Sewers: best starter sewing machine for beginners?

imagine7696030614

Guess title says it all..was hoping to get a deal tomorrow on a sewing machine for my 11 year old DD's Christmas gift. Can anyone recommend a good name/model machine for beginners? Thanks!

TheFutureMrs.O

I started sewing a few years ago and have the brother project runway machine from Walmart. It's great! I love it. Super easy to use and has a lot of nice features.

persephonerose

TheFutureMrs.O said:

I started sewing a few years ago and have the brother project runway machine from Walmart. It's great! I love it. Super easy to use and has a lot of nice features.

I second this. It is what I started with and still use.  Very easy to get started with a lot of nice stitches that will allow you to do pretty much any project.  I only have one complaint and its minor. When I made the full size quilt for DS1 the well for where the fabric gathers while you are sewing is not deep enough. But the machine is not really made for quilting so it was to be expected.

ariel06

I agree that brothers sewing machines are great for beginners.

imagine7696030614

Thanks so much! Is this the one you're talking about? https://www.walmart.com/ip/Brother-2600I-Free-Sewing-Machine/4764723

TheFutureMrs.O

This is the one me and @persephonerose‌ have.

https://mobile.walmart.com/ip/Brother-Computerized-100-Stitch-Project-Runway-Sewing-Machine-CE1100PRW/27419862?type=search

imagine7696030614

Thanks again! I cheaper out and got the $79 one. Hopefully I won't regret getting the cheaper one I also ordered some fabric...no clue what I'm doing...I should probably get her patterns too, huh? Or can they be readily found on the internet for free?

persephonerose

imagine7696030614 said:

Thanks again! I cheaper out and got the $79 one. Hopefully I won't regret getting the cheaper one I also ordered some fabric...no clue what I'm doing...I should probably get her patterns too, huh? Or can they be readily found on the internet for free?

You can find some on the internet for free, or Etsy. There is one shop I love on there. The lady writes the instructions and makes the patterns fool proof. Most store bought patterns are very complicated!

Here is a good place to start. https://www.mammacandoit.com/Free-Patterns/ I purchased my mai tei pattern from here and it was so easy to use.

Saragoeswest

"Sewers." I read it wrong every time.

ariel06

"One yard wonders" is a great book of patterns.  Pj pants are a great easy project.  Check pinterest for directions.

BreandMikewedding

For those of you that sew, did you take classes to learn how?

persephonerose

BreandMikewedding said:

For those of you that sew, did you take classes to learn how?

I didn't. I do want to, but I'm mostly self taught. I relied a lot on youtube videos, pbs shows about sewing, and free tutorials.  There is so much free information online now it seems almost a shame to pay for classes. The classes can get expensive.

ariel06

I taught myself too. Between YouTube and Pinterest you can find tutorials for anything.

BreandMikewedding

persephonerose said:

BreandMikewedding said:

For those of you that sew, did you take classes to learn how?

I didn't. I do want to, but I'm mostly self taught. I relied a lot on youtube videos, pbs shows about sewing, and free tutorials.  There is so much free information online now it seems almost a shame to pay for classes. The classes can get expensive.


Yes, they can. I took home economics a long time ago and we learned basic sewing but I don't know if I would remember at this point.