what sewing machine - I've got up to £150 to spend!

[NinjaChipmunk]

I need a new machine and I've got £100 - 150 to spend. It'll mainly be for making bags, cushions, dressmaking projects etc. My last machine was a 45 year old singer but the foot blew up. I've been told Janome are good, not sure what kind of rep singer have these days? Was warned off brother machines.
If anyone can recommend a machine around that price bracket I would appreciate it. I don't need many stitches and am not fussed about self threading needles. I'm just a bit stumped about where to start.

To be honest, with your budget you're going to be getting a machine with plastic parts anyway and so it won't make a huge amount of difference which brand you go for. Personally I recommend always going for a machine with easily accessible aftersales support (so, no £50 from Aldi job!) and I'm heavily biased towards Janome and Elna as they are the brands I stock in my shop.

Have a really good think about what you're likely to be sewing in a year. If you're doing dressmaking I'd suggest you want a machine with at least one buttonhole stitch but you probably don't need the 50 bajillion stitches that higher spec models offer.

I think the Elna 2100 would suit your needs - I sell them at £149, if you'd like to look at the spec then click here. If that's a bit pricy, the SewFun is £119 and also has a buttonhole option but it's really a beginner's machine.

These are just the machines I'm familiar with so please do go and have a look around what else is out there - Janome, Bernette and maybe even John Lewis' own range are worth a look. If you'd like to order an Elna, give me a shout and I'll do one with free postage for you :)

I've shortlisted a Janome J3-18 after much searching and having a chat with john lewis. Many thanks for the elna postage mates rates! I will check them out.
I appreciate I won't get a superb one for the money so I've been looking at what does basic but very well. Do you have much experience of Janome?

Janome and Elna are the same machines but Janome tend to be priced a little more competitively (being very delicate, there!) I think that Janome J3-18 looks like a good little machine, the only thing that would bug me with it is that it's a front-loading bobbin, but that really is me just splitting hairs.

Janome really are brilliant though, the only reason I don't stock them is because someone else in Glasgow already does!

I have a Janome J3-24 that is the next one up, i looked at your model and would have gone for that but i did have a little more to spend. I had a Singer before but i am really pleased with my Janome. Have to say the front loading bobbin doesn't bother me.