Don't discount this particular machine. I bought a couple of toy type machines for my granddaughter (who sewed her first skirt when she was three) but none compare to this one. The final machine I bought is this Hello Kitty machine. It really is a terrific machine and cute too. My main machines are Bernina's and my granddaughter (9) uses them too, but this her own machine that she can use whenever she wants without bothering her mom. Her mom even uses it sometimes too rather than pull out her big sewing machine!