Before you jump for the Bernina, I would suggest you shop around at the brands members have mentioned other than Bernina. You may discover you will have even more $ left. My first embroidery machine was a Pfaff 2170, and later on after much embroidering, I upgraded to the Husqvarna Viking Diamond Deluxe, then traded in for the Diamond Deluxe Royale. I absolutely love that machine. Viking also has other "gems" for embroidery, like the Ruby and the Topaz. Pfaff's top of the line is the Creative Sensation Pro, but there are models also that have embroidery arms, and even one that has an optional embroidery arm. Good luck in finding your dream machine and enjoy!