Sewing Machines

First off, your machine matters! What do I mean by that? Your machine can make or break your sewing experience. A cooperative sewing machine contributes greatly to an enjoyable sewing experience. Alternatively, an uncooperative sewing machine can bring you to tears in an instant. No one wants that.

Here are some machines that I recommend. I like these ones because you get a lot of features for your money, and they perform wonderfully.

Janome MOD-30

Janome MOD-50

Brother CS7000X

Brother XR9550

The machine I have in my sewing studio is the Janome HD-5050 (shown below). I LOVE this machine! This is more expensive than the machines listed above, but SOOOOOO worth it. This specific machine is sold exclusively at Ken's Sewing Center. This is a machine that will last a lifetime.

Note: I am not an affiliate of Ken's Sewing Center, so I don't get any commission from them. I just LOVE their customer service and they have alway been wonderful to answer any questions I have.

Things to keep in mind when shopping for a sewing machine.

Toy Sewing Machine

Stay away, stay very far away from toy sewing machines! In fact, don't walk away, RUN! They are not made to work well and will only result in tears and "less than desirable" language. However, if you already own one, don't fear...they make a cute decoration piece for any craft/sewing room!

Speed Control

While it's not essential to have speed control, it is convenient to have when working with children. When staring out, children like to press the foot pedal down all the way as much as they possibly can. Having the ability to adjust the "top speed" is a very nice option as they get more comfortable with using their foot to control their speed.

Drop-in Bobbin

Having a drop in bobbin allows you to see if you are out of thread or running low on it. I find it much easier to use than a machine with a front loading bobbin because there are just fewer parts to deal with.

Automatic Fishing

Having a machine that automatically fishes for the bobbin thread (after loading the bobbin) is a complete luxury to have. Many machines, both lower cost as well as expensive, have this feature. While it's not a necessity, it is just nice to have when teaching new sewists. I like to introduce manual "fishing for the bobbin" after they have sewn for a while and are comfortable with using the machine.

One item I strongly recommend when sewing with children is a needle guard. There are many out there and I've tried them all! Of the many, many I've tried, there is only one that I like. It is the Janome Finger Guard. It will fit on almost any machine. They can be purchased at most Janome Sewing Machine dealers. I get mine at Ken's Sewing Center.

I hope you find this information helpful. Please reach out via my contact form if you have any questions!

Happy sewing,

Lyndee Lee

Affiliate Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualified purchases. While I do get a commission from Amazon links, I whole-heartedly love and recommend these products no matter where you purchase them.