Nothing would be more frustrating for a beginner than a machine that doesn't work well. I'm lucky that my grands live close by so they come here and sew on my machines. Your DGD will remember this gift forever. You just opened up a whole new world for her.

Great buy, the older Kenmore machines are very good, I have 2 and for regular sewing they can't be beat.

This is exactly the same story as with my DGD. Somebody got her a toy for Christmas. Fortunately, she is till interested. I got to her early enough that the toy didn't scare her off. I took one of my extras to her house and instead of asking when I would take it home, she decided it was hers. (Probably)
I have a toy from way back when and now it decorates my sewing room. I think that is about the only thing they are good for.

Good job, Grandma! You got her a real machine...not a toy...
My first machine was a Kenmore. Way back around '68...started sewing then and still going at it daily.

Nicely done Grandma! A lovely gift for your dgd to enjoy for years. And she has a great teacher! :)

Good for you Grandma. A real machine is what she needs.
I learned on a treadle, then on to electric in high school. A Kenmore was my first machine and it was a truly a workhorse. Upgraded to a newer Kenmore that sews great even after almost 40 years.

Some where along the line when I was first learning, pre-teen years, someone gave me a toy machine which was a piece of junk. Wouldn't sew and danced around on the table. I don't know what ever happened to it.

Now I am in love with old treadles again. They turn over so smooth and make a great seam. I love mechanical things and work on all sorts of old machines. Just finished cleaning up a small 1911 Singer 24 which is a chain stitch.
Ethel

Last summer I did a lot of crafts and sewing with the neighbor girls, age 8, 10, and 4. Before they moved before school started, I presented them with a Singer 301 named "Missy" that we had been working on. I checked that it was ok with their mother first, since some supervision would be necessary. They were thrilled and now have a machine (and manual) that they can't get into too much trouble with.

The older girl had brought over a useless toy machine that was supposed to do a chain stitch, but the toy was broken and there was no access to the internals. There was some kind of plastic protective device around the needle, so you couldn't even get to it to thread it. It was worthless.

Thank goodness "Missy" was a spare 301 of mine, because I could never give away "Sissy", the 301 that gets regular use here.

My DD learned to sew using my Bernina 1031, spoiled her for any other brand of machine. She's in her late 20s and bought herself a Bernina 930 about 7 years ago, she makes costumes.
I've taught my dgds to sew with my 1031 and my featherweight, they have enjoyed using a real machine.
Sharon

Its also frustrating for an experienced sewist. I bought a new Singer 6212 in 1986, that machine was nothing but trouble, so happy when it finally died. A lovely Bernina 1031 was her replacement in 1992, still have her and never selling.