Our local Old Sewing Machine Repair Guy has older machines that he has tuned up and are ready to go. Some are under $100. The local fabric store may be able to give you a name of someone local. At this time she only needs a straight stitch machine. As someone suggested previously if she stays interested then an upgrade to a better machine when she is 16 or 18. You could make her some "kits" to start with (including thread), then she can be sewing right away. My mom bought a new Singer when I was about 11 and it came with a promo of lessons. She gave me the lessons and I made a dress. I still remember it very vividly. I wonder if these little plastic almost machines would bounce around on the table and can't imagine that they would hold tension well over a period of time.