i too bought one of the singers from a school over stock , i've had it for about 12-15- years , absolutley love it it has never broken down , and runs like a dream , but now i dodnt buy the $149.00 one i got one that cost $300.00 , from them , it does sew thru several layers of jeans as for hemming , what a great investment it was , i'd do it all over again if they came back to my area, mine is a singer model #9410. great investment.