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!)

I have a John Lewis (made by Janome) one and have never had any trouble getting feet etc.

Mine was bought for me by my grandparents 15 years ago and still going strong, so I would really recommend them.

I teach sewing and have a couple of Brother LS14 machines for those who don't yet have their own machines. They're sturdy and easy to use. My only complaint is the presser foot holder clip is plastic and not that robust. I just bought a couple of metal ones to replace them. That's the thing with branded machines - you can get spare parts easily. They don't let you drop the feed dogs (teeth in the base, under the presser foot) for free machines embroidery, but you can spend a tenner on a darning plate and quilting foot and voila, sorted.

Janomes are also lovely machines. Id say go with the Brother, and use the extra to buy her a few extra bits like additional machine needles and some nice quality thread.

Another voice for the Janome - it will be easy to get spares etc, and should last well. If she wants to make clothes then the 1 step buttonhole feature will make the world of difference, so I'd definitely go for a machine that has that (the Janome does).

For the PP who said basic overlockers start at £400... mine was £120 from Lidl and has done everything from jeans and coats to full construction of all kinds of stretch garments. No issues with it at all. More for info for other people who might be interested in an entry level overlocker.

Agree re 1 step buttonhole actually, it's a nice feature.

I recently made a shirt dress with 19 buttons and buttonholes - I was very glad of that feature (and my machine sewing on buttons too)

I vote Janome - my machine is an 8 year old computerised Janome, I’ve never oiled it or had it serviced 🙈 and it still works perfectly. It’s easy to get compatible supplies. I think if both girls are likely to use it for a few years and you can see this is something they’ll develop, get the best machine you can afford. I had the £90 brother one to start and once I got my Janome I found sewing much easier because it didn’t tangle the thread for no reason, it was easy to thread, easy to change stitch, and I could control the speed.

My tips are : always get the correct brand of empty bobbins, it can really throw a spanner in the works if you get ones that are slightly the wrong size. I like Schmetz brand needles, as the Janome brand can be expensive/difficult to track down if you want a special type - eg there’s different needles for stretch fabrics, and for very thick fabrics. For thread I mostly use Coats Moon, available on eBay or local markets.
Glass head pins are great as she won’t melt them with the iron.
She doesn’t need an overlocker, I sew loads of stretch and use the overcast stitch on my regular machine.
Sewing Books by Tilly Walnes include patterns you can trace out, they might be a good gift for Christmas if she’s thinking about making clothes.

I got my 11 yo this Brother, it had a few more options
www.argos.co.uk/product/4602521

Mine is a Singer Promise which is basic and I got from Marketplace for £50. I've been using it for 2 years and I've made lots of clothes with it. So in your case, I would look in Marketplace first

Sewing machines sound like something where second hand could be worth looking into - lots of people might have bought them during lockdown and don't use them as much as they thought/no longer have the time/want to declutter and make space/extra money for Christmas.

I think 'sewing machine servicing' is a thing, so might be worth looking into, either DIY or with a local shop if you have one.

I got one years ago as a very cheap Lidl special. I don't use it much, but it's useful to have and works fine. But obviously it could be months before they come round again.

I’m an experienced sewer and now have a mega expensive Bernina but always recommend a basic Janome (or the Jl machine).

sewing machines direct are also a reliable retailer and have an entry level Janine cheaper than hobby craft (which I find expensive). I have no connection to then except I’ve bought from them and had good service.

I used my mum’s treadle then my aunts electric singer as a child. Having my own electric machine would have made SUCH a difference though.

My dd has a mini sewing machine. It was about £40 and only thing you cant do on it is really thick material.
Works well for her

I can't recommend the Janome brand enough MagnaQuestion as I've had mine for forty years. It's at the workshop at the moment for a service and it's still going strong. It's sturdy and reliable, does a variety of stitches (including zigzag which could stand in for overlooking - do not get one separately) and came with a few different feet and a stitch ripper which will come in handy, no matter how careful you are. Do read the manual so you can set it up and get a demo at the shop.

The sales assistant said that if you are an enthusiast to get the model that's just slightly better than the basic model and you'll get a lot out of it. I've made curtains, summer dresses and patchwork quilts.

A friend has lent me her Toyota sewing m/c in the meantime as I'm in the middle of a quilt. It's a right pig and took some getting used to. It doesn't run as smoothly and the system for the bobbin has to be seen to be believed, I think the bright spark who devised it was trying to re-invent the wheel.

Janome all the way for me OP.

I have a Brother sewing machine I bought 40 years ago. Still going strong. And a Janome overlocker that’s now about 20 years old.

To do most domestic sewing (and I’m a very highly skilled amateur sewist) you need a machine which does
forwards
backwards
zig-zig and variations on zig-zag

It’s great if there’s an automatic button hole programme and a “low gear” that allows you to see slowly (multiple layers of thick fabric, for example) but keep the power on the foot up.

What you don’t need is a machine with all sorts of fancy embroidery stitches or programmes.

It’s better for your DC to learn good basic sewing skills on a basic machine.

Some shops will try to seek you all the bells and whistles. For most home sewing you don’t need them. I do fairly high-end technique tailoring (a lot of that is hand sewing!) and rarely need more than a straight stitch and buttonhole programme.

I have the basic JL machine. It's been great. I took it for a repair recently (DH knocked it off the table...😳) and the guy who repaired it commented on how it's a great machine and worth keeping/repairing. He said the coloured ones have a lot of plastic to them, but the white ones (like mine) have more metal in the casing so they're robust.
I bought an overlocker foot on ebay which I occasionally use but generally I use it to make curtains etc.

I would avoid Singer, they aren't what they used to be. I have one and it is very annoying, go for a janome if you can, they are great machines for not much more money. Brother are good too but tend to be a bit more expensive.

Don't waste time or money on a mini or kids machine, go straight in for a proper entry level machine, they can be sold on if kids lose interest although they are very useful.

If the budget is tight look around local sewing machine shops/repairers for a reconditioned second hand machine.

My choice would be Brother LS14. Out of the box and you're sewing very quickly. I have 5 machines of varying prices and out of them the Brother is my favourite for all around ease, reliability and confidence building. It can often take on something a more expensive machine is objecting too. I absolutely love it.

Ps. Unless it's a gift I'd never buy second hand as sorting out a problem can be as expensive as a new one.

They sometimes have them at lidl and Aldi. I was very close to buying an overlocker last year but resisted as realistically my old singer is fine

They aren't great, my singer came from Aldi and with hindsight I should have spent a bit more and bought a janome or brother that would be less temperamental. The reviews for the Necchi ones are similar, very mixed, lots of people finding them tricky or unreliable or struggling to get parts/repairs.

Don't waste time or money on a mini or kids machine, go straight in for a proper entry level machine, they can be sold on if kids lose interest although they are very useful.

This.

My Brother is great - my mother's Pfaff is even better! But they are at a price point above Janome.

If you have a locally run small business sewing shop, which does repairs and even sewing lessons, they will have 2nd hand models and are likely to be honest & trustworthy as they rely on repeat business from loyal customers. Well, at least my local sewing machine shop does. And a great range of specialist haberdashery too! Not great on fabrics, but you can't have everything.

I vote for the Janome, my first machine was similar to that. I have since upgraded to a really fancy computerized one, but that was after sewing on my starter machine for 8 years!

I've so enjoyed reading this thread and everyone's love for their sewing machines.

I have an inherited 50s Singer and a more modern Janome (maybe 5 or 6 years old now). These days I use the Janome for most things but I love to do applique and patchwork on the Singer. I make quilts, curtains, clothes. Just finished a winter coat. The Janome has coped with everything I've thrown at it. I've been looking around schools recently and those that have textile departments all seem to have Janomes. They are reliable work horses you can get decent extras - feet etc for them. I bought mine from John Lewis with a really good warranty period so that's worth thinking about.

I think that sewing machines are the last appliances to resist the enforced obsolescence trend. Probably because home sewing tends to be done by women running families, and they won't put up with tat!

I think this is very true @WindyHedges . Sewing machines are definitely still built to last!

Spot on, Windyhedges.
I've got a 50s era Necchi that I did my degree on, and it's still working beautifully. I've got other machines because they have other strengths but for sheer workhorse power, it's the oldest machine I have. It could sew through concrete.

I have a 50s Singer inherited from my grandma, and also her Elna from around 2005. I previously had an entry level Janome and it was great. I only sold it because I inherited the Elna, which has a few more bells and whistles.

Being able to sew is brilliant - I haven't bought any clothes from shops for over a year now. I also have an overlocker (Babylock) for doing stretch fabrics but it's not essential.