First machine for Granddaughter
 

My friend is looking for a machine for her12 year old Granddaughter. I saw this today and wonder if anyone has this machine? Is it good for a first machine? I know it has a lot of designs, etc. that she might not use right away, but she does sew a little, and will "grow" into it. Also, can it handle hemming jeans? It is a good price, but is it worth taking home, so to speak?

http://www.costco.com/Brother%C2%AE-...yword=xr3140&l

I love my Brother machine. It is a real work horse. Walmart has a great sale on sewing machines. She needs to check the prices out at their on-line site.

My first machine was a similar Brother, also from Costco. I used it almost daily for 4 years until I upgraded. It still works great. Never had a problem with it. I like that this one comes with an extension table. Looks like a great beginner machine.

I would buy a good vintage machine. If she needs more than straight stitch, a simple Kenmore 158.1350 or so is a solid, reliable, strong machine. The plastic ones are throwaways, jump a lot at higher speeds and have plastic gears. My 158.1350 has a free arm and 10 stitches, a presser foot that raises extra high, made of metal, and a wonderful all around machine. It will last for years and years without issues. Just clean and oil. I do my quilts on Singer 301s and 15s. I had bought a $2200 machine and it was unable to sew reliably, went vintage and am never stuck.

+1 to what lswan said. Find a nice, clean Singer 301, have it serviced and you'll have a great machine that will last for many years for less than $150. The 301 is aluminum, so it's only a bit heavier than a Featherweight (but it's full size) and it has a built-in handle for carrying. Elegant design. Manuals available for free online. A sewing machine that you have to oil regularly is a good way for a beginner (or anyone, for that matter) to bond with it and understand a little about how it works. The 301 is the best machine on Earth for piecing quilts.

I would look for a good used machine. They just don't make them like they use to.

True. But that is like telling a first time washing machine buyer to get a wringer washing machine.

Taking a chance here to respond that I have 3 mechanical Brother machines. They take any kind of thread and sew through anything. One of them is 12 years old and came from Costco. It has never been in the shop. I also have a bunch of vintage machines including a 301. It has taken me literally years to accumulate them. Depending on where you live you might not come across one quickly. It has been said that just some oiling will take care of them. None of mine except the two featherweights were that easy. They required a lot of work and products to clean them up. So if it were up to me (and I played with the machine you linked to yesterday at Costco) I would say it is a good choice. Sometimes it is okay to disagree.

It's more like telling a first-time car buyer to get a Mercedes.

Even though vintage machines are reliable for the most part, to a 12 year old a vintage machine might just look old. Most 12 year olds like new things to look new, and be new. I bought a Brother Project Runway for my DIL and she lives it. I have a mechanical Brother , and it's very reliable and easy to use. I think she'd be happy with a Brother or entry level Janome.