Have you looked at the Brother™ quilting and sewing machines? The DreamWeaver™ VQ3000 features a large 5'' x 11.25'' workspace and 561 stitches. The Laura Ashley Innov-ís NX2000 has been awarded a Consumers Digest “Best Buy” Award in Quilting Sewing Machines, and features unlimited stitches with the Custom Stitch™ Feature. For more information, visit http://www.brother-usa.com/HomeSewing/.

My husband talked me into a Babylock Cresendo this past spring. Its a nice machine but probably wouldn't have bought it if I went home and thought about it. I gave my Bernina 153 QE to a niece who started sewing. She was using a basic Singer: she loves the Bernina.