I had some birthday money burning a hole in my pocket a few weeks ago, and went up to Bowling Green to a visit a sewing machine/quilting shop and walked in and showed one of the ladies my handful of money and said "what can you offer me in this price range that is light weight with lots of good features. She smiled and showed me every machine in the $250 to $300 range, then showed me a Janome Sewist that I fell in love with. I told her if she could take my husband out of the extra $50, I'd buy it even though I didn't need the quarter inch foot and quilting foot. She did, and I left with a great little machine that I do love. It sews great and makes wonderful buttonholes automatically.....