First Sewing Machine
 

I am in Georgia visiting my granddaughter (10) and would like to get her a beginner sewing machine. I looked at a Brother sewing and embroidery machine at Walmart just now but don't want to be foolish and get something that will break down easily. I could sure use some suggestions. We need to stay under $400.

Thanks,
Nolee

there are many nice machines for that amt. of money or less however Ithink I would not get a 10 yr old and emb. machine at this point. there is a lot involved in that part of the sewing. Let her start with a decent basic machine and if it holds her interest you can always up grade. Just my opinion

For a 10 yr old.....just a basic straight zigzag and maybe a few fancy stitch offerings would be my suggestion....like brother runway model. I have one I bought at walmart(oh heavens) use it for classes, bees, sewing, whatever away from home base and have had no probs w/ it. Less knobs, less change of breakage...for a ten yr oldest is.....btw. Runway is less tan $200.00

Janome jen is another good machine for beginners.

My 10 year old daughter has the Brother CS6000i - great starter machine with lots of pretty decorative stitches that she loves experimenting with. I think it was under $200 (maybe even more like $175 with tax). So you would have money left over for fabric & thread!

I got the Brother CS6000i from Amazon for less than $200 and I love it. I also have a couple far more expensive machines (one a Brother and one a Janome), but the CS6000i is great for piecing and is light weight. Great to take to classes or with me when traveling.

Ci have a husquvane viking 100h series paid £200 from create and craft. For this price I was very pleased with everything I can do. It is also light in weight. For quilting I put one of those shelf mats cost pence underneath.
Also fancy stitches.

You can buy a simple straight and zigzag machine for under $200 many places. I'd save the embroderiy for later.

Many of us here on the Board, me included, have been very happy with the basic Brother machines from WalMart. They are easy to come by, use standard low shank feet, take almost any thread, and WalMart will take them back if they go bad. I would save the receipt and the box. I would get a machine without the embroidery function to start with. There is so much basic stuff to learn. Especially for a 10 year old.

Brothers are perfectly good starter machines I have never had any of my low ends break down yet so unless she is sewing 12 hours a day and needs an industrial a hobby machine is just fine for a 10 year old that will occassionally sew. I started out on a brother and still use this bran 20 years later. My MIL uses my very first machine to this day

Agree with everyone else. A basic straight stitch and zig-zag is all a beginner really needs. The only other suggestion I have is to find a drop-in bobbin. They are so much easier for beginners to manuver.

And good for you helping another seamstress/quilter in the making! :thumbup:

If you're a Costco member, Costco has some great beginner machines, all with low prices. I think most have to be ordered off Costco.com, but the nice thing is that wonderful Costco return policy if it breaks!

Have fun!

I bought my grandaughter the Janome Hello Kitty machine, it was about $300. It is a Janome Jem , just has the HK logo. It's been through the wringer and still works great.

I agree...I have a Janome Platinum which is similar. I am very impressed with that little machine..

My grands learned to sew on a 35 year old Kenmore zigzag machine found at a thrift store for $35. It is heavy, sturdy, and reliable, and it would be hard to break it unless dropped or deliberately misused.

A basic Bernett will sew forever! She could pass nit on to her grand-daughter.

And I completely disagree. I've ruined one drop in bobbin machine by letting it suck a piece of bias tape down the hole. Don't know exactly happened since it happened so quickly, but it bent the whole thing out of shape and I haven't yet been able to pound it back into shape

I agree, skip the embroidery part unless you are footing the bill for all of the supplies needed.$$$$$$

Embroidery is something she can strive for later as her skills develop. Hand embroidery is hot right now, btw.

Sandy

I was sewing by the time I was 10 years old. Back then, we didn't have embroidery machines or any fancy stitches. By the time the zigzag and cam machines came out, I was 20. I immediately bought one. Looking back, if I had the embroidery machine, with all the knowledge of computers that youngsters have these days, I would probably have been digitizing or own my own 10 needle embroidery business by now.

Having said all that, I love my Brother Runway machine I purchased at WalMart. It is lightweight, doesn't move around when you sew on it, and the decorative stitches are wonderful. It is a great starter machine. She will learn a lot on it and use it for many years. I, also, have my big Brother, Innovis D 4000. It is a wonderful embroidery machine and sews a great quarter inch seam. I don't try to pack the big one around. It just weighs too much.

As to the top loading bobbin, my Singer Golden Touch & Sew I bought about 1970, had one of the first one of those. I bought one and fell totally in love with that front loading bobbin. I have never regretted it for one instant even though I have had some minor problems with thread getting hung down in it a few times. It is so much more simpler when you can see what you are doing. I just pulled out the bobbin, the bobbin holder and used my tweezers to get everything out. Piece of cake to fix it.

Congrats to you for getting this young girl going in sewing. This is one gift she will remember all her life. Of course, you know she will want to go through your stash as soon as she has something to sew with. What a great time you two will have!

I also recommend the Brother CS6000i. I recently gave mine to my niece and nephew (ages 8 & 11) and it's a great machine for people that age. It has lots of modern features like drop-in bobbin, clip-on feet and needle up/down buttons so it's easy to use. Lightweight. Easy to thread. Uses common bobbins. And I don't know about your granddaughter but my niece & nephew LOVE the decorative stitches that it comes with.

They love that thing. Best gift I ever gave them!

I have a Brother SQ9000 that Jim got me for just $199.00 (before tax). It is wonderful! This would be great for her.

I have had two Brother Project Runways. Love both of them, My mother in law bought one today after she sewed on mine last weekend. Walmart sells them for $139.