Well Thomas you are probably pretty confused by now, huh? Don't be overwhelmed, stay with your budget...I had heard the Kenmore was a Janome and that is good...I have a few Janomes...LOVE them. One of my Janomes looks alot like the Kenmore for 254.00 I would check that one out...25 years ago my ex-husband....surprised me with a sewing machine, it was a New Home (now known as the Janome) and I loved that machine it was my baby....and I did alot of sewing on it. IMHO you don't have to start out big....But to me a beautiful stitch is important...There have been alot of woman that have made beautiful quilts on simple machines.....Believe me, she will love the machine you buy her, but someday she will want another :D