front of the machine walk you through threading it, and the process is similar to every other sewing machine I've used. It lacks a needle threader, which is handy to have, but I suppose not necessary. If you have issues with threading the needle, a hand-held needle threader (http://www.amazon.com/CottageCutz-CNT1-2-in-1-Needle-Threader/dp/B000YZ462E/ for example) can still be used to help get the thread through the eye. Lead-footed drivers beware: the machine goes FAST. I'm accustomed to the speed control on my mom's machines, where you can set a top speed and, no matter how much you put the pedal to the metal (or carpet, wood, tile, whatever your flooring is), it won't exceed it. The only speed control on this machine comes from how much pressure you apply to the foot pedal, so definitely take it easy! I'm not deducting any stars from the machine for the lack of speed control, because it's not a "missing feature," since nowhere does the information on the machine suggest it has this feature, it's simply something I'm used to from higher-end machines. If this is an issue for you, you may want to consider looking at a different machine. Another feature from higher-end machines that I noticed was not included on this machine was a button to set the needle so that it stops either down or up. Of course, there's a knob on the right side of the machine that raises and lowers the needle, but it can sometimes be handy to have the needle stop down, without trying to time taking your foot off the pedal just right. Again, not worthy of a star deduction, because this is a basic machine, but something to consider. After all, if the needle stops in a position different than what you need (up, down, or anywhere in between), you can simply turn the knob and put the needle where you need it. The lever to raise & lower the presser foot is easy to manage with just a finger, and it can lift the presser foot a fairly decent height, beyond the raised "resting" position. There is a thread-cutter located on the left side of the machine. A lever on the front right of the machine allows for easy back-stitching. The big round dial at the top front of the machine (with the blue S in the center) is your stitch-selector: line up the stitch you want with the little marking at the top center, and you're good to go. It includes 3 lengths of straight stitch, 3 zig-zag widths, satin-stitch, blind hem, scallop, and the three parts to the four-step buttonhole stitch (steps 2 & 4 use the same part). There is also a dial a bit to the left of the stitch selector where you can adjust the tension of the stitching, but you'll probably want to leave it on "4" for a good majority of your straight stitching, and the manual succinctly covers how to check if the tension is "good" for what you're doing, as well as how to adjust it. Overall, it is a nice little machine, great for beginners and those who don't really need all the bells and whistles that come with higher-end machines. I tested it out on both muslin and flannel (the fabrics I had available scraps of), and it held up well on both. If you want to work on heavy-duty fabrics (corduroy, denim, upholstery fabric, etc), you will need to buy the appropriate needles, likewise for the "wispier" fabrics such as chiffon. When buying the fabric, an employee should be able to help you find the appropriate needles for your machine and fabric. I give this machine 5 stars because it does what it says it does: it gives beginners a nice little launching pad without overwhelming them with extra features.