I have read many posts saying what a good machines Brothers are. I guess I got a dud. My mother in law bought me one about 22 yrs ago, probably from Wal-Mart or Hancocks, I'm not sure, but that machine never would work for me. She would fool with it and it would sew for a little bit then the tension would go. I finally got rid of it. I thought from then on that Brother machines were all bad quality. I guess it was just that one.