I am thinking about investing in a new sewing machine. Right now I'm working on my first quilt which is an English Paper Pieced Grandmother's Garden Hexagon hand stitched quilt. I've been working on it for 2 years, only taking a break now and then to do other things, not quilting. I currently have a Kenmore, basic model, I was 21 or 22 when I bought it. I'm now 54. It's never been serviced and it runs like a dream but it only has basic stitches and my ex took all of the attachments and owners manual when we divorced, lol. I can't find an owners manual anywhere or the attachments online or anywhere else. I even tried some older repair shops and they didn't have them either. My machine doesn't have a blanket stitch, only a few decorative stitches that some I can't figure out how to use. I've done alot of cross stitch and crochet before but I've haven't quilted anything on my machine, yet. I'm wondering if there is a particular machine that you all use and one that works well for you. I had my eye on a Singer but now I'm reading bad reviews and that alarms me. I've noticed that over the past week alot of the fabric stores, Walmart, Sears and JCPenney all have that machine on sale for almost 40% off which is telling me that they are trying to get rid of them. I happened to be in a well known fabric and craft store one evening and a lady was trying to return a machine and the sales lady gave her a world of grief over returning a sewing machine. After the lady with the machine purchase finally got mad and had to get ugly they agreed to take back the sewing machine. Then when the lady who had just returned the machine left the store another sales person ask her what she was going to do with the machine that was just returned, she stated, "repair and resell. WOW!, I thought. Now, I'm back to square one. I tried asking the fabric store that I frequent mostly but they are pushing a certain brand this month and the sales lady tried to talk me into buying one right there on the spot but when I went home and looked it up, that machine had alot of bad reviews AND the return policy on a sewing machine once you've taken it out of the box and set up to try, it's like pulling teeth to return it if something isn't working the way it should. So that's my dilimma. Can anyone give me a few pointers on what to look for and the best places to buy a machine or even what make and model to buy? I know sewing machines just like anything else in todays economy have a wide range of prices. I am willing to pay a descent price but not cut off an arm and a leg. I'm on a budget but I am willing to take a part time job in order to pay for a descent machine. I know that sounds a little weird but Hey! now days, you get what you pay for, sometimes, and I want to invest in a machine that will last for a while. My current machine has a metal outer body and I haven't seen too many now days that's all metal. The knobs are metal, everything on it is metal, very sturdy and rugged. This poor machine has been half way around the world and back. My ex was in the Air Force and the machine went everywhere I did. LOL....I'd greatly appreciate any help you can offer. Thanks so much!..........Babs