I was one of those unstoppable children that give parents premature gray hair.. I wanted to sew so bad.. and my DM was afraid if she didn't teach me I would get up there and do it myself when she was away.. (she was right, that's exactly what I would have done!) She had a Pfaff with a knee control.. I had to sit up on books to be up high enough to sew.. I was about 5.. was it "real" sewing? I don't know, but I thought it was! I've sewn nearly everyday of my life since that time. The first machine I owned my self was a Singer.. which I sold and bought a Bernina 830.. I still have that machine, plus a beautiful new Phaff Creative Vision.. I also have a bunch of other machines, old vintage machines. Like others, I love each one of these machines... most are as old as I am, but they are still working perfectly.. sort of like me.. perhaps I'm not perfect anymore, but boy can I work!