you don't need an expensive embroidery machine to do thread painting. A good straight stitch machine will do well. One that you are comfortable with. All you really use is the straight stitch. At times I do use a zig zag also but the machine that you have should do. It is not expensive but having a lot of beautiful threads sure adds to your enjoyment. Its like having a lot of different paints. And for goodness sakes, please get good threads, not the cheap stuff that frays and breaks. That is too frustrating and you want to have fun, not frustrated.