My Mom taught 4H sewing and I had 5 sisters. I learned to sew. My mother used to cringe when I would sew leather on her sewing machine. I own at least a dozen sewing machines. I pick the up for nothing at the thrift stores or craigslist. Then fix them up and donate them to a group that works with refuges. I am still sewing leather on a gear driven Singer that is almost a duplicate of what my mother had.