I started with my mom's Singer and traded it in for a Viking Huskavarna 101 (I think that's what it was). Then I went to a computerized Viking 10 years later and now I'm using the Bernina 830. I had to work my way up. I gave my daughter my 1st Viking. I'm keeping my newer Viking for when I have to take my Bernina in to be cleaned or if it needs work done (which I've had no problems with it for 2 years). But, I started small and worked up. But I didn't have the needle down and it wouldn't thread itself and it wasn't self cutting and I lived with it, but now that computerized sewing machines came out, I could never go back. The difference is HUGE! If you just want to get your feet wet, there are a lot of good suggestions for inexpensive computerized sewing machines here. Maybe get one of them and after a couple of years, upgrade.