My DGD will be 5 in early Oct. She mentioned she'd like a sewing machine 'just her size'. She says mine are too big and fast.

Any recomendations? I'd want one that really works and with a zig zag too, not a toy one.

Thanks

I got a child size machine on ebay when the girls were that little but found out real quick they grow into a big machine really fast so now when the neices start out we by brother sewing machines with only a few stitches on them and they are not alot of money so you really aren't out a lot of money if they don't continue sewing

I would get a Singer 99 or a 185J for her. They are 3/4 machines and sew a great stitch and if you get a 99 you can make it a HC and then she can go at her own pace.

Billy

Don't do like I did...bought a little Singer toy one. Only does chain stitch and keeps coming unthreaded. Aggravates her and me!! I've read some posts on here that recommend some of the smaller Brothers or Janomes. Maybe do a search at top and find the posts. I don't think I will be able to get my 4 year old ON a "toy" machine anymore. She wants my "real" machine!!

I'd definitely go for a vintage-type machine. Simple, slow, reliable. Something from the 80's maybe -- without a computer in it. I have a Viking 5610 portable that I got from my Aunt's stuff. Something like that would be perfect.

IMHO, of course!

A Singer 301 would work great! My granddaughters have used mine very well and they love it.

I'd advise against a toy also, will just be frustrating. If speed is the issue, one with a slide speed control would solve that, but the most basic machines don't have it. Janome has a lot of affordable options. They make many Kenmores too. I got a Brother HS 2000 for my kids (6 & 8 when they started) to learn on. $200 but a fine machine. For less money, maybe a Kenmore Mini Ultra, but it doesn't have speed control.

I have seen the smallest Janome for $39.99 The child toy machine cost about that but I did buy the Home toy machine for my grand D but she is only 3 and it just has the straight stitch and an adapter. Haven't see it sew yet as her birthday is next week. I got it on sale of $19.99 so thought that would be fine for her.

I have an inexpensive Brother machine my 'grands' like to use. Have had it for 4 years; it is a workhorse and it sews well. It has some embroidery stitches that they like to play with, and has a slide for speeds - slow, medium and fast. It was less than $100 when i bought it, so I definitely got my money's worth.

Lately, I've been using a Janome "New Home" machine i got at Good Will for $ 12.21 (all it needed was a cleaning and oiling!) because it is much heavier and doesn't slide around on the table like the Brother does. It's very hard to sew a straight seam if your machine is slipping away from you...

I agree that the kids will outbrow a 'kid' machine very quickly.

I bought my little DGD a Janome Sew-Mini sewing machine last year for Christmas. It is a good little machine, but not really for a child. After I bought it, I found several things I didn't like. It doesn't have a light, no on and off button, just plug it in and it can go and a very small foot petal. It is a good machine but just not for children, in my opinion. I wish I had bought something else.

http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Janome...VVviewprod.htm