My 2 cents worth is ...Take your time, do your research after you decide what you want to accompolish with your machine. What features will mean the most to you? Will you have lessons to help you use the machine to its full potential? What can you truly afford? Get the very best machine you can buy with your funds and make sure you have a source close by for maintenance and educational possibilities.

Congrats on your education. I remember my DIL working so hard to get her nursing degree. She had 2 small children, my son was working 50-60 hours a week so she could work just on week-ends while she went to school and I was gifting foods for fridge and funds for gas, etc. I am so very proud of her!!! She is the daughter I did not give birth, but love dearly. Her education has made it possible for them to have a much more secure life.

Do post your new machine details when you decide.

What a great gift! Congrats on your accomplishment,Nursing school is very stressful.I always feel bad for the young girls I work with.
I have no clue bout the machine and can't imagine trying to decide lol. I did see a great looking Huskavarna/viking? at jo anns last week, it was about 1,000 bucks off till the end of the month,making it right at 1,000 I was very tempted.lol But For now I would rather buy other stuff like fabric, my old kenmore just chugs away, it is going on 30 lol, When I bought it ti was on the "fancy side, I have done no more than piece and occasionally zigzag something. it can do 30 diffrent sticthes and I have never even tried them so spending all that cash would be overkill for me.
I have been in nursing bout 30 years, aide, LPN,then RN, Currently in critical care .

If I had it to do over , I would make sure the machine had a good size throat for FMQ. Good Luck and be sure to tell us what you buy. This is a great present.

Congratulations Nurse! I received my BSN 40 yrs ago & can understand you're excitement to begin your career.
I'd Look at quality used machines for a first purchase - Bernina, Pfaff, older Singer. You won't need/use all the bells & whistles now, & can upgrade if you ever decide you need more options. Have fun trying out various machines in the shops before you purchase. Good luck & happy sewing & nursing.

A friend just got a new Janome machine and it is a dream machine.

Congrats from a nurse for 34 years, good luck. For me would def be a Bernina.

I'm partial to Vikings, but you should make a list of what you want in a machine, do lots of research, and lots of test driving of various models. Sewing machines are like underwear, we all like something different. It is good that they gave you the money instead of just getting you a machine. Good luck and have fun researching!!!

Congrats on getting your degree!!! May I recommend you get a machine at a quilt show.. many times at a quilt show they let you try out different machines etc.. and then they offer them at a discounted price after the show is over..not sure when the next quilt show is going on near you ..but it does save alot to check this out..by the way almost all the sewing machine folks are at the quilt shows... with all the feet you might need such as the quarter inch foot, walking foot etc...
Have fun shopping make a list of what you like and want in a machine.. and enjoy!!
Hugs
Quiltinmama

You only need a straight stitcher for piecing and FMQ. However, if you are going to do some applique by machine, you will need one that can do blanket stitch and zig zag. I find the brother Nouvelle 1500s ideal for quilting,=. It is a straight stitcher with variable foot pressure and a 9" throat.

I would also look at the viking. It has a wider throat and two lights for sewing. Try them out more than once.