Sewing machine for 8yr old DD? Dangerous & frustrating, or a good idea?

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DD is 8yrs old and loves craft, I'm wondering whether a mini sewing machine might be a good Christmas present for her, something that she might get a lot of use of, however I've never used a sewing machine and I don't have an aptitude for crafts in the same way that DD does. Would it be too frustrating for her, seeing as I can't teach her what to do? And would the needle be dangerous?! Could she hurt herself? I'm so clueless. Is the needle protected?

I've looked at John Lewis £50 one. Also the 'sew cool' range but it seems a bit babyish to look at, and isn't a real machine at all just a plasticy thing? I'd spend £100 if I thought it would give DD a lot of fun and develop her creativity. Any thoughts or advice?

I gave my then 7 year old the hand turn Singer I used when I was a child, she loves it and uses it a lot. My parents did buy a child's machine from JL one year which was really rubbish and went to the charity shop (not the one linked to).

Not as pretty as the coloured ones of course but very practical.

I have a new Bernina machine and that is quite fussy thread wise. I buy moon thread for my overlocker and my sewing machine has objected to that at times, Bernina tell you to use a quality thread and name Mettler in the papers I received (last year). I have two massive boxes of Guterman thread collected over the years and it seems to like that. My old machine (not the Singer) was never that fussy.

I always use guttermann thread as it saves the frustration of dealing with constant chewed and snapping thread. My mum has got 3 sewing machines and says none of them work properly but she won't believe me when I tell her it's just the cheap thread she insists on buying (I have used them and they worked fine). She had an old singer years ago and like a pp she is used to using any thread as the old singers are very forgiving and work with almost any thread.

I have just been into hobbycraft and they have a brother sewing machine which looks reasonably decent on sale for £69.

I've been thinking about this a bit more, my sewing machine (which DD uses) is not great, it was cheap 20 years ago, has limited functionality and is fiddly to thread, jams easily etc. Christmas presents are sorted but her birthday is in Jan, so I think I might invest in a decent adult one for her and get rid of mine (I hardly use it), then if hers is better I can use it too. She has asked for one of the kids ones she's seen on TV, but I might take her to JL or somewhere and get advice and choose together. Might also enrol her for a class, there's a place near me that does them. In fact I'm going to enquire and see if they do birthday parties.

Another one here who learnt on a old hand powered Singer probably at about 7 or 8. I remember also having a few goes on my Mum's all singing all dancing one and it was okay but I did only use it on a very low spend setting. I reckon with lots of supervision to start with your DD would figure it out.

I reckon there must be a good market out there - re-enameling old singers and cleaning them up, imagine how lovely it would be to be able to give a cream or lavender colour old hand turn machine your child for Christmas.

I am meant to be taking an old bed to be stove painted at some point, I might ask them what would be best to use on an old singer as if we didn't have enough to do.

I learnt on a singer treadle at about 8 and never really got to grips with an electric machine 'till this year (I've done quite a few sets of curtains etc,whilst not getting on with my borrowed machine so it wasn't lack of practice).

The thing that has revolutionised life for me was a variable speed control. I've got a janome clx301 (also sold as an SMD 3000) and I love it! I've also used it a few times to let my friends children sew, it is pretty safe tbh as you put it on slow and it is hard to jam, even 4 year old fingers under the needle when you have a foot installed. It is easy to thread and it has enough decorative stitches to keep the wee ones happy!

This is the cheapest machine though that a quick google turned up with a speed limiter, might be worth having a go at a few in JL to see what a speed limiter does. www.sewingmachines.co.uk/brotherAS40_info.htm

I also took a machine class to remind me of the basics. The teachers who ran it have written a kids sewing book with a variety of easy projects which might help to get her started.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00C6B9AP2?btkr=1

As a crafty bod, I think it is a great present althoug I'm aware I've just advised you to bust your budget but I think a larger, easier to use machine will actually have more longevity.

Sewing is increasing in popularity so you might pick up a second hand machine from someone who has decided it wasn't for them via ebay.

I was using one from around that age (Mum made a lot of our clothes when we were small.) We had an old manual Singer, though, and didn't get an electric till we were in our teens (which I think was more down to finances not allowing it till then than anything else.) I did also have my own mini manual sewing machine, which was okayish, but not great. Using the Singer was easier.

I still have an old treadle with a leather belt and a load of Singer attachments, which can do stuff like ruffles and piping, but for most stuff, I use my electric. If I hadn't used it for a while, I do have to get back into the swing of controlling the speed a bit, but I've never actually sewn my fingers. I have known someone who did, though, so I think the main thing is to get into good habits of how you feed the material through, to make sure your fingers are always to the side, not in the needle line.

Also, the thing I've always found most difficult, and most likely to cause problems with thread is getting the tension right for different materials.

I think if you have no idea how to use one yourself, it might be a good idea to learn the very basics yourself (threading etc) so you can help her if she needs it. Do you know anyone with a machine that could show you? Or maybe go to a machine shop and explain your situation, that you want to buy a machine for your daughter but you don't know how to use one yourself. The shop I bought mine from were very helpful, they took a machine out of the box, set it up, let me have a go on it and taught me how to thread it (I'd never been near a machine in my life!).

Hey I am waiting to start doing some craft bits I am getting a sewing machine soon but wanting some beginner ideas please x