I have a Brother CS-4000 that my DH got me as a back up machine. It wasn't expensive and I think it is a good little machine. It even does 7mm stitches. I think the CS-6000i is next model up, so from my experience, I think it would be a great machine for your granddaughter. When my youngest daughter was home from New Zealand last year, she did her first ever sewing on the little Brother and just loved it.