While this Singer Fashion Mate Model 3342 is marketed as a beginner machine at an attractive price, it offers more than enough features to all our home sewing projects. Threading the machine was easy by following the diagram card included with the package. The 3342 offers a wide variety of stitch types with adjustable length and width and even does buttonholes in one easy step. Overall this Singer is a great value and should hold up for a long time to meet all our sewing project needs. We really like it’s compact size and light weight as we move it between two homes as we do projects. . It makes a great gift for all ages. Try it out and see what you think.