Oh! Look at that. I bought one of these for my daughter several years ago, and then took it over for myself. First machine I made quilts on. Small but fine for piecing. I'ts now in a box in the closet resting :-)

I have a Janome 3160 that I loved for classes....it has the auto thread cutter...I really need that for classes, since you are always piecing in classes, more than quilting. Then I purchased the 4120...really nice too. Both of these machines are lightweight...11-12 lbs. I have a 6600 at the cabin and 8900 at home....very heavy machines! Janome sewing machines are great, but Babylock has the best sergers.....off topic... I hope you find a great machine for your price range. Call you dealers, sometimes they discount show machines with warranties in tact.

I bought a little Kenmore that sales for about 150.00. It is a little workhorse....

I have the second least expensive one Walmart carries. It is a Brother machine, that has travelled under a Greyhound, in a U-haul, on top of a car, and in a carrier through two airports, flown twice, and still works as well as when I bought it 11 years ago, and yes it was kind of noisy, but setting it on two used mouse pads from Goodwill fixed the problem. Most of the noise you hear is vibration, so putting on a spngy pad makes it much quieter. I can also carry it myself in its plastic hardcase that I bought separately. i spent $125. I hope this is helpful.

I have the same the only problem is they don't do a blanket stitch for applique you have to use the zigzag. Otherwise a great little machine which does everything you ask. I take it to all classes and also use it at home . I find piecing etc is as good as my bernina and janome upper end machines.

Wawak has cheap Brother machines. I like the one I bought on ebay (new). It weighs about 12 lbs. but is a workhorse!

http://www.wawak.com/products/search...achine&x=0&y=0

I bought a cheap/light Singer at Walmart for around $100 and it has been a real trooper. I finally bought a wonderful Elna but it might as well weigh a thousand pounds. I cannot take it anywhere. My son has to take me where I need to go and unload it then pick me up. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade it for anything but...since you asked, here is my second favorite machine.

I have the Janome Jem Platinum 760 it is lightweight but sews like a big machine and has many stitches, needle down and you can also move the needle. I looked at the Pfaff Passport at Houston Quilt Festival this year, I really liked it and it has the built in walking foot. Good luck :)

Janome Jem

I bought one and quilted three twin size ones gave to my granddaughter and it works great has lots of stitches I am sure it won't last as long as my brother pacesetter but we are happy with it