Variable speed sewing machine

[duckduckswan]

I haven’t used a sewing machine for 20 years and I’d love to get back into it. I’ve been looking at the John Lewis and Janome and would mainly be using it to make curtains/cushions hopefully then learning how to make clothes. My 8 year dd loves to mess around making clothes for her dolls and I think she would like to be able to use it too. I do remember when I started probably at about the same age as my dd with my very skilled Mum that the material would sometimes run away with me. Would a variable speed control solve this? Is there any recommendations for a machine that might suit a beginner that would like to get better? Thanks

The pedal on my Janice has two speed settings, which might help with this. It's a fairly standard model from about 4 years ago and has been great.

I bought a 'children's sewing machine to' for youngest DD a couple of years ago and it was crap - took it back very quickly. Much better to learn how to use the proper machine.

Janome not Janice! Bloody autocorrect.

You can restrict the speed of a sewing machine by putting a brick on the far side of the foot control. This prevents you from pressing down all the way because it obstructs your toes on the way down. If you have a hard floor you might need to place both brick and foot control on a non-slip mat to keep them together.

I bought a Brother sewing machine last year. Hadn't sewn since high school over 30 years ago. It has 3 speed settings on it which is brilliant. You can start slow until you become more confident. It will stay at the speed you set, no matter how hard you put your foot on the pedal. I've sewn all sorts of stuff now.

Jumping on this thread - hope you don’t mind op?
@Doublevodka which brother machine did you get? I’m looking at buying a new one as the one I have was my nans old one and it’s probably 50 yrs old!!
I’m looking at either a brother or a singer

My Janome has a speed control sliding switch on the front. I use it all the time to save myself from accidentally going too fast, especially if I’m trying to sew small or fiddly things.

Mine is the equivalent of a Janome 360dc (I’ve had it for 6 years or so). Not sure what your budget is, but this was recommended to me by a local sewing shop. I wanted something that wasn’t too complicated for a beginner, but that I wouldn’t outgrow as my skills improved and this was what they recommended.

I have a John Lewis one with a slider on the front for speed and then can use the pedal to change speed within the parameters I have set on the slider (e.g. max speed slow or fast). I use it a lot to deal with fiddling stuff or big jobs.

Thanks so much everyone for your replies. I’ve a budget of upto £300 but the ones I was looking at have gone out of stock. Need to have an other look around 😬

My brother has a speed control slider and a start stop button - so you don't need to use the foot pedal at all if you don't want to.

Lotsachocolateplease , sorry for my late reply. I bought the Brother Innov-is 15. I love it. I bought it on ebay from a registered sewing shop, cost me £250 but well worth it.

I’ve got a Janome clx 301 equivalent.
Just upgraded as I’ve got seriously into quilting but I Really liked it. Good intro machine.