JustAbitCrazy

Absolutely involve her in the choosing of this machine! What she needs depends on what kind of sewing she'll be doing. If she intends to sew garments, then I think a Featherweight will not be the ideal machine for her. If she intends to learn to quilt, then it may be just what she would want. If she wants to do machine applique on quilts, though, then she'll prefer a machine with more features, like fancy stitches, needle down, and knee lift. Get the best machine you can with the money available to you. For any kind of sewing, I always recommend a machine with both top and underneath feed dogs, like a Pfaff, some of the Janomes and Babylock machines, because with both feed dogs the two fabrics being sewn together stay lined up together. If she is new to sewing, then a gift of sewing (or quilting, depending on what she is interested in) classes would be invaluable! Many years ago, I took a basic sewing class at a fabric shop with a Pfaff dealership, and it was the best money I ever spent. Check out local fabric/quilt shops or sewing machine dealers to see what classes they may be offering. If she doesn't know enough yet to know exactly what features she wants in a machine, it may be wise to postpone the machine purchase until she takes some classes first and is more knowledgeable. Many times you can take classes without owning a machine, because machines are there for students to use during classes. She may be able to test drive various machines this way before making a purchase decision. A sewing machine is an item which is kept and used for many years, so it's best to make sure you don't buy one which is not going to serve her intended purposes and future needs. She may find she wants an easy-to-learn-to-use fairly basic machine, or she may want a top of the line machine with all the bells and whistles. There are all kinds of machines, for all kinds of people. Kudos to you for being so thoughtful, and for being wise enough to ask advice of people who know and will give you their honest opinions. Merry Christmas to you and your family!