I have one as a back up for my Bernina if it has to go in the shop....it is an amazing machine for the price and except for the small throat it does almost everything the bigger machines do...less some of the gadgets but it will sew without a foot pedal and has different speeds and many embroidery stitches (more than my Bernina...lol) however I am not sure how well it would handle really thick things like double batting totes at the top where you are putting straps also...my Bernina handles this heavy duty sewing extremely well.