Occasionally the Singer shops in the area will run an add for a sale. Usually the sale is advertised as a box sale of "heavy duty school machines." I bought one of those and love it. I have carried it to class and have let students use it. It sews through "anything." There are three stitch lengths, 3 zigzag stitches, blind hem stitch, and a buttonhole. My Janome walking foot can be used on it. I paid this neat little machine 150. Oh, forgot to mention that the machine is a WHITE.