You won't go wrong with a Pfaff. I had a Pfaff 2144 for 10 years and just upgraded to a Creative Sensation Pro. The machines will sew anything I want to sew from a very sheer fabric to leather or denim. You will use the manual at first but then as you get more comfortable with the machine, you will use it less. You didn't mention the cost but a Pfaff is a good machine......a real workhorse.