Best sewing machine for dd18?

[Frodont]

She would love to start making clothes. Can anyone recommend a good one that is going to be reliable and fairly easy to use? She's very 'crafty'but has never had a sewing mchine before.

I did an introductory sewing day just before the first lockdown and had never used a sewing machine before. The instructor raves about Janome and pointed out that they make John Lewis machines. She seemed to think that everything apart from heavy curtains, very large things and fancy quality could be made using fairly basic machines. I bought the machine linked below and have found it really good and pretty straight forwards. It takes Janome accessories, so easy to get hold of.

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-jl220-sewing-machine-white/p4761260

Obviously, though, check what she wants to use the machine for and that it can do what she wants to (would be fine for clothes unless using very thick fabric).

What's your budget?
Entry level machines are £80-130, the John Lewis one is a good pick.
About £250 - £300 for a good all rounder like the Janome 725s they use on the Great British Sewing Bee.

As soon as you go to shorten a pair of jeans or a coat you need a bit of grunt. It will also have slightly more refined features, button holes etc.
Husquvarna E20 and Emerald (starter and intermediate) are also good picks.

Most sewing machines are easy to use once you have been shown. They extra features of more advanced ones, you can ignore until you need them.
A "mechanical" machine with dials/knobs - still electric of course, is I think more intuitive that a computerised one - but anyone who can operate a smart phone isn't going to have a problem!

Depends how much you want to spend and what clothes she wants to make. I’ve only made face masks, summer dresses and lightweight pjs with mine which was £30 from Aldi. Will probably upgrade one day but to test out the craft first, it has done a decent job