It uses cams to make decorative stitches! I fancied up the hem of my lantern dress!

Isn't it pretty?

It can also use double needles, has a buttonhole attachment, has a light, and has the ability to drop the feed dogs down, mind none of which our little machine can do. I'm so excited.

It's also quite powerful, runs super smoothly, and feeds the fabric straight as an arrow.

AND it came with a table/cabinet! idgiebay's gonna try to refinish that before we put it back in there though.

Kenmore 1516 is A+++ would highly recommend.

The only issue I'm having so far is that the bobbin winder is making me pull my hair out. Half the time it won't spin, and when it does the thread often flies off the tension disc after maybe ten seconds of winding.

if that's the only problem it's giving you, you can always pick up a dedicated bobbin winder for like $20 online

sounds like you got a gem. the old, really solid machines can be worth their weight in gold

Yeah, it's amazing so far! I can't wait to play with it some more when we're back from our vacation.

I wondered if bobbin winders were a thing. That may be easier than using either of our machines. The other one works, but it doesn't make a nice, straight cylinder shape.

I've tried adjusting it according to the instruction manual, but it's still not perfect.

But the machine itself may be my main one now. It's got such a smooth pace and I can basically take my hands off it and still get a perfectly straight stitch.

And with the little Happy Lite it's way too easy to accidently put too much pressure on the pedal and suddenly it's too fast.