Kids sewing machine recommendation please!

[scotchpotch]

Hi all

Hoping you lovely crafters can help my niece (almost 12) find a reliable, easy to use sewing machine for her birthday? She started making a few things by hand but really wants to get into making her own clothes, cushions, cloth bags etc. The snag is she doesn’t have a big bedroom and they live in a small flat so it would need to be small and portable. My brother and his wife are not crafty in the slightest so it’d need to be something user friendly. Any suggestions? It’s the only thing she wants to spend her birthday money on!

John Lewis do a good range of small sewing machines.

Don't get a small sewing machine. Get a normal full sized one. The smaller ones are more difficult to use.
The John Lewis branded full sized one is a good starter machine. It is a janome one rebranded. They often have them on offer.

The full sized ones aren't all that much bigger than t he smaller ones

Buy a vintage Singer, hand crank, 99K model, sew beautifully, easily controlled, full range of attachments, virtually indestructible. Should be about £40.

Thanks for all the suggestions, much appreciated. We can’t have anything too cumbersome as we don’t have space!

A normal sized John Lewis or Janice really is the best bet. They have a hard cover/lid that fits on them and makes the sewing machine more portable and easier to stash. They also have a pull out drawer in the base of the machine where you can keep a couple of spools of thread, spare bobbins, spare machine needles, oil, cleaning brush, seam ripper and pins. I have one which goes in the bottom of the wardrobe when it’s not being used, then I just sit it on the kitchen table to use. The mini machines are only a fraction smaller in size but are significantly less powerful and have less stitch options.

We bought DD her first machine from John Lewis. It was a Brother low to mid range the second cheapest at the time approx £120 ish which lasted 4 years.
She got a new Janome for Christmas which was £400 ish

Do not buy one of these

There’s no point buying anything other than a normal sized machine for around £100 ish

But that's like wanting to have a car and buying a tricycle because you don't have a garage.

She needs a proper basic machine, not a kids one or a small one. They're not cumbersome & at12 yo (that's not disabled in some way) should easily be able to lift it from the floor or storage cupboard onto a table.

if you buy a kids or small one she'll just think she can't sew or that it's crap.

I was looking at these earlier, they seem to have good reviews. Thank you, that’s helpful.

Another vote for a full size machine.

Do you know anyone who is good at DIY? It tis possible to make a 'sewing cupboard' they can be desk size or wardrobe size and doesn't need to be in her room permenantly.

www.sewmucheasier.com/sewing-room-furniture-ikea-hack/?srsltid=AfmBOoqiYhoMFZIYGHQ2GMPO4zXEA2I3Qg5A5s7D19QZ59qvDXYjkehI

I wouldn't buy a sewing machine then. A smaller one will put her off sewing.

Definitely get her a full size machine. They aren’t all enormous. But the mini, compact etc ones aren’t proper machines so she wont be able to achieve her aims or progress in her sewing with one.

id recommend this company, they give very good advice never try and upsell and will help you find a suitable machine. https://www.sewingmachines.co.uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=942994764&gbraid=0AAAAAD_j0YmLOo4IYSlV1YOaYll391lPP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI66Gpz-XnkgMVkppQBh3A1iQJEAAYASAAEgK6S_D_BwE