I'm so sorry this is ridiculously late! I forgot I had a formspring... which isn't a good excuse, and you've probably already been helped, but here goes anyway:

Thanks for the compliment, deary!! All you really need to start out is a basic hobby machine--something that does forward, backward, buttonholes, and zigzagging. That's all I have, & it does the trick perfectly. My best suggestion would be to go to a sewing machine dealer (I go to my local Husquevarna/Viking one) and have them help you pick one out--they'll help you get a good priced machine that will hold up & there are often included tune ups or guarantees you wouldn't otherwise get. Cheaper is not always better, & don't bother with fancy 50-stitch machines because you'll likely never use half of them.

Happy sewing! Good luck!