Let's talk about children and sewing...

Let's talk about children and sewing...

I had grandparents and parents asked me about the best sewing machine for children of all ages. I always give a few models that I know would be perfect for children.

Have you noticed your child trying to fashion all of her doll's clothing or cosplaying favourite comic book characters clothing into a larger outfit he/she can wear? Whether he/she is using a glue stick to place buttons on the kitchen table cloth or selecting the best fabrics that look good on the family pet, make capes and puppets for school projects and using old curtains at playtime, these might be the first signs that you are nurturing a creative sewist.

Personally, my oldest son (now ten) started making capes and freaky request for clothing at a very young age. So it was no surprise to me when he started to ask about sewing at the tender age of 4 years old. I knew right there and then I better get to it and teach the little man what I could to better his knowledge on the subject. As parents we want our children to know that there is different careers out there and that they could prosper in all of them. It's also nice having that noddy badge.

But how can you get the best sewing machine for children out there if you don’t know what to look out for? There are quite a lot of brands and models in the market, so it may be difficult to make a choice.

To make this decision easier, I have compiled the best machines you can buy for your children, to encourage them in their sewing career or just to be creative and learn a new skill.

All Brother machines are very easy to use, so your child won’t find it difficult to understand or how to use it. I also give lessons and send tutorial videos to you and tell you about our fantastic App.

Why Should I Buy A Sewing Machine For My Child? Your children can learn how to sew from as early as 4 years, yes, that’s possible. Even before the recommended age of 5-9 years old, you would be shocked at how much they actually take in and how professional they become.

There are quite a lot of reasons why sewing as an activity is encouraged for children and most of them won't even surprise you, it just makes sense. These are just a few I have decided to mention as they have a big impact.

1. It can improve your child’s motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

2. It can be a medium for your child to channel their creativity.

3. My favourite is that our children would learn the importance of patience and build their self-confidence.

Kid-Friendly Sewing Machines:

What To Look For? Like I mentioned earlier, there are many brands on the market, and buying the right one would depend on their level – novice, intermediate, or even advanced.

If they are starting and don’t have any basic skills, it won’t be wise to go for a "top-of-the-range" machine with very many features. That’s because they would not be able to operate it without assistance, and it defeats the purpose of making it an easy and fun activity. We all need to start somewhere so to start with, buying a machine with just a handful of stitches would be ideal, but if your child is a bit more advanced and has tried their hand in sewing, then you should maybe try out an embroidery-only machine or an Overlocker to up their knowledge and experience on thread tension, we recommend the entry-level Serger/overlocker, because it has a lot of different threads, and it’s also user-friendly.

The top 6 aspects to look for are:

Pedal/Push-Button: Deciding on whether to get a pedal or push button will be based on whether they feel comfortable pushing on a pedal with their feet while using their hands to feed the fabric through. If they have a difficult time, then you can go with a push-button model. I find with most children either of these work wonders. My son prefer the stop start button here is his reasoning "I can concentrate better on my hands."

Feet: Feet are an essential aspect to look for. Some models have ones that fall off at the slightest touch or will have your child’s fingers together. Look for a machine that has snap-on feet that securely stay in place. I found the snap on and off feet are the best for all ages.

Thread-Feeding: Threading the needle may be the most frustrating aspect for kids learning to sew. You want to select one that has easy-to-follow diagrams so they can practice. If you know that they will drop the hobby in a heartbeat because they don't have the patience to thread the needle, several beginner models have an automatic needle threader.

Speed Control: Look for a machine that offers an even and consistent speed for more control. Normally, they will have more control over the speed with the push-button models versus the pedal that they may not be able to use effectively.

Stitch Variety: Don’t go overboard with buying one that has hundreds of stitch options. Less is better if a novice can have fun with a machine with 6 stitches while an advanced kid can handle up to 25 stitches. Look for the basic stitches such as reverse, zigzag, and straight. However playing with all the decorative stitches can be fun, not just for children.

Bobbin Winding: The machine should have a bobbin slot that is easy to find and open for small fingers. The bobbin should also be easy to install into the slot and wind up, so the child doesn’t get frustrated.

How Much Should I Spend? You don’t need a high-end machine with all the bells and whistles. The key is to buy an affordable and high-quality one.

If you are on a tight budget, you can get one for as low as R2500.00 - R3500.00 and it would last you until an upgrade is required. You can get a Empisal or Brother for this price range, mainly if they are on sales. Sewing machines for this price may not exactly be able to sew heavy fabrics, but that isn’t a major concern because it’s for children, right?

But if you feel you can go higher, you may want to check “popular” machines that Brother has to offer, and it may come with features like the automatic threader, start/stop button, decorative stitches, more bells and whistles, and trust me, no child would find it boring.

I don’t see the need to spend a lot of money if they are still a novice, and doesn’t even fully understand the basics, because it would be too complicated for them to use. But if they are at a more advanced level, then, by all means, you can upgrade.

Embroidery machines would be more expensive, so make sure that this is what they want and that they or even you would actually use it.

Mechanical Or Computerized? When teaching kids to sew, it’s always best to either use a mechanical or entry-level computerized model. There is no point in introducing too much complexity, as this would only make this hobby a boring process. There isn’t any need to bombard them with super high tech functionality at this stage, and that’s why the advanced computerized ones are a big no unless they are in their teen years.

Some basic computerized machines have LED screens that display the presser foot for each stitch, which is a handy feature once your kid has mastered the basics.

The Best Sewing Machines For children that we sell is as follow:

JA1400 - R2800.00 Built-in stitches 14 Top load bobbin LED light Auto set stitch length Auto set stitch width Buttonhole 4 step Drop feed Free arm Sewing Maximum stitch width 5mm Maximum stitch length 4mm

GS3700 - R3500.00 Built-in stitches 37 Built-in needle threader Quick set bobbin LED light Stitch length control Stitch width control Buttonhole 1 step Drop feed Free arm Maximum stitch width 5mm Maximum stitch length 4mm Instructional DVD

Our latest model FS60X which is a bit more heavy duty - R5500.00 (more information coming soon)

A16 - R6290.00 NUMBER OF SEWING STITCHES 16 ONE STEP BUTTONHOLES 3 10 STITCH SELECTION Jog dial LCD SIZE 6.6cm NEW LONGER J FOOT SAFETY DETECTION SENSOR ADVANCED NEEDLE THREADING LOCK STITCH BUTTON (without light) 7 POINT FEED DOG QUICK SET BOBBIN LED SEWING LIGHT FREE ARM SEWING DROP FEED SETTING BOBBIN WINDER NEEDLE STOP POSITION CONTROL UP/DOWN UPPER THREAD TENSION ADJUSTMENT PRESSER FOOT LEVELLING BUTTON SNAP ON PRESSER FEET SYSTEM ELECTRONIC SLIDE SPEED CONTROL AUTOMATIC REVERSE / REINFORCEMENT STITCH ACCESSORY COMPARTMENT SOFT MACHINE COVER

For Empisal machines with classes please send a message.

Warmest regards Mrs Wood 0636633949