It depends on what you want a machine to do.
Mine is a Viking Sapphire that I bought about 5 yrs ago. It has some things I like. The auto lift foot in needle down mode is the best feature, great for applique and chain pieceing. You do not have to lift or lower the foot. The 10 in throat. Drop in bobbin.
I dont like the room it has to change the needle, it is too low.
The 1/4 in setting is to big.
It has tons of stitches but I rarely use them.
I have a strait stitch machine on my long arm table and hate it. Primative threading and under the machine bobbin case, what a hassel. It is a Baby Lock Jane.
I have several cheap Brother machines and all are good machines. One is my first quilting machine and it came with a walking foot and extension table for $129.
A light weight Brother for travel for around $80.
I love the little $300 dollar Brother E500 embroidery machine.
It only does a 4 in design but for the price its all I need and it is a workhorse. Easy to thread also. It uses a card so had to buy Ped Basic to add designs, expensive.
Last edited by Rose Marie; 11-30-2012 at 06:56 AM.