Sewing machines...

[MagnaQuestion]

So child 1 does textiles at school and child 2 wants to "make things"

I suspect our funds don't extend to the type of machine child 1 has at school sp her project work will still be done at school....

But for home are any of these any good? (Seen in hobby craft!)

John Lewis machines are made by janonme 😀

I have a machine like this and I make all sorts on it! Even clothes for myself.

Check out the reviews for them online or vids on youtube. Ideally you want something with a bit of versatility, where you can swap out the foot, etc.

I'd say that's a good price for that machine..I have one quite similar and it's lasted 19 years

I’ve got a Janome which has resisted my attempts to break it for more than 5 years 😂 they’re pretty robust.

I bought a cheap mini one from amazon, because I didn't want to spend hundreds on a machine I may barely use. Was 15 quid, only does one stitch but is a little trooper and has given me a feel for using a sewing machine.
Just type in mini sewing machine, can't remember the name it was white and purple

I’ve always had Janomes, they are very robust. I would avoid a cheap Singer or the generic one since the make is unknown.

If you have a John Lewis nearby I recommend their own brand machines, they are made by Janome and come in pretty colours. My friend used to do sewing classes for primary age kids and used the JL machines and they were both simple to use and sturdy.

Pint /on my which one? The janome/singer or hobbycraft one!

I know nothing going to look at John lewis

This one? Isn't much cheaper than the branded one.

The singer and janome entry level ones - are they similar? Will the girls be frustrated they don't do enough?

I an a hobby dressmaker and have a janome sewing machine much like the ones pictured as well as an overlocker. They are both very robust and easy to use.

I'm sure John Lewis machines are also fine, but you may find it easier to get other feet and universal parts if you go for the janome one.

Whichever you choose make sure you find out how to oil it, like a car they need a bit of basic maintenance every so often.

Good luck - sewing is great

A handy hint, since you don’t have experience, is to use good quality thread. The cheap stuff causes tension issues which means that you end up spending more time trying sort out problems than sewing. Brands like Aurifil or Gutermann work well, if you can find a proper fabric or quilt shop then ask them for recommendations.

There were more expensive Janome ones but this one was more in my price bracket! Great to hear its going well.

My DD has mentioned the "overlocker" at school !

Maybe not exactly what you're after but there are very often really great makes of sewing machine (singer, brother, janome) on FB marketplace for very little money.

I actually got GIVEN a beautiful duck-egg 70's Singer that had been serviced the week before by a kind stranger.

Oooh that's helpful. We have a fabric shop (as well as hobbycraft) .

I am clueless...

Overlockers are tricky, that would be running before you can walk.

Just came by to warn you not to go for the children's hobby craft one. It's around 50/£60. The needle is an absolute nightmare to change, very temperamental also. I took it to a local seamstress nearby and she couldn't even change. She told me brother and singers are the best. I got a singer for £75 and its a dream.

This sounds brilliant

I'm definitely not looking at overlockers - just happy she can access that at school!

I've no idea if the Janome one has swappable feet.

I’ve just looked at the Janome on the Hobbycraft website and it comes with the feet that she would need to make clothing.

I have a Janome j3-18 and it’s brilliant. Swappable feet easy to thread handles all but the thickest material. All the basic stiches you need.
at my sewing class the teacher who also taught textiles at the secondary school says she highly rated them they are what they have in school and are practically indestructible

I have a brother LS14, it's about £85 from Argos and it's done me so well as a beginner. There's good videos on YouTube to learn to thread it too. I use it so frequently and it's still going 2 years on

It will have swappable feet, that is standard on most machines, as you need different ones if you are doing a zip for example. You can get them for about a fiver on eBay.

That one from hobby craft would be an ideal first machine. I looked at it on the website (not meaning to interfere - but there are so many to choose from).

I bought this from Aldi for €40 in Feb. Excellent starter machine.

I’d be wary of getting anything too basic like the kids or mini models as they will quickly outgrow them if they are wanting to do anything like putting zips or buttonholes, it depends what they want to make and how serious they are.
it’s also a handy tool to have for any hemming or small jobs you need to do

I prefer Brother machines as the Bobbins are easy to take in and out, my Janome machine used to drive me nuts fiddling with the ruddy bobbin.
Dd has just started sewing and I got her an entry level brother off Amazon for £80. It's a fab little machine, easy to change foot, easy to change needles, plenty of different stitches. Button holes, zippers, all the basics.

OP as an extremely experienced sewer I'd say the Janome is fine -or the basic machines at J.Lewis. You really don't need much. Straight stitch & zig zag & you're good to go. The main creativity comes from choosing your fabrics & designing etc. When the dc are much older, if they're still interested, they could save towards machines that do pretty stitches.