My parents bought me my first machine when I was 12 or 13. Since my dad worked at Sears everything we owned was a Sears product so I had a Kenmore in a cabinet. I learned to sew from my girlfriends mom who made custom drapes. We got to have her scraps to make clothing. We did make a quilt which was hand tied. When I graduated from HS my first purchase was my current machine which is an ELNA SU. I am looking at new machines but I have sewed many hours and items of clothing from my wedding dress to baby clothes on it. She still serves me well.