I have my sister's old serger and I too was afraid of it. Threading it requires you to become a contortionist! I attend a sewing bee each week and one of the ladies there helped me thread it correctly and adjust the tensions. Then I splurged and treated it to a 'spa' treatment at my LQS - so it's all cleaned and lubricated. I don't use it often but at least I'm not as scared of it as I was. Oh, and NEVER unthread it - just clip the thread and tie the new one on and let it feed through till it's past the needle. They are a bugger to thread - that is for sure! I'm going to try making a pillow case on it next! Wish me luck.