I have this very machine and love it. You have to hold the top and bobbin strings until after the first stitch or they get caught up under the material and I don't mind doing that. It also has feed dogs that switch off for free motion quilting. This is my third Brother. I paid $169 for mine off Amazon.com(cheaper now)and they were charging more than $350 at the local sewing machine store where I live.
IdahoSandy