How We Picked the Sewing Machines on Our List
We’ve always made it a point to only put the best products on our lists throughout this blog, and this page is no different.
We’ve spent more than one hundred hours researching this post to make sure we only show you the top brands and models. We make sure you end up with a machine that can do the job right every time.
Our picks are based on a few factors, such as how easy it is to use, how much abuse it can take from your kids, safety, and features. We read through thousands of user reviews and talked to expects and other users to put together this list for you. You can be assured of buying an excellent sewing machine for your child if you end up buying one from our list.
We also take into account the cost of the machine because you don’t want to buy an expensive one only for your kid to lose interest in sewing in a couple of years. What if they decide to take up paper crafts? Then may need to get other stuff like a Cricut cutting machine, so you don’t want to spend all your money on an expensive sewing machine. The ones on this list can do everything your child could ever want from sewing.
It doesn’t matter which type of machine you pick because we applied the same effort to all the products on our list.
Getting Your Kids to Love Sewing
You can find loads of fun sewing projects your kids can sew from the age of six. We think this is the ideal age to introduce them to sewing with a machine. However, you’ll need to supervise them until they are comfortable using it safely by themselves.
You should recognize that children have a short attention span, and can quickly lose interest in sewing in an instant. You’ll have to work at their pace to get them to fall in love with sewing. Work together on fun projects and don’t force them to continue sewing if they switch their attention to something else. You can always pick up where you left off some other time. Use creative ways to motivate them, including positive reinforcements and rewards for finishing a project.
Use the tips below to help get your kids to love sewing.
For Kids 6 – 10 years old
- Work on simple and small projects together. Kids this age will benefit from finishing projects in one sitting because of their short attention spans, so keep it small and simple for them.
- Hand sewing is an ideal starting point for them. However, you can also get them a kid’s sewing machine, such as the Janome sew mini, which is a great model to start kids of this age group on.
- You may want to do all the cutting to make things easier for them. Get a finger guard for them and supervise them if you want them to do the cutting themselves.
- You need a lot of patience with kids. Bring the session to an end if you notice that their interest has dropped. Put away whatever you were working on for another day. Don’t rush them, and most importantly, let them have fun. Don’t take the session too seriously.
For Kids 10 – 13 Years Old
- At this age, they might already be comfortable using a sewing machine, and If not, they will pick it up very quickly.
- Ideal projects for this age group depends on experience and what they are interested in sewing. But ideally, they should work on projects that mostly involve straight stitching in a straight line. Pillowcases, colorful headbands, blankets for dolls, scarfs, and simple drawstring bags are all fun projects they can make.
- They can even make monster dolls themselves, which will unleash their creativity.
- By the time they are about 12 years old, they should be ready to start learning how to read and sew commercial patterns.
For Kids Over 13 Years Old
- At this age, your kids are advanced enough to use a full-featured sewing machine or even computerized sewing machines. They are ready to start making more intricate and elaborate designs.
- Ideal sewing projects for kids of this age group include sewing their own clothing, altering their clothes, making tote bags, pockets, quilting, and embroidery. They can start working with items such as elastics.
- Stuffed animals are also fun to make for this age group.
Why Should You Get Your Kids The Best Sewing Machines?
Kids love to learn new things, but they also have a short attention span. They can switch their interest from one activity to another in an instant. You want to get them a machine that will be fun to work with and easy to learn.
A good kid-friendly sewing machine will keep them hooked and eager to work on projects. You don’t want to make it difficult for them to sew by getting a machine that will break when they are in the middle of sewing something. They’ll just give up if that happens.
You also want to get a machine that has a lot of features for them to learn all the basic skills. After all, they’ll soon outgrow their kid machine and want to graduate to an adult or full-featured one. The best ones will give them an excellent chance to transition to the later.
Features to Look for in a Kid-Friendly Sewing Machine
Some characteristics make a sewing machine suitable for children. We highlight a few of these features below
Presser feet: You want a machine with presser feet that are easy to install and remove. Buy one with a snap-on presser foot for older kids rather than one that requires you to screw it on. Younger children should get a machine that has a fixed presser foot, so they don’t have to install one themselves.
Pedals or no pedals: Younger kids will have a tough time using a standard pedal because they’ll find it difficult to coordinate using the pedals and maneuvering the fabric at the same time. They may also find it difficult to reach the pedals. Ideally, you want to get them a machine with a stop/start button. Kids older than 13 may be comfortable operating a pedal.
Variable Speed Control: You want a machine that has speed control because younger kids may be unable to sew at high speeds. You want a machine that allows you to sew at slow speeds, which is a must if you want your kids to sew clean and consistent stitches.
Weight of the machine: You ideally want a machine that is fixed to a table to avoid accidents. You don’t want your kid to pull the machine onto themselves. A heavy one will be difficult to move.
Warranty: You should get a machine that will not break easily, but you should also consider the warranty. We all know just how easily kids can break their stuff, so you’ll sleep better knowing that you have a good warranty.
Threading & Bobbin: This may not be high on our list but it will make things easier if you get a machine that is easy to thread. It should also make it easy to install and remove the bobbin.
