My budget is small, about $400. What are your thoughts - stick with the devil I know and buy a mechanical or join the 21st century and buy a digital machine? Help!
Tashana..I'm surprised no one has mentioned Juki...I bought an older TL98E off Ebay for under $400. Granted I took a chance, but heard so many good things about Juki, it was worth it.. LOVE the thread cutter and needle up/down, etc on this machine..the only thing missing is the auto threader, but I've gotten used to that, as it doesn't pull out the thread when starting to sew like my Janome...I never realized what is was like to sew on a real machine.. The TL98Q has the auto threader. It might be something to consider. You can't go wrong, at least from my experience....It was too fast for me, so I wedged a piece of yard stick under the foot pedal. Now it's perfect.....
Hope you get what you want in a machine...It's fun to review, and read as much as possible.....