Do you plan to do the actual quilting on it or just the piecing?

Most likely just piecing.

Welcome to our forum. It will be hard to nail down a specific machine. There are so many good ones. I prefer older models. My old Kenmore from the 50s is the best piecing machine I have although I own five more including my favorite Singer featherweight. I quilt with a Baby Lok. If you see an old Singer in a thrift store, you can still buy parts and find all the manuals for it online. You might want to start with something used and buy a new one later after you develop your talents and needs. A zig-zag stitch can be helpful but you don't need fancy stitches to piece. Moving a needle position side-to-side isn't needed for instance. If a machine is very light and plastic, it moves around too much to be stable as you sew.

A good machine might be a close-out or trade in at that fancy store. If they take trade ins, they might have old machines around you'd love to start on. And knowing a store for servicing it later on is helpful.

Just my two cents.

Linda/Toolgranny

I agree with the older machines, at least starting out. I have a 1970 Kenmore, very heavy metal, only does straight stitch and zig-zag. But it runs like butter. If I could find a more durable table and a quilting extension surface for it I would probably hardly ever sew with my newer Viking Emerald. I'm so glad you didn't get suckered into an expensive one. So many people pay a lot for a machine and either find that they don't really want to sew after all or that it's so complicated they get frustrated and give up. If you get a good older model now and find later you want to buy a new machine, keep the old one for when the new one has to go for repairs, believe me that will happen.

I'm with toolgranny. I'm a vintage sewing machine nut, so have lots of them. Probably the best machine you can buy for yourself is either a Singer 201-2 or a Singer 15-91. Although harder to find, and a little more expensive, a Singer 301, 401 or Featherweight would also be a great machine. Any one of these old machines would be one you'll keep forever, even if you move on to a $5,000, all the bells and whistles, sewing machine later on. The downside of the 401 is that it's often frozen up and takes some time and patience to get it "unfrozen". (It has lots of close tolerances and old sewing machine oil can cake up and get sticky, so you have to clean and oil and clean and oil until it gets loose again.)

If you pay attention to Craigslist on a daily basis, you can usually find a 201-2 or 15-91 for under $100.00. Most will be in cabinets. It's often said the 201-2 is the best sewing machine Singer ever made. It purrs. The 15-91 is really good for free motion quilting and is a quiet, reliable machine. Featherweights have a good following and go for $250.00 to $350.00 around here. The upside to them is that they are small, lightweight, portable and popular. You can almost always get your money out of it if you decide to sell. The prettier the machine, the better condition of the case and the more attachments it has, the more it costs. Make sure it has it's bobbin case, as they are expensive to replace and often missing. (There are commemorative editions that are more expensive.) The 301 is fairly hard to find, with the black one demanding a premium price. Those go for $125.00 to $300.00 depending on the color and whether it's a short bed, long bed and if it has a case (can also be in a cabinet.) Like the others mentioned, it's a straight stitch only machine. (This has the same bobbin case as the featherweight, so check that it is there,) It has a really pretty stitch, is lightweight and sews fast. The 401 can be had in the $125.00 to $225.00 range. It is a zigzag machine. It's a great machine, but make sure every thing moves or be prepared to spend some time on it.

I know that's a lot of information. I started typing and couldn't seem to stop. (Can you tell I love old sewing machines?)

All of these machines were meant to be maintained by the owner. They very rarely break, but need to be cleaned and oiled occasionally.

If you really want to get started on the cheap, buy a Singer 66. It was the least expensive of the old Singers and very reliable. They are very common, easy to find and service, has a built in bobbin case and common bobbins. You can find one for $50.00 or less. Look at goodwill, thrift stores, craigslist, letgo, etc.

Last paragraph, I promise. There are some great machines out there - Kenmore, Pfaff, Elna, Viking, Bernina and many others. The problem will be finding parts if you need them. PM me if you want help.
http://www.sandman-collectibles.com/id-singer-machines.htm#4

http://vssmb.blogspot.com/2011/07/visual-guide-to-identifying-singers.html

bk

Janome 6500 is a workhorse. The best machine I've ever used. It does everything including quilting, monogramming, a million stitches. You can get a used one at a Janome dealer at a sewing center or a place that sells used machines, for a few hundred dollars.

I recommend Brother CS6000i - under $200. I don't have it but one of my friends who is a beginning quilter got it and likes it very much. It is easy to thread and to wind the bobbin and she hasn't had any tension issues. You can do all your piecing, applique, some decorative stitches and also quilt small projects. It comes with a walking foot and a FMQ foot. When I was a beginner I enjoyed trying out all the options and the decorative stitches, though I don't use them very much any more.

Personally, I recommend buying a new machine if you are a beginner. You can check with the seller or simply return your machine if it doesn't work right.

Vasu

If you want to get a new machine, I recommend you go to a dealer rather than buy one in a big box store or online. Yesterday when I took my 1947 Featherweight in to get a new belt (only $8 - woo hoo) I looked at the dealers' machines - wowzer! Brother, Viking, Pfaff, and so many models. Ask to "test drive" any machine you are interested in; don't buy 40 whistles and 29 bells if you don't need them. Ask the dealer to show you all the capabilities of the model you are considering and ask to be shown how to thread the machine and load the bobbin. A machine with a straight stitch and the zig zag stitch will be sufficient for quilting, clothing, home dec, crafts, etc. for a long time. Brother has some reasonably priced models. Also, make friends with your dealer - they have lots of good information about your machine, repair, and maintenance.

If you find a good vintage machine at a good price, make sure that the bobbin case is in the machine (if it requires one), that the foot pedal is present, and that the needle will at least go up and down when you turn the wheel on the right. Frozen machines can be unfrozen, slow machines can be tuned up, and frayed electrical cords can and should be replaced. A used machine at a dealer's has probably been tuned up and inspected by the mechanic for resale, but still ask to try it out and get instructions on how to thread the machine and prepare/install the bobbin. Many of us here have (ahem) more than one machine and are happy to help anyone find a new machine -- or four.