I bought the sewing machine for my 9yr old daughter (and myself). We are sewing novices. It took a little time to follow the instructions for threading the bobbin and the top thread. But after we figured these out, choosing stitches, length, width, and tension was a breeze. The machine looked brand new! Well worth the price. Highly recommend the brand and style for beginners and for moms who always need to sew something around the house.