Mine is a Brother PE770. It can use up to a 12x5 hoop.
I bought mine here and purchased the extra hoops separately on Amazon. I prefer to have a dedicated embroidery machine as opposed to one that does both.

http://www.mrvacandmrssew.com/brothe...age-p-724.aspx

hoops..
http://www.amazon.com/Elipse-Embroid...f=pd_sim_hg_14

I didn't start the thead, but thank you for your input, also have been reading in the embroidery thread. I see that before I buy, I need to do research. thank you

Hi...tapper here.
I want to say thanks once again.
I have asked questions here and always get good info.
I appreciate all the help.
I hope everyone has a bright,bright,sunshiny day! (if not literally than definitely figuratively)

Depending on what machine you buy you can also get designs online for your machine that would have the alphabet letters larger than one and a half inches tall that you can use with your machine. There is a learning curve to using an embroidery machine but it is SO worth it. I have a Brother one 4 x 4 hoop size and I have used it a lot. I am glad I have one. I bought all of my machines from www.allbrands.com

This book is what got me interested in even wanting the machine in the first place.

http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...idence+book.do

Amazon has it too.

My only recommendation is that you buy a Brother machine. They stitch beautifully, are easy to learn, and usually any problems are easily sorted out. If you have a good sewing machine buy the embroidery only one from Walmart. Many of us like to sew on another project while the embroidery machine is doing its thing.

Just to clarify the 12x5 hoop for the PE770. You can use the 12x5 hoop, however the embroidery field (your design is 5x7 largest.) You will have to move your hoop to use the rest of the 12x5 space.

The Baby Lock site has a comparable chart for their machines. You can compare features, stitches, etc and see what you get with a particular machine. Other sites may have the same for their machines. Baby Lock and Brother have many similarities. My embroidery machine is a mid-dollar and as much as I enjoy it, I wish it cut thread between jump stitches. Not necessary but would be a great perk.
http://www.babylock.com/embroidery/compare/

I have the cheap $300 Brother. Bought it on Amazon. Love this little embroidery only machine. Only does a 4 in design but that enough for me. Downloaded lots of red work designs. Drawback is it uses a card and you will need the Ped Basic to do anything with it. Thats almost $100.
But its a great beginner machine. I only make quilt blocks with it, 6 in size blocks. Made a cute teddy bear redwork baby quilt with it. My camera is not communicating with my computer so cant post a picture. Used nine patch blocks as alternate blocks.

Embroidery Machines, from a shop that are used have been serviced before you take them home.

You will not be happy with very small embroidery hoops, I had one, never used it, then I traded up to a Baby Lock Ellisimo and love it. My big hoop I used more than anything it is 8 x 11 1/2. I do a lot of tote bags, also put designs on my jackets and purses. I have had it about 2 years, it is a very EZ machine to use. I had a couple of brother's cheap machines and they ended up breaking on me. I do a lot of heavy duty purses and they just didn't work for me.
If you are just doing light weight sewing like for a quilt, I am sure they would be okay.

I embroidery on Denim and canvas you need a heavy duty machine for that. I agree with the others, go to a sewing machine shop and test some of their machines, most have nice used machines and the prices might work better for you. They will ask you what you are using it for. It is like buying a car, every one doesn't like the same thing.
My Baby Lock was very expensive, but then again I have seen the different in the way one of the other Big name brands did embroidery and that one is very fussy, my machine about the only thing you have to do is change threads,
now if you want one that has 10 threads so you don't have to do that you will pay a few thousand more for that, but it is also only an embroidery machine. My Baby lock Ellisimo is both a sewing machine and embroidery machine, I never use it for anything other than embroidery, for I have two other Baby Locks for general sewing. I have sewn on it just to test if the machine is sewing okay before going back to doing embroidery.

Thank you for all the help.