For $1000 I can get 5 or 10 Singer 401s - those were the top of the line in their day. I can get 3 or 4 Elna SUs - those were the Mercedes to Singer's Cadillac. I can get several old Vikings, Pfaffs, 3 or 4 old Bernina machines and I would sewing GREEN - save the planet and your wallet - get a good quality older machine.

I have $399 Janomes in my classroom that have sewed over heavy, light and slippery fabric just fine and they have a few decorative stitches and speed control and needle up/needle down, so I'd say for a grand, you could get a really great machine with a few more bells and whistles that will handle thicker seams. I sew quilts on my Brother mechanical VX970, it handles great, and I paid $40 for it!

If all you want to do is straight stitches then think about the Viking Mega quilter. They don't sell them any more but sometimes the LQS still carries them. I've never had to adjust the tension and it's also good for quilting. I have 3 Vikings and they all do a really good job. I have the same problem with my Kenmore made by Janome, it does a great job, not finicky on what kind of thread I use, never have to adjust the tension, a great dependable machine, Except, it doesn't like going over seams. I have to give it a little tug to nudge the fabric along. Others on here have the same machine that I have and have the same problem.

Janome has several very good machines for under $1000. Many are well under that price. I have 3 Janomes and all are very good machines. Janome has a very good stitch quality.