I'm perfectly happy with my Janome Memory Craft. It does a nice 5x7 design, and works like a charm. It was a good thing I didn't go for the Bernina embroidery machine, because it turned out I was in love with the idea of embroidery -- not the execution.

I'm shocked at the price of the newer machines. I have a 8 year old Pfaff. GREAT!, and yes, if you really get into embroidering, you must be able to connect , and download from the internet. Super easy to pick up, but expensive to repair..

I have a Bernina 200 and love it. I also have a Pfaff 7570, but use it mostly for sewing. The Bernina has a large embroidery area, easy to use screen, is quiet and fast for a home machine. There has been 1 upgrade that has been released since the 200, but it didn't have enough newer, better, faster stuff on it for me to invest in it. There is also another newer top of the line Bernina being released this fall (saw the preview on the Bernina website). It looks interesting, but since I haven't been selling much on eBay, lately, will be out of my budget. But it will probably mean that the older machines will be selling for less. Not only on eBay, but at the dealers where they will be taking them in on trade. Since you are new to machine embroidery, I would recommend that you take some classes at a good dealership. Those should come free with a purchase of a machine.

The Pfaff was my first embroidery machine. I had originally planned on getting the close out deal on the Pfaff 7550, but was talked into the 7570 with the embdroidery capabilities and am glad that I was. I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Be sure to also research the compatible software that either comes with the machine you purchase, or is an option. In addition to making it possible to download the less expensive designs from the internet, many of the software programs give you lettering capability. I do a lot of lettering and monogramming and wouldn't be without mine.

Have fun!

I have singer futura C-250 and i loved..

it may cost around $5000.
good luck

I have a Memory Craft 8000, Made by New Home. I bought this machine in 08/93 have had it cleaned twice and repaired once. Plus I had bought 12 embroidery cards for it too and ended up paying $2800.00. Although you can only buy it used now, if you can find one, buy it! This is the best sewing and embroidery machine I have seen or used, my machine sits out everyday and is sewn on everyday. I have 4 kids who I made all there outfits, growing up, all holidays etc. I now have 3 grandchildren that I sew for and can start using the embroidery cards for again! I have seen the NEW machines, but who has $7000.00 to $10,000 to spend on a machine? Go to the Milwaukee Sewing Machine website, I know they had a used machine same one as mine for about $800.00, I was tempted to get it. But I would definately recomend a sewing machine dealer over Kmart, Target or Walmart. Most machine places will offer unlimited sewing lessons, I can still go back to Milwaukee sewing and get more lessons, but I have been sewing since I was 11 (am 52 now) so Good Luck.

I have a Janome 5700 and 10001 and I love the machines and you it comes with embroidery cards that you can get for, However, you are also able to get load designs from a CD or online onto a compact flash card with an adapter. It is hard to find the compact flash cards in the stores as they sell them as gigs aad you need the megabyte ones and can get them from many sellers on ebay.