Kind of expensive for a beginner. I'm not a beginner, but I can't afford that. If you want to mess around with a hand machine Amazon has some for around $200 more or less, called a ETE ETMATE Hand Machine Cobbler Shoe Repair Machine Dual Cotton Nylon Line Sewing Machine. There are all kinds of YouTube videos showing how to work and adjust/modify these machines. They take some getting used too, but are affordable.
http://https://www.amazon.com/ETE-ET...Y6G0E0NV9FGEBN