Name of product: Brother Innov-is 40 sewing machine

Price we paid: $400

Date of Consumer Reports full report: March 2009

What it is. This full-featured electronic sewing machine from Brother has 40 preprogrammed stitches, an automatic needle threader, and an easy to use bobbin-winding system. You might recognize this machine from the popular Bravo show "Project Runway," on which aspiring fashion designers use Innov-is 40 machines or their sibling model Innov-is 80 during their weekly design challenges.

Brother says that no matter what your sewing skills are, you'll be able to turn out creative projects using the machine's advanced functions. But there are no guarantees that the clothes you make using this sewing machine will impress Heidi Klum, the supermodel host of "Project Runway," and her fashion-industry panel of judges.

What we liked. The Innov-is 40 has a variety of features usually found on more expensive models. The one-step stitch selector is a cinch to use—its dial moves effortlessly—and the thread cutters on the bobbin winder and the drop-in bobbin case minimize tangling as stitching starts. In our preliminary tests, the Innov-is 40's performance has been comparable to that of other electronic machines.

What we didn't like. So far, we've seen no noteworthy downsides to this sewing machine.

Our initial take. The Brother Innov-is 40 has performed well in our preliminary sewing and ease-of-use tests. This sewing machine provides many useful features and a wide variety of stitches, all in a reasonably priced package. Better machines are on the market, but you'll pay more for them.

Essential information: Read our free buying advice for sewing machines and take a look at what's going on in our labs as we test sewing machines. Look for our full Ratings-based report on sewing machines in the March 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on sale in early February.