Kenmore 15358 sewing machine

The Kenmore 15358 is a reliable, inexpensive mechanical sewing machine, say reviewers. It's purely a mechanical machine, meaning there are no computers or electronics. That means it doesn't sew quite as precisely or predictably as a more expensive electronically controlled machine, but many sewers prefer the simplicity of a mechanical sewing machine.

Compared with something like the Brother CS6000i (*est. $180), the Kenmore 15358 lacks the variety of stitches and functions (for example, the Brother CS6000i has seven types of buttonholes to the Kenmore's one). Still, for beginning sewers and those on a budget, the Kenmore 15358 gets good reviews from owners and professional testers alike.

Consumer Reports includes the Kenmore 15358 sewing machine in its thorough comparative testing, pitting it against others in its category of mechanical sewing machines. Owner reviews at Sears.com give additional insight into the Kenmore 15358's features and performance.

* Easy to use
* One-step buttonhole
* Excellent user manual
* Good for beginners