Sewing machine help please

[janeite]

Dd1, 13, would really like a sewing machine for Christmas. She's used one before at school, although that was with supervision from somebody competent (ie: not me!). Could anybody recommend a machine that is reasonably priced and fairly idiot-proof please? One that, ideally, her 11 year old sister and useless mother will also be able to dabble with?

I see that John Lewis have a very cute red one on their website.

TIA

SEVEN! Blimey!

No seriously, thank you both for the expert advice. By lessons, do you mean like joining a textiles class?

just project type basic lessons. I started on a basic apron...all just measuring, straight stitching and no buttons, zippers or darts. Those other things come later. Fabrics differ...start with plain cotton. You have to wash it and then see which way it pulls.

Sewing lessons/courses are both hard to find and hard to get to in my experience (nice idea if you can find one tho). It is worth contacting a local dressmaker as they may offer a few basic tutoring sessions, which would be good for building confidence and basic skills.

Would usually start with a basic bag which teens would probably find more fun to make and they can have fun customising with ric rac, pom poms, buttons etc.

You can buy ready-cut squares from the internet, a patchwork cushion is an easy project to start and quickly builds together to look good. There are tons of bright, retro fabrics available which there again would appeal to teens. You could get her a pack of squares to go with the machine to get started with, as it would only require the straight stitch.

I think the main thing is for her to be inspired, rather than bogged down in counting pins, I got my first machine aged 13 and have had absolutely hours and hours of pleasure from my sewing ever since. It is a super hobby to have.

find someone who sews and ask them if they can help you. most people are happy to pass on their knowledge. I know i would be.

Thanks. The local council run evening classes in basic textiles but I suspect she won't be able to join one of those until she's 14. I could join too then, I suppose and see if I can remember anything from my school days!

you could always ask someone at a local sewing/laundry place if you could place an add asking for lessons. Someone may answer, or may not. What do you have to lose?
Or ask at a tailoring place...everyone had to start somewhere. Of course you can get singer beginning patterns too. Then she could do something very easy in a starter project. Or get patterns off the net.

Patterns off the net? Really? That sounds good! Any links?

Try www.habithat.co.uk, who stock Burda, New Look and Simplicity patterns which are the most popular makes.

You can also go direct to all the pattern manufacturer's websites ie www.simplicity.co.uk.

As for lessons, go the modern route - yell.com and search for dressmakers in your area!!!

Be aware that generally these divide into two camps: those that do alterations ie zips and shortenings etc and those that are dressmaker-designers (who do one-off special pieces ie evening gowns, wedding dresses etc). There is not generally an in-between who would run lessons officially, but one of them might show the basics in a few lessons.

What would be useful is to get a pattern to make which would give structure to the lessons. This could be something like a skirt with a zip, a waistband and a lining (linings are NOT scary it's generally just making the outer item again in a lining fabric!!!) This would give a variety of skills from one project. I would say this could be completed in approx four hour-long sessions and would give your DD much confidence.

But be prepared for the expense if she gets the bug - most of us sewing enthusiasts have fabric "stashes" plus boxes and shelves groaning with cotton reels, zips, ribbons, buttons, etc etc...

HTH.

Thank you gettingbiggernow. I'm so sorry; I'd missed your lovely long reply until I clicked on a link from another thread and it borught me here!

I'm a textile teacher, so I might be able to help a bit.

Choose solid and reliable. Most schools use Berninas, but these are expensive, although most kidproof ones.

I would recommend "drop in spool" rather than one with a spool case, as these in my jaded and wearied experience cause my problems than anythig else. If the spool is wrong, then everything else is so keep it as simple as poss.

Computerised buttonholes are the best invention ever if she wants to make clothes. In fact we bought all the machines for our dept because they could do these, every other stitch became irrelavent at the side of these, as these are second biggest problem after spools

None of our machines have needle guards on. Domestic machines don't ime. We do have one industrial one at school that has a needle gaurd, but that's it. I have suffered one child with sewing machine needle through finger, which was fairly awful, and she wasn't doing anything wrong at all......

That red one has a drop in spool, but you my find she outgrows it quite fast.

Also word "mini" would scare me. If she is sewing heavy fabrics ike denim (ie bags), not sure mini would be up to it.

Don't underestimate her needs. They tend learn very fast if they are interested, and want to do more and more ambitous things when they get more confident.

Embroidery stitches whilst fun, are often underused.

ambitious of course...........

Thanks Fizzbuzz. Have already ordered the red one though. Hopefully it will do her for a couple of years and then if she's still interested we'll invest in a better one when she's old enough to attend evening classes.

Lidl do a sewing machine sometimes for £35 or so. Perfectly decent, good selection of stitches, buttonhole capability.
However, Janome is a good brand and John Lewis is reputable. If you go for Lidl it's a random brand (Lervia!) but could be a good 'starter' machine.

Agree with wehaveallbeenthere with the safety issues. My usual close shave involves having a straight stitch foot and attempting a zigzag, which breaks the needle causing it to become a mini javelin...

Lidl do a sewing machine sometimes for £35 or so. Perfectly decent, good selection of stitches, buttonhole capability.
However, Janome is a good brand and John Lewis is reputable. If you go for Lidl it's a random brand (Lervia!) but could be a good 'starter' machine.

Agree with wehaveallbeenthere with the safety issues. My usual close shave involves having a straight stitch foot and attempting a zigzag, which breaks the needle causing it to become a mini javelin...

Also how about this advice here?

when i was on mat leave i took a dressmaking course, it lasted 12 weeks at my further ed college. it was full of old ladies who re-enroll every 12 weeks just for a wee coffee morning and a chat, but the experience and advice i got was amazing. i couldnt understand why any of them were eventaking a class!!! but the teacher was brilliant and i would advise it for a complete beginner if you can, you might find that one run in the evening would have younger students. also i just bought my 1st machine, it cost £60 in argos, the one i thoght i was getting was yamata but the one i got was E&R. same spec and number of stitches. i reckon it would be fine for your daughter.

Thanks again everybody.

There are lots of local evening classes but they have to be 14 to join. So the plan is to mess around on the red JL one for a few months and then enrol dd1 and I onto a course - ultimately, we may invest in an upgraded machine - but we'll see how we get on first. the red one looks fine for trying first ideas out on - bags etc.