Sewing machine for DD age 9

[KevinFoley]

Browsing on John Lewis online for a machine for DD for Christmas, she is dextrous and careful. We might want to do some quilting, make simple clothes, as well as little projects. Should I go for the cheap John Lewis mini £49 version or something better like the Bernina basic model which is 3 times the price? Any other recommendations? Also, has anyone seen a sewing basket which isn't 'old lady' material? Many thanks.

I would go for the mini one as you might find she loses interest I bought my DD a similar one last year when she was 9 & she does like it, but she hasn't used it as much as I'd hoped, so I'm glad I didn't spend more.

She does however prefer using an old handcrank model that I picked up from an antique place, I bought it as its the same one I learnt to sew on & I just love old machines, she likes the control she has on it much better & says she feels safer until her hands are bigger - the machine head of the mini one isn't much different to a full size. she's far less nervous of the handcrank - & its beautiful :)

It might just be that I did too good a job of frightening her off fiddling with my machines & overlocker when she was tiny though & used to scare the life out of me fiddling near the blades etc

www.johnlewis.com/231405817/Product.aspx

Just bought this one for 9 year old dd , seems very robust and she is finding it easy to use.

thanks both, i shall go for the little JL one.

Just bought my dd age 8 the John Lewis mini and is a huge success. She genuinely loves it and shrieked when she opened it! Has made some fab bits too!

That's fab, is it easy to set up?