rryder

I love my Brother PC420prw. I got mine from Home Depot when it went on sale for $320. I’ve also seen them on Amazon in the $400 range. Comes with knee lift, 14 feet including a walking foot. Has auto threader, thread cutter, speed control, can sew with or without foot pedal, good selection of utility stitches, heirlom stitches, quilting stitches, satin stitches etc stitches and alphabets, has a largish throat space (7 inches from needle to tower) and presser foot pressure adjustment so you can sew very light fabrics and also thick fabrics. It also has the most well written and extensive owner’s manual I’ve ever seen- I look there before any of my other sewing books whenever I want to learn how to do something. Mine makes beautiful stitches and it is portable ( has handle on top and comes with hard carrying case) though it is heavier than the smaller Brother CS6000i.

You mentioned that you are getting the Brother straight stitch only machine- if it’s the PQ1500 then be aware that that is a high shank machine and most of the other Brother machines like the PC420 are low shank machines so the feet aren’t compatible. But it really doesn’t matter since the Bib box store Brothers come with so many feet.

I have the PQ1500s and love it for piecing and sewing anything really bulky, like home dec or upholstery projects. I use my PC420 for the decorative stitches and repairs like button stitching, darning, etc. and to take with me when I travel.

Rob