My Kenmore looks like the Janome, but is much cheaper.

I got a Jamone about 2 years ago. It's great for sewing on quilts but not on heavy material like jeans.

I have a Brother LX-3125 from good ole Wallyworld that is exceeding my expectations for a good cheap basic take-it-everywhere-with-you machine. Have had it for about six months now and it has done several quilt tops, couple of renfaire costumes, miscellaneous mending, a zebra costume and a reindeer costume for school plays, a couple of coin purses, checkbook covers, etc. Highly recommend it!

I've been disappointed too many times with yard sale machines...the price is right but most times they have some sort of problem either right off the bat or not long after, and a trip to the fix-it man is not worth the trouble (none local, so who wants to go 30 miles to find out a plastic gear is broken and it will cost as much or more than a new machine to get it fixed).

Occasionally the Singer shops in the area will run an add for a sale. Usually the sale is advertised as a box sale of "heavy duty school machines." I bought one of those and love it. I have carried it to class and have let students use it. It sews through "anything." There are three stitch lengths, 3 zigzag stitches, blind hem stitch, and a buttonhole. My Janome walking foot can be used on it. I paid this neat little machine 150. Oh, forgot to mention that the machine is a WHITE.

This is what I have done also (Walmart Brothers) for "carrying around" sewing machines and find they work just wonderful. Best advice is to also check with who ever cleans or works on your machines if he would serve (any brands) "if needed".

I also have the Brother CS6000i & love it!

Sounds good to me!

Can someone tell me if I need to lower my feed dog when I free hand a quilt? I've never done a free hand & wanted to try it.

Oh yes definitely you need to lower the feed dogs to do free motion quilting. You are going to move the fabric yourself with your hands. If you have quilting gloves, they are very helpful. If you don't have them, you can get away with gardening gloves that have the little rubber nobs on them until you can get some quilting gloves. Good luck! :)

I bought a Kenmore for $200.00 at Sears and love it, just the right size to take to sew day classes. I haven't had any trouble with it at all.

Check out the new Bernette It is the black one with flowers on the front. I saw it at a local shop. Was told it is $199.99. I trust the shop owner and she said it is proving very good. Said they had tried the 1/4" foot and it worked well. Is also light weight.