I like this sewing machine. It's very beginner-friendly—and I'm a real beginner, and if I can muddle along, so can you! I hadn't touched a sewing machine since middle school, and I was never very good to begin with, but after a lot of trial and error, I've been doing the basics. It took a bunch of tries to figure out how to thread the machine, but it's not that hard. When I mess up, I can usually see where I've gone wrong and correct my mistake. Now I can hem things, so it's saving me a lot of money. No need to go to the tailor for basic hemming. Definitely recommend for the average lay person who's a little handy and wants to make basic alterations.