This is my first brand new sewing machine I've owned and I was amazed by all the bennies of owning a newer sewing machine. There are so many functions, stitches, settings on this, I have yet to use all of them in over a year. Great value for the price! Ease of Use I was new to all the functions and it was fairly simple to follow along with the instruction book

LouisePepin

Auburn, ME

Years and years ago I got this sewing machine for Christmas and at the time I would have voted it the worst present but only because 1) I didn't know how to sew and 2) at that age I would have preferred something else. Now I am so glad that I got this sewing machine. It is easy to use and very beginner friendly. The instructions are very clear on how to get your thread in the right place etc. The light has never blown out on me in the 6 years I have had it. The if the needle breaks, one they provide you with two extra needles and also it is easy to replace. There are so many types of stitches that you can use with this machine as well. If you are just starting to sew these sewing machines go on sale frequently. I usually see them on sale on Black Friday and are usually pretty cheap compared to others. But like I said it is great for beginners, cheap, easy to understand the instructions.

Allybear

Columbia, MD

The Brother XL - 5130 sewing machine works wonderfully. I purchased this sewing machine a few years back and it has helped my family out a great deal. I have been able to produce costumes for my children for haloween that they absolutely loved. I have made curtains for my home. My family member's call my all of the time to repair and hem items for them. I have even been able to save the oh so precious blankie !! It comes with easy to folllow directions. There is a great little storage compartment. It is a little touchy sometimes if the bobbin is not loaded perfectly, and this can be a little frustrating. This product has so many different settings, so you can sew anything you want. The possibilities are endless. Even if you are not a pro at sewing this machine is easy to use. You will be able to create anything you want after a little practice. If you are into saving money this product will greatly help you out. 

lisama1979

Covington, IN

My mother in law bought this sewing machine for me as a gift. I had not ever used one before. It was easy to learn on. My thread gets bunched up in knots alot if I change fabric and do not have the settings just right, so be careful. Of course, this is my own fault and not the machines. Works great for what I need. I made several blankets and sleeping pants and sewn small patches on. Overall, I think it is a good machine.

melb5899

Winston Salem, NC

I have owned this seming maching for several years now and it's still going strong.  I received it as a gift my senior year of high school and it has been with me ever since.  I took it to college and took several sewing classes there and it survived in apartments with 6 girls for all those years.  Now I'm a mom and use it a lot still to make things for my children as well as other family and friends.  The controls are simple to use and there are 15 different stitches available to use.  It's a great machine if you are looking to do fairly simple things, it's not the most high tech and it doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but it works great for me!  Threading it is also very simple - it even has a mechanism to help thread the needle.  I've never really used that part of it before because I'm fine to just thread it, but it's there if I ever need it.  The only thing is the front storage box has broken a little bit, but it is still usable, it just falls off occasionally, usually only during transport.  I would definitely recommend it for the occassional/novice sewer

sutro

West Jordan, UT

like i said in my tag this machine has performed well for my needs like home repair and decorating of linens,curtians, clothind and homemade projects that i attempt.  The machine has a built in buttonholer and many decorative stitches if you want them.  overall i;m very satisfied with how well this machine performs

iodine58

Benton, PA

I have had my Brother XL-5130 for 6 years now and have used it more in the last 3 months than all the other time combined. I was always intimidated by it because I had no idea what I was doing. Now, the more I use it, the easier it gets and the more I love it. It's perfect for what I need it to do, which is just around the house quick fixes and small projects.

MrsBarfield

Hartford, KY

I received the Brother XL 5130 as a birthday present in 2004 and I have been very happy with it. Not only was it easy to get aquanted with, but provides many options for creative sewing. I'm still exploring new techniques with it to this day. With a little basic maintenance (oiling, removing lint, replacing light bulb, etc.) is has remained a reliable machine - I've not had a single performance issue with it, and I have run up *alot *of hours on it. It comes with a good starter selection of sewing feet, bobbins, needles, and tools. The owner's manual provides clear instructions for any questions I have ever had as to how to operate various functions. It has sixteen stitch patterns, a 4-step buttonhole, and easy bobbin winding function. It's a medium weight machine with a sturdy handle for carrying. I saved the box and protective styrofoam packing that came with it so that the machine would be well protected whenever I had to transport it somewhere (which isn't often). There are much fancier machines available out there, but for a quality sewing machine with plenty of options for the average (adventourous) seamstress and at a great price, I think this one is more than adequate.

stephw916

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