We got my niece a Janome at Hancocks. It was under $50 + tax. She uses it a lot. She has learned to care for it. She keeps her manual in a Ziploc along with a few tools. She is 10 and I'm pleased for her sake she's interested. She came over the other day for a short time after school. I had some baby flannel she borrowed and turned into a baby blanket. She got out the rolling hem foot for my 401 to try and I have to say she did a better job than I know I would've done. She has 4 machines at her disposal. She wants a mid-arm. She has only been using a machine for little over a year.