I personally think you are better off getting a beginning sewer either a well working used machine or a new lightweight, inexpensive machine. Save your pennies and gift them with something more substantial if they really take to sewing/quilting.

My sis just got a Kenmore for $5 at a garage sale. She spent 2.5 hours cleaning and oiling it and it worked perfectly. Gave it to my other sister who has no sewing machine, but needed it for repairs. Believe me, there are nice, working machines out there for very little cost and a little cleaning.

Those old ones will hold up a lot longer too.

As much as I love vintage machines (i have 3) If I were to buy a machine for my young adult nieces at this point, I would buy a entry level basic machine from Walmart or a sewing outlet. That way, they will have an owner's manual to consult, most come with several different feet, they would have a warranty *some better that others, and most of all, it would have zig zag and some other stitches built in.
Yes, the new ones are not as good as the old workhorse pre 1970 Singers, but if they keep up with sewing or quilting and out grow the machine, by then they'll know what features they'll want on their next machine.

I personally would buy some of the new cheaper models, like Sears Kenmore or Brother. I got a free Brother one time and it runs great. I also had a Sears Kenmore that, while somewhat touchy on the tension once in a while, was a workhorse and loved to sew thick fabric, cotton not so much, but it worked. It worked so well and I quilted so much that I actually burned out the motor. It's very unnerving to literally see smoke coming out of your sewing machine. Guess I was really smoking. lol. I have a friend with the same model Kenmore that I burned up and it's still running great.

Be careful with this I got one for my niece and she used twice at my house and it broke and they wouldn't do anything about it. She now has the Janome Jem and I use it more they her and haven't had any problems

Ditto. I bought a Singer Touch & Sew for $200 and I was in LOVE with it. Until all the stitches failed, the backstitch went out and it started sounding like a jackhammer. And yes, I oiled it per instructions with Singer oil. It's just a peice of crap! This all happened within 2 years.

I would rather hand sew for the rest of my life than buy another cheap Singer.

Hancock's has some Janome mini's on sale for $50 http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Janome...VVviewprod.htm

4 stars on Amazon's reviews compared to 2 stars for the Singer T&S POS I got.

A few years ago, my then 11-year old DGD wanted me to teach her to sew. So, even though my DD had one of my older Singers (Athena 2010) she bought DGD one of the small Janomes for about $80 or $90. She loved it and used it quite a bit for a couple of years. Now she's 15 and I think sewing is the very last thing on her mind! The Janomes are pretty good, I hear.

buy a cheap new one and you will be cursing it soon. They are made to be throw aways. Let her use a well tuned older machine and she will quickly learn to appreciate the quality

Ditto to the above. As well, it has a speed regulator which I feel is a good device for young learners if your nieces are fairly young? It would give them more control than the older models which rely on foot pressure only. The ease of lifting and setting up because of the lightweight is another plus. I bought mine through Amazon and it came with a few quilting extras like a Perspex extension flat bed, a walking foot and a few others. I am very happy - great value for money for a beginner.

I vote for a brother machine over singer.

In the early 90's my mom-in-law bought me a kenmore (~$150). Still works like a charm. Simple, but does what I ask of it.

About the same time I gave my sister (a non-sewing woman) a stocked sewing box. As a mom, there are staples that will be necessary. While she thought the gift (let's face it) stupid, she's used it many times over.

I would have loved being given a machine that my GM had used.

I lent my DIL an old beat up but serviceable Singer 503 to see if she would sew at all - she LOVES the ugly thing - I told her she could trade up if she wanted - she won't part with it - her mom said she wouldn't sew before - says it works great - DIL named her machine Margaret after her grandma. She said Margaret may be old but she still gets where she is going. Margaret was quite stylish in her day too. Oh and she said GM & Margaret both have parts missing and damaged. DIL also is happy to go green by using an old beat up but very serviceable machine.

You might find something nicer that that on CL. The Singer 500 seems to be a fav of college design students. You can put new foot controls on the old machines.

I vote that you get them new ones and from someplace local to you. Overstock and Ebay are great for bargain hunters but very frustrating when something goes wrong with the machine and it is supposed to be under warranty. What will they do then? Pack it up and ship it off at their own expense only to find out that they were using the wrong needle or thread for the project? I am a firm believer in supporting the local economy whenever possible and getting support on purchases such as these.

I have seen the Janome Gold sewing machines. Light enough to take to classes or easy to put away and take out again. I have two friends that got them as an extra with purchase of top of the line machines.

They didn't need or want them and as soon as they were
mentioned for sale, gals in our group bought them for their granchilders. One grandaughter didn't get interested so GM brings to quilting every week. They also have a clear extension table with or can be bought. This gal is a serious sewer and sews everyday on this machine. After seeing this I would consider this as I have seen on Ebay and am thinking of buying one for myself. Resale is terrific.

Brothers are good machines but wouldn't buy a new Singer on a bet. Thing is where can you have you machine serviced? Important issue. Good Luck

Wakmart has some great prices on Singer and Brother machines. Most have several built in stitches and a couple are designed for quilting.

I bought a new singer a few years back. Don't remember the model but it cost about $170 at Wally World. IT FLEW APART internally in less than 3 months. Walmart did replace but taht is beside the point.

MY CHOICE for the girls would be to keep an eye out for an older machine that you can pick up for around 25-50 dollars.