I think Eversewn is worth checking into as you can buy a walking foot (and those machines are getting great reviews). Also agree about the big box Brothers. I also see Janome machines frequently mentioned in this category, such as the Janome Magnolia line. I think you can buy a walking foot for about $40 if one doesn't come with the machine. I know with many of the Brother machines that you can buy online, the walking foot is included. The Brother CS6000i has been around a long time, and people seem to mostly love that little machine!