I learned to sew on my mom's Singer Slant 401. It was one of the first things she and my father purchased after they were married in 1949. They were a young military couple and she used the machine to sew curtains, table clothes, clothing, etc. I remember when I was little she also sewed all of my Barbie clothes. I hated them. All my friends had the newest of Barbie clothes that were in the stores, I had homemade clothes made out of scraps of fabric. Looking back, I was such a selfish child. All the time and effort she went to. On a bright note apparently all my friends loved the homemade Barbie clothes they used to "mix" them with their things and take them home. My mom caught on and used to search their cases before they left!