My GD is 9 and really wants to learn to sew, I bought her a Janome 3128 last year as her first sewing machine but she is scared of it.

I though about putting a wood block on the pedal to be sure she wasn't stepping on it to hard but in testing it, I can see that very little pressure at all has this thing run at almost top speed. I played with it myself and it does run like a wild bunch of dogs ready for supper and that's with barely putting your foot on the pedal. This is not exceptable for a first time sewer and needs to be slowed down. Is there any way to do this?

By the way, at top speed, the thing runs across the table if you don't hold on to it.

Any ideas on how to slow this thing down???

Don't know if this machine has it but on my Viking I can slow down the speed. I can understand why she's afraid. I think I would be too.

Might be easier to find an "older" machine

I have to say I love my start stop button with speed control on my babylock. I have never 'enjoyed' the sewing process until I got this sewing maching. and now I can't stop, LOL!

Maybe an older computerized sewing machine may help?

....a bunch of dogs ready for supper...LOL...oh my goodness! Never heard that it made me chuckle out loud. I've never had to slow down a machine but your idea sounds like a good idea to me. I'll talk to honey and see if he has any ideas.

To keep it from running across the table put the waffle shelf paper under it. It doesn't allow anything to slide. I use it to keep wedding cakes from sliding when delivering..... I don't know anything about that sewing machine tho'

An older, heavier machine may due the trick. You could use the wood block/pedal to slow it down, and it would also stay put on the table :D:D:D

If there is some way she could go slower.

Check the electric box where the machine and the foot are plugged in. switch the cords around. At least on mine I have such a thing, little rectangle with 2 plug holes, one for machine and one for foot. If I get them backward, the machine goes crazy.

My dd was scared of the electric machine, but *loved* an old hand crank I fixed up for her. She still likes the hand crank, but got over her fear of electrics when she got older.