I started with a 270D brother (4x4 area) and quickly got bored with that...bought a 8500PS Brother on ebay with a 5x7 and it is a great machine, sewing & embroidery but wish I would have gone with the 6x10 area first...my advice, go as big as you can afford the first time around...you won't be sorry. I don't really use the embroidery part much anymore but had fun with it for awhile...