I agree its a personal item. One your a DOLL for doing this, she is one lucky woman and I am sorry she has been unwell. How about a BIG BOX? put a brick or two in it so she has no clue what it is.. wrapped real pretty with a gift certificate to the quilt store near you that sells those machines she can pick exactly what she would wish for and take those classes.. its a lot nicer than just a card under the tree.. as well its a HUGE gift? you could also say.. oh so and so from the.. somewhere.. wants to buy his daughter who sews a lot a machine.. any suggestions? feel her out. Or say you heard these two women arguing on which was the better sewing machine (name two you can recall) and it was so funny as you knew she would have been good at solving that question.. and well what would you have told them?? be sneaky .. its ok and allowed at Christmas.