A big welcome from the eastern part of Texas.

I am learning to quilt from my quilting family on this web site. They are the greatest.

That looks like a great book. I took a basic quilting class at my local quilt shop (LQS). We did a sampler quilt so I learned several different blocks. I didn't have a machine and my LQS suggested I purchase a Brother CS6000i. It is light for carrying to class. The price tag is tiny - $180 - and it does the things you need in the beginning. As my quilting has gotten better, I've started to want to do fancier things than I can do on the Brother and I just purchased a Janome Horizon, but I don't think I'd recommend that right away. Better to get your feet wet and see if you really want to continue. I've just been on this board a short time but I've gotten tons of ideas already - more than I have time to execute. :lol:
Is there a local quilt guild in your area? That would be good, too. And be sure to seek out a quilt shop - you can get a lot of support there, too.

Good luck - looking forward to seeing what you start with.

sparkys_mom, is this the one you got? http://www.amazon.com/Janome-HD1000-...1042069&sr=8-1

i'm also looking into the brother now. thanks!

My mom also believes that the best quilts are done by hand. So I get the pats on the back and the encouragement on this board. Also, lots of help and great ideas. I just started in May of this year and I have a Brother XL3750. It is perfect for sewing and quilting small (lap sized) quilts. I am not sure I could do anything bigger on it. It has quite a few stitches, but I haven't tried many out yet.

One great website for learning the basics is: http://www.missouriquiltco.com/ (Click on the youtube videos link). I have watched these over and over.

I wish I had a quilting buddy, but this board helps in that area too.

And, by the way, WELCOME!

this is the sewing machine i have: http://www.amazon.com/Singer-Stitch-.../dp/B00006498M

DebQuilter50, thanks for the link! too bad you're not in seattle, we could be buddies! :)

I don't know anything about that Janome. If you want a machine that you can carry to classes, I think the CS6000i is perfect. True. you aren't going to be doing any big quilts on it, but it is perfect for classes and piecing. And the sampler quilt I posted was quilted on it - just diagonal stitching, nothing fancy - but it gets the job done.

Nice quilts are always done with love!

ok, thanks -- that's just the one that came up when i searched for what you said. do you think the cs6000i is very different from the one i have?

kristel - someone just posted the Brother for sale on the board. You might want to check it out:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-138643-1.htm

If nothing else, she gives a really good run down of what is on the machine.