Sew, I use a Janome 6600, so your 6500 would be just fine. Just about any machine will work for this, except a Featherweight or any other straight-stitch only machine. Needle turn is by hand. I am the only one, so far, who is doing machine applique & machine embroidery. Mine is bobbinwork for the embroidery. I have a tutorial for my method of machine applique. Go to the bottom of any page & click on Topic Lists. Affairs of the Heart is at the top. Click on it & you will see a tutorial for Open Satin Stitch applique.