My favorite machine is my featherweight which I use for just about everything.

The one I gave my daughter who is a novice sewer is the inexpensive Brother machine that is under $100 at Walmart. I have had several of these thru the years and have passed them on to various friends and family who want a machine.

My sons search the yard sales for machines and last week one of them found a nice Montgomery Ward machine (that weighs a ton) with a 1984 date on the serial plate for $2! It seems to work just fine. The lady said it had some bobbin tension problems, but I think that is probably because there are three different style bobbins in the storage section and I'm sure only one is going to be right for it. They said they had not yet tried out any of the decorative stitches on it.

Good luck in your search!

I have a Laura Ashley Innov-ís NX2000 so I am leaning towards a brother now that you mention the sharing bobbins, feet etc between machines. Great advice - thank you all!

I just bought another equal machine. I use one for piecing and the other for FMQ. Both are equal and I can switch to the other if needed. I do have two old ones and one about 18Yr.s old. I like the newer ones and they don't eat fabric at the beginning of the seam. Both of my always use ones are straight stitch only. That is all I do.

I received a Singer 401 Slant O Matic for Christmas. It's a 1960 sewing machine. I finally used it last weekend in a quilting class and found it makes the most beautiful straight stitch ever. It has many decorative stitches and it came in a case with lots of feet for $195 from a second hand store. They had three of them.

They are awesome machines. Real workhorses and inexpensive and will last forever. I grew up sewing on one and traded it in on a Viking. I realized later what a mistake I made, so my husband bought me this Singer 401 to make up for my error. I'm a happy camper again.

Brother cs6000i
 

I have had this machine for almost two years and use it every day. It is a tremendous workhorse and you can get it at Walmart for about $150. Can't say enough about this machine. It's fabulous!!!

I found a Brother CS6000i new in a box for 130 - it uses the same bobbins, feet, etc as my current machine and will fit my plexiglass thing that fits in my sewing cabinet. I think I will buy it - just need to do a bit more research tonight.

I bought an older New Home at my aunts estate yard sale for $50. She has only used it a few times. I fell in love immediately. Recently I saw one at a local sewing/vacuum repair shop for $95. My first machine was a 301a also purchased from a sewing machine repair shop for $75. These are good places to find older workhorse machines reasonably.

Think vintage! I have 2 FWs for piecing, but my favorite back up is a 1951 Singer 15-91. That thing sews like a dream and makes beautiiful stitches. The FMQing is lovely on it, as well.

There are lots of machines out there looking for owners! How much do you want to spend? WalMart has low end Brothers which are great machines. Are you looking for barebones straight and zig zag stitch? Depends on what your needs are.

I have the Brother SQ 9050. I can not say enough POSITIVE about it. In fact, 5 other ladies from our guild went out and got the same machine. WalMart $197.99. Lightweight, includes walking foot and hoping foot. My daughter in law has a Janome and this reminds me a lot of it.