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Original poster

Which sewing machine?!

34 replies

ButterflyBiscuit · 07/12/2022 22:07

I know nothing. For beginner teens but
they are doing textiles at school!

I have no idea of the difference...

Which sewing machine?!
OP posts:
Original poster
ButterflyBiscuit · 07/12/2022 22:08

It looks like for an extra 10 quid I can make the John lewis one floral. I love that but not sure girls will!

Also what shall I get to go with it!? Lots of plain fabric?! Pretty stuff!? Buttons ribbons?!

OP posts:
Iwritethissittinginthekitchensink · 07/12/2022 22:12

What kinds of things will they want to make?

If they want to have a go at quilting they will need a special foot so you might want to check the price of those for the machine you’re looking at.

A wad of fat quarters and some reels of cotton is a good start.

Also an extra packet of needles and bobbins to fit the machine.

Buttons, ribbons and zips are all handy

Pugsbladder · 07/12/2022 22:14

I'm a sewist. My top recommendation for a beginner and indeed intermediate is the Brother LS14 around £80 at Argos or Amazon. It's a fantastic little machine, so easy to set up and get going and tackles so many jobs. I have 5 sm and it's honestly my favourite over my more expensive ones.

Interested in this thread?

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Art & design
WeAreTheHeroes · 07/12/2022 22:15

Janome make the John Lewis branded machines iirc. Have a read of reviews and look for ease of use.

In terms of accessories, things like pins, a fabric tape measure, shears, a quick unpick and maybe some pattern paper?

Beebumble2 · 07/12/2022 22:18

I’d go for the JL110 it’s made by Janome. I’ve got one for my basic sewing needs, it does a good variety of stitches and with the walking foot ( bought separately) tackles quilting. Also quite light to carry around.

pastabest · 07/12/2022 22:20

Any Brothers are usually a good shout for a learner. Have a look for a brother LS14.

what sort of things are they wanting to make?

I would get a starter kit of some glasshead pins, some sewing machine needles including some ballpoint/stretch ones, a decent pair of fabric scissors, some thread snips and a coats moon or gutermann selection pack of threads.

if you have funds left to spend then perhaps a voucher for a local fabric shop so they can go and choose fabric and habby for themselves.

Labraradabrador · 07/12/2022 22:23

I have a Janome and love it - even after moving on to more expensive machines, I regularly return to my basic Janome for reliability and ease of use. Extra bits will depend on what she wants to sew, but you will always need some really excellent scissors, nice pins, seam gauge. You could also give a gift certificate to a fabric store - there might be one local to you, but I love Guthrie and ghani for brilliant variety and value, also offer some excellent sewing kits.

funnycactus · 07/12/2022 22:24

I've just bought a Brother LS14 for my dd for Christmas. I am decent at sewing and have a 14 year old Toyota machine, but thought dd would love her own. Bought after lots of research so nice to see others recommending it here!

It was £15 off at John Lewis a couple of weeks ago so only £70 (but even at £85 full price it's a good price!). Not sure if it's still on offer but worth a look.

Original poster
ButterflyBiscuit · 07/12/2022 23:16

Oooh I was wondering whether a 135 one would be okay but 80quid sounds even better if people are sure that would be okay!? Would give me some extra for "bits". I really do know nothing..... what Cotton do I need for the bobbins? Is it special?

Thankyou all SO much.

They're likely to make dolls clothes, little bags, shorts, easy dresses I imagine...

Eldest is doing textiles so may practice skills - though likely to use school machine for anything proper I'm sure.

OP posts:
Original poster
ButterflyBiscuit · 07/12/2022 23:28

Is this the same as the LS14? It's the only one John lewis seem to have similar.

I'm fancying buying from John lewis for help later if it breaks.

But we do have hobby craft, argos...

OP posts:
Original poster
ButterflyBiscuit · 07/12/2022 23:28

Oops photo attached

Which sewing machine?!
OP posts:
Iwritethissittinginthekitchensink · 08/12/2022 07:20

I would buy from John Lewis or a local sewing shop over Argos too. Haberdashery people are always very helpful!

This is the kind of cotton to get - comes in all sorts of colours and lengths but a couple of white reels will be good to get started.

Bobbins

or you can get bobbins in a storage box

it’s good to have a few bobbins and lots of thread, as half the thread needs to be thread onto a bobbin to go inside the machine, and you need a reel of thread to go in the top of the machine too. First job upon unboxing will be to thread a bobbin or two to set it up, so expect that on Christmas Day!

And then fabric - a bundle of cotton fat quarters are good to start with and make a nice little gift. Pick any bundle of cotton in colours you think they’d like.

The fabric and the cotton reels are the minimum you need to get started. The machine will probably come with an extra needle and a bobbin or two which is the bare minimum to get started with. But an extra packet of needles to go with the machine you pick is handy, as when you’re a beginner it’s easy to thread the needles wrong and break them!

Original poster
ButterflyBiscuit · 08/12/2022 09:02

So the £85 brother one might be better buy than 130 brother/135 John lewis one for what we need?

What does the 130/135 one do the 85 one doesn't (I might be able to sound out from daughter if it's something she'd use) or does it not work like that?

Thanks. I'm making a list. :)

OP posts:
FunctionalSkills · 08/12/2022 09:02

@Iwritethissittinginthekitchensink thankyou so much. That's a perfect list and explains what I need even to a non crafty person 😊

Baldieheid · 08/12/2022 09:05

Pugsbladder · 07/12/2022 22:14

I'm a sewist. My top recommendation for a beginner and indeed intermediate is the Brother LS14 around £80 at Argos or Amazon. It's a fantastic little machine, so easy to set up and get going and tackles so many jobs. I have 5 sm and it's honestly my favourite over my more expensive ones.

Agree 100%. I teach sewing and use these machines, and they're way better than some of the more expensive budget janomes and singers.

Pugsbladder · 08/12/2022 12:27

Yes baldieheid I'm so glad you agree. If you read the reviews they are outstandingly favourable.

Original poster
ButterflyBiscuit · 08/12/2022 16:20

I cant thank you all enough!

Just to check John Lewis has LK14. Do we think its the same model??? Or shall I get it from argos/elsewhere?!

OP posts:
pastabest · 08/12/2022 19:08

They look like the same machine to me just with a slightly different coloured motif. When I bought mine it was a L14 and had a slightly different motif design again.

Pugsbladder · 08/12/2022 21:10

It may be the latest version. Look on YouTube. There will no doubt be someone reviewing it. 👍

funnycactus · 08/12/2022 22:42

ButterflyBiscuit · 08/12/2022 16:20

I cant thank you all enough!

Just to check John Lewis has LK14. Do we think its the same model??? Or shall I get it from argos/elsewhere?!

Yes it's the same. This is the one I bought Smile

Baldieheid · 09/12/2022 08:29

I'm sure it's the same, it just gets wee updates every so often.
Make sure you buy Brother branded plastic bobbins (for the bottom thread) but for the presser feet, you can buy generic packs of machine feet on ebay and they've been absolutely fine for my older version. The bobbins aren't worth messing around with, as they affect how your machine stitches if they don't fit spot on. I also bought packs of 30 or 40 various threads (coats moon) on ebay that will give your girls loads of colour choices and mean they're not buying them singly, which gets expensive.

IncessantNameChanger · 09/12/2022 08:37

I have a really expensive Janome and the extra things it does are probably quite niche for my use ( quiltig) I use a very basic janome elsewhere and it's just as good.

Expensive is better when you get better as by then you know what you wish you had like stopping with the needle up or down, atomic thread cutting etc

Original poster
ButterflyBiscuit · 09/12/2022 08:42

Ok so I've ordered the JK14 - and janome plastic bobbins and the thread linked to above in black white and blue ... all free delivery with JL too so don't have to pick it up!

Didn't think of buying a pack of threads! These individual ones seemed expensive to me but didn't want to jjnx it

Will go to a Real Shop and get some fabric and buttons/ribbon in person for playing with.

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Original poster
ButterflyBiscuit · 09/12/2022 08:43

So just realised my machine is brother and the bobbins janome. Have I messed that up already!?

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Baldieheid · 09/12/2022 09:49

They may be slightly different shapes and sizes. If your machine is a Brother, I would recommend Brother bobbins. My sewing machine engineer says diff brands differ in tiny ways and whilst they may well work, they won't fit perfectly so won't produce the best stitch. It's a drop in bobbin so you'll know pretty quickly if they're too big, the cover won't close! I'd personally return the janome ones and buy Brother branded ones, the ones for top loading machines. But...the ones you've bought may work!