This would be my check list: is the belt worn and not tight enough to work...are the feed dogs moving when it sews....is the little silver nob in the center of the hand wheel tightened ( if it is disengaged for bobbin filling, the needle won't go up and down ) thread the machine and check the tension disc to see if it is too tight if too loose....is the needle in properly as in flat side to the outside of the machine and are you threading the needle from the inside of machine to outside...are you using the little single hole foot it comes with (mine will not sew with the 1/4 inch foot )