OK first machine for a new sewer.  I bought this for my grand daughters to share and they love it.  But it is primarily plastic and I really don't expect it to last for too many years.

PROS:  it has a smooth stitch, tension so far easy to correct, the free arm is simple to move on and off, the presser feet included cover most basic sewing need, the automatic threading function is easy to use, changing the stitch pattern is very simple and the instruction manual is not horrible, as long as you don't try to learn to sew from it.

CONS: the foot pedal sensitivity is a bit off, difficult to sew at a slow and steady speed, it wants to race with very little pressure.  When it races, the machine tries to dance away and makes it tricky to get a straight seam. Sewing in reverse is especially tricky with the foot pedal that way.

I've been sewing a long time and the first test I do on a machine is to find a piece of fabric with stripes and to test out the stitching along the edges of the stripes.  I was taught to do this a long time ago, and I have found it a useful way to to sync my eye and check the stability of the stitches.  Going up and down stripes is a great way to check tension and it leaves a handy sampler of all the stitch patterns for the machine.
OK first machine for a new sewer. I bought this for my grand daughters to share and they love it. But it is primarily plastic and I really don't expect it to last for too many years. PROS:  it has a smooth stitch, tension so far easy to correct, the free arm is simple to move on and off, the presser feet included cover most basic sewing need, the automatic threading function is easy to use, changing the stitch pattern is very simple and the instruction manual is not horrible, as long as you don't try to learn to sew from it. CONS: the foot pedal sensitivity is a bit off, difficult to sew at a slow and steady speed, it wants to race with very little pressure. When it races, the machine tries to dance away and makes it tricky to get a straight seam. Sewing in reverse is especially tricky with the foot pedal that way. I've been sewing a long time and the first test I do on a machine is to find a piece of fabric with stripes and to test out the stitching along the edges of the stripes. I was taught to do this a long time ago, and I have found it a useful way to to sync my eye and check the stability of the stitches. Going up and down stripes is a great way to check tension and it leaves a handy sampler of all the stitch patterns for the machine.