It will depend on how much you plan to use your embroidery machine. My husband bought me the Brother 4000D a couple of years before I retired, as I wanted to do lots of quilting when I quit work. I retired in June and I am just now getting into trying the embroidery on my machine. I love this machine, but it was very expensive, but it certainly will fulfill my dream of sewing while I am retired. It has many quilting features plus 4 different sizes of hoops for embroidering, up to 8 x 10. I download many embroidery patterns from my computer with a USB stick and then I transfer the patterns into my machine. It is completely computerized and has many great features. I agree if you want to embroider, be sure you buy the machine that has different sizes of hoops. I embroidered four sets of dish towels with my machine for our children for Christmas. Happy Shopping!

I have the Janome 350. It does embroidery only. I love it. You can't go wrong with a Janome (but that's just my opinion!)

I have the Brother ULT 2001 and have had it for quite sometime now and the one thing I have learned is that Viking hoops have the screw to tighten on the corner of their hoops but Bernina have some unique hoops also I think other than that it is going to be preference and cost. I definitely like my large hoop remember you cant do large designs unless you split them and try to line them up BUT if yo have the large hoop that is a different story there. Just my opinion though . Best of luck in your endeavor to find the machine of your dreams

I am trying to sell my Babylock Ellageo ESg3 embroidery machine, I love the machine but never use the embroidery part. Thought I would when I bought it but just not my thing. I am an appliquer and I think that is why I do not ever use it.

I have the Singer Quantum 5000 & I love it. It has a never ending bobbin & also a thread changer so I don't have to be at the machine all the time.
Serena

I started with the Janome 350E, loved it so much I moved up to the Janome MB4 and love them BOTH

I have a Brother 8500 sewing/emb. machine which I love and have loved for many years!! It was the top Brother machine when I bought it new, and I now use Pe-Design 7.0 software with it. Size of hoops 4x4, 5x7, and larger one but has to be spaced, so I haven't used that one. I love the 5x7 with the interlocking monograms from Monogram Wizard Plus! Ask yourself what you really want to embroider or monogram and then look at the possibilites for the right machine and software. That's where the cost comes in! Also, find a good, reliable dealer near you and some of his/her happy customers before you buy. Sometimes this makes a big difference!

I have the Janome 10001 and can download patterns off the computor. Love it. And I got mine from the dealer at almost half price as it was a demonstator model. had it three years and no problems.

I found the Brother Baby Lock the easiest to use
I would not buy a wal Mart emb machine you are getting the lowest in quality of the brand. and no support from a local dealer of that machine.

I was given a Singer Futura SE1000 for Christmas. I love it! It connects to the laptop (or desktop) and allows you to do almost any format and design. It has autopunch, but that takes a little to learn how to make that picture come out as a good embroidery. It came with usb cord, two different sized hoops and all the software. It also is a sewing machine with about 20 stitches and many feet.