Euro-Pro Dressmaker 998B Sewing Center

This compact, portable sewing machine is great for apartments or small homes without space for a dedicated sewing area. It's also conducive to tailoring on the move, whether it's doing a last-minute alteration on a wedding dress at the church or patching a tent at a car camping site, as it can alternately run on four AA batteries instead of its included adaptor. Geared for beginning sewers, the machine comes already threaded and ready to use, plus includes step-by-step instructions on how to set it up and perform basic tasks. The Dressmaker has great stitch control and is able to sew through thicker materials, such as denim or canvas, or handle delicate fabrics, such as silks, without tearing them. An easy-to-use push-button control panel turns the power and light on or off and sets the speed of the needle. In addition, the bobbin drops in horizontally, making it easy for first-time sewers to insert. Durable metal gears are designed to keep your machine working for years to come. The Dressmaker comes with a handy foot pedal and a 100-piece sewing kit with everything necessary to begin. The kit includes ten 50-meter spool threads and 32 threaded bobbins of varying colors, 30 needles, 12 assorted buttons, 10 head pins, a thimble, a threader, a pair of scissors, a measuring tape, and a seam ripper packed in a plastic storage bag. Because of its size, this machine better serves sewers interested in performing basic mending tasks--repairing seams, hemming, and reattaching buttons--as its arm is rather small for large-scale projects. The Dressmaker sewing center is covered by a one-year warranty on parts. --Cristina Vaamonde