Sorry to disappoint you but you get what you pay for. Singer today is not the singer we grew up with. Today's singer is one of the cheapest most poorly built brands. It is NOT the same company that made the great machines here in America that still sew well. It is just a name put on really low quality machines to boost sales. If you got 4 years you're lucky. You got more than your $ worth. Get a new machine, or a new-to/you older machine & be happier