Basic sewing machine for my ten year old dd, any suggestions please?

[peterlikesjane]

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Aldi are currently selling pink sewing machines for young girls. I've bought my 7yo niece one for Christmas. Cost £16.99. They are also selling knitting machines too.

If she is really keen, I would buy a basic machine to start. Berlina are the Rolls Royce of sewing machines and are easy to use. I have a machine by Toyota that I bought 5 years ago and I have never had a problem with it.

You are better to buy a good basic machine that will work properly.
If you buy a cheapy childrens or gimmicky one,it will skip stitches,be a buger to thread and could well put her off.
You need one that does straight and zig-zag stitch.No need for anything else on it at the moment.
If you have a local dealer you should be able to get a good reconditioned one.

I can recommend Husquvarna, "huskystar"

saw one in tesco the other day

Where are you pterlikesjane? I have an old Singer basic machine that you can have for free as I have just bought myself a new John Lewis one. The Singer is pretty old (about 20 years), but good sewing machines go forever - I still have my mother's Elna that she won in 1950 - and it works fine. She won't be able to upholster a sofa with it, but it would be fine for dolls dresses and little projects. I don;t think I still have the instructions, but I can show you how to use it and write it out for her. I would love it to go to a good home as I have made a ton of stuff with it over the years.

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That's great - I'm all for getting old sewing machines out of the attic! Two suggestions - see if you have a sewing machine repair shop anywhere near you and get them to give it a service and then they should be able to show you how to thread it which is the tricky bit and has to be done right, and also the basics of using it. My sewing machine repair place (there are still a surprising number around) charges about £25 for a basic service which will get all parts moving nicely again. If you can't do that, then email Singer with the model number of your ancient machine and see if they have any old instruction leaflets - you never know, they may be able to help you. Or even a local sewing shop might give you a quick "how to" if they know you will be back to buy supplies. Good luck!

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Sorry for the highjack, if PlJ already has one then could I buy yours Wilbur? I have been looking out for a cheap one for a while, I take up most of my trousers by hand as I'm a short arse but since having my ds I really want to start and make a few bits.

I'm in Scotland btw, and a regular

Geordiemacminx - sorry, only just saw this (i don't get on here so much these days, too many blimming children). I would be happy to sell you my machine, but I am in London. It's pretty heavy so not sure how much the shipping would cost. Do you want me to look into it? Or do you have someone who might be able to bring it up to you?

I saw a mini one on Price Drop the other day which might be ideal for a child's first machine - claims it performs to the standard of a full size one. There's one on their web-clearance section currently for £16.85 & £7.99 P&P. If it's sold out by the time you view it, there's another one on Bid-up for you to look at the details but the price is a bit high at the moment.