Brother LS-2125 Mechanical Sewing Machine

A good starter machine for garment construction and mending, this sewing machine from Brother includes 25 built-in stitches. These range from zigzag to shell tuck to blind hem settings, and there's also an automatic four-step buttonhole function. In addition, a twin needle setting lets you sew a double line with two colors of thread for a smart decorative touch. The machine's design and features are straightforward and user-friendly, with some settings--stitch length and width--automatically set for simplified operation. It also sews in reverse and has dial-adjusted tension for tidy work. Sophisticated home tailors will find this machine too basic, but occasional and beginning sewers should get plenty of use from it and not much frustration.