12 Best Sewing Machines for Kids (Reviews Updated 2022)

Ways to Help Your Child Improve His or Her Sewing Skills

It’s crucial to foster and cultivate a child’s enthusiasm in crafting, especially sewing, whenever he or she expresses an interest. The last thing you want is for your youngster to become frustrated with sewing, or worse, bored with it.

The manner you teach your child can make or ruin the experience for him or her.

To help your youngster improve his or her sewing skills, try these six suggestions.

1. Select projects that are a good fit for their skills.
   Sewing should be enjoyable. Choosing projects that are too challenging or beyond your child’s capabilities is a recipe for disaster for everyone involved. Because you can’t run before you can walk, choose projects that are appropriate for your child’s ability.

Kids acquire satisfaction and drive to keep moving forward when they can achieve their goals with relative ease.

Here are some general teaching tips for each age group:

Yarn and shoelaces can be used to lace through beads or hole-punched cards for children aged 2-4 years. This is to keep them safe while they learn new abilities.
5–9 years old: Hand-sewing basics, such as standard stitch practice with needles and fabric, can be taught to children.
10-13 years old: Older youngsters can use sewing machines and patterns to complete beginner-level projects. Tote bags and pillows are examples of projects.
Teens aged 13 and up can learn fundamental tailoring techniques, such as making changes, to gain real-world experience. They can even stitch more complicated projects, such as clothing.

2. Capitalize on their passions
   The idea is to keep kids interested in sewing for as long as possible. Playing off their interests is the greatest way to do this. You can come up with engaging ideas that will motivate and inspire your child. Inspiration generates excitement, which motivates children to complete the job.

You can let your child choose their supplies, like fabric, based on their age and abilities. Children can work with fabrics that feature their favorite characters or colors, as well as interesting textiles like faux fur and velvet.

3. Provide project step-by-step instructions
   Find ways to help your youngster learn skills in tiny increments while planning sewing lessons and projects. Trying to cover too many concepts at once will simply confuse and upset your child. It will also be more difficult to remember important facts and lessons. At start, it’s wise to keep things simple.

Sewing tasks for younger children should be done in 1-2 hours. Children who are older may find it easier to complete a larger project across multiple sessions. As a rule of thumb, go with your gut.

When making sewing projects, be sure to include step-by-step instructions that are simple for your child to understand.

You could, for example, include the following in your lessons:

Each stage was photographed or drawn like an image.
As each step is accomplished, checkboxes can be marked.
Only the supplies needed for the sewing project are kept in organized boxes.

4. Turn Mistakes into Learning Opportunities
   Children who are learning to sew will almost certainly make mistakes. These are valuable things for your youngster to learn as he or she improves his or her sewing skills.

Make use of these blunders to teach others. This is the most effective method for them to develop their stitching abilities.

Take a time to discuss what might have caused the error. It’s possible that your child was working too quickly or didn’t comprehend the directions. Understanding what caused the error can aid in preventing it from happening again.

It’s also crucial to remind your child that even the most experienced adults make mistakes.

5. Arrange the books on the shelf
   For older children, books are an excellent resource. They provide project ideas as well as step-by-step directions for completing these sewing projects. Your youngster will learn new skills and master them while working on fresh and exciting projects.

Books aren’t a replacement for the hands-on lessons you’ll provide, but they might be useful for older students who have some experience and want to learn on their own. For a selection of the top sewing books for kids and novices, go here.

6. Make Use of Your Child’s Creativity
   Allow your children to be creative. Allow them to fantasize, plan, and create. Allow children to make miniature cushions or bags out of your fabric remnants, or whatever they choose. You’re providing youngsters the freedom to test new ideas and techniques without fear by encouraging them to use their imagination.

Keep in mind that not every sewing project needs to have a purpose or last indefinitely. The goal is to plan lessons that will gradually improve your child’s abilities. Simply have fun with it and take pleasure in the process

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Best Sewing Machines for Kids

 

It also allows your kids to unleash their sewing creativity with its designer and finishing solutions, which means they would also be able to work on things that are beyond the basic sewing tasks. It’s also a complete sewing package, as it comes with 6 specialty feet, specialty needles, different stitches, and more.

However, one of the best things it includes for free is a very helpful book that contains all the information your kids will need to get started with it. Users have been mentioning how easy the machine is to use, especially with the sewing help they get from the book, despite never having created anything ever before in their life. This is precisely what makes it a perfect kids’ sewing machine.

The different starter needles it comes with would help your kids get started with the machine right away, and you wouldn’t have to spend a single penny on additional accessories like a hand sewing needle until your child has become a more experienced sewer and you would like them to take on more demanding sewing projects.

What We Like About It

The reason we think it’s clearly the best sewing machine for kids, especially ages 8-10 is that it offers a great balance of functionality and ease of use. While there are many other sewing machines that can be even easier to use than the CS5055PRW, you definitely won’t get the kind of functionality you get with this product.

So if you’re looking to help your child learn sewing, the other easy-to-use machines won’t turn out to be a very good option. The book and additional accessories that come with it will make it very easy and fun to introduce sewing to your kids, and they will be able to get started with it right away. That’s what makes it our #1 choice for children, especially ages 8 to 10.

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If you’re after a more beginner-friendly sewing machine for kids without compromising much on the functionality, then the Janome 2212 will be right up your alley. Customers that bought it talk about how it turns out to be a great product for total beginners, as it helps them learn without getting confused, and is a durable machine that will certainly stand the test of time.

The Janome 2212 is a mechanical sewing machine that’s not only very beginner-friendly but also has some serious power. It can sew and quilt through multiple layers of sewing fabric, which is quite impressive for one of the most kid-friendly sewing machines.

A customer mentioned how they used this machine to sew through as many as 10 layers of heavyweight fabric, and it still had no problem working just as well. This means that if your kids do decide to work on some of the more serious sewing tasks, such as hemming their jeans, they will easily be able to do so without you having to purchase another more heavy-duty sewing machine.

But it’s still one of the best sewing machine for children when it comes to overall ease of use. There have been customers of this particular machine as well saying how they never sewed anything before in their life but were able to make amazing things right from the first day of getting this great child’s sewing machine.

Finally, it’s also versatile enough to handle pretty much all types of fabrics, be it simple cotton or the much more demanding vinyl, or even a brocade fabric and a barkcloth fabric for that matter.

What We Like About It

We like how powerful of a sewing machine it is by a child sewing machine’s standards. It can work on a huge variety of projects, so your kids would probably never run out of things to do with this machine.

Being a mechanical sewing machine, it’s also much more durable than a computerized sewing machine, which often breaks down much faster than the former.

And that’s without being any more difficult to use than the other kids’ sewing machines. So again, if you want your kids to be able to work on some “real” sewing projects, then the Janome 2212 may very well turn out to be your best bet.

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As the name suggests, this is one of the best sewing machines for kids by Singer. Despite being one of the more powerful and reliable sewing machines for kids, it’s just as easy to use as the ones we reviewed above.

Sure, it can be slightly more difficult to set up initially – especially if you have never used a sewing machine before – but once you do, you would be able to get working on it in no time.

Being a Singer machine, it can sew through heavy-duty fabrics like a breeze. The step-by-step instructions and diagrams make it incredibly easy for your kids to start working on real sewing projects right from the first day of getting this machine.

It comes with a free arm for extra versatility, 6 built-in stitches that take a lot of challenge out of the common sewing tasks, and a built-in 4-step buttonhole that makes things a lot easier for your kids.

The Start 1304 is also surprisingly lightweight and portable for a fairly heavy-duty sewing machine, which would turn out to be very useful if your kids have been going for sewing classes.

One of the most unique features the Start 1304 offers is automatic bobbin winding. You just have to follow the instructions printed on the machine, and winding the bobbin – which usually turns out to be one of the most challenging sewing tasks – would become super easy as the machine itself will wind the bobbin for you.

This is something that also makes a very safe sewing machine for children, as winding the bobbin is something that can end up getting your kid’s fingers hurt if they mess things up when doing it.

What We Like About It

The level of sewing “automation” that Start 1304 brings to the table is something we like the most about it. It takes care of one of the most challenging and trickiest sewing tasks on its own, which is winding the bobbin.

It also has different pre-set stitch widths and lengths, so your kids would just need to select the ones they need to use, which would make things a whole lot easier. And it offers all this while letting them work on big and complicated projects as well, as the Start 1304 is powerful enough to sew through heavy fabrics or multiple layers of fabrics at once.

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The Brother XM1010 is another one of the most portable sewing machines for children on the market. However, unlike some of the others of its kind, it’s a full-size sewing machine and comes with pretty much all the features your kids may ever need to work on different types of sewing projects.

You would also have 10 built-in stitches that would include zigzag stitch, blind hem, four-size buttonhole and different stretch stitches.

These stitch options cover a lot of projects, and your kids likely would be able to work on pretty much everything they want using these stitches. There’s also an easy stitch selector dial that takes this feature to a whole new level, allowing kids to easily choose from different types of stitches, including decorative and utility stitches.

And just like the Singer child’s sewing machine we reviewed above, the Brother XM1010 comes with an automatic bobbin winder too. However, along with that, you would also have a drop-in top bobbin and other features that add greatly to the overall functionality.

As far as the accessories are concerned, you would get the following:

• 3 Needles
• 4 Bobbins
• Foot controller
• Darning plate
• Screwdriver
• User manual and instructional DVD
• Quick start guide

This is a LOT of free stuff for a machine that’s priced well under $100. It’s easy to see how you’re getting great value here.

That all said, the extra value does come with a downside. The Brother XM1010 is not as easy to work with as the other beginner sewing machine for kids that we reviewed above.

There are things like a short cord, stripped-down bobbin winder, no integrated needle threader and more, that make it considerably more challenging to work with. The lack of a needle threader, in particular, is very challenging, as it can make the usual threading a bit inconvenient for kids.

However, if you’re fine with your kids taking longer to get used to it before being able to use it properly, then it can still turn out to be a great children’s sewing machine all the same.

What We Like About It

It simply offers a great value for a kid sewing machine priced under $100. You get a lot of useful accessories for free, and the availability of decorative and utility stitches makes it very versatile.

There are also some great features that are otherwise hard to come by at this price point, such as an automatic bobbin winder.

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First things first: As you can tell from the child sewing machine reviews this machine has received, it definitely isn’t one of the best sewing machines for girls or kids on a general level.

That said, however, if you’re after one of the cheapest sewing machines for little girls, that offers limited functionality and is not as durable, then it may still turn out to be a good sewing machine for kids.

Here’s a quick look at some of its highlighting features:

• 8 built-in stitches
• Allows you to rewind the thread automatically
• Double threading
• Two different speed settings – Forward and Reverse

The features are certainly more than good enough for the price. However, as we said above, the functionality you’re offered is fairly limited.

It sews on lightweight cotton fabrics well, but don’t expect it to work on anything much heavier than that. It can also sew on something like denim though if you’re careful, but you would probably risk encountering durability issues if you do it too often.

That said, however, the threading is very easy, and kids as small as 6 years would be able to do it well with your guidance.

It comes with a pedal, and if you’re working on some serious sewing projects, you may have to use the pedal as it can be difficult to work on such projects without the pedal.

The machine is also very small and lightweight, and while that’s good for portability, it also translates to a much lower level of durability compared to the other kids sewing machines we reviewed above.

What We Like About It

The price is obviously the best thing about it. You get a fairly functional kids beginners sewing machine for pretty much the price of a slightly expensive toy.

It does work well when you use it on lightweight fabrics, or even on something like denim occasionally. But don’t expect it to serve you well if you throw much heavier fabrics at it.

It’s also lightweight and portable, and threading the machine is very easy, making it a good choice for small kids or little girls that won’t be working on real sewing projects anyway.

Here are the other sewing machines for children we looked at:

Best Bargain Sewing Machine For Kids

Janome Mini Sewing Machine for Kids is a steal at the price.

It comes with bobbins, needles, a pedal, and a carrying case. It weighs only 5 pounds making it easy to carry and store. Along with 12 built-in stitches and a beginner’s supply kit, any child can start sewing.

How We Choose the Top Sewing Machine for Kids?

If you have browsed around our blog a bit, you know we have shared a lot of detailed, helpful information about choosing sewing products. This ranges from choosing different types of sewing machines like a chainstitch sewing machine to different sewing essentials.

And as you can tell from each of the posts you find, all our information is backed by solid research. Our approach for choosing the top sewing machine for kids is the same.

One of the most important factors we consider is the ease of use, which is very obvious, as you may be using sewing to your kids for the first time. Similarly, we also make sure that the ease of use doesn’t come with a huge compromise on the functionality, as the machine also needs to be fairly functional in order to serve the purpose you have bought it for.

This is regardless of whether you choose an electronic sewing machine or an overlocker sewing machine, as these two factors would remain the same for them.

We also consider the size of the sewing machine; after all, not everyone may be able to dedicate a sewing room to teach sewing to their kids. This means that we prefer machines for kids that are more portable than some of the heavier ones like a chainstitch sewing machine.

Finally, we also try to pick machines that are fairly affordable compared to the ones we recommend for adult sewers, as naturally, parents may not want to spend hefty amounts on teaching sewing to their kids when just starting out. After all, they may also have other expenses to cover as their kids make progress, such as getting quilting cutting mats and quilting rulers and ruler racks as their kids decide to get into quilting as well.

Different Types of Sewing Machines for Kids

There aren’t exactly different types of sewing machine for kids in the sense that they are very different from each other or are designed to serve a very different purpose, but they are definitely certain types of sewing machines that are not believed to be an ideal option when teaching sewing to kids.

This specifically includes a coverstitch sewing machine and perhaps even a lockstitch sewing machine, as these can be fairly difficult to get used to compared to a mechanical or computerized sewing machine.

Similarly, as your kids won’t get into quilting right when trying to learn sewing, going for a sewing machine for quilting doesn’t make much sense either. Needless to say, you also wouldn’t want to get a load of quilting supplies just yet, as you don’t know whether your kids will find sewing interesting or want to quit before they can learn much.

However, there can be differentiation with respect to the brand of the sewing machine. A Brother sewing machine is likely to turn out to be a better option for kids than other brands, as it may be easier to get used to and offer just the right features to help your kids learn sewing faster. This is one of the reasons we have chosen a Brother machine as our best sewing machine for kids.

That said, something like a Janome sewing machine may also turn out to be a fairly good option, given you’re sure about your kids being able to handle a little complicated sewing setup. The same goes for a Singer sewing machine, but you will need to be careful what you choose. If you go with the Start 1304 we have reviewed above, then it may work just as fine.

Finally, a Juki sewing machine is something you may want to avoid, as it can be a bit too overwhelming for kids, even if they are determined to learn sewing.

Why You Need to Get the Best Sewing Machine for Your Kids

Learning sewing isn’t exactly as easy as it might seem, especially for kids. Sure, getting a cool sewing chair and a functional sewing desk may attract them to give it a try, but it turns out to be too challenging for them, they will likely give up on it before they can go far.

The best sewing machine for kids that we have found and reviewed above ensures that it takes a lot of challenge out of the otherwise complicated learning process. This makes it easier for kids to learn sewing and get familiar with all the sewing basics.

Once they get the hang of things, they will then easily be able to move on to some of the other more complicated sewing tasks. This is the reason the best sewing machine we have recommended for kids is both easy to use and functional so that it allows the kids to keep getting better at sewing and make a lot of new stuff and learn new skills once they have got well-versed with the basics.

Finding a sewing machine that is suitable for a child is difficult. It’s simple to pick the cheapest and cutest model. Many of these, however, fail within the first month of use. If your child is serious about sewing, it is in your best interests to find him or her a sewing machine that is both dependable and simple to operate.

“How much do I need to spend?” you might wonder. You might be surprised to learn that a good quality kids’ sewing machine with all of the basic stitches you require can be found for under $100.

You don’t need a high-priced sewing machine to do this. There are many good, reliable, and affordable models available that would be ideal for your child’s first sewing machine. Many children learn to stitch by hand by starting with a simple project they bought in a store. They will most likely want to learn more once they have mastered hand stitching. Almost certainly, this will lead to your sewing machine.

While every sewing machine essentially does the same thing, not every model is suitable for children.

What Are the Advantages of Teaching Your Child to Sew?

Working with their hands while being creative is a great way to expand your child’s mind. Sewing can give them a sense of peace and pride in the face of all the technology they are bombarded with today. Most kids will be ecstatic to have the opportunity to express themselves while making their own crafts.

Sewing is a skill that promotes self-esteem, creativity, and independence. It’s also a fantastic way to meet new people and make new friends. Organizing a weekly sewing group is simple and enjoyable.

What Should I Look for in a Good Sewing Machine for Kids?

A simple beginner sewing machine that is easy to use and reliable without sacrificing safety is required for children. If you give a child a computerized sewing machine, you’ll probably find that these models are far too complicated and intimidating for a child who is just learning to sew.

You want the best sewing machine for kids because it allows a child to develop their skills without being overwhelmed.

The following are a few key points to consider:

Feet: The presser feet can either snap on or be screwed on. For children, you’ll want feet that have a screw to keep them in place. Because of snap-off feet, many people have sewn through their own clothing or fingers.

Foot Pedal: A standard foot pedal may be difficult for some children, particularly younger sewers. If this is a concern for your child, I strongly advise you to use a push-button model with a consistent stitch speed.

You’ll want a machine with a consistent speed when using a push-button model. This will allow for precise garment construction without sacrificing the control that is lost when not using a foot pedal.

Weight: The weight of the machine is a major consideration depending on the child’s age and size. A 15-pound machine will do far more damage to his or her foot than a 5-pound machine. It is preferable to purchase a lighter machine.

Warranty: Even the most durable equipment can be broken by children. It’s a good idea to protect your investment with a warranty.
Many of the same features you’d look for in an adult sewing machine should be present in a sewing machine for kids.

• Sturdy and well-constructed
• The function is simple.
• Simple to use

There are a lot of “kids” sewing machines on the market, but the majority of them are just toys that aren’t worth buying. Toy machines appeal to your child because they are brightly colored and feature cartoon characters, but they are poorly constructed.

One of the most common criticisms of toy sewing machines is that their stitches are weak and easily separated.

Finally, it’s best to invest in a “real” sewing machine with a small footprint and basic functions.

Prioritize quality, safety features, and long-term durability. Machines that are too cheap are flimsy, unreliable, and dangerous. Look for a sewing machine with important safety features, such as finger guards to protect those tiny fingers. If you can’t find a machine with a finger guard (many don’t), you can usually find one online or in a craft store that will fit your machine.

There’s no need to buy your child a heavy-duty sewing machine with more than 100 stitches, an LED screen, or embroidery capabilities. Your child is still learning and only requires a machine with the most basic functions. For the most part, we only use a few stitches for most of our projects. There’s no reason to overwhelm your child with features and stitches that may or may not be used.

Additionally, choosing a basic, simple machine will make it easier for your child to operate. Your child will quickly lose interest in sewing if threading the machine and preparing a project is too difficult. An automatic needle threader, for example, will make life easier. Consider how easy it will be to load the machine with bobbins and whether your child will be able to operate the foot pedal.

Getting Started at a Young Age

With younger generations, the art of sewing is beginning to fade away. Sewing is a life skill that children learn when they begin to sew. They will be able to sew their own clothes or even make an outfit for their favorite pet with this skill.

What age can a child begin?

I’ve seen kids as young as three years old begin. While they may not be the best seamstress in the world at this point, they will begin to learn the fundamentals, explore their creative side, and gain confidence. They can quickly progress to more difficult stitch patterns once they’ve gained some experience. There are also many excellent books for beginners that begin slowly and gradually improve their skills while also being entertaining.

A smaller machine is ideal for a child because they are usually:

• Significantly lighter
• Cost-effective
• It’s simpler to learn the fundamentals.
• Safety features that are suitable for children are included.
• It is safer to use.

Children who learn to sew at a young age have a greater respect for the craft and are more aware of the safety precautions that must be taken. I’ve discovered that children who begin earlier in life learn to protect their fingers from the presser foot and have a higher level of overall safety than children who begin later in life.

Furthermore, the earlier one begins, the more time one has to improve their skills and gain confidence.

How Much Should I Spend on a Child’s Sewing Machine?

For a child, the best sewing machine is:

Simple and straightforward to use

Sewing machines for children do not require all of the features found on high-end machines. As a result, you can anticipate spending less money on your child’s sewing machine. That isn’t to say you should go out and buy the cheapest machine you can find. Remember that you want a machine that is of high quality, durable, and built to last.

Sewing machines suitable for children can be found for as little as $50. For a few years of use, these might be fine. If you’re on a budget, a very basic model from a well-known brand, such as a Singer or Brother sewing machine, can usually be found in this price range, especially if there’s a sale going on. Although they may not be able to sew through multiple layers of fabric, this is usually not an issue at this age.

If you have the funds, a machine in the $80-$120 price range is a good choice. In this price range, you can usually find good machines from well-known brands with some of the extra features that your child will appreciate, such as automatic threaders.

There’s no reason to spend more than $120-$150 on a sewing machine, especially if your child is just learning to sew. After a few years of practice and use, you may want to invest in a higher-end sewing machine, but for now, stick with a basic, high-quality sewing machine.

 

Sources:

Wikihow

Make It, Love It

Phoebe and Egg