Can anyone recommend a sewing machine please?

[HarpieDuJour]

My beloved sewing machine has died (if I lived somewhere nearer to civilisation I would get it repaired, but sadly that isn't possible.) So I need to replace it, but can't find another one the same . It was this one; https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AU2GFXO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I need to have a few features, but don't care about anything fancy or digital. I don't embroider and rarely quilt. I need the ability to use a double needle, an automatic needle threader, a one step buttonhole and that's about all, I think. Can anyone recommend one? I've borrowed my son's Brother machine for now, but it's very basic and it's annoying me! I don't really want to spend a huge amount on it, maybe up to about £350.

I'd be interested in recs, too. Mine broke - though I have a very old manual Singer for absolute emergencies 🙂 The one they use on the BBC's sewing bee is evidently a Janome 5060 QDC sewing machine, but they are quite expensive.

I have had the janome branded equivalent of the "John Lewis" sewing machine for probably about 29 years now and it is great. I have done clothes, toys and curtains on it and I use it fairly regularly .
It's the same as this one but it doesn't look like it has a width control for stitches anymore? Maybe that's what the plus and minuse symbols on the ss are for?
www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-jl110-sewing-machine-yellow/p4007444

I returned to sewing after decades and chose a Janome 7025 machine after trying several different ones in John Lewis. I was totally open minded on brand and budget.
Amazing sales assistant spent an hour with me demonstrating and helping.
Not too complicated, easy instructions and does everything I want.

I had a Janome CLX 301 which was a brilliant machine.

I think one step buttonhole is going to
push the price up. I treated myself to a Bernina last year which is utterly beyond awesome but pricey.

Janome are good machines at all price points but lower end Brothers are not great (although no personal experience of them).

It might be worth giving a sewing machine dealer a call for advice… I get all of my machines from https://www.sewingmachineworld.co.uk/ they do my servicing too, despite the fact that I live nowhere near Norfolk 🤣

We've just bought a janome 725 sewist (got a slightly damaged box one so got it for £300 and it's great. My dd has mainly used it so far and loves it.

I just got a Janome/John Lewis sewing machine and I am loving it! I am a beginner so chose their basic model. https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-jl110-sewing-machine-peppermint/p3723125 but they have more advanced machines that you might like. Quick delivery and I bought mine when they have a discount on sewing machines for the summer bank holiday weekend :)

I've just ordered the Janome 230dc, it was between that and the 725 sewist. The 230 dc is digital, has a few more stitches and an extension table included so I thought it was good value.

Thank you all, this thread has given me loads to think about.

I second this one, I have a Janome from John Lewis, it's over 20 years old and has never let me down. It does all the basics and doesn't have any unnecessary features that you'll never use. Good luck with your search

The janome/john Lewis ones are good new machines. If you want something cheap an old jones/singer/brother/fristerrossman electric machine from market place. Unless someone has done a lot of sewing on them they’ll be fine. They are very very heavy. Often people give them away

If you want to stick to something REALLY similar to your existing machine, a Husqvarna Viking E20 is definitely a close cousin! I have one and it does me pretty well, I have used it with a twin needle, done button holes, it has a threading doohickey. https://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/browse-machines/sewing-machines/h-class-e20