I learned on my Mom's tredle but when I got to high school the home ec teacher made me do all of my sewing at school b/c tredles didn't sew good enough. My parents bought a Singer (the brown & tan one that I have but belongs to my non sewer daughter). I used it thru hs & college even making my wedding dress & Mom used it until she went blind in her70's. We moved away from my home state for DH grad school. For our first Christmas together I found a Singer (the gray one) under the tree. He picked it out himself & it was a total shock and surprise especially on a grad student budget! Since then I have upgraded to a later model Singer, have inherited my MIL's tredle, & recently (after joining this board) have added a FW to my collection. Still wish I had not gotten rid of my gray Singer.