Hello from Upstate NY! I bought an affordable Kenmore from Sears years ago and it works well for me. I would LOVE to have something fancier someday, but this one does a great job! Check out craigslist, too. Just make sure to try out a machine before you buy it! Good luck shopping!

hi from dar in indiana ! after months if hell [since april] i finally found out that BOTH the mother board& another small board [which they don't make any more]the brother is 12 yrs old but not used for 10 of that.including the charge for the first shop i took it to [80.00]300.00 for the mother board,don't know how much for the 2nd board [if they could ffid a re-furb] i went back to studying machines on line.i found a brothernx450q .it haS EVERYTHING ON IT that i wanted +.9" harp[?]thread cutter.knee lift,needle up-down200+STITCHES ! IT WAS A FLOOR MODEL,$549.00!!!full ,new warranty,etc. i spent last evening $ part of this amreading,noe i'm gathering up my nerve just to try threading it.WISH ME LUCK !!! i am so excited[& scared]you'd think i'd never sewed before !!! i think i'm going to fall in love{at least i hope so]can't wait to get started,so will getoff the board! keep you posted on how things are going
dar

Hi from Ohio.

Hi from Oregon! I recommend picking up a sewing machine on the used market! I agree with Donna Jean. You need the 1/4" presser foot for piecing and the walking foot for quilting layers. At some point in time you may want to try free motion quilting, so you would need a hopping foot (and retractable feed-dogs preferably). Happy shopping!

Hi, welcome from Minnesota!

For years and years I sewed with a Brother machine and it was just fine for me....I finally upgraded (IMHO) to a lower end Pfaff and I love, love, love it! Good luck with your search for a good machine...:)

Welcome!

Hello and welcome from Ontario. My first machine was a Kenmore from Sears, not very expensive but did the job.