I have been sewing for about 50 years. I have used many machines. My latest love was a Pfaff1222E. It needs repair (it's 40 years old) I had two other, more basic machines, and both of them died during my latest project, which was a ball gown. After panicking, and research, I bought this Singer Heavy Duty (Black special edition) 4432. I wanted a machine with a lot of utility stitches, not so many " ducks and bunnies", at a great price. I was able to complete this dress, which meant sewing on double faced satin, crenoline, very sheer fabrics, and some techniques I hadn't used before, such as applying spiral boning, with this machine straight out of the box. All layers sewed very well with no machine drag. I was able to determine the different stitches very easily, and adjustments went smoothly.I had only 2 problems. I couldn't wind a bobbin, while leaving the machine threaded because it seemed to somehow cause problems, and the needle threader was a bit awkward, maybe that just takes practice. I find it inconvenient to refer to my phone, and would greatly appreciate a "hard copy" instruction booklet instead.I have sewn on a wide variety of fabrics and leather (4oz) in the past, and the heavy duty aspect of this machine seems to be strong enough to stand the course, yet it seems crenoline and chiffon very well.There are quite a few utility stitches, that should meet the needs of special finishing of delicate fabrics and those that tend to ravel easily. The feet were easy to change out. Adjusting the stitch length and width, the tension, and the pressure of the presser foot were also important in my choice, these seemed to work well for my project.I would highly recommend this machine for those serious about sewing. It is easy to learn to use, and durable for heavy fabrics or lots of layers., and gentle on sheer fabrics. The price is exceptional. If all goes well, I will buy this model again for my granddaughter.
