Allbrands.com has a Brother CS-6000i60 for 199.00 onsale. Regularly 449.00. You also get an extension table & hard case. Check this one out. I'm getting this one for retreats & stuff. If you use code save10 they will take $10.00 off the price & it ships free, I looked at Amazon but I don't think you get all the extras. I like having an extension table & case. You also get some other extras. I have done business with them before & they ship real fast & customer service is also good. Th ones at Walmart don't have any extras.

My Daughter-in-law has a featherweight and loves it. She takes it on the sewing retreats instead of her Bernina. Her Mother & Aunt also have one.

Try a Janome Sew Mini. It's only about $59 new and I think it has a 5 yr warranty. It only weighs about 5 pounds and is great to take with you. Also has straight and zig zag stitches.

I too have a Janome Sew Mini. It is a great little work horse. I have used mine many hours and it sews like a top. Plus you can not beat the 5 pounds it only weights!!!
Or the price. (Also some repairment will not work on the Walmart machines but they will this little Janome.)

I agree with a Singer featherweight - I love mine. A friend bought a Brother for 99 at Costco - it has a beautiful straight stitch - but be careful to measure the quarter inch seams if you switch from machine to machine while piecing

The pawn shops now have tons of machines (no pun intended, most of the small ones are around 12 pounds). some of them are in the box with all attachments and instructions booklets, lots for $59. We have Pawn Exchange up here in Washington state and they have many many brands right now.

I use a Janome Platinum ($12) that I bought form$200 on QVC, it is an absolutely wonderful machine. My big one is a Janome 6600 (Adore it!) and I love having both of them use the same feet and attachments.

the best i believe is a featherweight..you can find them at estate sales,garage sales and ebay..other than that kenmore is tops for a second machine..i used to have one that i sold to someone that never even used it..i am so sorry now...oh well..good luck

I have the Babylock Audrey. She was a little more than I wanted to spend, but the dealer let me put it in layaway. It came with several feet and last night I took it to a machine quilting class and it did great! I also like the needle threader, the needle up/down, and especially the start/stop button!

Most of our quilt group purchased the Janome silver, gold series..very very light and durable and reasonably priced.

I bought a Brother CS6000i and love it!!!! I haven't had it a long time so I don't know how it will hold up---but when I researched it, most owners really liked it

well if you are seriously looking for a CHEAP machine, how about the least expensive Janome...I think it runs around $50...does straight stitching and some zig zag. A friend got one and loves it cuz it is lightweight BUT was disappointed when she realized it didn't have a light....so she takes a small Ott light with her to retreats etc.

warm quilt hugs, sue in CA

Thrift store like Goodwill has them cheap. Try amazon or ebay .
Some sewing machine stores even have some for trade ins or older model for sale. Hope you found one, I went on ebay for the 1st time & outbid for an 1950 221 featherweight! Can't wait til it gets here.

I went online and found a Singer for $99 with free shipping and handling from a sewing machine place. I don't remember where I got it, but you could google "cheap sewing machines"
this machine is my stand-by name Clara-she's quiet but dependable and gets the job done.

I got a Kenmore on sale at Sears. I believe it is made by the same mfger as Janome. The feet fit my Janome 6600. It is a great steady worker.

I got my grandaughters a babylock for about $129.00. It also has some fancy stitches. I have heard the brother embroidery machine at Walmart for $300.+ is pretty good.

I use a Singer 301a, bought it from a sewing machine repair service for $75. Weighs 14 lbs. has a handle for easy transport, is all metal and is very easy to maintain. It sews quieter than all the new machines in my guild. Doesn't move around on the table or vibrate and uses the same bobbin as the FW.

I have bought several machines on eBay. I really enjoy looking for them and bidding on them. Even bought one for $19.99. I had purchased a new Singer for quilting last August for $199.99 at Walmart, after a couple of months I hated it so much that I packed it away and bought the 301a. I wanted a machine that was a proven workhorse.

I am still very happy with my cheapy Brother machine. It hasn't given me a hint of a problem for over 6 years. I have sewn a flannel and chenille quilt and then gone on to several others, not thinking to clean out the bobbin case! It was packed tight with lint, but, still kept on sewing. I can even do free motion on it by covering the feed dogs with one of those slippery sliders. And it is lightweight.

My oldest daughter got this for Christmas from her fiance. She loves it and at 36, had never touched a sewing machine.

I check ebay and try to go to ending soon. Sometimes you can sneak in and get a bargain

Garage sales!!! I got a great quilting machine for $10 last week.

I just got a Bernette made by Bernina. I'ts about $195, light weight and works like a dream.

go for a featherweight.
It sews like a champ and will last forever!

I got a Jenome Jem Gold that I take to retreats etc. It's in your price range and since you own another Jenome (I also have the 6500) you can use your feet/bobbins etc. without getting all new accessories.

I got a machine at Costco for 189.00. It's a Brother XR9000 and its an impressive machine for the price. It is very lightweight and has 80 different stitches and an alphabet stitch. I carry it to guild meetings because I don't want to lug the Viking Designer around and the old Singer is just way, way too heavy. The Brother works fabulously. Check it out on the Brother site. It's in the discontinued section, but many Costco's still have them.

Misty, I have not read everyone's comments but if it hasn't already been suggested... I would definitely go for a Featherweight. They are around 11#, sew straight stitches, all metal... just an all around great machine for traveling. I sew on mine at home a lot! Mine cost $250. Look on Craigslist.org. Sometimes you can get them for less.

Visit the Vintage Sewing Machine Shop in the Virtual Section on this board and you will also be able to learn how to clean and service it yourself. Plus, meet a bunch of cool quilters. Happy hunting! :D

I could check out the machines at WALMART and SEARS..they usually have some good buys..or perhaps a sale at JOANNS!!!!!!

I have the Janome 423S. It is the only machine I have and I take it all over with me.

try Craig's List

I purchased a Brother CE-4000 machine through Costco.com. It is very light weight. It has a stitch width and length adjustment, comes with 7 different feet, multiple stitches including blind hem, overcast and more. I wanted it because my other machine was too heavy to lift in an out of the car to take to my quilt group. It was less than $125. Another member of my group saw it and got herself one as well. We are both happy we have them.

I bought a Brother computerized that was under $300 for use at my daughter's home in America when I am visiting.

Warning! - I just read on another topic that different machines can produce very different results... regarding seam allowances. They recommend that whatever machine you begin a project on, you finish it on. There was a picture of 2 strips that were quite different in size because one machine was 1 or 2 threads different. Interestingly enough, the machine that sewed the most accurately was an old model Singer.

Just a thought.

Sorry I can't help. God bless. Penny

I found a great Brother machine at a moving sale that was advertised on Craig's list. I paid $40 for the machine and it came with at least $40 worth of supplies.

Play Misty for me.....what has happened to Misty?
Did you take any of the wonderful suggestions made over several days by our group and purchase a machine?
Inquiring minds want to know.
D in TX

I do not recommend using a Janome 6500 as a portable. The Thread spindals break off very easy. Garage sales are great places to find backup machines. If you do not see a machine ask if they have one. I have purchased two by asking when I did not see one out on display.

I have this one and it works just fine. I wasn't up for spending a lot because I wasn't sure I would stick with quilting, but I have stuck with it and love it. The machine works fine, would be great for lugging around.

I am nervous about getting someone's used machine because it might have issues that will cost to get fixed. I think I will definately look into a few of the machines mentioned. I just got an e-mail from a local sewing and vacuum store advertising a Memorial Day sale. I will start there. I don't want to spend too much, but I do want to get something that is reliable. Thank you all for the suggestions and advice.

I have the same one and I love it too! I could not believe that I got such a nice machine with the necessary quilting feet that usually you have to buy extra.

Wal Mart sells a Brother for under $100 which works great for basic stitching. I bought one for my daughter. She made her first quilt entirely on this machine and is working on the second.

Good advice. I searched Craigslist and found someone in my area selling a Brother 3500XL for $100.00. It only weights 11 pounds and I am going to look at it one day soon.

I bought a cheap Kenmore machine that is very light weight. It has a few stitches and weighs very little. It was less than $100. I leave it in my RV & love it. I also take it to classes.