Since you're in Clarksville, can you catch the thrift shops around Ft Campbell? It's almost Army moving season and a lot of families don't small things like sewing machines with them. Just a thought. Also, if you're military, the PX/BX carries Brother's for under $100 that are nice machines for beginners.

I didn't even think about the PX. Trying to recall if ours carries machines. Some else suggest pawn shops, poking in there. I just don't know much of anything about machines. I had an old Singer from the 70's, and sewed on that till 2 yrs ago. I had a Brother for a brief, far be it brief time. Given to me broke, I fixed and gave it my sister, hated how the bobbin was sideways.
I havn't heard of most of these machines, I have been looking them up online as I go.

Emmah, love the sinking boat in your avatar!

My DGD (4-1/2) loves to work with fabric and uses my Janome. Our deal for now is she can either run the foot pedal, or feed the fabric through the machine, but not both at the same time, so I get to 'help' her with her projects. Once she's got a little more control of both we can change the arrangement.

Great thread, everyone has such good suggestions! I think this little girl of mine needs a machine for her next birthday....

You have a Class C PX. Yours carries machines. Ours at Ft Leavenworth does so will yours there. Good luck.

My step-granddaughters are 7 & 9 and are learning to sew with my Singer 201k handcrank. I started teaching my dd to sew when she was 10, used my Bernina 1031, she wasn't scared of it and liked that could she could sew with a real
machine.

What? they have classes?!!? LOL, been military wife for 16 yrs or so. I had no idea they had classes! How would you even know that? Is it listed somewhere? I am obviously not as involved with the military life as I should be. LOL
All I know about our PX is that we had 2 small ones, then a couple years back they built a Massive one that was supposed to rival Germany. Atleast that is what they told us for a year, during construction, with their pretty "coming soon" photos.
I can't recall ever seeing machines there, but it is not like I have ever looked either. guess that means a trip to the PX tomorrow :thumbup:

Yes, they have classes of PXs. I'm not sure what the class designates but Class C is pretty darn spiffy with lots of bells and whistles not to be found in the smaller PXs. I hope this helps. Also the local pawn shops perhaps, the base thift shop (if one exists) and the local thrift shops might be a place to look. Plus it will soon be moving season so there might be some good deals there. Happy hunting!

8-) 8-)

My GD is 8 and is learning to sew I found a New Home at thrift store for $40 I set her up next to me taught her how to run the machine and all the safety rules (I printed out a list of SAFETY RULES for Gramie's Craft room)I watch her closely. first day she learned how to sew a straight seam,(almost) by the end of the day she had made a pillow out of my scraps. Had to laugh She and her Mom stoped by yesterday, she disapered found her in the craft room with the machine cleaning out the bobbin area and checking it out.Said she wanted to make sure it would be ready to run when she came by next weekend. Wonder what she wants to make next?

My Babylock has a speed control and pushbutton operation (if you want to use it), thus making it handy for kids to use because their legs are so short. I would start them on a really good machine because nothing discourages a budding sewer like a machine that does not operate properly. I also have a Featherweight which I would be happy to allow the kids to use after a little experience on the Babylock to learn the basics.