I have a small featherweight for traveling as well, but previous to that I had a small Brother that I bought from a shop here for 200.00 I still have that one as well and it still sews great. I have my Janome 6600 for home sewing. We go on retreats a lot and usually there is a local shop or a place you can rent or use a machine. Someone local who is attending may have a spare machine you could use as well.