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!)

To get a decent stitch quality you want a good quality and reasonably heavy machine.
If you are buying new £250-£400 will get a decent Janome or brother or singer. A basic overlocker would be £400 ish (I need to buy a new one as mine is on its last legs).
Dont discount old machines. I do all my sewing on a singer treadle 66k. The hand wound singers if you can get one cheap and it works, they are very good.
If any relatives or friends have any working 1970s or 1980s machines that they would give you that would be ideal. I stitched for 10 years on a jones machine until I wore it out (I sew to sell). Sometimes they pop up on freecycle or Facebook

Basic janome machines are pretty decent - they probably make the best entry level machines. Agree with the suggestion to have a look at the John Lewis machines. The one you linked to above is a sturdy mechanical machine with a useful set of Stitches and a couple of easy to swap snap on feet. The manual is available online if your kids want a look to see if it's any use to them.

The hobby craft one does look decent though I couldn't find the manual for it. Lots of videos of how to use it, though, which is a plus for a novice.

I got a Brother from Hobbycraft for about £70 several years ago and it's been great. I previously bought a sewing machine from Lidl, it malfunctioned and it proved near impossible to get hold of customer service, so I had to return it. What appealed to me about Hobbycraft is that if anything goes wrong you can physically take it back to the shop, where they have staff who know about sewing machines (at least they do in my branch). They used to- Hopefully still do- run beginners' sewing classes for people who've purchased their sewing machines.

Would also second a PP's suggestion about using good quality thread!

Hi @MagnaQuestion

I’ve recently started getting into sewing and making my daughter some clothes but I bought this one from aldi - Sewing machine I did see an overlocker with the same brand too which I’m tempted to get for Xmas.

I bought a few sewing classes from a local lady who is a professional and she was impressed with the features on it, it comes with all the feet, does embroidery lettering etc. there’s a few fab you tube videos by people doing reviews on it but honestly can’t complain. I would recommend as a PP has said, invest in decent thread. Don’t buy it from aldi / Amazon get the branded stuff.

Janome every time.

Most janome are top loading, too but op would have to up her budget for that.

I've sewn for years but the cheap brother I had for odd jobs when I wasn't sewing much soon showed its limits when I got back into serious dressmaking.

What are you happy to spend?

Amazon have this one reduced to 329 in their sale (might not show up at that price yet if you don't have prime, but will tomorrow or later tonight) amzn.eu/d/8WyqvDE

I have this machine, have had it for 6 years during which time I've become a fairly serious sewist - my entire wardrobe is homemade bar knitwear, undies and the odd random garment. I've upgraded it now, but only just, and mainly because I wanted a good embroidery machine. But this machine has taken everything I've thrown at it in 6 years, and never blinked.

It's got a good range of stitches including stretch stitches, and it's got an automatic speed control and a start/stop button so you don't need to use the foot pedal which is great for learning, or just concentrating on fiddly jobs!

It is more than the ones you've suggested, and of those I'd go Janome, but thought it was worth mentioning as it would take a long time to grow out of!

I agree. She can use the overlocker at school for the experience but it isn't essential.

Agree, get the Janome or the John Lewis equivalent. It will be great for Textiles even if she end up e.g. making bags or using denim where a bit of power is needed. And the other DD will soon pick it up.

Automatic button holder is a useful feature

I have a Brother machine

Janome are made by Bernina l think.

And Bernina is the god of sewing machines.

the brother LS14 will be perfect for your DDs. It’s got removable feet, easy to thread and change the needle, good range of stitches for a basic machine and it sews through several layers easily. Plus it’s £85 in Argos

I have the Hobby craft £80 one - absolutely brilliant for basic sewing, might not be up to making anything with thick or heavy fabric but it is a great starting point

They aren't but it's still a decent brand. The Brother LS14 is the only decent machine under £100 and v popular, but if you can stretch to the JL one it will have a bit more functionality e.g. stretch stitches,
for someone who may end up sewing as a hobby.

Thanks everyone. Sound like the Janome one at 149 is good choice.

To the PP asking what I want to spend....Well let's just say 149 is a lot for us!!

But as she's doing it for gcse I want it to be "enough" for her at home to practice. Yes overlocker can be used st school. She was v proud she had sewn a zip at school. The small one will want to make clothes for her dolls...

My dressmaker mum helped me choose a £70 Janome about 15 years ago , sadly mum isn’t here anymore but the machine is going strong and does remind me of the trip when I use it. I’ve made curtains, dresses, jumpers etc

This is the one we recently got for DD (9). I'd never used a sewing machine before but found it easy enough to learn how to thread it and DD is finding it easy to use. It seems really robust and was good value at Argos (£80 or £85 I think)

Ooh the brother one at Argos is cheaper than the 149 one!

I have a Janome, and a 1957 Singer. Both have been resilient to my ongoing cack handed ministrations for years, the Singer since about 1982. I have failed to kill off either and highly recommend a janome. The John Lewis, own brand, are Janome, and that little bit cheaper.

It's worth looking second hand too - lots on FB/gumtree and there's a good preloved fb groups too. But the janome is a good option - and better than my first couple of machines for sure.

Overlockers are great, but they're not essential. They particularly come in to their own when you want to sew stretchy stuff like leggings - you can still do this on a sewing machine, it's just quicker and easier on an Overlocker. So not essential especially at this stage.

What is worth checking is what accessories it comes with as there's a few things you might want to get (not expensive and can be added over time.) I'd suggest gradually acquiring:

• a set of different feet (you can often buy a box with lots of non-branded ones on Amazon or Ebay), particularly a zipper foot if it doesn't have one but things like narrow hemming feet are helpful over time.
• a walking foot. This helps with sewing stretchy or slippy fabric which can sometimes get chewed up a bit and go walkies
• a pack with different sized needles- thicker needles for thicker fabrics
• jersey ballpoint needles (once they want to sew stretchy stuff - they work way better than normal)
• heat erasable pens - you use these to put any markings on and they just iron off.
• a seam ripper (might be one in the box)
• pins/fabric clips (both ideally)

None of these are individually expensive and I'm absolutely not suggesting you run out and buy them all now. Just some pointers for things which might make their sewing more successful/enjoyable so they get the most out of their new machine.

Oooh thanks for the list they would make good extras for xmas presents/birthday!

I have a fairly basic Janome which I got for my 21st, I'm now 43.
It's made clothes, curtains, decorations, toys, bags, cushion covers, textile art, free form embroidery (new foot) and many many other things, it's used a lot.
It's still in perfect nick, occasionally needs a bit of a clean and an oil but it's a bloody brilliant machine. No electronics though which I suspect makes it a bit more reliable.

Oh if you want extra stocking filler ideas watch the Great British Sewing Bee- they always have cute stash. I crave one of those fabric cutting wheels (like a pastry cutter) and the pin cushions you wear on your wrist

Rotary cutters are great - especial if you combine them with a big cutting mat and a projector for the patterns...

Agree with Janome, I have a fairly basic mechanical Janome and am an experienced crafter/dressmaker. I did buy a fancy computerised one a couple of years ago, but couldn't get on with it and sold it.