This is a expensive hobby so always start out with what you can afford I started with the Walmart Embroidery machine 4X4 hoop Brother PE150 there were no classes near for me lucky I had the internet and joined some groups learned a lot and after 2 or 3 yrs Husband got me the Brother 2003D ULT in 2004 Love this machine bought from dealer but they were too far to take lessons again I taught my self the only Software I had purchased was Embird and I love it for edits and Merging designs now I have a Janome 11000SE and a MB4 so I am hooked just search Internet and try out all the techniques they show you you will be amazed