Anyone want to help me pick out an embroidery machine

Littlejen22

I have a sewing machine, it's a lower-end Singer.  I am looking for an embroidery machine, with or without the capability of regular sewing although doing both is probably the smarter idea.  Of course I do not want to spend a fortune...I need to convince DH that this is a smart investment, lol.  The biggest thing I want to be able to do is monogram stuff, like below (actually the cupcake on the hat and the name on the shirt.  So I need it to do big enough to make a shirt like that and want cute fonts which I assume I will need to buy a software (so feel free to recommend those too.  Thanks for any advice!!!

 

TwoChickens

My mom has been a Bernina fan her entire life.  My dad once bought her an Elna serger...and she swapped it out for a Bernina.

She has all the software for it and loves it.  Its easy enough for me to use (though I don't) and the designs are awesome.

Also, my mom owns 4 or 5 Berninas and her oldest machine has, aside from yearly servicing, only needed ONE major repair. The machine is as old as I am (almost 28 years).  You just can't beat Bernina quality nor can you beat the knowledge base that a Bernina certified dealer must have in order to sell the machines.