I live in Oahu so shipping cost is a major factor in any decision. At this point, purchasing a long arm (17" or bigger) was not an option. I am very lucky that my husband is a very handy guy. I purchased machine frame plans online from www.buildaquiltframe.com and Scott built it for me. He did a great job! The only thing I would have done differently is build the frame at least 10-feet instead of the 8-feet we decided on. To put on it, we purchased a Janome 1600p. I chose that model because we have a local rep who can service it and it had the auto-threader and the thread cutter on it. I am very happy with this set-up and am busy learning how to use it.