My mother taught me to sew on her 15-91 when I was 8 years old. I used that machine until I was 19 and moved away from home. It was set in a cabinet so I tried like crazy to get her to buy a machine with a free-arm but it never happened. I don't think the weight of the machine is as important as having a reliable, easy to use machine. I do believe adult supervision is still necessary when operating the machine, so if it is too heavy she would have help to lift it.