I was just looking at the Melody online. You will for sure love the knee lift and needle-down options. If you can afford it, go for the Melody! I am a Bernina person, myself, after many years on a crappy Singer (that had to go to the shop every time I made a recieving blanket) and then a really nice Pfaff that I wore out. But the Pfaff didn't have the knee lift and to get the needle down I had to push a button. Not very convenient in the middle of freemotion quilting!