teaching children?
 

What is the youngest age you would teach a child to sew on a machine? Do "children's" sewing machines have any special safety features you can't get on a regular machine?

I'm teaching my 7 year-old grandaughter to sew on my machine (Janome 6600). She is doing fine. One of the first things I stressed was to keep her fingers away from the needle and I'm trying to show her that by example, but I have some very bad habits. :)

A great deal depends upon the maturity and attention span of the child.

That would really depend upon the child. My 8 year old (now 19) granddaughter made two quilts using a sewing machine. I too really stressed the importance of keeping her fingers away from the needle. She enjoyed learning and has since purchased her own machine.

It depends on the child-how well do they follow directions, motor skills. etc.
I wouldn't go younger than 5-6 myself. I think 8 is probably a good age to learn. At this age the can focus more and should have experience following instructions. As far a what's sold as a "child's " machine- They usually do a chain stitch only and just frustrate the child. I would rather wait a bit longer till they can use a real machine.

I have twin girls, age 9 I am teaching a 4H class to, and they used my Pfaff 7570, and are now on my FW221s no problems yet, I make sure fingers are kept away from needle, and that they pay attention while sewing. So far I do the rotary cutting.

i was 8 yrs old when i started sewing...53 now.

I have a child's machine, vintage, that has a guard around the needle. The guard is clear plastic tube that the needle goes up and down in. Perhaps you could fashion one if you cannot find one.

delma

I would check into the finger guard. I think it depends on the child.