I learned to sew doll clothes back in the 60's on my mother's singer 401. Then moved to making my own clothes. I still make some of my own clothes as I have a short waist and my hips start right up there near the waist so to buy clothes to fit the hips, the waist is too big and vice-versa. I buy basic patterns and alter them to fit what I want. Now with these new machines that can add embroidery, ribbon, etc. you can make the same pattern and change it just a little and no one is the wiser that its the same pattern over and over. I makes quilts mostly but still have a ton of apparel fabrics I need to do something with one of these days.