don't buy one from walmart or kmart go to a sewing machine store and look for used or something older and give him a price you do not want to go over. They will help you and if you need to know how to use it they will help you.

I went on Amazon, did a search on Brother sewing machines, selected the department of "sewing machines", specified between $100 and $200, then ordered the results by average customer review (machine with highest rating is listed first). This is the Brother I came up with:
http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Afford...dp/B000JQM1DE/
I believe I have seen others on the QB mention that they are very happy with this model. It does look as if it has a small harp size, however, and I'm not sure if it has adjustable stitch width and stitch length. Looks as if it has 3 needle positions, which is a nice feature to have.

You may want to check if a machine has the needle-down option. Love that on my machine![/QUOTE]

I purchasedd this Brother about 6 months ago and LOVE IT!!

Tomorrow HSN's TS will be a Singer but whenever a co is on the show a lot of the other machines will be on sale. They usually will have some with free shipping and extra payments. Last year I bought a Singer Featherweight 75 for 212.00 but I had a 20% off coupon and it was on sale. You always get extra attachments and you will have until Jan 31 2013 to return it if you don't like it. They carry Singer, Brother, Juki and Janomes.

I'm sorry the singer hsn special will be Wenesday not tomorrow, Duh!

I'm with the lady who suggested going to a sewing machine dealer and buying an older machine that was expensive at one time. As a beginner you will get frustrated by a cheap machine and quit quilting. You need to sit down and sew on them. All of us have our favorite machines that necessarily will not be your favorite!

My daughter just recently bought a sewing machine. She picked the Viking E20. It seems like a good machine. We are going to play with it tomorrow. She just wanted something affordable and basic for right now. It does have a darning foot and she can get a walking foot for it. I can't remember how much room is in the throat area, but she wasn't sure she would do her quilting. For the most part, she brings it to me, and I quilt it on my machine or we would hand quilt it together.

I went to "feel around" the entrance level Brother machines sold here. They are so light!
I am not sure if weight is an indication of power/strength, but weight does give some assurance of a solid built (to me, at least).

I would look for a vintage Singer--maybe a 15-91 or a 66. Both have large throat areas and will still be sewing when we are dead and gone! The 15 is referred to as "the beast". I have both of them and love them!

I would go for the second. It comes with a walking foot and you'll want that! I have two brothers love them. It was about being affordable for me! I spend more on fabric.

You might want to look at the Brother that has 100 stitches It has alphanumeric stitches to make quilt labels It is a great beginner machine My friend has one and it handles great and has a nice selection of stitches only cost 199