There are a few things on my to buy equipment list - it's a rather short list but each item is very expensive, thus I haven't been able to purchase them. It includes:
+ a Bernina sewing machine (just a simple no frills one that I can travel with or use instead of the industrials)
+ a hot stamp machine or custom branding iron
+ a knitting machine
+ a hot stamp machine or custom branding iron
+ a knitting machine
I'm usually picky about the equipment I buy - especially if I know it's something I hope to get a lot of use out of! But if money is tight and it's a hobby I'm just getting into, I think it's okay to start on the low end of the spectrum and work up. I had been wondering if the Ultimate Sweater Machine (First spotted at A.C. Moore) was going to be a piece of crap or not. The $150 price was appealing, even more so when you have one of their 50% off coupons. So after reading a few reviews I decided to go for it. It took me a few hours to get use to it but now it's quite fun, relaxing, and easy. The machine is a bit rickity and the carriage is flimsy, but it does the job A-okay, and for now, that's fine with me. I can't wait to make my first sweater on it! Nothing will replace hand knitting, but being able to go through stockinette that quickly, well, it's amazing.