Sewing machine recommendations

[rivercobbler]

I am looking to get a new sewing machine to replace the 40 year old New Home machine my MIL kindly gave me.

I would like one that can do free motion embroidery as well as dressmaking-type sewing. I might want to do some quilting but nothing very ambitious - but it should be able to handle a few layers. I don't know much about overlocking so...

I have looked at the reviews for the Brother FS140Qc or Janome 230DC and both those look about the right sort of level - not purely basic beginners but not full of features I will probably not use for a few years.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Bumping for you as you're describing a machine that I'm interested in.

I've also seen recommendations for the Janome 360 and 5060 (the 5060 is used on the GB sewing bee)

Best suggestion I can make is to head to a dealer and actually try the ones you fancy before you buy. Otherwise it's about personal preferences and budget.

Yes, I found a shop. with various brands about 45 min away so will probably have a trip there over the summer!

You've got a decent budget based on the machines you're looking at. Make sure you investigate what's included in your machine package and how much extra presser feet etc cost. It adds up really quickly.

I have a janome memory craft 6700p, and bought the extension table and additional set of presser feet to fit it, including a walking foot. I sew professionally so that huge outlay was worth it for me. Look at how many lights are on the machine too. The lights on mine and the extra wide gap between the needle and machine body were what sold it to me. I work on wedding dresses which can be huge, and that big space and additional lighting on it is fab.

I've just had a breakthrough when someone recommended sewingparts.co.uk and I managed to find my (very old) machine on there. So now I have the ability to add feet for a discontinued machine, which is great. I can work within my machines abilities until I improve and then have a better sense of what features I might actually want/need to prioritise in a new machine.