Like many of the others who responded, I, too was sewing on my mom's Singer. I am the oldest of four and my mother was going to sew dresses for us. You may remember the kind - wrap around shift dresses with two sleeves and one armhole. Sewing for three little girls can take time and I wanted mine asap. My mother did the difficult stuff, but let me sew the long straight seams. I was hooked. I also vote for a 'real' machine if that is possible for you.