I FMQ on a brother that was 200 I'm learning but wasn't hard to do my first lap. I do with what I can afford. Try and find something that comes with accessories. Mines a CI6000 and it came with a walking foot, darning foot and the even quilting tool you attach to the walking foot. Great deal for me! Get the most for your money and look at feet for the machine because those are an investment too. Cheap machine with expensive feet or expensive machine and expensive feet. Make sure it all fits in your budget. Invest in batting while you have the money too!!! Goes fast when you can quilt your own quilts!

Check out Leah Day's web site. She teaches free classes for FMQ on regular machines and it a wealth of infor.

I purchased the on-line FMQ class from Craftsy. It is called "Quilting a large quilt on your sewing machine"(or something close to that title). It was the best $29.99 I ever spent. I highly recommend it.

I agree wholeheartedly. I use my Singers 201s (I have 2) for piecing and my Singers 15-91 (I have 3) for FMQ. You just can't beat these machines and for the most part you can get one for under $100

What's a tax return? I think I got one one time long ago. :)

I have always been told it doesn't really make a difference what kind of machine you use to free motion quilt. You are the one guiding the quilt and it takes a lot of practice so I wouldn't worry about quilting with the machine you have. Later you can always upgrade but I would suggest you at least try it with your machine.

I use a brother machine. Biggest suggestion...gloves, very thin with tips of fingers rubber..watch as many utubes as possible first. Relax you shoulders , practice on a few sandwiched pieces to get tension right first. Write down each tension setting and stitch length on your practice sandwitches to know your machine settings. Have Fun! Did not have to have 500 dollar machine. :0) PS i always have a song in my head to keep rythem...suggested in one utube "seminar"

Whatever you get, you might want to try it out first, if at all possible. Lots of good, workable machines show up in garage sales at very low prices. ($50 or less) However, before you do FMQ on your precious quilt, practice on something else, like maybe a potholder. My guild has a lovely LA. The "experts" try to get everyone to work on a scrap sandwich, just to loosen up and get the feel of it. I have done most of my FMQ on a variety of home machines. Dropping the feed dog is important. I always use a embroidery/darning foot.