Like many others, I learned to sew at a very young age. I don't remember the exact model of the machine my mom has, but it was a Singer bought in the late sixties or early seventies. My mom still uses that machine, although she doesn't sew much anymore. I bought myself an inexpensive Brother machine when I got married, but soon caught the quilting bug and traded it toward a Viking 500 computerized machine. I love that machine and still use it often, in fifteen years it has not given me one bit of trouble! I came upon my Bernina Artista 730 when I visited a quilt shop that was going out of business. They had one machine left in their inventory, so I called my hubby because even on sale it was a lot of money. He said go for it! I knew there was a reason I love that man! :wink: