I don't have a fancy machine. Many of my friends who do -- they always say they ONLY ever use the straight stitch! They say that they wouldn't pay for it again. It's nice to have all of the bells and whistles... but I even know a lady who does all of her quilts on an old HAND CRANK machine! If your wife's machine is at least in good working order, then that is truly all she needs. If, however, she gets frustrated because it's not working right, then that would make any of us want to toss out the cat .. with the machine... If it needs a tune-up, then that may help her feel better. Oh, and she needs to change the needle with EVERY new project. That goes even for the fancy pancy machines
Shayla.