mhollifiel

Dear HB!
As a librarian, I am SOOO impressed at your research and here using the board to help direct you as well! Between your brain and your grandparents' heart, you are blessed indeed.
I would agree with the posts about finding a good (great) dealer BUT fall in love with the machine first, THEN the dealer! Machine preferences are personal and sometimes not fact based. One person has a model they love and have read the manual, taken classes on it, formed a friendship with their dealer, etc and they are CRAZY about that machine. Another person could do the very same things on the same machine and it just doesn't "fit" at all. So in addition to your research, make sure to test drive all the models you can in the simpler range. I warn you not to try those high end machines that most dealers will push you toward. (They make more money on the sale of them.) A really, really good dealer will LISTEN and respond accordingly but you have to be patient and explain as exactly as you can what you want and firmly hold to your price range. You won't be using the "bells and whistles" hardly at all to construct clothing but that's what dealers love to emphasize ($$$$$!) Look for a great straight seam with even tension. You will need a good buttonhole maker and the ability to zig zag nicely. Most of us here learned with just those few features and have done well. Do not be tempted with or diverted by the "embroidery" word! IMHO, I'd be better served with a separate embroidery machine but, though my DH (Dear Husband) has offered, I am totally happy with what my machine can and does do. I am afraid I'd be like a basketball player on a tennis court with the embroidery machine!

Now, I have a Bernina 1260 which is mostly mechanical and an amazing machine. It was purchased in the '90s before so many computerized components took over sewing machines. I love it and my sewing machine repair/maintenance person wants to buy it every time I take it in for cleaning. Never had an issue with it. My niece and sewing buddy has a Janome she bought about 8 years ago and it sews every bit as well as mine. It is a sweet running machine. I don't find it lacks anything we need for clothing construction that my Bernina has.
If I were looking, I'd start with Janome and branch out from there. I hope your parents will be understanding and willing to let you shop around so you can make the best selection especially if your grandparents aren't located close enough to help with that.
Let us know how your search goes. If you have questions, someone here will surely have the answer! Good Luck!