I learned on a singer my dad had bought my mum. She never used it as she preferred to knit and bought a knitting machine lol. I think I was about 8 or 9,can't really remember too long ago lol. As my mum hadn't a clue about machine, when it snarled I must have just figured it out for myself. I think a basic good machine, either second hand or one of the basic Brother/ Janome, both easy to use.