Welcome from the Adirondack Mountains of northern NY state! I'm afraid I'm not knowledgeable enough to give you suggestions on a machine. After using Singer for many years, I finally got a Bernina and I love it. I only wish I'd gotten it sooner. It is a basic machine but very sturdy and durable. Singer is not the same as it used to be and they make some very "cheap" models. By cheap I mean both in price and in parts. They just don't hold up like they did years ago. The one good thing about Amazon is the reviews. By reading them, you may find some help. Also, look for other reviews on line.